Is weight loss always ominous?

[FrazzleRock]

Sorry I just worry as it was a sign my mother was rapidly declining with cancer....

Basically my brother is paralysed. He has severe heart failure with an efr of about 20-25% though believed to be at the lower end.

The medication he was on for his heart has been stopped and he has been put onto palliative care. He also has support from the heart failure team. They advised that his prognosis is thought to be under a year.

He is fine in himself. He is in a nursing home and still joining in with activities there and is his normal chatty self. A little breathless but nowhere near as bad as it was when he was in hospital a few weeks ago.

The nursing home called me on Friday to let me know he has been referred to nutritionist as he is losing weight and they're not sure why, he still has an appetite and is eating as normal. I asked if the heart failure team were aware and they said yes as its all the same team (so I think they're part of the palliative care team). I darednt Google it as we all know where that leads, but as he is fine generally in himself at the moment but I can't help but worry that losing weight (especially if it's enough of a concern as to refer to a nutritionist) is never going to be a good sign is it?

[RufusScamp]

I assume your brother has other health issues than heart failure. I had an EF of 20% three years ago, but have recently been discharged, as meds have improved it to 60%. The weight loss does suggest there are other problems. I hope you get some helpful answers soon.

[Wolfgirl71]

I presume his blood sugar has been checked? My Dad has late onset type 1 diabetes and this was ova of the only signs for him.

But of course there are so many possibilities.

[Wooodsie]

Hello FrazzleRock (I do like the name 😊), sorry to hear about your brother's weight loss. It could be something simple linked to his coming off heart medication. It slows the heart rate and I guess basal metabolism, so coming off it might simply mean he is using more calories on a day to day basis. Me, and others who are on heart medication, struggle to keep our weight down. This is not science, it is purely a guess on my part. I hope he's OK.