Brief Answer:
Causes to weight loss, dysequilibrium, and fatigue

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

There are a number of possible causes to your symptoms...in fact, far too many to simply list. It is also very likely that all 3 symptoms you mention could be related to or contribute to each of the other symptoms, make sense?

In other words, a person who is losing weight might imply that they are not properly nourished or not absorbing what they're taking in, or not processing what they're absorbing which in turn can result in an inability to maintain energy levels in the body causing fatigue. Being fatigued and tired could themselves be contributing causes to poor balance since this requires energy, stamina, and attention/concentration which will be compromised by the fatigue and weight loss.

There are many other ways to put these symptoms together as well depending on what else may be going on.

One of the most common causes of unintentional weight loss, however, in most people over age 65 would be the presence of some type of body illness and the one probably most likely on everyone's mind these days would be cancer of some type. However, guess which kind of cancer is impossible simply based upon the given information. On the other hand, it could be a digestive problem having to do with poor absorption, diarrhea, or just poor nutritional intake due to excessive intake of things such as alcohol or other toxic drugs or substances.

Sometimes medications can cause all of the above symptoms simply by way of causing side effects and so that should be looked at.

Finally, psychiatric illness or psychological states of distress such as depression, anxiety, fear, anger/irritability can alter one's appetite, and cause these symptoms very easily and so if a metabolic and physical workup fails to reveal anything then, this possibility must be considered.

Your next move young lady needs to be a visit to a good general doctor or internist who will get the specific details as to when this all started, other accompanying symptoms such as headaches, joint pains, and changes in lifestyle or living situation, perform a good physical examination that will likely focus on the GI tract, the brain, spinal cord, and then, blood work to look for evidence of anemia, inflammatory diseases, and infections. Issues such as acute anemic, bone marrow failure, celiac disease, and thyroid/adrenal disease are just a few things the doctor will strive to rule out and are easily detectable.

But you must start the ball rolling by choosing a good doctor who will look at all those symptoms collectively as well as individually in order to make sense out of what may seem to be a confusing picture to you right now.

In the meantime, please stay well hydrated with fluids and liquids such as water, juice, or milk...make sure you are consuming at least a healthy diet of 1500-2000 calories daily.

Hope I have answered your query.

Regards,
Dr. Dariush Saghafi, Neurologist

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