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Which tests to discover unexplained reasons for weight loss

Posted , 6 users are following.

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My background

I have unexplained weight loss from 83kg to 74kg in six month for 5.6’. I carry on losing weight about 1 kg every two weeks. I am very worried because I went to my GP already six weeks ago and if I have a serious disease it could have spread a lot in six weeks.

I am 51 years old. I have a sedentary lifestyle because I am sitting a lot. I used to eat t a lot of processed foods but I stopped seven years ago and I replace it by fruits

I am a former smoker who smoked for eight years and I quitted twenty years ago and as a consequence I become overweight. Hence I am an history of being overweight. I am worried because cancer is more common with overweight people specially colon cancer which is one of the more common type of cancers

My symptoms

I am tired from time to time specially after eating

Sometimes the morning I need to go quickly to toilet otherwise I lose my stools

Sometimes I lose a little stools and I have itching in my bottom

When I eat a lot I have a pain in my belly

Sometime my heart vibrate and I have a discomfort

I need to urinate often and sometimes urgently especially when I walk with a big pain in my belly and discomfort in my left side. I have this symptom for the last 18 years but it has become worse

 

The tests I have done

I have done an endoscopy, an abdominal CT scan and a blood test all were ok but I do not know if all these tests are entirely sure and maybe I need further tests to confirm them

The endoscopy shows a gastritis but I have no diarrhoea or constipation and I have heard that my gastritis could not be the reason for my unexplained weigh loss

How to find the reason of my weight loss?

I have heard that weight loss is a late symptom of cancer but I have heard also that in the vast majority of cases of cancer, other symptoms will develop before any weight loss. However, occasionally also, weight loss is the first symptom noticed and it is what worries me

 There are a lot of references to early stage and advanced stage of cancer but there could be also an intermediate stage during which some first symptoms appear like weight loss but nothing appears yet in the blood test

The question is why I am losing weight? I would like to know which other tests I need to do to finally discover the reason. I am thinking to the following tests:

Stool test

I heard that a stool test is a must because I can have a worm or blood in my stools

 

A rectal examination

 

A colonoscopy

Maybe a colonoscopy could be good to rule out any other bowel diseases?

I heard that a colonoscopy should be made for the over 50 every ten years

I can do only a stool test but a colonoscopy will find also colorectal polyps

A colonoscopy could be good for the sake of completeness because the colon is one of the parts of my body which was has not yet been checked by the other tests that I have done

 

An ERCP

To be sure that I have nothing wrong with my liver and my pancreas. I am worry because I heard that liver can work without pain even if only a part of it works

An X ray or a chest CT scan

I know that in other European countries an X-ray of the chest is done during regular check-ups. Moreover I am a former smoker and have heard that weight loss could be a sign of lung cancer. The chest is one of the parts of my body which have not yet been checked by any of the other tests that I have done

 

Screening of my urine

I have not yet done any urine test. I am thinking to urinalysis, urine cytology, and urine tests for tumour markers. It could good I have several urine tests because I have heard that there could be blood in urine one day but not another day

I need also to investigate my frequent and urgent need for urinating so maybe a CT urogram is necessary. Moreover the abdominal CT scan that I have done does not always show bladder cancer

Maybe I have an endocrine disorders and I would like to know which other tests I need to do to find the reason

Maybe I have only an infection but how to be sure and in case I have an infection how to find it. Moreover I have no diarrhoea or constipation which could be the sign of infection. So maybe other texts could be necessary to discover an infection and I would like to know which

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • jane243
    jane243 door

    Posted

    You sound as though you have had plenty of tests - have you had one for diabetes? Weight loss and frequent urination are signs of Type 2 , or can be I think.
  • door
    door

    Posted

    I have done a blood test during a check up in November in my GP practice and another in January in the hospital after I was referred for my unexplained weight loss.  During the last blood test five samples of my blood were taken.  I suppose that these two blood tests check for diabete

    What is strange is that for the first blood test in November I was told not to eat anything the morning but for the second blood test in January I was told that it was irrelevant whether or not I eat the morning but I nevertheless ate nothing in case what was told to me was wrong. I do not know if this means that these two blood tests were different tests

    Both tests were Ok. Hence I do not know if it will be necessary to finally find the reason of my unexplained loss weight to do also a urine test, a stool test, a chest xray and a colonoscopy

    On Thursday I have an appointment with my consultant and I will ask him to do these tests hoping he will agree

  • door
    door

    Posted

    I have loss more weight now I am at 72kg.

    I have done a colonoscopy which has shown nothing. I have done also a CT scan of my chest on week ago. On Thursday I will have another appointment with the consultant and I will be given the result of this CT scan but if it shows something of serious I think that the hospital would have phoned me. I also had a urine test and I am waiting the result

    The Gastroscopy shows that I have oesophageal dysmotility with hiatus hernia and H pylori associated gastritis and I have been given a one-week treatment to eradicate the H pylori. However I have no pain or diarrhoea. And my appetite is good so I do not know if only advanced H pylori associated gastritis can cause loss weight

    In the report from the consultant it is stated that “his investigation to date have not yielded a clear reason for this loss weight” so I do not know if the H pylori is the cause of my weight loss

    I notice also that I have sharp bones in my legs.

    I have always looked like younger that I am really and when I was a boy people believed sometimes that I was a girl. Hence maybe I have hormones problems which can explain my weight loss

    I am worried because maybe the tests have shown nothing because I have a serious disease which is at an early stage or immediate stage

    I am worried also because I have heard that the liver which deals with fat can work even if part of it work property#

    The fact that I have not yet found why I lose weight makes me very anxious because it could be due to a serious illness and the quicker I find the reason the more likely it will be that I will be cured. However I have not yet found the reason even though I have started to lose weight in July and as a consequence time is running out

     The reason why I have posted my last post is because next Thursday I have an appointment with the consultant for a recap and I would like to be the better possible prepared to pass him the greatest number of pieces of information possible and ask him the necessary questions

     

    In my previous post I put the greatest number of piece of information about my health because any of them could be the reason of my unexplained weight loss if we take into account that I have not yet found the reason despite numerous tests. However it is possible that other tests are necessary and I would like to know which

    • sean87079
      sean87079 door

      Posted

      i really would like to know what you found out becaus I am haaving the exact same problem for years now an im only 37 but its taking a toll on my life
  • roi09066
    roi09066 door

    Posted

    Hello,

    I'm in a similar situation, have you find out what was happening?

    • courtney57165
      courtney57165 roi09066

      Posted

      Same here!!! Let's open this thread backup and get some answers. I've had a colonoscopy, endoscopy, MRI, stool samples, bloodwork etc etc with no answers!

    • roi09066
      roi09066 courtney57165

      Posted

      I only had blood tests at the time of writing above, but some additional results came later on pointing to hyperthyroidism. After Uptake Scan and ultrasound it seems it'll be confirmed. It also seems treatment is working.

  • angela3121
    angela3121 door

    Posted

    Sounds like you found your answer ?? That bacteria can cause weight loss . I am 30 and was 135lbs at 5’7” and am now 113lbs in a matter of 6months???????. I had an endoscopy done that showed mild gastritis and esophagitis was given protonix for the acid but I haven’t taken because I have no symptoms of acid reflux!! My gastro wants me to do a colonoscopy but I had an allergic reaction to the Suprep so giving my body a break before going through that again. My gastro also ordered a gallbladder scan ( HIDA) no symptoms of gallbladder either but we are slowly ruling stuff out. Gallbladder can be a silent issue so I suggest getting that checked , look into crohns , and thyroid if the weight loss continues . I look anorexic and I hate it. It’s very depressing when you feel fine but are withering away to nothing 😑 I have a follow up today with my PCP and I’m asking for B12 to be checked , referral to an endocrinologist (thyroid specialist) and CTs and Ultrasounds to look for anything else that could be causing this . I don’t want to find anything to serious but I’d like to know what the underlying cause is so I can fix it !!!! I wish you all the best and prayers for everyone ??

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