Problems with little or no appetite

[CaliSally]

Does anyone have this problem????

I have two problems: 1) NO appetite, and I mean NONE. I can be hungry, but NOTHING sounds good. and 2) feeling like a pregnant woman, and even if I am hungry, just looking at food makes me naustious.

I tried Megestrol for a week while in the hospital. I think it was helping me enjoy my food more, however, I'm a diabetic and it made my blood sugars SORE uncontrollably. So that one is out.

Then I tried Marinol. It goes in spurts. Sometimes I get the munchies, other times nothing. This one is an out-of-pocket expense, and so I haven't refilled it, since I didn't think it was really that beneficial.

Any suggestions or experience or answers as to WHY?

So far, my weight is stable, though I could stand to gain a few. I don't care either way, I care that I don't even enjoy food. I am on A/d's for depression, and although it helps the depression, it doesn't help the appetite, which some are known to do.

Aaaaaaagggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh
Sally

 

[CaliSally]

Does anyone have this problem????

I have two problems: 1) NO appetite, and I mean NONE. I can be hungry, but NOTHING sounds good. and 2) feeling like a pregnant woman, and even if I am hungry, just looking at food makes me naustious.

I tried Megestrol for a week while in the hospital. I think it was helping me enjoy my food more, however, I'm a diabetic and it made my blood sugars SORE uncontrollably. So that one is out.

Then I tried Marinol. It goes in spurts. Sometimes I get the munchies, other times nothing. This one is an out-of-pocket expense, and so I haven't refilled it, since I didn't think it was really that beneficial.

Any suggestions or experience or answers as to WHY?

So far, my weight is stable, though I could stand to gain a few. I don't care either way, I care that I don't even enjoy food. I am on A/d's for depression, and although it helps the depression, it doesn't help the appetite, which some are known to do.

Aaaaaaagggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh
Sally

 

[CaliSally]

Does anyone have this problem????

I have two problems: 1) NO appetite, and I mean NONE. I can be hungry, but NOTHING sounds good. and 2) feeling like a pregnant woman, and even if I am hungry, just looking at food makes me naustious.

I tried Megestrol for a week while in the hospital. I think it was helping me enjoy my food more, however, I'm a diabetic and it made my blood sugars SORE uncontrollably. So that one is out.

Then I tried Marinol. It goes in spurts. Sometimes I get the munchies, other times nothing. This one is an out-of-pocket expense, and so I haven't refilled it, since I didn't think it was really that beneficial.

Any suggestions or experience or answers as to WHY?

So far, my weight is stable, though I could stand to gain a few. I don't care either way, I care that I don't even enjoy food. I am on A/d's for depression, and although it helps the depression, it doesn't help the appetite, which some are known to do.

Aaaaaaagggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh
Sally

 

[lightNlife]

EAT EAT EAT, even and especially if you don't feel like it. Don't think of food as something to be enjoyed. Remember that it is fuel for your body.

Americans in particular have the unfortunate habit of letting their emotions determine when it is time to eat. Don't "feel" like eating? Eat anyway. Your body needs it.

It takes 3500 calories to translate into a SINGLE pound. For CFers who have pancreatic insufficiency, gaining weight is exceptionally difficult at times. However, every extra pound we have is more fuel our bodies can use to stay healthy and fight of infection.

EAT! Don't wait until the mood strikes you. Drink a glass of milk. Don't bother with diet beverages, coffee or tea. Eat a banana (good calories, fiber and vitamins not to mention a mood enhancer).

Here are some articles about foods and nutrition. Also, don't let yourself be fooled into thinking that vitamin supplements can be used as substitutes for nutrition. Your body needs honest to goodness REAL FOOD. So go eat some.


<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.helium.com/tm/113988">The Importance of Proper Nutrition for CFers</a>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.helium.com/tm/116131">Vitamin Supplements Are Necessary</a>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.helium.com/tm/116300">Avocados</a>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.helium.com/tm/115686">Which Side Dish to Serve?</a>

 

[lightNlife]

EAT EAT EAT, even and especially if you don't feel like it. Don't think of food as something to be enjoyed. Remember that it is fuel for your body.

Americans in particular have the unfortunate habit of letting their emotions determine when it is time to eat. Don't "feel" like eating? Eat anyway. Your body needs it.

It takes 3500 calories to translate into a SINGLE pound. For CFers who have pancreatic insufficiency, gaining weight is exceptionally difficult at times. However, every extra pound we have is more fuel our bodies can use to stay healthy and fight of infection.

EAT! Don't wait until the mood strikes you. Drink a glass of milk. Don't bother with diet beverages, coffee or tea. Eat a banana (good calories, fiber and vitamins not to mention a mood enhancer).

Here are some articles about foods and nutrition. Also, don't let yourself be fooled into thinking that vitamin supplements can be used as substitutes for nutrition. Your body needs honest to goodness REAL FOOD. So go eat some.


<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.helium.com/tm/113988">The Importance of Proper Nutrition for CFers</a>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.helium.com/tm/116131">Vitamin Supplements Are Necessary</a>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.helium.com/tm/116300">Avocados</a>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.helium.com/tm/115686">Which Side Dish to Serve?</a>

 

[lightNlife]

EAT EAT EAT, even and especially if you don't feel like it. Don't think of food as something to be enjoyed. Remember that it is fuel for your body.

Americans in particular have the unfortunate habit of letting their emotions determine when it is time to eat. Don't "feel" like eating? Eat anyway. Your body needs it.

It takes 3500 calories to translate into a SINGLE pound. For CFers who have pancreatic insufficiency, gaining weight is exceptionally difficult at times. However, every extra pound we have is more fuel our bodies can use to stay healthy and fight of infection.

EAT! Don't wait until the mood strikes you. Drink a glass of milk. Don't bother with diet beverages, coffee or tea. Eat a banana (good calories, fiber and vitamins not to mention a mood enhancer).

Here are some articles about foods and nutrition. Also, don't let yourself be fooled into thinking that vitamin supplements can be used as substitutes for nutrition. Your body needs honest to goodness REAL FOOD. So go eat some.


<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.helium.com/tm/113988">The Importance of Proper Nutrition for CFers</a>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.helium.com/tm/116131">Vitamin Supplements Are Necessary</a>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.helium.com/tm/116300">Avocados</a>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.helium.com/tm/115686">Which Side Dish to Serve?</a>

 

[nicolaj]

hello sally. i totally understand your frustration. im 21/cf from england. i wouldnt be alive today if it wasnt for my over night feeding. without that, i wouldnt be able to get the nutrition i need daily to survive. from a young age ive never had a good apetite. ive tried so many things over the years. have you ever tried over night feeding? one thing i did try was Megace. it worked, but made me very depressed, so i stopped taking it.

 

[nicolaj]

hello sally. i totally understand your frustration. im 21/cf from england. i wouldnt be alive today if it wasnt for my over night feeding. without that, i wouldnt be able to get the nutrition i need daily to survive. from a young age ive never had a good apetite. ive tried so many things over the years. have you ever tried over night feeding? one thing i did try was Megace. it worked, but made me very depressed, so i stopped taking it.

 

[nicolaj]

hello sally. i totally understand your frustration. im 21/cf from england. i wouldnt be alive today if it wasnt for my over night feeding. without that, i wouldnt be able to get the nutrition i need daily to survive. from a young age ive never had a good apetite. ive tried so many things over the years. have you ever tried over night feeding? one thing i did try was Megace. it worked, but made me very depressed, so i stopped taking it.

 

[Grendel]

I have this problem. My wife really gets upset when I don't eat something. The fact of the matter is I could exist (in terms of hunger) on one meal a day.

My doctor checked me out with a few tests, and from which concluded that I have acid reflux and my digestive tract is extremely slow, based on statistics. She just prescribed me a medicine to speed up my digestive system. She thinks that this will promote hunger since food will not rest in my digestive tract for extended periods of time.

Good luck.
Grendel

 

[Grendel]

I have this problem. My wife really gets upset when I don't eat something. The fact of the matter is I could exist (in terms of hunger) on one meal a day.

My doctor checked me out with a few tests, and from which concluded that I have acid reflux and my digestive tract is extremely slow, based on statistics. She just prescribed me a medicine to speed up my digestive system. She thinks that this will promote hunger since food will not rest in my digestive tract for extended periods of time.

Good luck.
Grendel

 

[Grendel]

I have this problem. My wife really gets upset when I don't eat something. The fact of the matter is I could exist (in terms of hunger) on one meal a day.

My doctor checked me out with a few tests, and from which concluded that I have acid reflux and my digestive tract is extremely slow, based on statistics. She just prescribed me a medicine to speed up my digestive system. She thinks that this will promote hunger since food will not rest in my digestive tract for extended periods of time.

Good luck.
Grendel

 

[CaliSally]

NiteNLife: I would heed your advice if doing so didn't make me gag. I don't want to be turned off by food COMPLETELY!

Nicolaj: A few years ago our s.w. asked if I wanted a feeding tube. I said "whatever it takes" However nothing was done, so I think it was merely a threat (not the best way to handle your patients).
I will reconsider the idea of a feeding tube. thanks for the reminder.

<i>Grendel: I'm like you - one meal a day. I know I don't have acid troubles, but you mentioned slow digestive tract? Do you know how they tested for that? What med did they rx you for that? Is it working to help your appetite? Can you please keep me posted (IM me if you wish)...

Thanks all,
~Sally

 

[CaliSally]

NiteNLife: I would heed your advice if doing so didn't make me gag. I don't want to be turned off by food COMPLETELY!

Nicolaj: A few years ago our s.w. asked if I wanted a feeding tube. I said "whatever it takes" However nothing was done, so I think it was merely a threat (not the best way to handle your patients).
I will reconsider the idea of a feeding tube. thanks for the reminder.

<i>Grendel: I'm like you - one meal a day. I know I don't have acid troubles, but you mentioned slow digestive tract? Do you know how they tested for that? What med did they rx you for that? Is it working to help your appetite? Can you please keep me posted (IM me if you wish)...

Thanks all,
~Sally

 

[CaliSally]

NiteNLife: I would heed your advice if doing so didn't make me gag. I don't want to be turned off by food COMPLETELY!

Nicolaj: A few years ago our s.w. asked if I wanted a feeding tube. I said "whatever it takes" However nothing was done, so I think it was merely a threat (not the best way to handle your patients).
I will reconsider the idea of a feeding tube. thanks for the reminder.

<i>Grendel: I'm like you - one meal a day. I know I don't have acid troubles, but you mentioned slow digestive tract? Do you know how they tested for that? What med did they rx you for that? Is it working to help your appetite? Can you please keep me posted (IM me if you wish)...

Thanks all,
~Sally

 

[Jane]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>lightNlife</b></i>

EAT EAT EAT, even and especially if you don't feel like it.
</end quote></div>

<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">Sally, I can really understand your frustration since my older son is like this too. Telling him to eat has no affect. Intellectually he knows he has to eat, he knows the reason and the consequences, but he just can't make himself do it! He's always been this way to some degree but it has gotten worse with all the IVs this year.

We tried megestol and marinol too, with no results. He's also on zoloft and meds for ADD (notorious for causing no appetite). He takes rifabutin daily for the myco and that contributes to the nausea.

He does have a g-tube which is keeping him alive, but he feels badly that he can't do it for himself. So I have no answers for you, I wish I did. But I wanted to let you know that its not just you.

 

[Jane]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>lightNlife</b></i>

EAT EAT EAT, even and especially if you don't feel like it.
</end quote></div>

<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">Sally, I can really understand your frustration since my older son is like this too. Telling him to eat has no affect. Intellectually he knows he has to eat, he knows the reason and the consequences, but he just can't make himself do it! He's always been this way to some degree but it has gotten worse with all the IVs this year.

We tried megestol and marinol too, with no results. He's also on zoloft and meds for ADD (notorious for causing no appetite). He takes rifabutin daily for the myco and that contributes to the nausea.

He does have a g-tube which is keeping him alive, but he feels badly that he can't do it for himself. So I have no answers for you, I wish I did. But I wanted to let you know that its not just you.

 

[Jane]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>lightNlife</b></i>

EAT EAT EAT, even and especially if you don't feel like it.
</end quote></div>

<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">Sally, I can really understand your frustration since my older son is like this too. Telling him to eat has no affect. Intellectually he knows he has to eat, he knows the reason and the consequences, but he just can't make himself do it! He's always been this way to some degree but it has gotten worse with all the IVs this year.

We tried megestol and marinol too, with no results. He's also on zoloft and meds for ADD (notorious for causing no appetite). He takes rifabutin daily for the myco and that contributes to the nausea.

He does have a g-tube which is keeping him alive, but he feels badly that he can't do it for himself. So I have no answers for you, I wish I did. But I wanted to let you know that its not just you.

 

[CaliSally]

<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> thanks Jane. I'm sorry he has this trouble too.
I have noticed that fatty foods and packaged foods are worse - it must be all the chemicals...that's the only thing I can think of.

As a kid (up until about the age of 30), I was a pig and had no trouble. In fact, I had no trouble to the point that food controlled me, and I began to HATE that. So much so. mthat I even started bulemia, and then lost a ton of weight (went from 135 to 90). Anyway, I came back strong and had no trouble after that. Until recently (the other was over 20 years ago).

Our nutritionist suggested adding Zinc after the CF conference talked about chemo patients having appetite problems. I had Zinc on hand, and tried it, but it's old. I didn't notice a difference in using it, however do vitamins really lose their punch???

Best Wishes

 

[CaliSally]

<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> thanks Jane. I'm sorry he has this trouble too.
I have noticed that fatty foods and packaged foods are worse - it must be all the chemicals...that's the only thing I can think of.

As a kid (up until about the age of 30), I was a pig and had no trouble. In fact, I had no trouble to the point that food controlled me, and I began to HATE that. So much so. mthat I even started bulemia, and then lost a ton of weight (went from 135 to 90). Anyway, I came back strong and had no trouble after that. Until recently (the other was over 20 years ago).

Our nutritionist suggested adding Zinc after the CF conference talked about chemo patients having appetite problems. I had Zinc on hand, and tried it, but it's old. I didn't notice a difference in using it, however do vitamins really lose their punch???

Best Wishes