What Causes Weight Loss, Abdominal Bloating And Tiredness?

Posted on Mon, 8 Aug 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 8 Aug 2016 Answered on

Tue, 30 Aug 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : My husband is losing weight (2 more pounds since Thursday), feels tired, has bloating in his stomach and is weak with little energy. An endoscopy and colonoscopy came back with no evidence of cancer; there is diverticulosis. A CT scan of abdominal area was normal as well. What could be causing these symptoms?

Answered by Dr. Dr.Raju.A.T (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Need some more details

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for your query.

Weight loss with loss of appetite is most of times associated with cancer syndromes or paraneoplastic syndromes. In here tests for serum markers of known cancers will help.

Weight loss with normal appetite is seen in conditions like malabsorption secondary to intestinal pathology.

I would like to know how is is appetite ?
Are the bowel movements normal ?
Are he stools normal in color and consistency ?

Waiting for your response,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Dr.Raju.A.T (1 hour later)

Here are the answers to the questions you asked:

His appetite is not great - when he was on the Welbutrin it was better.

Are bowel movements normal? It depends. He has started to take prune juice and when he drinks that and does a little walking during the day, he is okay. He has not been active at all the last 4 days and he is finding it more difficult to have a bowel movement.

His cancer doctor asks him about stool color each month at his checkup and he tells the doctor they are 'calf shit' colored.

Will you be providing courses of action along with the diagnosis?

A CEA test is done every 6 weeks and has been in a very normal range. Anything else you need, just let me know. Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Dr.Raju.A.T (20 hours later)

Brief Answer:
PET scan and D Xylose absorption test

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for the information.

I understand the level of stress you and your husband are in.

CEA is one best marker and rules out major number of cancers. Please continue with its regular estimation.

I would recommend two more tests. Non specific but sensitive enough to rule out lot many causes.

PET scan of whole body. This not only identifies cancers anywhere in he body, can also comment on the functional derangement if any in any organ.

Next best I advice is D xylose absorption test. This helps in ruling out most of the malabsorption syndromes.

Please consult his treating doctor and discuss about the tests I suggested. Hope, we catch up something.

Hope, I answered your query.

Wish you good health.

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http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-raju-a-t/60137

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar