I'm losing weight unintentionally and am worried

[Anonymous]

Backstory:

I have been having loose stools for more than 3 years now. Saw a GI doctor and had a CT scan in 2023, a colonoscopy and endoscopy this year in October - precancerous polyps found in both colon and stomach and removed. Inflammation throughout colon, stomach and esophagus. Mild gastritis. Am on Omeprazole since last month.

There was an inconclusive adhesion in the peritoneum in the CT scan from 2023 and as a follow up, since symptoms did not go away - (stomach pain, diarrhea)I had an MRI Jan 2025, which showed an IPMN in the branch duct in tail of pancreas.

In June I had an MRCP which showed cyst was stable.

In May, I was 154 lbs during my annual visit and also diagnosed prediabetic, so I decided to add walking to my routine and did it for first 3 weeks of July.

In Aug, 2nd week, I suddenly lost weight and had severe burning pain, pins and needles. I checked weight since I wasn't feeling good and could also notice a difference in the mirror. I was 146 lbs.

Coincidentally I had an appointment with cyst clinic in August and I mentioned this and the doctor ignored my concerns saying it is not related to pancreas. She did not examine me, had the wrong report from Jan, not June and basically acted like I was wasting her time in those 5 minutes. I asked if an endoscopic u/s could be done and she said only if I had the genes. Genetic tests said I was negative for the genes she was looking for

I had another appointment with her colleague in October, who also ignored me and put me on nortryptiline and said I had IBS - did not examine me wherever I have pain (all around my belly button and right side of torso)

I have pins and needles and pricking pinching pulling feeling now and then, heartburn and am now getting headaches occasionally and feel nauseous.

Based on a doctor friend's advice, I stopped taking the nortryptiline after 10 days since I started feeling drowsy and dizzy with slurring in my speech and needing to drink many cups of water if I was talking with someone.

On Nov 22 I checked my weight and I was 144 lbs. Today Dec 2nd, 10 days later, I am 136 lbs - I lost 8 lbs again.

I haven't walked since July and no change to diet since July.

Totally since May I have lost 16 lbs unintentionally, but losing 8 lbs in 10 days this week has me freaking out. I took pictures on my phone 10 days ago and again today. I honestly thought all the holiday food would have made me gain weight.

I'm at a loss what to do since both doctors in cyst clinic said I don't need to come back for a year or more.

Do I need an endoscopic ultrasound to monitor the IPMN? Could it be something else? What tests should I ask for?

I will be seeing the primary care doctor next week.

[Anonymous]

Go back to your GP

[Anonymous]

Put this in. ChatGPT , I’m not kidding

[Anonymous]

I lost a lot of weight unintentionally after being diagnosed prediabetic. It was because I started eating better and eliminated practically all junk and snack food. I could tell I was losing weight because I was hungry at night and when I woke up. Are you eating less? Or different lower calorie foods? Are you counting your calories (roughly)? If you are eating less than 2,000 per day, your weight loss is explained.

[Anonymous]

I would be very worried about cancer , and would consider going to the ER rather than waiting on your primary care doctor to refer you to someone else, wait to get another scan, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be very worried about cancer , and would consider going to the ER rather than waiting on your primary care doctor to refer you to someone else, wait to get another scan, etc.

Will they do scans in ER just for weight loss and abdominal pain?

[Anonymous]

My back also hurts.

[Anonymous]

Where were these dismissive specialists? A hospital? What clinic?
You need someone else. Hard to say where not knowing where they gave short shrift.
But yes, an ER in a major hospital might be the easy button.
Johns Hopkins Kimel is at Sibley. Medstar has
https://www.medstarhealth.org/locations/the-center-for-liver-and-pancreas-surgery-medstar-georgetown-university-hospital

Inova Fairfax is a Center of Excellence.

Good luck, OP. Let us know how you are doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would be very worried about cancer , and would consider going to the ER rather than waiting on your primary care doctor to refer you to someone else, wait to get another scan, etc.

Will they do scans in ER just for weight loss and abdominal pain?

RN here. Yes BUT if everything comes back normal, they are very likely to just discharge you and to tell you to follow up with a specialist. They likely aren't going to take the time to try to diagnose anything unless your labs are out of whack or you're unable to keep anything down (I say unlikely but I've also seen people admitted for less). They will likely just rule out anything emergent and/or critical and then have you follow up. Which isn't necessarily a bad way to get a CT scan, I just don't want you to get your hopes up too much that you'll walk out with any answers.

[Anonymous]

Go to a gastroenterologist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Put this in. ChatGPT , I’m not kidding

I did and it asked me to push for an endoscopic ultrasound since it is warranted with my history and asked me to ask my PCP for some blood tests -cbc, cmp, tsh+free t4, a1c, malabsorption and inflammation workup - crp plus esr, lgg4, stool tests for pancreatic elastase,fecal calprotectin, stool fat, giarda antigen, stool o&p, hpylori, b12, vit d, folate, magnesium, lipase and amylase,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My back also hurts.

Time for another mri.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where were these dismissive specialists? A hospital? What clinic?
You need someone else. Hard to say where not knowing where they gave short shrift.
But yes, an ER in a major hospital might be the easy button.
Johns Hopkins Kimel is at Sibley. Medstar has
https://www.medstarhealth.org/locations/the-center-for-liver-and-pancreas-surgery-medstar-georgetown-university-hospital

Inova Fairfax is a Center of Excellence.

Good luck, OP. Let us know how you are doing.

Johns Hopkins - I was given nortryptiline saying I have depression and IBS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would be very worried about cancer , and would consider going to the ER rather than waiting on your primary care doctor to refer you to someone else, wait to get another scan, etc.

Will they do scans in ER just for weight loss and abdominal pain?

RN here. Yes BUT if everything comes back normal, they are very likely to just discharge you and to tell you to follow up with a specialist. They likely aren't going to take the time to try to diagnose anything unless your labs are out of whack or you're unable to keep anything down (I say unlikely but I've also seen people admitted for less). They will likely just rule out anything emergent and/or critical and then have you follow up. Which isn't necessarily a bad way to get a CT scan, I just don't want you to get your hopes up too much that you'll walk out with any answers.

I have an MRI due in Jan for my IPMN. But I feel this heaviness on my right side like as if something is there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lost a lot of weight unintentionally after being diagnosed prediabetic. It was because I started eating better and eliminated practically all junk and snack food. I could tell I was losing weight because I was hungry at night and when I woke up. Are you eating less? Or different lower calorie foods? Are you counting your calories (roughly)? If you are eating less than 2,000 per day, your weight loss is explained.

I'm not eating less - in fact in the last 10 days I ate more because of the holidays and meeting friends. I'm not counting calories though.