Mary Keeper’s Aching Head by Brent J.F. Hill

Part III—Help Dr. Nee Explain His Diagnosis

Scenario

Dr. Nee knocked on the examination room door and entered. Immediately, he told Mary that the additional blood work helped immensely with his diagnosis.

Upon completion of Part II each member of your group is now the “expert ” for a particular learning issue that is involved with Mary’s condition. Hopefully, this research has either reaffirmed your hypothesis about Mary’s condition or enabled you to formulate a new hypothesis. If you are unsure whether you are “on the right track,” please check with the instructor. Your next task is to prepare a group report that addresses the points detailed below.

Objectives and Issues to Address in Preparing Your Final Group Report

1. What is Mary Keeper suffering from? (Hint: it may be more than one dysfunction.) In addition, what symptoms did Mary demonstrate that led your group to their diagnostic conclusion(s)?
2. What additional diagnostic test(s) and/or results will help you confirm your diagnosis and why?
3. In detail, explain why certain blood lab results are high while others are low.
4. Based upon your diagnosis, is her dysfunction(s) associated with a primary or secondary endocrine pathology? Explain your reasoning and thought process associated with your answer(s).
5. Explain the rationale behind her headaches.
6. Explain her vision complications.
7. In general, what is the importance of an individual’s blood osmolality? Hypothesize how Mary’s blood osmolality might change if she exhibited polydipsia.
8. Explain the treatment options for Mary’s dysfunction(s).

Part III Final Group Report

1. Give a complete and detailed physiological and/or anatomical reasoning behind your answers to the objectives above.
2. In addressing the questions and issues above, you may indicate the question number and then give your explanation in narrative form, flowcharts, and/or diagrams. You must explain all flowcharts and diagrams used in your report.
3. Limit your report to five to six pages, excluding references.
4. Cite all sources. This includes both in-text citations and a bibliography list at the end of your report.

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