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What Causes Sudden Weight Loss While On Treatment For GERD?

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Posted on Tue, 5 Aug 2014
Question: I am aged 24 and height 5 10.Sir,i was diagnosed with GERD SM GRADE 2 on basis of gastro-duodenoscopy report back in january 2014.So doctor prescribed me medications:- Rabium plus capsule and femocid tablet for 1 month uptil february end.I have controlled my daily diet with addition of green tea daily twice a day(morning empty stomach and evening) and have been doing 15-30 minutes of home exercise daily(in contrary to my sedentary lifestyle that i had uptil GERD disgnosis). Suddenly when the medication was about to get over in february ,i started getting extremely sticky stools(the stool suddenly comes out) and rumbling sounds in the abdomen throughout the day and this went on for 2 months.I went to the same doctor in april and he told me it may be some infection and prescribed medications:-
1.happi-l(for 15 days daily)
2.nizonide-o and colospa retd(each one twice for 15 days after meals)
and he also Checked my weight .it reduced from 83 kgs (which was in january end) to 77.5 kgs(in april end) . That sticky stool problem became ok.But after 2-3 days, i started passing stools 2-4 times a day. mostly solid sometimes semi solid(2-3 times in a week the stools came loose as well).I stopped green tea almost a month back.my weight has become 74 kgs now.When i stopped consuming green tea,i started taking amla juice and aloe vera juice .The number of stool passing a day has improved and is maximum twice not more than that.But the stool colour is at times brown and other times light brown and i have noticed white spots in my stool almost daily since last 1.5-2 months and stool disperses into granules 3-4 times in a week, .It comes out well formed but then it breaks into granules.Some times its ok.But the white spots are there.But today i mixed lemon juice with aloe vera juice and drank it empty stomach and took oats meal and motion was completely loose just after 2 hours.Is it a reason for concern?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr.P.Ratnakar Kini (39 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Answer given below

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for posting your query.
I am Dr.R.K and i am pleased to assist you.

I went through your post.
Weight loss is a matter of concern.

You need to undergo a few tests -

1. Stool analysis
2. Blood glucose
3. Thyroid function test
4. Colonoscopy

Further management depends on the results of these tests.

You can consult your gastroenterologist for these tests.

I hope that answers your question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr.R.K.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr.P.Ratnakar Kini (17 minutes later)
My weight was 83kgs until January and now in XXXXXXX its 74kgs.i have reduced my diet as well and walking daily for 30 minutes which earlier i wasnt doing any walking.Weight my gastroenterologist told me that weight 77.5 kgs in april is alright.now in XXXXXXX end its 74.5.Is weight a concern for you? If it is i will go to the same gastroenterologist.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr.P.Ratnakar Kini (10 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Answer given below

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
If it is intentional weight loss, then there is no need to worry.
But if it is unintentional weight loss, then it needs further evaluation

I hope that answers your question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr.R.K.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr.P.Ratnakar Kini (30 minutes later)
Yes i walk 20 minutes in morning and 10 minutes in evening in my house terrace and no other physical activity.3-4 months back i had no physical activity at all.I use to eat oily fried things but there is strict diet control from last 3-4 months after having GERD.Nowadays ,i take fried items only twice a week.It seems weight loss is intensional.Sir,But my major concern is white spots on brown coloured stool and loose motion sometimes in a week and stool dispersion.

Thank you
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr.P.Ratnakar Kini (50 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Get a stool analysis done

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
You can get stool analysis done.

Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr.R.K
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr.P.Ratnakar Kini (7 days later)
Sir as u told me i have done stool test.In addition to that i have also done thyroid function test and blood glucose.
diabetes screen (blood)-hb1ac-5.5%
average blood glucose-111mg/dl
t3-112ng/dl
t4-8.9ug/dl
tsh-4.86uIU/ml
Comments:suggesting thyronormalcy

blood sugar fasting:78mg/dl

Stool routine examination:
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
coulour:brownish
consistency :semi-solid
mucus:nil
blood:nil
CHEMICAL EXAMINATION

Reaction:acidic

Microscopic examination:
RBC:absent
pus cells:1-2/hpf
ova/larvae:nil/hpf
cysts:nil/hpf
bacteria:nil
others:nil


AnD SIR i want to tell u that appetite is absolutely ok.In fact i have reduced my meals from 4 to 3 times a day and i do 20 minutes walk from last 4 months.But i have further reduced my weight by 2.3 kgs.Its 73kgs now.Is it because of the 3 time diet that i am having?I have indeed reduced fried items from my diet(only 2 times a week fried items).
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr.P.Ratnakar Kini (22 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Answer given below

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
All your test reports look normal.
So you probably have irritable bowel syndrome.

You can continue taking colospa retard.
You can also take Ibset once a day after discussing with your doctor.

If the symptoms are persistent, you can have a colonoscopy done to look for lesions in the colon. You can also get checked for celiac disease.

I hope that answers your question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr.R.K
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr.P.Ratnakar Kini (1 hour later)
Sir, i seriously feel the medications that i took for GERD FOR 1 month in february that are:
rabium plus (daily before breakfast)
femocid(daily before dinner)
has caused some problems in stomach because almost in the midst of medication duration ,suddenly sticky motions started coming..

Sir two days back when i took probiotic curd ,stool became absolutely alright for 2 days after a period of 2 months.All white spots and dispersion of the motion was gone.

And when i consulted family doctor and told him about the stool problem and showed the reports,he gave antibiotics(thinking it might be infection in stomach) and i took medicines without probiotic curd,and the motion again went bad.Is it because of antibiotics ?

Shall i consult the same gastro enterologist who prescribed medications for GERD?

doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr.P.Ratnakar Kini (7 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Answer given below

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Yes Rabium plus can cause diarrhea in certain individuals. But it is usually transient and not chronic or recurrent.
If you feel that is the cause of your symptoms, then you can take probiotic supplements.

And regarding antibiotics, yes they too can cause diarrhea. You can take probiotics and sometimes you may need medications like metronidazole to control diarrhea.

Yes you can consult the same gastroenterologist and discuss about these symptoms which you believe are side effects of the medications you have taken.

Regards,
Dr.R.K.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr.P.Ratnakar Kini (25 hours later)
Hello sir
I went to gastroenterologist and he told me to perform three tests:
1.CBC,DLC,ESR
2.Ig A anti ttg
3.Total protein/albumen


HB-14.6
TLC-7700
RBC-5.26
PLATELET COUNT-173000
PCB-45.5
MCB-86.5
MCH-27.8
MCSC-32.1
SISNOPHIL 0.2


Total protein-8.61
albumen-4.72
globulen-3.89
A/G RATIO-1.21

Doctor was not there today so his compounder gave me results.He told me total protein is high.

Ig A antittg is not done because it takes 3 days.Sir,what does this report imply?

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Follow up: Dr. Dr.P.Ratnakar Kini (2 minutes later)
I want to also tell you that i have HPV(HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS) WHICH CAUSED FACIAL WARTS A YEAR BACK
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr.P.Ratnakar Kini (33 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Answer given below

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I went through the reports.
I do not find anything abnormal.
Though the hospital staff said the total protein is high, I do not consider it significant.

If you read one of my earlier posts, I told you that you need to get tested for celiac disease. This tTG test is for diagnosing celiac disease only.

Let us wait for the test result.

Regards,
Dr.R.K
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr.P.Ratnakar Kini (3 days later)
Sir,
The gastroenterologist whom i consulted from sir XXXXXXX XXXXXXX hospital in XXXXXXX .He told me the result of celiac disease that is negative:
ttg antibody-1.7 U/ml
that means is normal.So he told me my blood glucose ,thyroid ,stool test ,(cbc,esr,dlc),Ig a ttg antibody and total protein globulen/albumen,Every result is normal .further he said there is nothing to worry and everything is normal.3 DAYS BACK he gave me medicines:
1.vsl-3 bifidobacterium capsule(probiotic)
2.ornof tablet
3.rablet 20

I have noticed the white spots in my stool have gone.but still motion is 2-3 times a day which comes out well formed but still spreads and stool is in many pieces.He told me that spreading of stool in granules is also normal and it should be IBS.Due to think the spreading is normal? and what about weight loss? Does all these reports justify weight loss?Now from the above 3 medicines he told me to continue with vsl-3 and rablet but replaced ornof with lomotil for 15 days daily once.Shall i take lomotil?because now i am afraid that may be this ibs is due to antibiotics.Whats your say on this sir.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr.P.Ratnakar Kini (2 days later)
Brief Answer:
Answer given below

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
As mentioned earlier unintentional weight loss is significant thing and it is not a feature of IBS.
Weight loss does not occur in IBS.
Other features you have mentioned does not specify anything.
Yes you can take lomotil.

You can discuss with your doctor about the weight loss issue and the need for colonoscopy.

Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr.R.K
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr.P.Ratnakar Kini (2 hours later)
Sir,
i discussed this with my doctor. He told me that if u reduce ur diet by 200-300(one time meal) calories daily and if u add 20-30 minutes walking daily,then u will lose weight.Motion is infact better now with no white spots.Dispersing is still there but is better.I am taking probiotics.But he said all of the reports are normal and no need to worry.Sir,i want to ask that can i take aloe vera and amla juice ?Can these increase the number of bowel motion more than one in a day? Because i have been taking aloe vera amla juice and green tea in last 4 months.

In last 4 months ,Sir i checked my weight loss pattern every month.Its 3(kgs)then 2.5 then again 2.5 then 1.5 . In totality weight reduced is 9 kgs.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr.P.Ratnakar Kini (39 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Answer given below

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
So yours is not unintentional weight loss. So there is no need to worry.
You continue the treatment advised by your doctor.

Aloe vera contains anthraquinone which is a laxative. So taking large quantities of aloe vera can cause diarrhea. You can stop aloe vera and see whether there is any improvement.

Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr.R.K.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Dr.P.Ratnakar Kini

Gastroenterologist

Practicing since :1994

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What Causes Sudden Weight Loss While On Treatment For GERD?

Brief Answer: Answer given below Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for posting your query. I am Dr.R.K and i am pleased to assist you. I went through your post. Weight loss is a matter of concern. You need to undergo a few tests - 1. Stool analysis 2. Blood glucose 3. Thyroid function test 4. Colonoscopy Further management depends on the results of these tests. You can consult your gastroenterologist for these tests. I hope that answers your question. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr.R.K.