Concerns About a Friend's Rapid Weight Loss and Persistent Nausea
I am writing this on behalf of my close friend, who is a 16-year-old girl (soon to be 17) and doesn’t have access to Reddit. I’m extremely concerned for her well-being, especially given her experiences with ineffectual medical professionals. Approximately two years ago, she weighed around 140 pounds and stood at 5 feet tall. Currently, she has dropped to a mere 96 pounds, and her weight continues to decline. Shockingly, 30 of those pounds vanished in just a month. She experiences intense stomach pain daily, often so severe that she leaves school in tears. She describes the sensation as cramping, and unfortunately, no available treatment—including prescribed Zoloft—provides her any relief; she simply has to endure it. For a period, she was frequently vomiting, often in the mornings and sometimes at night, although that has lessened a bit. Her appetite has dramatically decreased, and even when she feels hunger, she claims that she can't eat. Nowadays, she can only manage small meals after 5 PM. She has undergone blood tests and various other examinations, but she is now facing the anxiety-inducing prospect of undergoing endoscopic exams. She suspects it might be cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), as she typically consumes cannabis daily, yet I personally doubt this diagnosis. It’s important to note that she does not exhibit signs of an eating disorder; that was my first fear as well. However, the level of pain she endures seems far too high for her to inflict upon herself. Despite her significant anxiety regarding medical appointments and tests, she is motivated to seek help because of how unwell she feels. If anyone has insights or suggestions, I would be grateful for your input. Watching her deteriorate physically is incredibly painful, and I want to do everything I can to support her.
Answers (1)
2/4/2026, 1:10:51 AM
OpenHealth AI
It's understandable to be deeply concerned for your friend's health given her significant weight loss, persistent nausea, and severe stomach pain. Rapid weight loss and continuous pain often indicate that something needs urgent attention, especially since she's experiencing distress that impacts her daily life.
Explanation
Your friend’s symptoms may stem from various causes, including digestive disorders, infections, or even potential malabsorption issues. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is one possibility but isn't the only one, and symptoms like severe pain and vomiting can also occur from other gastrointestinal conditions. Regardless of the cause, her situation demands thorough evaluation to identify the underlying issues and develop a proper treatment plan.
Next Steps
-
Encourage Doctor Visits: Since she's afraid of medical appointments, help her understand that these visits can be crucial for her recovery. A supportive friend can make a big difference. Discuss with her that addressing her concerns with a physician specializing in gastrointestinal disorders (a gastroenterologist) might give her a clearer direction and potential answers.
-
Document Symptoms: Suggest she keeps a detailed symptom diary. This can include when the pain occurs, its intensity (on a scale of 1-10), what she eats, and any other associated symptoms. This information will be valuable for any healthcare provider she sees.
-
Prioritize Nutrition: While she seems to struggle with appetite, it's essential for her to get some nutrition to support her body. Suggest small, frequent meals or snacks that are easy to digest, such as:
- Clear broths
- Simple carbohydrates (like toast or crackers)
- Easy-to-digest fruits (like bananas or applesauce)
- Consider hydration with electrolyte solutions if she feels she’s dehydrating.
-
Explore Mental Health Support: Since she’s facing significant anxiety regarding her health, consider discussing the potential benefit of talking to someone about her anxiety through counseling. This could help her cope better with her situation.
-
Consider Alternatives in Substance Use: If she suspects that cannabis might be contributing to her symptoms, suggesting a reduction or temporary cessation could be worth exploring, as CHS can lead to worsening symptoms with continued use.
Your support as a friend is incredibly important. Let her know that getting to the bottom of her health issues is a priority and that she doesn't have to go through this alone. Encouragement and understanding can go a long way in helping her navigate her health challenges.
Related Questions
Seeking Insights on Gastrointestinal Issues
Greetings, I have recently been released from care by my gastroenterologist, who believes he has exhausted all avenues of exploration. Unfortunately, my issues remain unchanged, leaving me in a state of confusion, and I'm reaching out to see if anyone might offer some suggestions. I am a 20-year-old female who has been living with chronic illness for the past five years. The onset of my condition is still a mystery, as no clear triggers have been identified. The most distressing symptom has consistently been severe nausea, which has persisted without relief. **Gastrointestinal Symptoms:** - Continuous nausea for five years, which occasionally intensifies after eating or drinking - Sharp pains in the upper left region of my abdomen, which can occur after meals or spontaneously - General discomfort within my stomach area - Difficulty in gaining weight - Feeling full after consuming only a small amount of food - Disrupted sleep patterns due to these gastrointestinal issues keeping me awake or abruptly waking me during the night **Gastrointestinal Testing:** - MRI of the abdomen and small intestine showed normal results - Endoscopy and colonoscopy yielded clear findings - Doppler scan for compression syndromes came back normal - Barium swallow study indicated delayed gastric emptying - Brain MRI was also normal - No improvement observed with MCAS treatment **Diagnosed Conditions:** - Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (began alongside gastrointestinal symptoms) - Dysautonomia (developed concurrently with gastrointestinal symptoms) - Recent diagnosis of heart failure - Symptoms resembling hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome I appreciate any insights or ideas you can share!
Seeking Help: Week-long Battle with Oral White Coating
Greetings everyone, I am a 25-year-old male and I want to share my current health struggle. To clarify, I am HIV negative, do not have AIDS, diabetes, or any identified immune system issues. Recently, I observed an alarming change in my oral health — my entire mouth appeared to have a white hue. This included my tongue (both top and sides, and later the underside), the insides of my cheeks, the roof of my mouth, the uvula, and even my lips. The white film was thick, with some areas being quite painful. During a gentle attempt to scrape my gums, a large white patch came off excruciatingly. Additionally, I noticed whitish spots appearing on my lips. While I haven’t experienced any fever or severe dental pain, I have been dealing with general soreness, a burning sensation, and these white patches, some of which seem to peel. My tongue has been a significant source of discomfort. I’ve been to two different hospitals, and each provided me with different opinions, adding to my confusion. At the first facility, the physician suggested I might have oral thrush and recommended fluconazole 200 mg twice daily for a week, along with an antifungal gel (miconazole). The second hospital conducted blood tests, all of which returned normal results. The doctor there advised me to cease taking fluconazole and instead prescribed co-amoxiclav 625 mg. This inconsistency has left me in a state of uncertainty, especially since my symptoms strongly resemble those of oral thrush. From what I know, antibiotics typically do not address fungal infections and could potentially exacerbate the issue. As a result, I’ve opted to continue with fluconazole and use the miconazole gel, while forgoing the antibiotic altogether. Complicating matters further, my symptoms fluctuate drastically from day to day—some days I see improvement, while other days my tongue appears worse, heightening my anxiety. I’ve been dealing with this condition for only a week, and I’ve never experienced anything like it before. I would appreciate it if anyone could share insights or experiences related to symptoms like mine. Here are my concerns: 1. Is it normal for oral thrush to cause a significant white coating throughout the mouth, including the lips and uvula? 2. Are there other potential causes for these symptoms aside from thrush? I’ve been grappling with this issue for a week and it’s taken a toll on my mental well-being. Thank you for taking the time to read my post.
Understanding Mild Fecal Loading on X-ray Results
For several months, my digestive processes have been drastically sluggish, leading me to believe it stemmed from a medication I was prescribed. Recently, I underwent an abdominal X-ray and became curious about the interpretation of the term "mild fecal loading." I understand this refers to the presence of stool in the colon, yet it feels quite ambiguous. Given my severe constipation, I started to worry about the possibility of partial fecal impaction, particularly since my gastrointestinal tract seemed to be almost non-functional for a duration of four to five months. Here’s what the X-ray report stated: *FINDINGS: No significant free air is observed. Air is distributed throughout both the small and large intestines leading to the rectum. There are no dilated bowel loops detected. Mild fecal loading is noted in the colon.* To manage my situation, I was taking the maximum recommended dosage of magnesium hydroxide almost every weekend in an effort to alleviate constipation and avoid impaction. The X-ray was conducted roughly a week after I consumed 60 mL of magnesium hydroxide, while primarily relying on liquids throughout most of that week. Does this imply that there shouldn’t be any signs of partial impaction present?
Gastrointestinal Infection
I’m a 25-year-old woman and I suspect I’ve caught a stomach bug. My roommate was ill and vomiting all day Saturday, and I woke up feeling nauseous, experiencing vomiting, and overall, I'm in rough shape this morning. 1. Is it common to feel intense chills along with muscle pains and general body discomfort when suffering from a stomach infection? 2. I’ve been using Pepto-Bismol to manage the nausea, and it has helped prevent me from vomiting and alleviated the acidity in my stomach. However, my mother warned that it might be detrimental as it could inhibit me from expelling whatever toxins are inside. Isn’t that concern mostly applicable to food poisoning cases?
Seeking Guidance on Next Steps for My Daughter's Health
I am in need of expert opinion on how to proceed regarding my daughter's health situation. Born prematurely at just 26 weeks and weighing 1 lb 6 oz, her time in the NICU was quite challenging, marked by several complications such as infections, a urinary tract infection, blood transfusions, and two heart defects. For her entire 100-day stay, she relied on glycerin and milk of magnesia. Her condition involved significant bloating, leading to a cycle of alternating between TPN and drainage due to her discomfort and vomiting. After we finally brought her home, we continued with milk of magnesia and Mylicon to manage her gas. We tried various strategies to help her, like elevating her feedings and doing bicycle kicks. However, as she nears her second birthday, her issues seem to be worsening. Despite ongoing use of milk of magnesia, lactulose, Miralax, senna, and both liquid glycerin suppositories and enemas, the latter treatments have proven ineffective. The other laxatives have become less effective over time; any relief they provide lasts only about a week before her symptoms return. Her fecal calprotectin level is elevated at 160, but her white blood cell count remains normal. A barium enema revealed no structural abnormalities but indicated significant stool retention. We also conducted anorectal manometry; however, the testing was limited due to her age, although they did confirm her presence of the anal reflex. Despite working with a nutritionist to increase fiber intake and ensure proper hydration, my daughter has been regularly reliant on laxatives since birth. Even with 10 ml of senna, she only has a bowel movement about once a week, occasionally stretching to every 13 days. She has suffered from anal fissures and severe rashes during bowel movements, which significantly affect her sleep. Furthermore, she experiences intermittent vomiting and extreme bloating that makes her abdomen appear distended. While I try to reach out through MyChart messaging, I often do not receive prompt responses from her doctor. We have a scheduled appointment at the end of the month, and I am eager to establish a clear plan of action. I don’t want to seem like an overly anxious parent who relies too heavily on online searches, but I wonder what specific questions I should be asking. Should I advocate for additional testing such as upper and lower endoscopy, or would that be an exercise in futility? At such a young age, it’s challenging for her to communicate her discomfort, yet we know she is suffering!