Please help! Can't eat and don't know what's wrong - Digestive Disorders Message Board

Soaring_Spirit · 04-22-2003, 09:35 PM

I need some help...

I have been unable to eat for about the past 5 months and I dont know why. I am losing weight at a constant pace and am down to about 100 pounds or so, and am weak and tired because I can't eat. I have started taking one centrum vitamin a day but isn't replacing the enregy from food. I ve been to the doctors on numerous occassions... Ive done blood work, urine & stool tests, ultrasounds of the gallbladder (one of my friends suggested having an actual xray of gall bladder but haven't gotten yet and don't know if doctor will) and of my abdomen, I've done the horrible barium swallow and everything has come up normal.

The doctor has been convinced by my mother that it is depression and even though I have some signs of depression, I do not rule out that depression has a part of it, but I dont appreciate that everyone is taking the easy road and saying that's all it is. Probably at least 2/3 of my mood is caused by the not eating, and even when i am in a happy and stable mood I am unable to eat.

The most I have been able to eat in a day is half a peanut butter & jelly sandwich in the morning, and if I'm lucky, I can squeeze another one at night. I tend to get very full very fast, and feeling nauseous (if I don't actually get sick). I have to lay down immediately after I eat. It doesn't seem to matter what I eat rather it be a few pieces of chicekn, a haf sanswhich, pizza, fruit, spaghetti...I still get full very fast and not hungry for rest of day. I am forcing myself to eat by mid morning and then usually force myself to eat another tiny bit around 11 pm or so. I just get so full and can't force myself to eat or will just get sick even tho I am just eating a tiny bit.

That seems to be my biggest symptom is just feeling so full by so little food and getting nauseous. The other thing that does cause me to get sick or gag sometimes is I do get a feeling of my throat closing over sometimes....but that isn't always the case.

The doctor has me on Zantac and Reglan (the genric versions) but it doesn't seem to work at all...doesn't help me...he also had me on Nexium but that helped even less...I don't feel a burning like heart burn or anything.

anyhow I was hoping maybe someone had had some similar experiences and might have some ideas of what is wrong??????

I would appreciate any feedback anyone may have! Thank-you.

Harry · 04-22-2003, 10:29 PM

I think you need to see a Gastro Doctor that will endoscope your esophagus and stomach. He should be able to SEE if there is anything wrong.

Some people are very intollerant to peanuts. Also, sugary food is like poison if you have a full blown yeast infection. You may also be allergic to gluten --- it is in wheat products--like bread, pasta pizza crust, oats, barley and rye.

The Doc can do blood work to test for Celiac disease.

Try eating things that are easy to digest and it's not peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, pasta and pizza(spicy food).

Start eating plain simple diet that contains yogurt, baked potatos, can pears, rice, homemade chicken and rice soup--- things that are bland and don't contain sugars or simple carbohydrates.

I wish you well---Harry

Shanny · 04-23-2003, 01:02 PM

If you can only eat a small amoutn of things ,make sure you eat very healthy. For instance, try bland foods as well to cut down on the nausea. If you can stomach it try Soy Milk instead of dairy, I promise it is not as bad as it sounds once you get used to it. THe protein content is really high and will help ya out. Cut out the pizza, sphagetti and fatty foods. Anything greasy is out as well as anything processed. You can also try GInger Capsules to help with the nausea, I can attest to the fact that they REALLY work. I am also on REglan( er metoclopramide

) and it seems to help me. I get really full as well after a meal of either cereal or a large dinner. Doesn't matter I get really full and tend to stay full for awhile. How is your dr having you take the REglan? Mine said once before dinner, once before bed, but that i could split it and try it before every meal. I think if your not doing this, try taking a half capsule before breakfast, full dose before dinner, and half dose before bed. IT really helped me. Also-if your not seeing a gastro dr, you need to be as they are so much more helpful. HOpe you get to feeling better!
~Shan

DanielleUF · 04-28-2003, 07:08 AM

I know exactly how you feel. I have been going through it myself for the past 5 years. I have been living on saltines, bread, and gatorade for the longest time and the nausea never goes away. I too am on reglan, but I also have compazine for the nausea. It works, but makes you very sleepy, and I have built up a tolerance to it. My family thinks it is depression as well, but I know that it isn't. I have a great job, a wonderful boyfriend, and everything in my life is going well. I have nothing to be depressed over, except for the fact that I am 25 and never feel well. I don't know what I can say to help you, except for the fact that I am going through everything you are right now. You are not alone.

grimson · 05-03-2003, 09:19 AM

Danielle, although you are probably right that you are not depressed, I have to caution you about your line of reasoning. Clinical depression really has almost NOTHING to do with 'how your life is going.' You can have a great job and wonderful boyfriend and still suffer from depression. It is a physical illness (regarding brain chemistry) that manifests itself in your mental state. So please don't ever make the mistake that because your life is great you 'can't' be depressed. It doesn't work that way.