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From 150 lbs she is down to 105.



She lives in a lovely apartment.


Her kitchen is well stocked, she eats a healthy breakfast at home .


She goes out to eat regularly and often orders a chocolate milkshake after a generous, well balanced meal.


Yet she continues to lose weight.


She is generally active, using a walker to shop and do errands with her companion.


The companion is taking on more housecleaning duties but she still does her own laundry and changes her sheets and straightens up her apartment.


She does have arthritis and a colostomy.


Her heart is strong and though she has fallen a few times she has never broken a bone!


She knows what she likes and what she wants and is demanding, usually getting it.

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Some people in the forum resist to accept reality. A 96 year old person has surpassed the average life expectancy and is at a ripe for dying naturally at any time. She seems to be enjoying her moment. To submit this woman to rigorous medical tests and treatments is cruel and for what? Why not accept the laws of nature? There is nothing wrong for a 96 year old person who has started to go down hill. Let's suppose they find a malignancy, will they cure her? or will they kill her sooner with chemotherapy?
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Candyapple Apr 2022
Great ! Response. I concur but I also would say just drink lots of water and eat plant based foods as well as just getting tested for blood levels and checking the gut. Otherwise Mum sounds good. I think it’s wonderful she is the age God has given her thus far. Great Response.
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What does her physician say about this?
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Your mother needs a full medical work up and testing to see what the reason is for her drastic weight loss. Is she having pain in any part of her body that would be an indicator of which area might benefit from a CT scan looking for a culprit?

Best of luck
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I had the same problem with my father. He turned out to have a chronic inflammatory disorder and wasn't absorbing nutrients. As was mentioned, I would take her to the doctor and have them do a full workup.
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At 84. I lost 44 lbs. from lack of appetite due to hip replacement re-do complications. It’s over, and I’ve gained about 15 back, which is about right! Appetite back too! Sometimes it does mean an underlying serious illness and,if I were 96, I’d say to hell with it! Even at 84, there are probably things I would not endure ( like a THIRD surgery right after two, when the hip dislocated 11 times!! I wore a brace for awhile & it has now stabilized!). Congrats to doing so well at 96; I hope your Mom continues to enjoy these years!
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TChamp Apr 2022
I agree with you.
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As we age, our bodies change with their abilities to absorb nutrients. The gut lining actually changes, it's our entire bodies that are aging, and working less 'well'. (from my SIL who is a GI doc).

You cannot expect a 96 yo gut to do the work that a 40 yo gut did. Just one more lovely part of aging. I've become lactose intolerant as I have gotten older and much more sensitive to overeating--I have to really watch the dairy.

My mom has maintained a weight of about 140 lbs for years, eating whatever she wants, but pretty much just 2 meals a day. She is almost immobile, so she isn't burning many calories at all.

My MIL has GAINED a lot of weight in the last few years and told me she was over 180lbs after always weighing about 130 all her adult life. I think she eats a lot and is also pretty immobile, but IDK, I'm not in her life.

I think at 96, you should just let her have what she wants. Short of a physical problem, which should be ruled out by her Dr., just let her be.
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Please read Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. Your 96-year-old mother sounds like she could verbalize what she wants. The hard part is actually listening to our aging parents.
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WendyElaine Apr 2022
That book is great! I should reread it.
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150 to 105 without trying to lose weight—something is wrong. She needs a complete medical work up. Could be something fixable like thyroid; possibly gluten intolerance. Or could be something more troubling. Whatever it is, it needs investigating. It is not normal. It is not part of aging.
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I would get her cancer screened. Don't let this panic you, it is SOP. it can just be a natural process for her. My mother was a heavy smoker and she had sudden weight loss and it was due to cancer. It just doesn't hurt to error in caution.
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TChamp Apr 2022
Are you looking a for a diagnosis for her death certificate?
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Hi there , I had a friend whose mother was going thru something similar… anyway I won’t go through the details, the dr’s couldn’t figure it out, my friend started doing research and it ended up being the medications she was on … she had lost so much weight, couldn’t do basic things on her own from weakness… they switched up her meds and she got better! I was baffled the dr’s didn’t catch it ! Anyway good luck ! 💚🙏
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TChamp Apr 2022
Your mother wasn't 96 years old.
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