To be worried about my weight loss?

[Helpme6352617]

Hi everyone.
I have recently been very very stressed out about my health.
I had a colonoscopy and gastroscopy on Monday which was normal thank god, only a sliding hiatal hernia.
A few months back I was 13.7 stone, then I was 13 stone (not trying, one of the reasons for my gastroscopy and colonoscopy).
I had the prep last Sunday and the procedure on Monday. I have been eating normally since the procedure. I weighed myself today and I am now 12.5 stone. I also had an upper abdominal scan which was normal.
I am getting extremely worried that there is something seriously wrong somewhere else in my body, I have an extended hours GP appointment tomorrow.
For reference I am 30 years old, I have a 4 year old and a 15 month old who still breastfeeds day and night.
Has anyone ever lost weight like this through stress? And it not be something like cancer?
I am just beside myself.

Me too

What’s your appetite like?

I lost a lot of weight breastfeeding- down to 54 kg from 65 . Please don’t panic your body is just doing it’s amazing job x the pharmacist was able to direct me to some supplements that really helped until I regained when I stopped feeding x

Have you been tested for Crohn’s?

Probably breastfeeding, I dipped to just under 8 stone when I was breastfeeding, I’m 5ft4.

Yes. Absolutely. I could have written this myself about 10 years ago. It was awful and my heart goes out to you.

I had a three-year-old and almost one-year-old at the time. I was still breastfeeding and could feel a lump in my stomach. I had a couple of scans and needed to wait a while for it to be confirmed non-cancerous. My weight dropped from around 9st to under 8st. My mum was shocked when she saw me (it happened quickly) and a doctor friend of mine couldn’t get across the room fast enough to see if I was OK when we met socially at a party. Like you, I was convinced it must be cancer. Now I can see it for exactly what it was - the stress of looking after two young children, health anxiety, and the calorific demands of feeding a growing child.

By all means speak to your doctor about your concerns, but I wanted to share my story in the hope it reassures you xx

Very up and down!

I had 5 random colon biopsy’s taken, would this test for chrons x

Stress can cause weight loss. But if you don't own scales do you know what your weight had been like over the last few years? My weight can fluctuate by half a stone before my period. You could have had a stomach upset, lost some weight, realised, then the worry is causing you to lose your appetite and lose even more weight.

I understand why you’re worried, but the first drop could have been baby weight plus breastfeeding and the second, still breastfeeding. You need to be eating a lot more than normal to replace those calories. Good fats, protein etc. I was awfully thin when my first was around 1 and only started to gain weight when he stopped bf.

To give a bit more reassurance. I have had the colonoscopy prep a few times and it can make you lose quite a bit of weight if you have been even slightly constipated. Even if you didn't feel it. Add in to that, I usually always lose half a stone in the run up to Christmas just with the extra running about and maybe not snacking as much as I am busier. So could also be that for you.

Thank you, I’m not drip feeding here I just didn’t know if it was relevant, I’m now over 1 year dairy free as my daughter is allergic. Therefore I don’t eat the same as I used to. However, I had no weight loss up until late last year, so really don’t think it’s anything to do with that. I’m just so down at the moment.

can it really? I’ve been eating a lot since to be honest and passing stools twice a day, I passed s stool the morning after, I didn’t expect to as I was empty. My bowel prep score was 10/10 🙈

The only time I have lost weight without trying was when I was extremely anxious. I thought I was eating properly, I’m sure I wasn’t. Plus I imagine I was burning a lot more calories from the stress and worry.

I think it’s quite likely that you’re not eating enough calories to maintain a weight of 13 stone ish.

If you’re average height and reasonably active, you would probably need to eat around 2000 calories a day to maintain a weight of 13 stone. You could easily lose up to a couple of pound a week eating toast, a chicken sandwich and then dinner or only something light if you’re stressed… and then there’s the stress and the procedure you had done on top which will add to the weight loss.

I went through a period of stress when my kids were young and had various symptoms including weight loss. I convinced myself there was something very wrong. Anxiety is a bastard! I was eating but not really properly and never felt properly relaxed, I wasn’t sleeping properly as all I could think of was what was going to be wrong and my body felt all sorts of wrong. I was fine but the anxiety was spiralling and making all my symptoms worse.

IF there is something else going on, it’s really unlikely to be anything terrible at your age and you’ve had a clear colonoscopy and gastroscopy which is really reassuring. Hopefully in a week, you’ll be reassured. 💐

To weigh yourself accurately you should do it first thing in the morning, before you've eaten and after a poo, with no clothes on. All these things can make your weight fluctuate by a few pounds.

I don't mean to be rude, but unless you're very tall, you're probably slightly overweight even at 12.5 stone. I would be more worried about this if you were already a low weight before this weight loss.

I'd also echo other people's comments about breastfeeding. I lost weight steadily in my first year postpartum but once I got into the second year of breastfeeding I lost the last half stone quite rapidly despite eating everything in sight.

Have you had your thyroid function checked? (it's a blood test)
Thyroid issues can cause weight loss, often associated with other symptoms.

I went from 11 stone to 8stone 7 through sheer business - 2 under 2 running around after them / constant cleaning the house and not eating very well. Usually a bowl of cereal here and there , biscuits and snacks. Also breastfeeding made me lose a lot of it too!

I also lost a lot of weight in the pandemic due to stress and anxiety

you don’t sound rude at all, I am absolutely still overweight for my height 150%. I definitely needed to loose weight but I would rather it of been at my own pace and not at the same time as scary symptoms 😭

If this is the “worst thing that’s ever happened to you” then I think perhaps you need to focus on your anxiety not your weight loss. 7lb to a stone when you were overweight to start with is not dramatic weight loss. Can I ask what prompted the referral for colonoscopy and gastroscopy? Because it’s extremely unusual that these would be done for slight weight loss, or that you would have had them so quickly on the nhs if the weight loss is in the last few months. Is there a back story in terms of your heath that you’ve left out here?

Just to add to my earlier post OP, if you want to PM me then feel free.

What other scary symptoms are you having?

I meant the worst thing that’s ever happened to me in terms of the anxiety and symptoms I’ve been having. I started with chronic loose stools back in august. To be honest because my health anxiety was so well managed I didn’t even think twice about it, I saw a go regarding the weight loss and tiredness and she asked about bowel changes, when I told her her eyes widened. That’s when I knew it wasn’t normal. She referred to gastro. Sorry I should have added that to my first post, my minds allover the place. In terms of how fast it is, I’m very fortunate that I’ve had everything privately.

op - you have clearly read @Farmlife90210 post, you responded to it directly.

what part of "I would weigh myself 3 or 4 times day and my weight could fluctuate by 2 to 3 kilos a day and more so when on my period." did you not understand?

I understood just fine, as I have said my pants have been falling down and loose, you can also see I’ve lost weight.