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Appetite changes

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Posted 12/10/2009 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

I've been experiencing heartburn regularly (at least 3 times a week) since going off of Prednisone a year ago. I'd never experienced heartburn in my life before I took that medication. My appetite has been slowly decreasing for the past three months, which was a bit welcome at first but is starting to get annoying. During the work week, I have to force myself to get over 500 calories a day. I lost 12 pounds in 2 months between doctor's appointments without trying. Most days I have no hunger pains, but on the days that I do, I look at food or try to eat it and it turns me off.

My doctor told me that this could be caused by my heartburn. Have any of you experienced loss of appetite? How long did it last? How long did it take to go away after treatment?
Thanks,

-C.
Posted 12/10/2009 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
I was like that too. I lost almost 50 pounds in less than 6 months cause I just couldn't eat. Didn't want to, wasn't hungry. I've tried a bunch of different meds and a few brought my appetite back. I'm currently taking prilosec 40mg twice a day which helps. But I can only eat at around 2pm or I feel like crap.
Posted 12/11/2009 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
My oh my nothing bothers my appetite but I do get heartburn and reflux from some foods.


I would trade places with you if I could to help you out.



Kitt
Posted 12/11/2009 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
Same here. Heartburn will really shut down the appetite in a hurry.

Bill
Posted 12/11/2009 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
@babygirl10150 Thanks for your reply! Can you please tell me how long ago the appetite changes started for you? I wouldn't mind losing as much as 50 pounds, it wouldn't kill me. The thing that I don't want to face is attention--the "OMG YOU'VE LOST SO MUCH WEIGHT YOU LOOK FANTASTIC, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" when my answer is, "Um, yeah, I have a health problem that's causing this."

@stkitt :-) I would have traded anything for this problem at pretty much any time prior in my life. I just started to make peace with my body and accept that it will always be fatter than I'd prefer it to be a year or so ago after years and years of (sometimes disordered) dieting. I've sworn off dieting forever to focus on health...and now I can't even force myself to eat anything. Ironic, eh?

@opnwhl4 How long has your appetite been killed by heartburn? Have you lost a considerable amount of weight? Do any medications help you?
Posted 12/11/2009 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone!

Another thing to consider is that gastritis can cause a lack of appetite as well.  Gastritis and gerd can go together sometimes.  I had my endoscope and received the news that I had both.  I could hardly eat anything for months.  Never felt hungry and when I did eat, only a small amount and it felt like you ate 3 thanksgiving dinners! shakehead

You do lose weight, but it is not  a fun way to go!  Hope this helps!  Your Doctor needs to find the cause of the gastritis to cure it, in case it is h-pylori bacterial infection, crohns, or several other causes such as bile reflux.

Hope you start feeling better!

Nolique

 

Posted 12/11/2009 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
echopuff-
I lost about 20 pounds before my nissen redo. I've lost 42 pounds total since last January.

Bill
Posted 12/12/2009 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
It took a few weeks to get my appetite back. I'm underweight right now so people are always asking if I'm anorexic. With my height, my weight should be around 140 to have a healthy bmi and I'm at 110 now. I'm sure I'll slowly gain some of it back but I sure hope it doesn't all come back at once! lol
Posted 12/12/2009 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
@babygirl10150 You seem to be in roughly the same height class as I am and the last time I weighed 110 pounds I WAS anorexic!

Have any of you on this thread found a good multivitamin to take while this is happening? I am worried about the lack of nutrients I'm getting, but even before I started having issues with my health taking a multivitamin would easily make me puke after a full breakfast. I am able to eat a small dinner in the evenings so I'd probably take one then, but I'm worried about taking something that aggravates heartburn. Suggestions?
Posted 12/12/2009 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
I take the childrens gummies. I know they have adult ones now too but I haven't bought them yet. I can't stomach the hard pill vitamins.
Posted 12/13/2009 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
Yup- I take the Adult gummies from Costco. Called vitaFusion. I have the same appetite issue- but for me it is 50% avoidance of things/size of meals that will give me heart burn or hiatal pressure and 50% wanting to lose weight to see if it makes a difference. I am 6ft was 227lbs when this all started 8 weeks ago and am now 205. For me, the weight loss really seems to be working. NO heartburn and just occasion hiatal pressure if I over-indulge. Exercising every 2 days seems to be helping too. I may eventually have to have a Nissen b/c of hernia, Barretts, etc. so am naturally worried about losing too much weight? IF that makes sense. MM
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