Hello Dr. Mathur,
I just wanted to provide an update. It turns out that I have a severe candida problem. Since I have been treated for that I have gained almost 10 lbs in just 3 weeks. I just wanted to let you know so you and other doctors can add that to your list of things to check for. My PCP told me I had "disordered eating", her way of saying an eating disorder. She obviously doesn't know me well because I have never been the skinny girl, and I LOVE food and eating. I don't LIKE the way I look being so thin. It's not attractive and I want to gain weight. Luckily someone had the brains to test me for candida and start me on a program to deal with it. I was treated for the same problem almost 15 years ago when a neurologist diagnosed me with MS and told me that I would be in a wheelchair within a couple of years. Thank goodness I found someone to do further testing, diagnose the candida problem, and treat it. My "MS" symptoms were completely GONE within 2 weeks and have NEVER returned. So when you find yourself in a situation that you can't figure out what is wrong and you've done all the tests and everything comes back negative, please don't tell a patient it must all be in their head just because you can't find the problem. All it takes for the candida test is a finger stick and looking at the sample under a dark microscope. Treatment is cheap and effective. I hope you have a good day!!
Hi!
Unintentional and unexplained weight loss is definitely not good. I’ll first list the causes which you can also take a look at and then narrow down the possibilities.
One possibility is that you have an eating disorder. In which case taking help from a doctor specialized in treating eating disorders will help. There are many other causes like worms in stool, depression, anorexia nervosa, AIDS, cancers especially colon cancers, drug abuse, infections and loss of appetite. Loss of appetite can again be due to certain medications, drug abuse, depression, AIDS, acute and chronic infections, eating disorders, cancers and hypothyroidism. Either you do not eat well or there is increased metabolism as in hyperthyroid states, HIV, cancer etc. Poor absorption as in irritable bowel syndromes and malabsorption syndromes too is possible. Malabsorption syndromes are seen in intestinal tuberculosis, HIV, tropical sprue, parasites in stool and Whipple’s Disease. Diabetes too can be the cause.
Of these HIV is ruled out in your case. If cancer is ruled out as well (uterine, cervix and ovary along with colon) then diabetes and hyperthyroidism should be thought of. Also, since you have gut issues and deficiencies, malabsorption syndrome should be investigated for. Do discuss this with your doctor and get yourself examined. Take care!