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What Causes Weight Loss Post An Ileostomy?

Posted on Mon, 15 May 2017

Question: Good Morning. My mother had an ileostomy surgery done in January but was losing liters of fluid every day to the point she had to be hospitalized for dehydration. The doctors eventually decided to reverse it to a closed end colostomy. She is still losing weight . She was 140 pounds two weeks ago. Now she is 127 pounds. She is eating and drinking. She is drinking protein shakes and eating throughout the day. I am very concerned. Could you advise on what she can do to put back on some weight. Do you see this as a medical problem.

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (28 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please give some details.

Detailed Answer:
Hello.

Thank you for the query.

Can you please mention what was the reason for ileostomy creation? Why didnt they create colostomy during the first surgery? Was it a cancer? If so this might be tge main reason of weight loss.

Im looking forward to hearing from you.

Regards.

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

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (37 minutes later)

The reason for the ileostomy surgery was because she had colon cancer which created a tumor by her rectal region that had to be removed. They should have done the colostomy the first time but they went with the ileostomy first. After the surgery they said she was cancer free.

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Cancer recurence should be ruled out.

Detailed Answer:
First of all she should have abdominal CT and CEA to rule out possible cancer recurence.
Secondly she should try a medicine called Megace to stimulate her appetite. Special diet to avoid loose stool is necessary (banana, rice etc.). Loperamide can be use to make it hard as well.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad