Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.

Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)

|

Email this

Rapid weight loss/inability to eat

This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.

Post a Question Back to Forum

MedHelp Member's Question

Rapid weight loss/inability to eat

by aswest, Apr 23, 2002 12:00AM

Tags: Gastroenterology, Weight Loss, Cancer, weight, Stomach Cancer

I have a 47 year-old brother. He has lost 30 lbs. in the last month. He's unable to take more than 3 bites of food at a time. If he takes more than that, he throws up. He has burning/cramping sensations in his stomach all the time. He is very fatigued, as well. He went to the doctor last week for bloodwork and he had blood in his stool. When my brother eats, he said the food gets to where his sternum is located, then it feels like it gets stuck. His doctor mentioned that this could all be due to some form of cancer, so we're all quite worried. He is 5'6" and now weighs 132 lbs. Any ideas as to what might be going on would be appreciated. He is a heavy smoker and also suffers from discoid lupus. His test results are due back today. Thanks.

Member Comments (5)

by aswest, Apr 24, 2002 12:00AM

Just wanted to post a bit of an update. My brother got the results back yesterday from his bloodwork and no ulcer was detected. He's now been referred on to a GI doctor for further evaluation. Does anyone know if a hiatel hernia could cause rapid weight loss, vomiting, fatigue and a burning sensation behind the sternum? He's lost another pound since Friday. He simply can't go on like this.

by Romy, Apr 24, 2002 12:00AM

What an insensitive doctor to throw the word cancer out without doing extensive testing. My Mom had stomach cancer and for years she had no symptoms at all. Just because the pain is severe, it does not have to be cancer.

Romy

by bumtummy, Apr 25, 2002 12:00AM

ask them to do a gastric emptying test (though if he can't eat, that might present a problem). There is a medication called domperidone, which is helpful in emptying the stomach. You have to get it online unless you can go to Canada or Mexico (not that it's not safe, just not marketed here), or have someone else go. Have him ask his doctor about gastroparesis, which is a stomach motility disorder. His symptoms are classic.

by kare, Apr 25, 2002 12:00AM

To: bumtummy

It was suggested to me to take Domperidone for an esophagus problem. Domperidone does not enter the brain as other similar medications do like Reglan and Propulcid. It is used by nursing mothers to increase milk production. It has also been approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics. So it is a very safe medication. It is just not being sold here in the United States yet. It has been available in other countries since 1978. It is even sold over the counter in some countries. It is actually much cheaper to buy it from Pharmacycare in New Zealand than from the other countries. I was just curious as to how it helps empty stomach?

by MAF31, Apr 26, 2002 12:00AM

Sounds just like GERD and gastritis! If you go to Heartburn-Help.com, you will see a lot of the same symptoms.

by aswest, May 15, 2002 12:00AM

I would like to give another update on my brother. Last Mon., he was diagnosed with stomach cancer and ended up having his entire stomach removed. His cancer was in Stage IV and has progressed to his lymph nodes. At this point, his doctor has given him anywhere from 6 months to a year to live. We are all just devasted by the news, but we're still hoping and praying for a miracle. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who knows someone with advanced stomach cancer. There is no history of stomach cancer in our family. I'd like to know the causes for it and should I and my other brother be screened? Thanks.

Back to Forum

Continue discussion

Expert Activity

Salmonella typhimurium outbreak sic...
Jan 07 by Enoch Choi, MD

Can Sleep Apnea Cause Alzheimer's?...
Jan 05 by Steven Y Park, MD

Optimal Health in 2009- Happy New Y...

Dec 31 by Lee Kirksey, MD

Your Name:
Your Email:
Friend's Email:
Message:

	Enter the code shown:



	Leave a Note Send Message Add as Friend aswest Member since Apr 2002



	Add as Friend Enoch Choi, MD Male, 44 years Palo Alto - CA Member since Aug 2007 Mood: Enoch Choi, MD back to PAMF UCC clinic Journal Entry: "I'll be chatting about this on KGO810AM r..." [Read]



	Add as Friend Steven Y Park, MD Male, 41 years New York - NY Member since Oct 2008 Journal Entry: "Researchers found that when people with A..." [Read]



	Add as Friend Lee Kirksey, MD Male Philadelphia - PA Member since Apr 2008 Mood: LeeKirksey ...optimistic Journal Entry: "Happy New Year to all of the Medhelp fami..." [Read]



	Add as Friend Gregg D Jacobs, Ph.D. Male Member since Dec 2008 Journal Entry: "Insomnia is defined as insufficient, inad..." [Read]



	Add as Friend Anita Ramsetty, MD Female Member since Oct 2007 Journal Entry: "Dear Friends, I am afraid the time has..." [Read]



	Add as Friend Adam R. Tanase, D.C. Male St. Louis - MO Member since May 2008 Mood: AdamTanase happy to answer your questions. Journal Entry: "I would like to share this news article w..." [Read]