Starting At The End Of July, I Went To Red

Posted on Mon, 3 Dec 2018

Question: Starting at the end of July, I went to red lobster one night and then two days later I had these really bad stomach pains and had really bad diarrhea then once that went away I went for a month and a half barely wanting to eat and I lost 20 pounds because of it. I’m eating again now but I’m still losing weight. My cat had a tapeworm a few months ago and I’m thinking that may be what the problem is. Could that be what’s causing me to still lose weight

Answered by Dr. Olgeta Xhufka (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Tapeworm infection.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, welcome to Ask a doctor service.
I read your query and here is my advice.
Yes you are right. If your cat had it you have it and probably all your family.
Also the symptoms you have like diarrhoea and loss of appetite and weight loss shows that you have a tapeworm.
You can do a tape test to confirm it.
The treatment consists of albentazole and all family should receive it not only you. Your cat should get cured too.

Hope I have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Olgeta Xhufka (1 hour later)

I made an appointment to go to the doctors on Tuesday to confirm that a tapeworm is what it is! Although I haven’t noticed any signs of worms in my stool. Could I have a tapeworm without any worms appearing in my stool???

Answered by Dr. Olgeta Xhufka (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Tapeworm is a single worm attached to intestinal walls.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again. Of course you can have a tapeworm without worms in stools. Tapeworm is a long worm attached at intestinal walls and its eggs are found in stools which are not visible.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Best regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy

Follow up: Dr. Olgeta Xhufka (41 minutes later)

Would a stool test at the doctors be able to confirm it???

Answered by Dr. Olgeta Xhufka (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
A parasite stool test would confirm it.

Detailed Answer:
Of course a stool test at doctor's office would confirm it. A test know as parasite stool test would confirm it.
Let me know if I can assist you further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy

Follow up: Dr. Olgeta Xhufka (13 hours later)

If it’s not a tapeworm what else could it possibly be??? I have this fear that it’s somwthing serious like cancer but if it was I’d be sicker!

Answered by Dr. Olgeta Xhufka (35 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Celiac disease is another possibility.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again. The main symptom of colon cancer is traces of blood in stools and difficulty in passing stools.
Another possibility of weight loss is celiac disease that is also known as gluten intolerance, often accompanied by diarrhea and weight loss.
Other possibilities are irritable bowel syndrome, hypothyroidism etc.
Do the parasite in feces test and then we will see.
Let me know if I can assist you further.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad