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Selective loss of appetite?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 8/29/2008 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
I was fairly recently dx with CD and over the past year I have found that from time to time the thought and smell of foods turns my stomach.  The only thing that interests me is sweets and breads (gluten free since I hace celiac as well).  At first I thought it was a medication that I was on for PCOS but after two weeks on Prednisone (that I started in June) the stomach aches completely went away and I started to wonder if my lack of appetite was b/c of the CD. I have finished my taper and over the past two weeks while I was only on 5mg these darn stomach aches have come back.  So I suspect it is related to the CD.  I just find it really weird as I would not say I am in flare right now, whereas before I started the prednisone I was.  It reminds of when I have a stomach flu and the thought of any food completely turns you off except with this I am interested in stuff like waffles or cookies.  My husband will call me at work as ask me what I want for dinner and almost everything that he suggests...even foods that I love makes me want to gag.  I also have trouble with my lunch sometimes where I don't want to eat it because the smell is turning my stomach.  Is there such think as a selective loss of appetite?  When I think of loss of appetite (which I know CD can cause) I think of it as I don't want to eat at all.  I am just completely bummed that I have this again as I had a nice normal appetite while I was on the prednisone.  I am also worried that this means I am heading into a flare again. :(
Posted 8/29/2008 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
I have felt the same way, I just know it's gonna hurt, I think is my problem. As for smells I am very affected by odors. The laundry aisle in the store is bad. Sometimes I think there's appetite loss when I get overhungry and then nothing seems good but I know I have to have something so I force it. Sometimes also when I think I'm hungry I go to eat and can only have a bite or two before my stomach turns, just letting you know I have felt the same. ☼
Posted 8/30/2008 3:20 AM (GMT 0)
When I was in my last bout of Crohn's reaction, I would feel hungry and nauseous at the same time. It was not until I got it settled down that my appetite returned to normal. If you are feeling that way, you may be suffering from a stress reaction or some food intolerance. For me it was stress and by chance, I had to do a one day fast for a colonoscopy just then. I was feeling better after that day than I had for a couple of weeks, so food seems to play a part in the hunger/nausea feeling. I am on the Specific Carbohydrate diet and if you have celiac, you may be familiar with that. It seems to control the problem so far. In fact, I tend to feel hungry a good part of the time - I am not used to eating as much as I seem to need to on this diet.
Posted 8/30/2008 3:50 AM (GMT 0)
This problem happens to me too. I haven't figured out why but I do know that when I feel perfectly fine and am eating and all of a sudden the nausea hits, I know it is time to stop. Because if I don't it is sure to bring a mini flare on for me. Sometimes I could go for 5-6 hours without eating a thing. Not a good idea since I am hypoglycemic. This is when I also use Boost to supplement my meals. At least I'm getting some nutrition and able to keep things "in".
Posted 8/30/2008 12:37 PM (GMT 0)
I feel the exact same way sometimes and then start eating things like white crackers and blow pops or basically like you said, starches and sugars. But then the thought of everything else just makes me feel ill. I don't know what it is...part of it might be the limited factor of a Crohn's diet. Monotony will literally make me nauseous sometimes so who knows? And then sometimes I will smell something my boyfriend is cooking or just be walking in public and catch a scent in the air and want to vomit.
Sorry to hear so many of us experience this..I wonder if it is just what it is or if it means something else?
Posted 8/30/2008 12:41 PM (GMT 0)
I think this is pretty normal for crohns.
Posted 8/30/2008 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah I get like that on one of my "bad" days. No rhyme or reason, I think its just part of the disease.
Posted 9/1/2008 11:38 AM (GMT 0)
I have found I get very nauseated by smells of certain foods since I became ill even things I used to love to eat or cook, it is very frustraiting. I get afraid some times of food or thoughts of it and have kind of turned myself into a basketcase about it to the point of being terrified to eat because of what it might do. I am actually 10lbs lighter after starting pred. which is still ok for me as I was extremly heavy before becoming sick. I have been on pred almost a month and the dr said I would get my appetite back but nah still all messed up. weight loss is slowed to about 1-2 lbs a week though so some must be staying put, I have lost 112 lbs since about dec. scary not being able to control the loss, worrying that when I do get down even more how to stop it! I actually need reminders to eat during the day and I know a lot of that must be fear of the pain and bleeding and agony that food brings with it. Although with the pred I am trying to be more brave and am making baby steps forward in my eating.
Posted 9/1/2008 12:44 PM (GMT 0)
monkeychic-Maybe try protein shakes or something like that? Ensure has saved me many times over when I don't want to eat by at least getting some calories in. I know how you feel though. I'm terrified of eating sometimes(and am also using the time on prednisone to try and get other things down), especially now...Any weight gain I have from the prednisone is mostly fluid actually so I don't know what to think. I'm still pretty small but can't eat enough things to gain actual weight. I just want to eat :( I gave in to different kinds of food last week and started losing blood again so go figure. Great drug to increase an appetite on people who can barely consume anything. Back to ensure and canned soup..
Posted 9/1/2008 1:47 PM (GMT 0)
This is one of those things that has always kind of bothered me. Because I am the mother of girls and I have very strange eating habits, I never want my daughters to eat as I do, but eat as I say. I can go days without eating, because the thought just turns my stomach, or I will only eat saltines, or eggs or toast. You get the idea. I find one food that doesn't make me want to run to the bathroom to throw and I just eat that for days until the feeling passes. Right now it is rice chips, gluten free, though I'm not celiac. But they are salty, crunchy and they are staying down, so I'm not going to complain. Its my safe food of choice this week.
Posted 9/2/2008 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
i am the same way! i go through phases of not wanting to eat. like, i will feel somewhat hungry but not one thing i think of sounds in the least bit appeal, sometimes down right repulsive. sometimes i go on foodnetwork's website and peruse recipes, hoping something will hit me! otherwise when i am not in this phase (like i am currently) i love food and have bizarre cravings. there is no happy medium for me EVER!
Posted 9/2/2008 12:51 PM (GMT 0)

You can't imagine how many times I feel hungry, but nothing satisfies my imagination.... I feel hungry and nauseous the same time!!  These last few weeks, I can't even look at chicken without feeling nauseous...and just think that chicken used to be one of my favourite foods!  The last 3-4 days, I only eat because I hate feeling hungry, but I don't enjoy anything.

For me, it totally relates with how my guts feel.  If I feel fine, I have the appetite to eat whatever I want, but if I feel sick, even just a little bit, I don't want to eat anything, because I hate suffering for hours in the bathroom.  Just a few minutes ago, some friends invited us out for dinner tomorrow, we will go to a chinese restaurant, and although I love chinese food, this time I will have to eat my steamed vegetables at home, and then watch everybody else enjoy they wonderful dinner...

Christina

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