No Appetite?

[Jenna23]

I recently got sort of officially diagnosed(no blood test, because I'm not ever touching gluten again!) about two months ago now. I'm symptom free, for the most part, as long as I don't get glutened.

 

Is it normal to not have any appetite? I'm sure the damage done to my poor stomach is pretty severe. Just wanted to hear from other people. I can literally go without eating solid food for days. I do drink a lot of stuff though. Just wanted to make sure that I'm not going completely crazy.

[1desperateladysaved]

I did have trouble with appetite as I was healing.  I would make myself eat at regular times.  I didn't always eat much.  The herb fennel helped me with appetite.  You can take a few seeds or mix it in almond flour cookies.  Check everything for hidden gluten, watch  out incase you are getting cross contamination.  Hopefully, your appetite will get to normal soon.  Digestive enzymes can help break down your food as the villi are healing.

 

To me eating gluten makes me feel like there is a rock in my belly.  UGH

[gilligan]

I'm glad you brought this up!  I was diagnosed in August, and I don't have an appetite either!  Dr. told me to aim for 3,000 calories per day until I start gaining weight, but…that's difficult to do. The more I eat, the less I want to eat.  I force myself to eat at least 5 times daily, but I am also dairy intolerant, so this is a difficult thing to do.  I'm not gaining weight, but I'm still having having symptoms, so you're lucky in that respect.  My home is totally gluten free, I've checked every single label, don't eat out much…I'm doing everything right, just not gaining weight or getting rid of the "D".  

[notme]

gilligan, are you taking probiotics?  that helps with the D - i take culturelle, one in the morning and one at bedtime.  it has worked really well - don't be discouraged in the beginning if your guts sound like world war 3 is going on in there!  but after a week or two, things should settle down as your good gut 'bugs' get cozy in there

 

i had the hardest time eating (or wanting to) in the beginning.  i think because it was always painful to eat!  and, the less you eat, the more your stomach shrinks.  i am still eating small meals even when i'm not hungry, though, because i am also struggling to gain weight.  i loaded a calorie counting app onto my phone so i could see how badly i was failing (LOLZ) at getting calories into myself, so that helps a little just to keep me motivated.  i think i have only reached my caloric goal half the time   but the appetite is better   sometimes i'm so hungry i can't think of anything but eating.  or, i surprise myself by eating a giant meal.  hopefully it will get better for y'all, too 

[NoGlutenCooties]

I'll caveat this with this information came from various nutritionists and I don't have any source information to share - but I have found it to be true for me.  Make sure you're getting enough water.  If you're dehydrated, it can actually make you feel less hungry.  Also, don't fill up on fluids right before you eat or while you're eating.  Eat your food first, then have a glass of water.  The water can help with digestion, but if you drink too much while you're eating there isn't as much room for food.  Eating breakfast is also important because it sparks your metabolism.  Getting exercise - even just light exercise like taking a short walk - can get your body in the mood for food.  I've also heard that a high-carb diet can actually suppress your appetite - but again, this came from nutritionists and I don't have any concrete evidence of this.  (Has anyone else heard anything along these lines?)

 

I know how frustrating it can be to not be able to gain weight - especially if you have people telling you they "wish" they had that problem (as if not being able to gain weight is any less of a problem than trying to lose weight... ugh...)   Good luck.