# I've lost 17 pounds in two months and the doctors don't know why **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 12, 2009, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-lost-17-pounds-in-two-months-and-the-doctors-dont-know-why/480965 "2009-01-12T20:01:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-lost-17-pounds-in-two-months-and-the-doctors-dont-know-why/480965/1 "2009-01-12T20:01:59Z")
First up: I am not dieting and I do not need to lose weight. I started noticing it about a month ago, and several people have commented that “You’re losing too much weight.” I went to my doctor, who did some standard tests, which proved I am healthy except for the weight loss. I am now going to have to go to a metabolic specialist to see if they can figure out what is going on. I feel fine, no problems with food, I’m eating like I always eat, but I keep losing weight. Just needed to vent. I’m kind of scared. I think even knowing I had something dreadful would be better than sitting here in my too big clothes wondering what is happening to my body. ---
**Author:** ![lalenin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@lalenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalenin)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-lost-17-pounds-in-two-months-and-the-doctors-dont-know-why/480965/2 "2009-01-12T20:03:55Z")
/old gypsy voice/_thinner_/old gypsy voice ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-lost-17-pounds-in-two-months-and-the-doctors-dont-know-why/480965/3 "2009-01-12T20:05:20Z")
Tapeworm. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-lost-17-pounds-in-two-months-and-the-doctors-dont-know-why/480965/4 "2009-01-12T20:05:24Z")
Tapeworm? But seriously, that does sound scary. I hope it turns out to be something benign. It sounds like a fairly surreal experience. ETA: I simul-posted with **Acid Lamp** , so my “tapeworm?” was directed at the OP, not **Acid Lamp.** ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-lost-17-pounds-in-two-months-and-the-doctors-dont-know-why/480965/5 "2009-01-12T20:05:31Z")
Well, I’m going to assume you got your blood sugar checked and you’re not diabetic. Cuz otherwise this sounds eerily like [my first thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=489855&highlight=diabetic) that led to [my second thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=494566&highlight=diabetic) ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-lost-17-pounds-in-two-months-and-the-doctors-dont-know-why/480965/6 "2009-01-12T20:12:03Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Tapeworm? > > But seriously, that does sound scary. I hope it turns out to be something benign. It sounds like a fairly surreal experience. > > ETA: I simul-posted with **Acid Lamp** , so my “tapeworm?” was directed at the OP, not **Acid Lamp.** Ugh, I should hope you don’t direct a tapeworm at me! Or anyone else for that matter, nasty little beasts. ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-lost-17-pounds-in-two-months-and-the-doctors-dont-know-why/480965/7 "2009-01-12T20:31:42Z")
Well, if they figure it out, could you cough into a tissue and send it to me? I could really stand to lose a few pounds. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-lost-17-pounds-in-two-months-and-the-doctors-dont-know-why/480965/8 "2009-01-12T20:42:09Z")
I can’t imagine what it is, but am sending healing thoughts your way. Here’s hoping they find it and correct it soon! ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-lost-17-pounds-in-two-months-and-the-doctors-dont-know-why/480965/9 "2009-01-12T20:42:21Z")
I knew it wouldn’t be long before someone posted something like that. We get it, it would be cool to lose some weight; but, to lose 17 pound for no reason? Pretty fucking scary if you ask me! ---
**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-lost-17-pounds-in-two-months-and-the-doctors-dont-know-why/480965/10 "2009-01-12T20:52:06Z")
That happened to one of my cousins. The doctors couldn’t find anything wrong, and then, just as suddenly as it started, the weight loss just stopped. She’s perfectly fine. Hopefully, it’s just something weird like that that will work itself out. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-lost-17-pounds-in-two-months-and-the-doctors-dont-know-why/480965/11 "2009-01-12T21:20:04Z")
Have you changed jobs? Sometimes even a modest amount of walking can trigger a weight loss if your body is not used to it. Also, has the Dr taken a blood sample for a thyroid test? A friend of mine lost 20 pounds for no reason last year, just like **Ceejaytee** ’s cousin. She’s totally fine now, so try not to worry too much. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-lost-17-pounds-in-two-months-and-the-doctors-dont-know-why/480965/12 "2009-01-12T21:22:19Z")
> [@lalenin](#): > > /old gypsy voice/_thinner_/old gypsy voice You bastard, I should not be cracking up at that! 😃 Joking aside, I hope it isn’t anything serious, **Annie**. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-lost-17-pounds-in-two-months-and-the-doctors-dont-know-why/480965/13 "2009-01-12T21:25:18Z")
Uhhg, scary! This happened to 2 people I know recently (though a lot more than 17lbs in both cases.) One was my mother-in-law and they eventually figured out it was her allergy medicine. She was borderline petite in the first place so this was particularly bothersome. The other was a former co-worker of mine and last I heard they still haven’t figured it out. Wishing you the best. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-lost-17-pounds-in-two-months-and-the-doctors-dont-know-why/480965/14 "2009-01-12T21:33:12Z")
Did they check your thyroid? Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) can cause you to lose weight rapidly. I’ll be sending good vibes your way that it really is “nothing.” ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-lost-17-pounds-in-two-months-and-the-doctors-dont-know-why/480965/15 "2009-01-12T21:38:19Z")
The thyroid and blood work came back normal. I’ve walked every day of my life, missing only a few, for the past twenty years, so exercising isn’t it. The only other change I’ve noticed is my lifelong insomnia seems to have vanished. I’ve gotton so use to falling asleep, waking up for one or two hours in the early morning, then falling asleep for another three or four hours that it seemed perfectly normal for me. But lately I’ve noticed I sleep the night through. Can regular sleep cause weight loss? And thanks for all the well wishes. I’m seeing the metabolic doctor in two weeks, and I hope it’s nothing like other people have said. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-lost-17-pounds-in-two-months-and-the-doctors-dont-know-why/480965/16 "2009-01-12T21:56:14Z")
If sound sleep could make one lose weight, I would be a supermodel. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-lost-17-pounds-in-two-months-and-the-doctors-dont-know-why/480965/17 "2009-01-12T22:02:23Z")
As someone in pretty constant pursuit of weight loss I can tell you that one of the things the recommend is that you get regular sleep. 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep is supposed to increase your metabolism and help keep you from turning to calorie-laden drinks with a jolt of caffiene to keep you up. If you have cut out your morning pepsi and your metabolism has increased that would explain the weight loss. It probably isn’t sleep related but there is that possibility. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-lost-17-pounds-in-two-months-and-the-doctors-dont-know-why/480965/18 "2009-01-12T22:22:54Z")
I don’t want to alarm you, but a co-worker and friend of mine lost gobs of weight without really trying. She had colon cancer. Please make sure that the doctors are diligently checking ALL possibilities. Sometimes you need to be your own advocate, so insist on follow-up if you’re not getting a satisfactory answer. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-lost-17-pounds-in-two-months-and-the-doctors-dont-know-why/480965/19 "2009-01-12T23:58:02Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Sometimes you need to be your own advocate, so insist on follow-up if you’re not getting a satisfactory answer. I will second this with the addition that I think you _always_ have to be your own advocate. Even with something as common as diabetes, I’ve found that the docs are very quick to assume the easy answer is the right one and are loath to look any deeper than necessary. If you don’t feel good about the answers you get, read everything you can, and ask a lot of questions. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-lost-17-pounds-in-two-months-and-the-doctors-dont-know-why/480965/20 "2009-01-13T01:58:18Z")
Have them check for low levels of the enzymes needed for digestion. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-lost-17-pounds-in-two-months-and-the-doctors-dont-know-why/480965.md?page=2)