Episodes can occur several times a day and can interfere with daily life. Patients with severe cases of diarrhea often have trouble leaving their homes for work, social functions, or activities that require being away from home and on the move for a long time. Electrolytes carry electrical charges or messages throughout your body. Without enough water and electrolytes, proper digestion cannot occur and your body cannot get the nutrients that it needs. This can worsen the weight loss, weakness, and fatigue that may have already been caused by the loss of fluids and electrolytes.
Heart disease can result from tissue build-up associated with carcinoid tumors.
Patients with carcinoid syndrome sometimes may also have wheezing or asthmalike symptoms, which would make breathing difficult. Information Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, 2000. All rights reserved.