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IBS and Weight Loss???

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 5/4/2009 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
Has anyone with IBS had weight loss in the range of 20 lbs with BM's that sometimes float?

I've had every test under the sun and no solution. They've ruled out everything, but I've still dumped 20 lbs. in two months.

Has this happened to anyone else?????
Posted 5/5/2009 12:27 AM (GMT 0)
I've dropped close to 10 pounds in a matter of a few months because of nearly constant diarrhea and because I was too sick/freaked out to eat while at work. It was terrible. I'm only 125 pounds as is and I felt very weak all the time.

Have you had all the testing done to rule out any other conditions? Some other digestive illnesses such as Chrohns and UC are more apt to cause dramatic weight loss than IBS. In any event, I would call my doctor if I lost that much weight that quickly just to make sure nothing else healthwise was going on with me.

Posted 5/5/2009 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the reply. Yes, I've had an abdominal ultrasound, EGD, colonoscopy, CT scan, multiple stool and blood tests, and a small bowel follow through. Everything has come back normal with exception to a mild case of diverticulosis. The biopsies of the small and large bowel for things like Crohn's or Celiac were also negative. Both my GP and GI...not to mention me...are at a loss right now.
Posted 5/5/2009 9:31 PM (GMT 0)

Chase1313,

Have you or your doctors considered SIBO? It stands for Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth.  It is diagnosed using the Hydrogen Breath Test and is treated with antibiotics.  I lost 34 pounds over a period of 2-3 months.  It started with food poisoning.  Anyways, I had all of the same tests with all of the same results.  Finally, I had the breath test which came back positive and am being treated with antibiotics.  Not all of the symptoms are gone, but I definetly feel better than I did and my weight is currently stable.  Look it up online and see if the symptoms sound familiar.

Posted 5/7/2009 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
MommaHolmz,

Thanks for the info. What antibiotic are you taking? My Doc just mentioned something about SIBO and I was curious what meds you would be taking. Thanks.
Posted 5/7/2009 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
Typically it is treated with Xifaxan (rifaximin), which I have taken several times but I've also tried Augmentin.  Both help, but the problem isn't completely resolved yet.

Posted 5/8/2009 4:36 PM (GMT 0)
I went from 225lbs to 184lbs in 6 weeks when I was sick in December 2006. I was going to the bathroom 20-30 times a day. I was diagnosed with UC. I am now up to 189lbs. I could gain more weight I suppose but I watch what I eat and exercise more.
Posted 6/5/2009 10:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,
After an episode on gastro which lasted for arnd 3 months I have had all the symptoms related to a malfunction digestive system.In the first two months I lost about 10 kgs [60 kg to 50 kg].I had grumbling,weakness,disturbed sleep,slime in stool and heaviness in head.It was more severe till noon after which I felt better.
All the gastroentrologists I met concluded it was IBS.
I did the following tests:
colonoscopy
endoscopy
Barium Xray
Blood tests,HIV tests
Songraphy
and all returned normal.

Most of the days I feel as if the food is still there in the stomach and I am going to puke it out.I feel very dull during mornings and tired most of the time.I have restricted my food to non-spicy foods.I have also developed a painless ulcers on the inside of my cheeks that changes texture on days I have a bad tummy.
Additionally I also feel heat around the skin surface of ears,eyes etc.
Puking out on an empty stomach shows some yellow liquid[once in a week].[I actually feel better after that]
Presently I am able to go to office after being home for nealy 6 months,though somedays I break.
I have been avoiding friends and all social functions either due to reduced energy levels or fear of another episode of gastro.
I sometimes feel the doctors don't understand my situation.
And I am not ready to accept it as just a collection of symptoms .I am sure my digestive system is not working.
Posted 6/8/2009 1:29 AM (GMT 0)

My weight fluctuates up and down quite rapidly all the time. I have Lupus, RSD, IBS, Acid Reflux and Thyroid disease. The Thyroid disease causes my weight to go up and down, but the other diseases make it all worse too.

I was 120 lbs and now I am down to 107 in a matter of a few weeks. I hope you can figure out what is causing all of your weight loss, it sucks being sick.

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