My body is like shrinking no matter what I eat

Posted by Anmol @anmol, Jun 29, 2013

I suffer from theses symptoms from my childhood probably. I am 21 now. I have gone to various doctors but none could help me. I eat a lot and nothing of outside. No oily, fried, spicy food. And I don't have fast metabolism.

Symptoms-

1. General weakness

2. No growth in stamina

3. Very thin wrists and lower leg.

4. Pain in lower legs

4. In winters, legs and especially Hands get cold and white.

5. Hair are dry and breaks a lot, skin is also dull and dry.

6. No weight and Height growth since 4-5 years

7. I can see my lungs.

8. My buttock is flat and sitting makes it pain.

8. I go to toilet 3 times a day but sometimes it is 3 times in the morning and 2-3 times later in the day.

Why is that my body doesn't extract nutrition from the food I eat? Its like I eat, body extract energy for survival and it gets out. No growth.. As if my body is shrinking

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Anonymous | @anon88375104 | Jul 7, 2013

It sounds like you should have your thyroid checked.

Joana | @joana | Oct 8, 2013

In reply to @anon88375104 "It sounds like you should have your thyroid checked." + (show)

I would check for thyroid too and celiac

albuqanthony | @albuqanthony | Oct 9, 2013

find an experienced DOM, doctor of oriental medicine. by taking your pulses they can determine the energetics of your main organs. sounds like your spleen /pancreas might be very weak. also celiac for gluten sensitivity is something you should definitely be checked for. parasites are another possibility. I had giardia and became very weak and thin over 5 years because doctors and their tests could not diagnose it.. if you are not absorbing nutrients it will affect just about everything in your body.

redletterday | @sfe431 | Feb 23 10:17am

You should at the very least be tested for Vitamin D insufficiency. Lupus can also cause these symptoms. You mentioned metabolism but have you had your TSH checked ? It is vital that you see a doctor who will immediately tackle these symptoms. You don't want to deal with osteoporosis later in life. Best of luck to you. Make an appointment with a qualified physician.

james77 | @james77 | Feb 24 6:55am

Hi there…
I agree with being tested for Celiac disease, along with the Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. It could also be a metabolic disorder, which, I, at 48 years old, was just diagnosed with, and it has wreaked havoc on my life and body and brain since I was a child. There are so many possibilities, but I would start with a GI doctor, then, a rheumatologist (if still needed), and possibly seeing a geneticist for a metabolic/mitochondrial disorder. Good luck my friend!!! Keep us posted….

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Feb 24 2:30pm

In reply to @james77 "Hi there… I agree with being tested for Celiac disease, along with the Inflammatory Bowel Diseases...." + (show)

Hello @james77 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I appreciate you sharing your journey here on Connect. I see that you have recently been diagnosed with a metabolic disorder, after many years of symptoms.

As this is your first post on Connect, I'm wondering how you arrived at this diagnosis. Was it diagnosed by a GI doctor or a rheumatologist? Also, what type of symptoms led to this diagnosis?

venture | @venture | Feb 25 7:30am

You say “go to the toilet” multiple times a day. If this is for bowel movements. If yes, is it diarrhea and's extremely foul smelling. It is possible you have severe EPI. Pancreas gives enzymes to digest food. Not enough enzymes equals weight loss and most of your other symptoms which is what I also experienced. These enzymes are key to digest your food! Get an Elastase test ordered !

eileene7 | @eileene7 | Feb 28 6:25pm

In reply to @venture "You say “go to the toilet” multiple times a day. If this is for bowel movements...." + (show)

@venture thanks for sharing. I also have severely low pancreatic enzymes. Do you take creon 3xs per day with meals? Are you gaining weight? Do you feel better? Did you find out why you have epi? Im hoping to compare notes. Thank you.

venture | @venture | Mar 1 9:27am

I am type ONE diabetic for 50+ years. Fact- long term diabetics have a higher rate of EPI vs. the general population. I do have a small spot on my pancreas @head and unable to biopsy thru stomach due to it's location, they say not cancerous...yet, w/o anything more than thanks it's small size and depth to go by. But should go for MRI with contrast yearly. Contrast is not good for kidneys. I will push for a light dose for contrast going forward. I have moved on from an incompetent GI group to a better one so far. As for Creon dosage depends on your weight. And there are multiple size of creon pills. Adults typically take size 36000. And number depends on weight. Many are not taking enough. EX: a friend had much of his pancreas removed and only taking 2 x 24000. That's a child dosage....geeeez

venture | @venture | Mar 6 7:15am

I think I have had EPI for many years because my energy levels would go way down by 3pm. It was discovered 2 months after small intestinal blockages. But my EPI is different because I have the severe issue with proteins and carbs. Fats tested normal. Thus my poo was never loose. Drs should have done EPI lactase sooner. Now I eat 4 times per day because they say to eat small or moderate sized meals due to the enzymes you take are a fraction of what a healthy body naturally produces. This helps me keep my proper weight and helps me from being vitamin starved and levels my glucose. Maybe your Dr needs to prescribe enough enzymes for 4 real meals. *Always take enzymes after your 1st bite of food. This keeps the pills from being flushed out from your stomach. I still have some vitamin deficiency but better than before. I do take vitamins. I am no longer looking to nap at 3pm. NOW I have energy!