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A relative has gained extreme weight and doctors can not find out why. Need help...
Relative having major health problem | 16 November 2023 | Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin

Posted on 11/16/2023 6:38:04 PM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

Freepers, need your help. Does anyone on here have a family member or friend who has gained massive weight and excessive overeating is NOT causing it. I have great 2nd cousin-in-law who is approaching 500lbs, has always been a bit heavy, but not THAT heavy.

Recently had massive water retention and went from 275-300 lbs to 500lbs, resulting in an ER trip. He and the wife have been to around 20 doctors in the metroplex (Dallas-Fort Worth) who have run a myriad of tests, found that his heart is fine, his cholesterol and blood pressure are normal, no diabetes and no signs of cause for this massive weight gain. Doctors keep telling him he's overeating, but that is not happening, not enough to have that kind of weight gain.

Has anyone had a similar experience and found a cause? I know a lot of very knowledgeable people post here and asking for help. Please, no mockery, this is serious and they really do NOT know what is happening and they haven't found a doctor who knows either. I told my cousin to take him right away to a research hospital like Baylor or Vanderbilt. Thanks in advance.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Education; Health/Medicine; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: fluidretention; medical; overweight; relative; waterretention; why
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To: SisterK
Yes.

I think the more specific problem is the high-fructose corn syrup in the soda pop; supposedly, the body doesn't recognize it, doesn't break it down, and ends up stacking the stuff up on shelves inside. Eventually, one becomes bloated.

41 posted on 11/16/2023 7:42:11 PM PST by Captain Walker ("It is infinitely better to have a few good Men, than many indifferent ones." - George Washington)
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

Perhaps the issue could be lymphedema. The lymph system is similar to the cardiovascular system but doesn’t affect blood pressure. A blockage could cause a massive, rapid fluid weight gain.

I had a co-worker that suffered severe lymphedema after an auto crash. Her legs would become the size of tree trunks, skin taunt and painful. There is a massage method to reduce the swelling.


42 posted on 11/16/2023 7:42:22 PM PST by myprecious
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

Two possibilities

1) he’s eating the wrong kind of food

2) his thyroid is out of whack. I’m surprised that wasn’t checked first


43 posted on 11/16/2023 7:45:47 PM PST by Nifster ( I see puppy dogs in the clouds )
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

Make him wear a “live” go pro chest mounted 24/7 for 2 weeks.


44 posted on 11/16/2023 7:46:41 PM PST by US_MilitaryRules (#PureBloodlaw enforcement. )
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

Has he been admitted to the hospital for this issue? I’m guessing that he’s getting short of breath with the weight gain and fluid accumulation? My advice is for him to go to the ER, tell them he’s short of breath with massive weight gain/fluid, get admitted, and let them run every test there is. Of course his attending will probably consult all the specialists. That’s his best chance. People do it all the time from my experience. Also, has he ever been on oxygen at home?


45 posted on 11/16/2023 7:51:02 PM PST by Philsworld (It's all short quips and funny memes, until you find that you've come up short in the judgment. )
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

I certainly hope not but a tumor in hypothalamus / pituitary area can’t be ruled out from what you described. And complications with kidneys, etc. I hope it is something more straightforward.


46 posted on 11/16/2023 7:57:06 PM PST by steve86 (Numquam accusatus, numquam ad curiam ibit, numquam ad carcerem™)
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To: SisterK
some folks drink soda pop like water it will make you blow up like a balloon

Americans drink way too much soda. For that reason, there should be a soda tax.

47 posted on 11/16/2023 7:57:07 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

Was he ever a trucker? How is urination? There is something called truckers’ bladder. The muscles that release urine get very strong over a lifetime, and the bladder gets very large and doesn’t snap back. When they get older sometimes other health issues kick in with and they cannot feel the urge to pre until that huge bladder fills all the way up enough to force the urinary muscles to open. But sometimes it isn’t enough weight for the powerful muscles so the bladder keeps filling with very little if anything going out. Instead of just ounces of urine inside a person ends up with liters. Then the urine backs up into the kidneys.


48 posted on 11/16/2023 7:58:41 PM PST by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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To: Mariner

Oh yes you can, prednisone causes water retention, so
you can add on weight even though you’re not eating
more.


49 posted on 11/16/2023 8:00:27 PM PST by psjones (u)
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To: CaptainK

My daughter is a sleep eater. Get out of bed, walk to the refrigerator, eat something, go back to bead. No kidding, asleep all the time. verified with doctors and observation. really weird. Like sleep walking, but eating. and yes, she is overweight. But weight gain is math. If he dropped to 1200 calories a day he would lose weight. he’s doing 4-5000. Its math. and massive water retention, which probably means salt or heart.


50 posted on 11/16/2023 8:02:06 PM PST by calljack (Sometimes your worst nightmare is just a start.)
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To: MinorityRepublican
I would say he might just try keto for a few weeks....even a carnivore diet...beef, bacon, butter and eggs...

if he can't loose weight on keto, there is something seriously wrong .....

51 posted on 11/16/2023 8:04:19 PM PST by cherry
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

Fructose


52 posted on 11/16/2023 8:05:27 PM PST by WeaslesRippedMyFlesh (Wake me up when somebody tells the truth.)
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

Short of a tumor, cancer then intake is greater than outflows. 500 pounds cannot move around much. Delete door dash app and monitor groceries in/out. Daily trash and pantry monitoring. Only so many possibilities. @ 500 pound then either the cause/corrections have to be made or weight gain will permanently stop followed by weight loss. Could move to the moon where they would weigh less than 100 pounds but mass would remain constant.


53 posted on 11/16/2023 8:08:32 PM PST by wgmalabama (Censored )
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To: cherry
if he can't loose weight on keto, there is something seriously wrong .....

He may not be eating that much but he might be drinking 2 L of mountain dew per day. 960 calories, 260g of carbs, 260g of sugar.

54 posted on 11/16/2023 8:11:01 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
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To: leaning conservative

Iirc, it was from her daughter…


55 posted on 11/16/2023 8:11:06 PM PST by aMorePerfectUnion (🦅MAGADONIAN⚔️)
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To: Captain Walker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM


56 posted on 11/16/2023 8:12:34 PM PST by WeaslesRippedMyFlesh (Wake me up when somebody tells the truth.)
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To: Mariner

I think it may depend on other factors than just intake and caloric use.

People can have endocrine and all sorts of other problems that make them sensitive to various foods and unable to process them as others do.


57 posted on 11/16/2023 8:15:05 PM PST by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

If it’s not water retention or muscle mass, it must be fat and the only way to get fatter is caloric intake. He may not be overeating but have a thyroid condition where his body is putting all the intake to storage in fat cells.


58 posted on 11/16/2023 8:15:48 PM PST by Blood of Tyrants ( "It is easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled."- Mark Twain)
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

I would highly recommend finding a top certified endocrinologist. These docs are usually the best of the best when it comes to diagnosing values in bloodwork, metabolism, glandular issues, thyroid etc. They are hard to find because it is one of the most difficult fields of medicine. Some docs claim to practice endocrinology but are not. Good luck.


59 posted on 11/16/2023 8:18:59 PM PST by Toespi
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

If he has seen 20 doctors and no one found a problem then it’s FOOD! Overeaters are notorious for not be completely honest about the calories they consume, so that IS the problem. Sounds like someone is not being honest in this case. My wife is a RD/RN and she sees this daily. Patients come in and NO WAY are they overeating...or so they always say. Then looking at the diet she find them consuming 5000-10000 calories a day and most from processed sugar. And, one of the biggest issues is that most consume massive quantities of soft drinks like Coke and you’ll never convince them that is big reason for weight gain. Do a little detective work to see what the real issue is and you’ll find it is overeating and drinking sugar drinks.


60 posted on 11/16/2023 8:20:59 PM PST by devane617 (Discipline Is Reliable, Motivation Is Fleeting..)
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