Anyone know about lizard eating disorders?

A few years back I had a Leopard Gecko, which I had for 5 years and was always very healthy. One day, he just stopped eating and moved from his usual shady area to directly under his heat lamp. I tried everything, tried all sorts of foods, handfeeding (which proved to be the most frustrating thing ever, as, if in the rare case it would actually work, he would later regurgitate), took him to specialist vets, a reptile trust,etc, but knowone could help. After months of this, he became very thin and I found a vet that took him on for 5 days, under constant supervision and care, but, after what seemed to be a slight improvement, he unexpectedly died.
Even on the internet, there seemed to be quite a lack of information about this sort of thing.
Just wondering if anyone has any info or had any similar experiences?

Parasites are one of the biggest suspects to this. I'm currently struggling with the same situation you had.

http://www.drgecko.com

The website above is a great reference to leopard gecko diseases. A lot of times not eating is parasite related. Another thing that is becoming more common in leopard geckos is Crypto, which can kill them. Crypto doesn't come up in a fecal smear and uses a acid fat test, which is usually a lot more expensive.

Sometimes if the temperature changes and it becomes too cold the gecko will stop eating, they need the correct heat to help them digest their food.

But if a specialist couldn't figure it out, then it must have been something more serious and there was nothing more you could really do.

Sorry for your loss, sounds like you really loved your lizard!

it could have been a virus or similar. try this site http://www.geckosecretsrevealed.com/

Unfortunately it can be a million and one things that can cause this kind of response.

Anything from stress, genetic weakness, a virus, parasites... it goes on.

The source of these things is endless also... its just impossible to pin point it.

It could be something you have been doing wrong since you got him that has just finally broke him.

They go past a point and they go into "self-destruct mode" - i think it might be some kind of unbuilt species preservation, to ensure they don't spread it or pass it on genetically.

Some people manage to get them eating, but i have never heard of a full recovery, it pretty much just prolongs a sickly life.

I don't know if you'll appreciate me saying it or not, but i think your leo is better off dead - 5 years is longer than many.

As long as you had a large viv, lived by himself, general good husbandry, no substrate, quality bug supplier, variety of gutloaded bugs and bought him from someone you trusted - i'm sure he had a nice happy life.