Hi, I'm 20 years old, male. For as long as I can remember, I've always been really thin. I'm 5'10, never weighing more than 130. It seemed like no matter how much I ate... I couldn't put on weight, which I know sounds like a dream to some. Over the past few months my appetite has been suppressed due to depression, and I've lost some weight from that. I now weigh 117, the lowest I've weighed since I was younger. My appetite is back... and I'm eating more, but I'm almost positive I won't gain much.

Anyway... it's always seemed like a cycle: I'd eat, gain weight... then when I go to the bathroom I lose that same weight. People have told me "Oh you probably just have a fast metabolism". Others have said it may be IBS, but I haven't read "difficulty gaining weight" as a symptom of IBS.

Does any know anything that may cause this?

I REALLY feel your pain! I am now 27 yrs. old. I am 5'10''. From the time I was born (as mom reports, me too) I pass very large hard stools. I have A LOT of trouble gaining weight. Before 26, I would weigh between 118- 124 lbs... then I would have a bowel movement and drop a few. My frustration was comlicated by people's lack of empathy, "Well, aren't YOU so lucky..." ect... Coversely, Dr.'s comments were, "Sooooo, what kind of diet are you on, exactly?"... hinting that I had an eating disorder. It hurt when any person who felt like it commented on my body. You are soooooo thin.

BUT, around 22, I noticed how abnormal my GI track was. Constant gas. If I ate a full meal, I fely horribly ill. I wouldn't have a bowel movement for days, making me unable to eat anymore. BLood showed in my stool, along with a bout of constipation that lasted 3 weeks. I was impacted and though I had period cramps. I had a colonoscopy which is not AS BAD as it sounds (not as bad as my largest bowel movement). They removed a very large polyp, and since then I've been better. I am still thin, but do not get "do you eat" comments. I still have GI difficulty, but am a little better.


BOTTOM LINE: YOU ARE NOT TO YOUNG FOR A GI CONSULTATION/ COLONOSCOPY!!!!!!! You are your best and only true advocate!!!

Hey apesb, thanks a lot for your reply. I also tend to get the "OMG you're so skinny!" remarks. I can't tell you how many girls have said to me "You can have all my fat!" and things like that. The other night, this acquaintance of mine was like "You need to eat more"... and I go "Yeeah", just trying to avoid the subject because I hate it when people bring it up. And she goes "No really, you need to eat more." And it's so irritating. No one has ever implied that I had an eating disorder... but I probably look like I could.

My problem seems to be the opposite of yours... I go to the bathroom frequently, about 3 times a day... and it's not runny, but mushy (sorry TMI). But also when I eat a full meal, I don't really get ill... but I get really tired and really lazy feeling. I made an appointment with my primary care physician, but it's not until Nov. 21st. Do you know if he is even the person I should see for this? Who does the colonoscopy? I'm not really worried about having to have one... I just want to find out what's wrong with me. My biggest fear is that I have celiac's disease... and I REALLY REALLY don't want it. I'd hate to have to watch what I eat... since over the years I've been trying to eat anything and everything to put on weight. Who does a GI consultation?

Thanks again for your post!

If you are not having any troubles such as irritation or pain, why would you be real concerned? Seems you just lost weight because your weren't eating.

I was always thin; could eat anything without trouble.

But when you get to 30, you'll find out alot of that all changes. :eek:

Then you'll be wanting to lose like everyone else! :rolleyes:

I weighed consistently 125 for my adult life (maybe from 16 on), until I was around 30. Then started gaining weight (no difference in habits). I ended up at 160 by 35 (still look OK, but it was disconcerting). I'm more like 151 now, but that's because of the dreaded acid-reflux problems I've had the last year.

I lost some weight because I wasn't eating... but to begin with I still didn't feel healthy as far as weight... I've always been extremely underweight. I mean, there's really no changes in my appearance from the last 10 pounds i've lost. And when I did eat... it seemed no matter how much I ate, I wouldn't gain anything. So I don't know if there's something wrong with my stomach, though there is no pain. I just don't want to be emaciated until I'm 30.