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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Could this be malabsorption? Desperate for information....
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.
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Could this be malabsorption? Desperate for information....
by Anna50, Sep 08, 2002 12:00AM
Current symptoms:
Diarrhea in the AM only. Stools are either greasy or pale in color and float. I recently took Citrucel and the stools were on the pale/floaty side. I have some reoccuring hip/groin pain but it may be from some other activity. I have a good appetite but have lost weight the last few months. My digestive system is very loud, growly in the AM prior to a bowel movement. Sometimes I have the same sounds late at night before bed. The sounds are loud enough for others to hear.
I am 5ft 6in and weigh 118 and weighed 128 2 months ago. I'm 38 years old.
I have had an abdominal CT scan which was normal and several blood tests. My CA125 was 18.5 which I've read is the higher end of normal for a healthy individual.
My lymph nodes in the groin area appear slightly swollen (not painful) but I have been assured they are normal by two physicians and the CT scan results.
I'm going crazy because I know something is not right. Could this be malabsorption? I am not anemic and my pancreas appeared normal on the CT scan. I have had other times where I have lost significant amounts of weight without any change in diet or excercise but this seems worse. Can malabsorption be reoccuring? I have had 3 normal pregnancies. During the pregnancies I was very constipated.
MY Gastro physician has ordered an ESR test, an endoscopic procedure and stool fat tests. I will get the ESR test and stool fat tests back tomorrow. I feel the DR thinks this is more of a psychological problem. Any insight would be very helpful.
Diarrhea in the AM only. Stools are either greasy or pale in color and float. I recently took Citrucel and the stools were on the pale/floaty side. I have some reoccuring hip/groin pain but it may be from some other activity. I have a good appetite but have lost weight the last few months. My digestive system is very loud, growly in the AM prior to a bowel movement. Sometimes I have the same sounds late at night before bed. The sounds are loud enough for others to hear.
I am 5ft 6in and weigh 118 and weighed 128 2 months ago. I'm 38 years old.
I have had an abdominal CT scan which was normal and several blood tests. My CA125 was 18.5 which I've read is the higher end of normal for a healthy individual.
My lymph nodes in the groin area appear slightly swollen (not painful) but I have been assured they are normal by two physicians and the CT scan results.
I'm going crazy because I know something is not right. Could this be malabsorption? I am not anemic and my pancreas appeared normal on the CT scan. I have had other times where I have lost significant amounts of weight without any change in diet or excercise but this seems worse. Can malabsorption be reoccuring? I have had 3 normal pregnancies. During the pregnancies I was very constipated.
MY Gastro physician has ordered an ESR test, an endoscopic procedure and stool fat tests. I will get the ESR test and stool fat tests back tomorrow. I feel the DR thinks this is more of a psychological problem. Any insight would be very helpful.
Malabsorption
Malabsorption Syndromes
Malabsorption syndromes are disorders due to a deficiency in the absorption of nutrients from the small intestine into the bloodstream. Normally, food is digested and the nutrients necessary for the proper functioning of the body are absorbed into the bloodstream from the small intestine. Malabsorption can occur due to either a disorder which interferes with normal food digestion or due to a disorder that directly effects the mechanism of absorption.
* Disorders that interfere with digestion.
Disorders that result in too much or too little stomach acid to digest food or disorders which result in inadequate amounts of enzymes necessary for breaking down ingested foods (e.g. Pancreatitis, Cystic fibrosis, Lactase deficiency, Obstruction of the bile duct) are the most common types of disorder that interfere with digestion, resulting in malabsorption.
* Disorders that effect the mechanisms of absorption.
Infections, drugs (e.g. Neomycin, alcohol), Celiac disease and Crohn's disease all injure the sensitive stomach lining and thus decrease the area available for adequate absorption of nutrients. Lymphoma and an inadequate blood supply to the intestine are examples of disorders that prevent substances from being passed into the bloodstream.
Symptoms of malabsorption include weight loss, malnutrition (due to a lack of essential minerals and vitaines), diarrhea, abdominal bloating, flatulence, jaundice and steatorrhea (light-coloured, foul-smelling stool that may float and stick to the side of the toilet bowel). These symptoms, of course, vary according to the precise disorder in question.
Treatment may include avoidance of certain substances (e.g. Lactose in lactose intolerance), antibiotics (where the cause is an infection) or a simple change in diet.
Does anyone else have any comments?
Wilson's right, that stool test should be the one that determines malabsorption. It could be caused by many different things, and your doctor will need to keep testing you until he finds the cause. Good luck.