QuestionMy mother is 81 and has lost twenty pounds in the last six months. She weighs only 92 lbs now. We do not know what is causing this. She is not in any pain anywhere, but has constipation which she has never had before. She would not go to see the doctor until yesterday and he told her that losing this much weight means that something is causing it. He said it could be something serious or it may not be. He took a blood test and chest X-rays. He mentioned her having a colonscopy where they go up in your colon with a light and look around later on and scheduled her next appointment for a month from now. Do you have any idea what kinds of medical conditions could be causing this weight loss? Also, what will the blood test show? Thank you.
AnswerDo you have any idea what kinds of medical conditions could be causing this weight loss? Usually at this age it is cancer or diabetes.
Also, what will the blood test show?
If diabetes or cancer the tests will indicated the correct answer with that much weight loss. They could do an abdominal and chest CT scan if they think she would not tolerate a colonoscopy but the colonoscopy will give the most direct answer regarding constipation.
Ask the doctor if she could take the nutrient replacement list:
Omega 3 Fish Oil 1000 mg caps Start with two (2) caplets twice daily. e.g. TriOmega, Nordic Naturals (goal is 1000-2000 mg of total EPA and DHA daily)
High Potency B Complex (B-50, B100 or B150), Start with one (1) tablet twice daily.
Multivitamin (for age and gender), one (1) tablet daily.
Magnesium Oxide 250 mg tabs Start with two (2) tabs (500mg) twice daily.
Calcium 500 mg with Vit D tabs, Start with one (1) tablet twice daily OR Caltrate with vitamin D 1000 mg daily; (Do not take calcium within 4 hours of thyroid dose)
Vitamin C 1000 mg Start with one (1) tablet twice daily.
