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Posted 8/9/2008 9:25 PM (GMT 0)
Well since I'm still learning about fibromyalgia, I'm not sure if my problems with appetite have anything to do with the fibro or not.

Basically my appetite fluctuates a lot. There are times I'm so hungry all the time and I keep snacking a lot, and other times my appetite is so low and I can go a lot longer without eating.

Another thing that happens is that sometimes when I'm hungry, I'm so hungry that I actually start to feel sick to my stomach and dizzy and I really have to eat something right away.

I did see an endocrinologist earlier this year and she did blood tests for my blood sugar and insulin levels, and I had to do a glucose tolerance test. Everything came back fine. So nothing indicates that I'm diabetic or pre-diabetic, but the endocrinologist said that even though the tests were fine I could still possibly be pre-diabetic.

So I'm just wondering if this whole thing could be something to do with the fibro and maybe not related to diabetes at all? Do any of you experience stuff like this?
Posted 8/9/2008 10:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Kythe!  I'm diabetic and I get nauseous if I really need to eat.  This usually happens before breakfast in the morning, for me.  If I let my blood sugar go too low, I will start to get shaky.  So, perhaps you need to keep an eye on things and try to eat at regular intervals.  I think  you'd feel better.  We need good nutrition to stay as healthy as we can.

 

I have never heard of fibromyalgia altering the appetite.  Sometimes people don't eat much because of pain and, with others, they binge eat for comfort because of the pain.  But, it isn't a symptom of fibromyalgia.

 

Sherrine

Posted 8/9/2008 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
Maybe I should eat regularly, but it's hard because no one in my family eats regularly, we general just eat whenever we are hungry. I don't wake up at the same time every day so when I eat breakfast always changes and that effects when I eat lunch. Dinner is the main meal my family eats together and it's never the same everyday. We pretty much make dinner when the majority of us feel hungry and if just one person is hungry when no one else is, then that person has to resort to having a small snack before dinner.

And yeah I know I should probably make an effort to get up at the same time everyday, but it's hard since I'm not always able to fall asleep at the same time every night and some days I need more sleep than other days.
Posted 8/9/2008 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kythe,

Just try to eat something little every two to three hours or so. It doesn't have to be a meal, even if it is just a piece of fruit or an energy bar. That will keep your blood sugars more level. They say to eat four to six times a day, small portions. That keeps your metabolism up and you burn calories too. I don't know if you are watching your weight but I am. Kind of watching it do nothing. I had lost a few pounds but am staying steady now. Not budging, lol.

Good luck with keeping your blood sugar levels steady.

hugs, Karen
Posted 8/10/2008 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
Try eating protein for breakfast. That should start you off right and get you through at least till lunch. It's better to eat healthy snacks between meals to keep your blood sugar up. There is something called the low glycemic index. It's foods that digest slowly to give you that lasting energy. I have problems with eating too. You describe my situation almost exactly.. only I'm nursing and that burns lots of calories.

Try for breakfast a protein smoothie

egg mcmuffin

omelet

cottage cheese, penut butter or anything with protein that you like
Carolyn
Posted 8/10/2008 4:20 AM (GMT 0)
Kythe- hey there! I am going to strongly encourage you to take the good advice you have received in the above posts. I understand about the nausea when you are empty. Your blood sugar is a sensitive thing and should be attended to. I suggest [unless this is a subject you are familiar with] that you do some reading on the basic process of how the body absorbs and uses simple and complex sugars, and the roles and interactions of sugar, insulin, and adrenalin. My suggestion is that regardless of when you wake up, within 15-20 minutes put something good into your system, try and make it balanced, ie: milk and yogurt, milk and toast with peanut butter, saltines with a ounce of cheese [a small cube or two]. Getting these things stabilized early in the day will be one of the keys to better health. One last thought- almost a month ago I didn't pay attention when I should have-it was a perfect storm for a flare. 1- I was in pain and felt nauseated because I didn't have an appetite and wouldn't eat- anything. 2- The nausea turned nto vomiting which along with not eating, turned into severe and sudden dehydration. 3- Dehydration turned into paranoia and anxiety, which in turn caused more dehydration and vomiting. 4- Dehydration encouraged the opportunistic issue of bladder infection and fever. 5- the fever caused more dehydration and severe pain, which is horrid pain that only a fever can cause. All that I have described happened just like *snap* that. Within 36 hours I was in the hospital and should have been there after 24. If it weren't for this forum, and being able to reach out to friends here for advice on what to do [I was completely alone here- husband was out of the country and we had just moved here], there is no telling how I would have ended up. Give this too long post some thought and work on a small change each few days, once you get started you will feel so much better that you will be happy to grab a snack every few hours! Feel better soon!
Peace!
Posted 8/10/2008 2:03 PM (GMT 0)

Kythe,

 

I know exactly how you feel.  I go days where I have to force myself to eat something (because if I don't, my blood sugar gets low and I'm a raving *****), and then there are days when I want to eat everything in front of me.  FYI-never go to the grocery store when you are hungry! nono

 

I am desperately trying to lose weight, and I know that eating will help with my nonexistent metabolism.  Like right now, I should be eating something for breakfast, but I am too nauseated to even think of food.  I'm sure it has something to do with all the meds I'm on, too.

 

So, I am trying to make sure I eat small meals-or at least 3 times a day.  Being a single girl, I don't have the responsibility to make sure anyone else eats, so a lot of times I just eat whenever I feel like it.  And today, I just don't feel like it.  But, I'm gonna go and force myself to eat a bowl of cereal (Special K with strawberries-my favorite).  Otherwise, my blood sugar will drop and I'm gonna get mean. mad

 

Anyway, I hoped my usual rambling reply helped a little. :-)

Posted 8/10/2008 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
I probably do eat something every couple hours or so. I don't really keep track but I do tend to have small snacks between meals. I guess when I said before that I didn't eat regularly, I just meant that I don't eat at the same times everyday. I'm not really watching my weight, but I should be I guess. I've had two different doctors say they wanted me too lose weight, and they don't seem to care when I tell them I don't weigh as much as I used to, they just want me to lose more. I know I'm kind of overweight, but I really don't think it's that bad and if I lose a ton of weight, who's going to pay for my new clothing? I'm just trying to keep things the way they are weight wise.

That is a good suggestion about the protein, but I honestly don't think I could stomach any protein when I first get up. I really need to eat something bland in the morning which pretty much rules out anything but grains. I do try to stick to whole grains as much as I can though. So I guess the only protein I'd be having in the morning would be the small amount of milk I'd put in cereal.
Posted 8/10/2008 2:43 PM (GMT 0)

Kythe,

I have the same problem as you but mine is caused by my meds I think.  I have days when I want to eat everything and days I can do without.  Mostly my mornings are when I have a problem, I can eat all morning.  If I don't I feel sick to my stomach.  I have tried to eat the protein in the morning thinking it would last but it doesn't.  My suggestion is to plan ahead and choose healthy foods.  I start my morning with a cup of coffee and a zone bar.  It's my sugar for the day but it's balanced with protein so it doesn't throw my day off.  Within an hour I'm eating yogurt or eggs.  I snack on almonds too.  I have gained weight but I think it's more from the inactivity.  I have really slowed down since the FM hit.  I used to be very fit, so it has been hard to accept the weight gain but I'm working on it.  One day at a time.  As long as I'm choosing healthy foods and exercising, I feel ok about it.  I have also had all of the blood work and it showed nothing out of the ordinary. 

Also, if you are happy with your weight that is good. Doctors are not always right.  I think we all have a healthy weight and it is usually a lot higher than what most doctors like. Keep up the good work on maintaining your weight  :-)  .

Meggie 

Posted 8/10/2008 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
Kythe-

I am going through something very similar right now. some days I feel like I can't eat enough, and some days I seem to have almost no appetite. I also get the upset stomach and dizzy thing if I get to the point where I really need to eat. An other thing that happens, which I am wondering about if it happens with you- is that sometimes mid- meal I get dizzy and light headed...almost anxiety. its very odd- and quite honestly worries me! I do know that meds are not a cause of stomach/appetite problems for me, as I am on none. I would love to hear if you find out anything more on this topic!- I will also let you know what I find out- I am going to make an appointment with a naturopath that I have been researching, and see if she can shed any light on this topic....

Posted 8/10/2008 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hmm, I can't say I've ever experienced dizziness or anxiety that started mid-meal. However, I can get dizzy when I'm anxious.

As far as meds go, the only thing I take regularly is a birth control called Necon which helps regulate my cycle which used to be really out of whack due to PCOS. There's really no way to say if the appetite problems are due to this medication because I've been on it for a long time and these problems have been happening for a long time. I really can't remember if I was experiencing this before I started that medication or not.
Posted 8/11/2008 3:57 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Kythe,

 

I suffer from the "hypoglycemic" type symptoms very badly.  I've had uncountable glucose tests and they always come back normal. I'm not anywhere near diabetic or truly hypoglycemic (low blood sugar).  I'm totally normal.  But the symptoms are so bad that I do get very dizzy, sweaty, disoriented, anxious, headachy, all the low blood sugar symptoms.  So I eat like a diabetic. Even though I'm not!

 

Fibromyalgia, for some reason, makes people more prone to these "phantom hypoglycemic" episodes. I've been reading up on this phenomenon. It's super annoying to have isn't it.  I've been told to eat high protein meals, every 2 -3 hours to curb these symptoms.  Sometimes I can go for weeks with no issues, and then when I'm flaring up the symptoms are worse. 

 

Just do your best!

 

Ginny

Posted 8/11/2008 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Ginny, that's very interesting. I don't suppose you read the information about that online? Maybe you could post the links. It might be helpful to show to my endocrinologist to convince her that I'm not headed down the road to diabetes and I'd be interested in reading about it as well.
Posted 8/11/2008 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
I am hypoglycemic and it has been worse since fibro. I don't eat much meat and was having a terrible time with it and doc told me to eat more protein so I eat protein bars that are high in protein but low in fat and sugar. That seems to be helping a lot.

 

The only time I lose my appetite is when I'm depressed or gastroparesis is acting up.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

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