Extreme weight loss, cannot eat. No diagnosis yet.

Thanks for your reply. I have to at least gain back 25 pounds to get to a reasonable weight. Gastroparesis does not sound very encouraging. How do you manage it.

I also have Gastroparesis with a redundant colon and lost 30 pounds last year. I'm 52 y/o and have had chronic constipation my entire life. Finally, I have come to the conclusion that my body is happier if I only eat one meal a day, preferably a late lunch. I have to be carful not to eat too much or I get severe bloating, pain and constipation. My constipation would last 8-10 days with painful b/m's. My doctors tried just about everything possible. I decided I would stop taking all the medications since nothing worked for longer than a month or two. The key to being regular 2-3 days between b/m s (for me) is a very limited diet. I no longer get hunger pangs or feel deprived. My body is now used to eating 1 meal a day or total quantity of 1 meal per day. If I eat more I will get severe constipation and pain. I just want to let people know that you really need to listen to your body and adjust to what It wants or doesn't want. This is what has been working for me lately.

Eating less and making sure I eat low fat and low fiber foods. If a food makes the stomach hurt at night- like pizza and salads do for me, I just cut them out. I am still learning.

I have had tests done such as Ct Scan enterography and barium meal test. The tests came back normal. My GI doctor refuses to pass other tests and referred me to my family Dr. My family Dr is useless and referred me to pain management clinic. I am still having trouble eating and loosing weight I weigh about 90 lbs or less. I went to a private clinic to see ( I live in Montreal, Canada) an emergency Dr. He sent me for blood tests. Since about 3 weeks I am having trouble walking. I had knee replacement surgery in my right knee Oct 2015. The operation was not a success I developed severe scar tissue. I could manage to walk but with pain. The other knee needs surgery. In my condition I cannot go for surgery. I have constant burning in my knees and limited to walking around the house. I wonder if the stomach and pain in knees is a condition that is over looked. The drs seem to think these are separate medical issues. any opinions or suggestions. I am 70 years old

@filiond - I posted here in April, suggesting your blood supply to the intestines was abnormal. The problem I referred is MALS- when the important celiac artery in your abdomen is compressed by a ligament. You get severe abdominal pain after eating and most people lose a lot of weight. Was this discussed?

When I spoke to the gastro dr in April I mentioned to her about mals she said she was aware of this condition I thought the tests she gave me ct scan enteropathy and barium meal were to detect this condition
She never contacted me she sent me an email saying she was not available and to contact my family dr. Who is not much use. I am seeing a new private dr for blood work and will mention mals
Thank you again

@filiond - Thank you for your quick response. I am not sure that even many gastroenterologists are very familiar with the illness- it is rare. They would first do a Doppler ultrasound to check the blood flow in the abdomen. That’s an easy test. To confirm a finding they would do a CT angiogram- also looking at blood vessels. I think you deserve to have every possibility checked instead of going to pain management and continue to lose weight. Good luck!

Sorry for your dilemma. Not being able to eat is quite scary. I am wondering, did you use excessive over the counter pain medications like ibuprofen, Aleve, Advil and the like? If so, you may have destroyed your stomach and gut which maybe the cause of your inability to eat. I did this myself due to life-long migraines. I got down to 103 at age 60. I was 138. Did you have an endoscopy? Without the endoscopy, I would never have known the cause of my severe weight loss. The medications made my stomach produce too much collagen to protect it from burning itself but then I could not eat, nor absorb nutrients. Please consider the possibility. I am not a medical doctor, but it appears they may be overlooking a rare disorder which is on the rise. Collagenous Gastritis is the diagnosis I have. My best to you in finding the cause. Don’t wait....

I had similar symptoms.
I am not a doctor and I cannot diagnosis but I will share my experience:
Extreme pain not long after I ate.
Diarrhea.
My daughter was an Registered Dietitian at a university hospital. (Virginia)
She later became a physician’s assistant and asked what my GIs treatment plan was:
1. Biopsy
2. Breath test at a hospital
3. Allergy testing
4. I don’t remember!! long ago😇
I was diagnosed with celiac disease.
Allergic to wheat in any product!

What a relief. Just eat gluten free. Phew!
Gluten Free For Dummies is a great book: my bible which I have memorized.

OK, I am not perfect. I have a favorite candy and I over indulged in it: Guest what!
After consuming a LOT of these candies I paid a penalty! Montezuma’s revenge. This candy contains wheat!!

Celiac is easy to manage if you read the label ...
And do not eat anything with wheat in it😡even favorite candy.
P.S. I wonder if I could eat one or two a day🤫

@helenfrancis I think you would still notice it maybe in belly aches and gas bloating some If you want chocolate on Vitacost there is a Hemp chocolate dark that is good and I dont think there is any wheat in it .