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What Causes Extreme Weight Loss?

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Posted on Thu, 10 Apr 2014
Question: DX'ed ehlers=danlos hyermobility 14 yrs ago age 59 now then 2-3 yrs ago dx'd 2 auto immune srogrens disease and hashimotos thyroiditis possibly 3 for a.i. both HOWEVER VERY BAD REPORTED MANY TIMES KEPT STEADILY LOSING WEIGHT OVER 2 YRS OR MORE? NOT HUGE AMTS BUT WHEN IT 7-10 COULDNT GAIN BACK(AM 5'6-1/2" WAS AT 129-130 NOW A SHOCKING VERY VERY SCARD ALL MUSCLE GONE TOO 95 LBS....NOBODY IS ACTING SAW LTR 2 YRS SAYING CANNOT ABSORB B12 WAS ENDOC THEN INSISTED ON G.I.............BUT HAVE JUST DONE MORE MERCK RESEARCH 35 LBS MASSIVEWEIGHT LOSS no discernbiile appetite forever seems like? FOR TINY BONED WOMAN....I THINK, NO KNOW!, A.I.. 's can pile up I THINK ONLY REASNABLE DX WOULLD BE .....DIABETES MELLIUTUS noone ever ordered blood glucose wth?? THE THIRST, SEEM TO HAVE MORE KIDNEY ISSUES isnt gastroparesis OR NOTHING WOULD GET THRU BOWEL BUT AM MORPH CONTIN 6 MG COMPLETELY 'CRATERD' DDD SPINE, ETC ETC GABAPENTIN X 900 NITE ONLY TITRATED MYSLEF DOWN TO 600 NOW constipation only real issue in stomach oh yes also on t3 cytomel and vit d3 ...cannot drive even anymore i HAD NO WEIGHT TO LOSE and now feel very scared (4:30 a.m. here so another possibilitiy too much adrenaline from STRESSORS from bad marital since i got this sick......think of anything will add on...this is malnourishment extreme if over 2 yrs......what say you pls
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (41 minutes later)
Brief Answer: Thyroid Detailed Answer: I am sorry to note your symptoms. I suggest you stop the cytomel (y3). Are you on levothyroxine? If so, continue. If not, do not take that yet. Regardless I would like to know your most recent blood test results for the following: TSH Free T4 TPO antibodies Thyroglobulin antibodies CBC CMP HbA1c This will help confirm if you still truly have Hashimoto's disease or not. If you do it will guide us how much levothyroxine you need. T3 cytomel is not recommended and is deemed unsafe for use by thyroid experts. It can cause weight loss if taken in amounts that exceed the body's requirements. The HbA1c will give us an idea if you have diabetes or not as it is a 3 month average of the blood glucose levels in the body. The CBC and CMP will be useful in looking other general causes of weight loss and the other complaints that you have.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (1 hour later)
I HAVE BEEN TREATED FOR HASHIS NOW FOR 3 YRS SO YES ON LEVOTHY ...WITHIN ONE ONE 2010 IT WENT FROM NORMAL IN JANUARY SKYROCKET TO 58!!! BY LATE NOVEMBER......IS THAT NUMBER EVEN SLIGHTLY NORMAL WITHIN THE HASHIMTOS OR DID IT CAUSE HYPO TO BECOME!! HASHI..I HAD ONLY BEEN ON .025 MCG ?? ALL BEFORE THAT AND IT STAYED FINE. they put me in a psychiatric ward and i have never gotten over that!! you cannot be bipolar MANIC that hypo sick! but anyway, i too think the t3 is not monitored closely enuff so will take out til next test ( do Vit. d3 with is that correct i should if so how much) last tsh 1.07 to me heading to hyper and have not got out to weakened for another have them monthly now since they think even tho organically ill they can put anyone as psychiatrically ill...could barely walk so how could i be manic ........back on track the hashi was DIAGNOSED BY A PROFESSOR AND UNIVERSITY OF XXXXXXX HOSPITL PROFESSOR sAS WAS srogrens at same time! it was nobody but ME researching and asking about T3 as they DO NEED TO BE TREATED just as free t4 sir AND YOU if dispute that pls say why ty what is Hba1c - as i have not done a fasting glucose - is it part of adrenal or thyroid panel? cbc was fine no cancer or overly leukocytes if you mean that not sure i can find ANY results tho had them recently any chance this is onset of MS or Lupus etc..... ie i know pure speculation on your part but....what ARE THE BIG WEIGH LOSER TYPE MORE AUTO IMMUNES one can get.....in your opion say YOUR TOP 3 that cause over 2-3 yrs steady loss til now dangerously no appetite and likely nutritioin way bad due to that and srogrens no chewing teeth left but soy whey protein replacement......... any resultws i have are below beside the ones you wrote...and whatever is nothing he ddint do,,,,,,PLS TELL ME THEIR NAMES WHAT TTESTING FOR MUST SLEEP NOW BUT AWAIT YOUR REPLY TY!!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (14 hours later)
Brief Answer: Follow up Detailed Answer: 1 If your TSH truly XXXXXXX to 58 once, then it is extremely likely that you have a permanently underactive thyroid ie hypothyroidism, that will require you to take levothyroxine for life. The evidence for this is the latest ATA (American Thyroid Association) guideline that reinforces the previous recommendation that levothyroxine alone suffices for the treatment of hypothyroidism. 2 HbA1c as I explained earlier is an average of the last 3 months glucose levels in the blood. You are welcome to do a fasting blood glucose along with it. 3 There are limited number of endocrine causes of unintentional weight loss: 1 hyperthyroidism : which you dont have based on the reports you have shared 2 over treated hypothyroidism: which again you dont have because your TSH is around 1 3 Hypercalcemia = high blood calcium. I suggest you get that checked 4 Pheochromocytoma is a rare and typically benign adrenal tumor that causes episodes of high blood pressure with headache, palpitations, chest pain and sweating. A blood test called plasma fractionated metanephrines can screen for it. 5 Uncontrolled diabetes: Once you get your glucose checked, we will know If you do not have any of the above, you should consult your Internist to investigate further, as I am a specialist physician dealing with endocrine problems only.
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.

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

Endocrinologist

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 1663 Questions

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What Causes Extreme Weight Loss?

Brief Answer: Thyroid Detailed Answer: I am sorry to note your symptoms. I suggest you stop the cytomel (y3). Are you on levothyroxine? If so, continue. If not, do not take that yet. Regardless I would like to know your most recent blood test results for the following: TSH Free T4 TPO antibodies Thyroglobulin antibodies CBC CMP HbA1c This will help confirm if you still truly have Hashimoto's disease or not. If you do it will guide us how much levothyroxine you need. T3 cytomel is not recommended and is deemed unsafe for use by thyroid experts. It can cause weight loss if taken in amounts that exceed the body's requirements. The HbA1c will give us an idea if you have diabetes or not as it is a 3 month average of the blood glucose levels in the body. The CBC and CMP will be useful in looking other general causes of weight loss and the other complaints that you have.