Case Study 78: Hypothyroidism
1. Compare her VS with those of a healthy person at her same age.
R.M.’s temperature is low: 96.8 F and normal range is 97.8 -99 F
R.M.’s blood pressure is elevated: 142/84 and normal range is 120/80
R.M.’s heart rate is low: 52 and normal range is 60-100
R.M.’s respiratory rate is on the low end of normal: 12 and normal range is 12-25.
2. List eight general questions you might ask R.M. to assist in determining what is going on with her.
Does your family history of thyroid, adrenal, or pituitary disease?
Have your menstrual periods been altered?
What have your sleep patterns been like?
Have you been exceptionally nervous?
How has your appetite been over the past 6 months
Have you had weight fluctuation over the past 6 months
Is there a history of diabetes in your family?
Have you had any radiation therapy to your head and or neck?
3. You know that potential causes for some of R.M.’s symptoms include depression, hypothyroidism, anemia, cardiac disease, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, and allergies. As part of your screening procedures, describe how you would begin to investigate which of these conditions probably do not account for R.M.’s symptoms.
As part of screening procedure, e began our investigation by focusing on auscultation of the heart and lung sounds for sign and symptoms of cardiac disease or problem. However, there are no abnormalities present with R.M.’s heart. According to R.M.’s symptoms, it is clear that she does not have any signs of cardiac disease, symptoms of allergies, and fluid and electrolyte imbalance. R.M. has symptoms of hypothyroidism, anemia, and depression.
4. Unnecessary diagnostic tests are expensive. What tests do you think would be the most appropriate for R.M., and why?
We think that thyroxine, (T4), and pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) will be appropriate for R.M. because this test will confirm the diagnosis of thyroid failure. Cholesterol levels need to be checked and also other blood tests needs to be
R.M.’s temperature is low: 96.8 F and normal range is 97.8 -99 F
R.M.’s blood pressure is elevated: 142/84 and normal range is 120/80
R.M.’s heart rate is low: 52 and normal range is 60-100
R.M.’s respiratory rate is on the low end of normal: 12 and normal range is 12-25.
2. List eight general questions you might ask R.M. to assist in determining what is going on with her.
Does your family history of thyroid, adrenal, or pituitary disease?
Have your menstrual periods been altered?
What have your sleep patterns been like?
Have you been exceptionally nervous?
How has your appetite been over the past 6 months
Have you had weight fluctuation over the past 6 months
Is there a history of diabetes in your family?
Have you had any radiation therapy to your head and or neck?
3. You know that potential causes for some of R.M.’s symptoms include depression, hypothyroidism, anemia, cardiac disease, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, and allergies. As part of your screening procedures, describe how you would begin to investigate which of these conditions probably do not account for R.M.’s symptoms.
As part of screening procedure, e began our investigation by focusing on auscultation of the heart and lung sounds for sign and symptoms of cardiac disease or problem. However, there are no abnormalities present with R.M.’s heart. According to R.M.’s symptoms, it is clear that she does not have any signs of cardiac disease, symptoms of allergies, and fluid and electrolyte imbalance. R.M. has symptoms of hypothyroidism, anemia, and depression.
4. Unnecessary diagnostic tests are expensive. What tests do you think would be the most appropriate for R.M., and why?
We think that thyroxine, (T4), and pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) will be appropriate for R.M. because this test will confirm the diagnosis of thyroid failure. Cholesterol levels need to be checked and also other blood tests needs to be