Extreme loss of appetite - Depression Message Board

Laura B · 10-04-2006, 10:02 AM

A few months ago I started to have a hard time eating, no matter what. It got so bad..... I lost 20 pounds..... that I went to a Gastro-Doctor. He did tests and prescribed pills, none of the pills gave me an appetite. All the tests came back normal. I have no pains or burning etc. Anyway, I'm not going back to him, I realize my problem is not my stomach.
My question is, could severe loss of appetite come from depression? I don't think I'm really depressed but I feel "down" a lot. I'm a senior and life is very lonely, many of my friends passed away, especially this year. I'm getting a little better, at least I eat something every day now but it is an effort. Been thinking to talk to my primary doctor about it but I'm afraid he puts me on some pill.....as a senior I am on enough pills, don't need another one to make me tired, which is also a big problem with me, always tired. And before I had this loss of appetite I was very active with walking and biking. So I ask again, could that loss of appetite be all in my head?

janart · 10-04-2006, 12:09 PM

Hey Laura,
Did you start any new medicine when the decreased appetite started? To answer your question depression can definately affect your appetite but if this is the case then you would be showing some of the other signs of depression. Please see your primary doc and rule out the bad stuff if you are not feeling the other signs of depression. Good luck and keep us updated.

WanderingSoul · 10-04-2006, 04:11 PM

Hey there.. Yes, it could be from depression. You might want to go to a psychologist and get a screening though. Sometimes it's hard to be objective about oneself.

anxiousagain · 10-27-2006, 10:47 AM

Hi Laura, just checking in to see how you're doing? Has your appetite returned to normal yet? Depression and anxiety can most definitely wreak havoc on the digestive tract. This is my second bout with the same problem and I still struggle to eat every single day almost five months in.

Laura B · 10-29-2006, 11:14 AM

Hello,
I'm getting a little better, I still have no appetite and eating is an ordeal but I don't get that awful feeling when it is lunch or dinner time, I mean I don't go "oh, it's almost time and I have to eat again." That eeeeegh feeling before eating is gone but still nothing tastes good but I also don't have to actually force the food down anymore. Just eat it as fast as I can to get it behind me. Maybe I finally will be getting better. I started that problem in May, very severe then, hardly could eat anything for the first 2 month, at least now I eat something every day.
Laura