Your patient is a 66-year-old female who is conscious and alert, complaining of a one-week history of progressive "lightheadedness" with exertion. She also complains of mild nausea; dark, sticky stools; and pain in her lower abdomen. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's condition?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The combination of lightheadedness with exertion, nausea, dark, sticky stools, and lower abdominal pain points to gastrointestinal bleeding as the most likely cause. Acute cholecystitis usually presents with pain in the right upper quadrant, while diverticulosis typically presents with left lower quadrant pain. Ingestion of an iron or a bismuth-containing medication could cause dark stools, but would not explain the other symptoms.

Your Patient Is a 66-Year-Old Female Who Is Conscious and Alert