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What Causes Unexplained Weight Loss After A Bout Of Diarrhea?

Posted on Wed, 28 Jun 2017

Question: Hi

i am 37 years old , i suffer from anexity from serious ilness and take prozac. two week ago i had a stomach virus and i had dierihaa ,in those two days i lost 1.1kg , i was healty two days after and came back to eat as always .. but the 1 kg didnt got back to normal i mean instead of 91.5kg i am still 90.4
i read the unexplained weight loose can be sign of some cancers .. i am very afraid before this virus i was ok and fine .
what to do i am very afraid from such cancer option

Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (32 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
This is not signififcant weight loss

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.

When we mean significant unexplained weight loss we are really looking into 10% range and in your case this is hardly 1%. And that too after a bout of diarrhea. So, if I were you, I wouldn't loose my sleep over it.

I don't think you need any workup for cancer in this regard.

Hope this helps.
Best regards

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

Follow up: Dr. Indranil Ghosh (5 minutes later)

Dear doctor

Thanks for your answer , i also workout , .. also in some websites od medical information they write 5% why?
also is the weight loosing is conected of no eating beacuse of cancer doing loose of appetite or it its not conected to eating?

maybe understanding the process will help me to calm down?

i do have apetite and i do ea

thanks in advencet

Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
5% is less suspicious

Detailed Answer:
And yours is still much less than 5%.

Cancer associated weight loss is a complex process with loss of appetite, early satiety and catabolism due to cancer, all play a role. Usually all are present when the weight loss is significant

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Indranil Ghosh (10 hours later)

does the weight loose is high in very short time?
if yes can you give an exmple.

by the way my stomach virus was two weeks ago not this day

it still ok?

Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No it is not high, even if short time is taken into account

Detailed Answer:
1 kg variation is not something which would worry me. I understand that two weeks have passed since the stomach upset and you have not gained it back. But still I feel it is fine.

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

Follow up: Dr. Indranil Ghosh (6 minutes later)

Hi i meant in my question that if somebody with this cancer loose weight he looses high quantity of weight in very short time? i mean for exmple 4-5 kg in month?
i am sorry for asking but i want to understand the process in order to calm down.

i find my self scaling myself twice aday... very sad

Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yes 5 kg in a month is possible in cancer

Detailed Answer:
In your case it is certainly not cancer. You have to really get this out of your head otherwise severe anxiety can also cause catabolism and weight loss.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Indranil Ghosh (2 days later)

Dear doctor it been two days since your answer, yesterday i was little calm all was little ok , even my stool , today morning i woke up with stress again about the weight i went to toilet 4 times , the stool was ok but in fourth time it was dierriha and i even started sweating during from fear that maybe i cought another virus or i will loose weight again.
maybe i still have serious sickness as cancer?

Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Stool tests can be done

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for following up.

Please remember that anxiety can also potentiate diarrhea, if not start it. Still, we need to do some basic stool tests to see if it is infective or not. If infective, then some antibiotics will be required.

There is nothing to worry much for this. Diarrhea can be treated adequately and this most likely not a harbinger of cancer.

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

Follow up: Dr. Indranil Ghosh (7 minutes later)

the stool was fine regular for two days.. from the day the anexity started i scale myself every day and i afraid of loosing weight.. yesterday i dont know what happend i went to sleep with little anexity , woke up i had two times regular stool .. i started to afraid and then my stomach did loose stool .. i dont know what to do any more i am really lossing my mind dear doctor

Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (17 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hope your stomach is okay now

Detailed Answer:
Hopefully you have recovered by now. I understand your situation but you really need to cut down on the anxiety. If still problem persists, visit a doctor and get those stool tests done.

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

Follow up: Dr. Indranil Ghosh (13 minutes later)

i visited my doctor she said all from anexity , i lost another 400 grams i am , today stool
was fine, but yeaterday anexity couse me not eating much..i am really loosing my mind

Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
This is a vicious cycle

Detailed Answer:
Anxiety, diarrhea, weight loss, more anxiety, this goes on. You will need to get free from this. Try relaxation techniques, engage in activities, some anti anxiety pills can help.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Indranil Ghosh (12 hours later)

dear doctor does the loosing weight in cancer such as lymphoma or leukemia come with other symptoms or you can see only loosing weight?

Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
usually other symptoms are there

Detailed Answer:
Like loss of appetite, fever, night sweats, bleeding, pain etc are there. But rarely it is only weight loss at the beginning.

Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng