Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

What Causes Low Appetite And Weight Loss In A Heart Patient?

My husband has along history of lung & cardiac disease, including mi, cabg, aicd, heart failure, ef 25-35, copd, sob hypoxia with minimum exertion. He had surgical removal of small section of lung 2nd to small cell carcinoma abut 4 years ago. Negative scans lately. Has a thickening of inside small intestine, about midway & unable to biopsy, but shows no changes for 3 yrs. He is also on Lisinopril as a vasodialator to Help with circulation, even with some hypotension (normal BP runs around 90/50; on Lisinopril BP has been challenging, sometimes dropping to 60/?, & causing symptoms. Cardiologist has him on minimum dose to provide cardiac benefit w/o hypotensive issues. Since July, he has had no appetite, steadily lost weight (220 - 175), feels weak, & is emaciated. A couple Mos ago, he had a thoracentisis, removEd 1 liter. Had atypical cells, but not cancerous. No recurrence. Does also have chronic posterior/lateral right side pain which has progressively become worse & is unrelieved wit ultram q 4 hrs. Doctors don,t seem concerned about it since nothing shows up on scans. Now for the question... could his wgt loss & poor appetite be cardiac cachecia? What can we do? Would cannabis help him? Please give me any advice you can. It looks like he is starving to death in spite of everything.
Wed, 16 Jan 2019
Report Abuse
Addiction Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Hello,

Ok, cannot say in this particular case without directly being there. AND. there's simple tests to work this out.

First, the thoracentesis has a LOT more information than what you can give: if there is inflammation, if there is a lot of protein/blood/cells then there is a LOT of loss of tissue and protein there.

If it is like WATER, then, 1) it isn't cancer and 2) the surgery changes the dynamics and that leads to increased pressure in the area left and forces out water.

Not terrible, fixable with particular diuretics probably but you'd have some hypotension and his physicians know what they are doing. I can't say, but I suspect they do.

Change in appetite without obvious loss of energy (like with fever) or tissue (with loss of protein or glucose in fluid/urine/etc) is usually depression.

This can be from a lot of medical problems, from the medications or just a lot of happening.

Cardiac cachexia is easy--there's increased work and just checking the respiration is both the diagnosis and most of the cause.

If someone looks like they've run a sprint, they are burning up a lot of calories. If it isn't OBVIOUS, then it isn't occurring.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Take care

Regards,
Dr Matt Wachsman, Addiction Medicine Specialist
I find this answer helpful
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Loading Online Doctors....
What Causes Low Appetite And Weight Loss In A Heart Patient?

Hello, Ok, cannot say in this particular case without directly being there. AND. there s simple tests to work this out. First, the thoracentesis has a LOT more information than what you can give: if there is inflammation, if there is a lot of protein/blood/cells then there is a LOT of loss of tissue and protein there. If it is like WATER, then, 1) it isn t cancer and 2) the surgery changes the dynamics and that leads to increased pressure in the area left and forces out water. Not terrible, fixable with particular diuretics probably but you d have some hypotension and his physicians know what they are doing. I can t say, but I suspect they do. Change in appetite without obvious loss of energy (like with fever) or tissue (with loss of protein or glucose in fluid/urine/etc) is usually depression. This can be from a lot of medical problems, from the medications or just a lot of happening. Cardiac cachexia is easy--there s increased work and just checking the respiration is both the diagnosis and most of the cause. If someone looks like they ve run a sprint, they are burning up a lot of calories. If it isn t OBVIOUS, then it isn t occurring. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Take care Regards, Dr Matt Wachsman, Addiction Medicine Specialist