My husband is being scheduled for a EGD. At least it's a start. He is 42. His symptoms are:

1. Major weight loss......27lbs in two months. He eats but feels sick after 2 bites so he stops eating.

2. Constipation/Diahrea

3. Nausea....but what food eaten has stayed down.

4. Fatigue

He has suffered from heartburn most his adult life but the last 4 months he's only needed a Rolaid maybe 4 times. Even able to stop taking the daily medications. He is a smoker.

Has anyone had/have these symptoms and acid reflux been the cause? My mind is leaning towards something more serious. Thanks in advace for your help.

Vicky

Preface: I'm not a doctor! :D


If your husband has been suffering frequent heartburn for years on end, I'd be concerned about GERD. But, the general symptoms sound leaning toward something more bowel-related, or maybe gall bladder. Hopefully not a combination of things, either.

Good luck and God bless!

I would get it checked out as soon as possible.. this sounds like something way more than heartburn. I knew someone who had similar symptoms, and while it could be one of many things, in his case he had a tumor obstructing his bowels which made it very difficult for him to eat. Like I said, it could be other things as well, but definitely get it checked out.

Sounds like possible gastroparesis too... has his diet changed? Does he belch alot or taste food several hours after eating? Either that or could be intestinal... causing malabsorption. I'm guessing it might be more gastroparesis though because if the food sits there it can cause nausea.. does he feel nausiated right after eating?

Thank You for your replies!

His diet hasn't changed at all. NOTHINGS CHANGED. The dr was Very focused on the smoking in the begining of the exam. The dr looked back and saw that there was a minimum of 27lb wieght loss since last visit and we explained my husband works construction so in the winter he puts on weight and looses it in the summer AND All that weight PLUS the 27 lbs are gone and it's only JUNE His face is sunken and his shoulders bones stick out. We got the call today that the blood work they did came back normal but were still waiting to get the call to schedule the EGD. Hopefully they will call tomorrow. Thanks again for your replies.

Vicky

Does he ever burp up food? Does he choke in the middle of the night while he's sleeping? Does he cough in the middle of the night while he's sleeping?

No dont believe he burps up food. But the coughing and choking while he's sleeping he has done. Not recently and not enough that it would of concerned us. Just figured it was due to the smoking. It's been months since he's done this....as far as I know. Does this mean something?

They at least they called today to let us know he is scheduled on June 21st at 1130 for the EGD. I called his dr on my way home to let them know that today he was dizzy and got the "shakes." It's very hot here and with him working outside he will loose 10 more lbs by then unless he gives him something to help him eat. I'm going tonight to get instant breakfast drinks and protien drinks and hope he likes them and will drink them. I'm at a loss for what to do for him and trying not to show how worried I am FOR HIM. Guess when he finds out I'm calling his dr for ANSWERS, he'll be suspicious.

Vicky

I have had gastritis, bleeding ulcers, but more importantly...something called acalasia. It causes all of the symptoms that I mentioned above. I went from 138 lbs. to 89 lbs. in 6 months. It was life changing and required surgery.

I am glad that you are trying to find some answers. I was on a liquid/soft foods diet for a while, while my stomach was healing. Mashed potatoes settled well...no gravy. Creamy soups also worked. He needs to eat often, but just a little bit each time. I was eating 7-8 small meals a day and that really helped. They say that that is the best way to eat anyway... I will pray for you and your husband. :angel:

peipaws.. if he gets worst, demand that they up the appointment for his tests.. and if that doesn't work, you may want to think about just going to the ER to get some immediate answers.

Thank you sooooo much for your replies. I'm writing everything down also so that when he has the scope done Wed's I can ask the dr myself. Will they let me be in the room while they do this? I'm hoping if I'm in the room I will be able to tell if they're focusing on a area of concern or if they do biopsy of a area. Will they give us their "results" of if they found anything or not before we leave? I hate it when they have to forward on to the dr and wait for them to call.

My husband's lost an additional 4lbs. Trying to feed him food he loves. Not sure how good it is for him but if he likes it he will eat more.

Thanks again and hopefully we'll have a answer to what is causing all of this on Wed.

Vicky

I just wanted to take the time and let you know that my husband's EGD went well. Like I thought, the dr who performed it didn't think anything that he saw would cause the weight loss/nausea issues. He's impression's that he noted on the report were hiatus hernia, non-bleeding erosive gastropathy and 1cm tongue of columnar appearing mucosa distal esophagus biopsied r/o Barrett's. He did order a abdominal/pelvic CT scan while we were there. Now we just have to wait on the call for the results.

Thank you everyone for your replies. This board help to educate me so I understood what the dr was saying as he said it. I didn't have to run home and look it up on the internet. You were a big help.

Vicky