[makinit]

Hi!

I am a person with many health issues, most auto immune derived. I am on fairly high narcotic pain relief, but it hasn't posed any problems in terms of weight, appetite in the past. 5 years ago, I weighed 220 (I am 5'4) exercised religiously, but couldn't lose any weight to save my life. I sort of decided that was the way it was, I was happy and healthy otherwise. I developed type 2 diabetes, despite a healthy diet, and wound up going to an Eastern medicine practioner, lost 80 pounds...in about 8 months. Then I got sick with a bunch of other stuff...too long to get into but long story short, I had to change my diet. My weight crept up, I watch my blood sugar and I got to 190. In August of this year, I decided to try my other diet and I started losing weight again. Problem is now, in 3 months I've lost over 30 pounds and everything smells bad, looks bad, and tastes bad. I force myself to eat some fruit and a high protein drink. I'm lucky to get 700 cals down each day. thanksgiving day, I prepared a nice dinner, fixed a small plate and barely ate 1 bite of each thing. I got sick after and the next day I was cramped and ill the entire day. Only today have I started sipping water and seven up. My docs aren't concerned b/c I'm still over my BMI. But I have alot of scar tissue in my belly from surgeries, as well as other stuff in my tummy. But I have so much acid coming up from my stomach I just feel my esophogus burning. I don't understand why the docs aren't concerned my appetite isn't there. They are congratulating me on my weight loss, which is fine but it's not a fight for me.

I need to know if I should be concerned. I am 42, never had to worry about my weight...at least not too little although my weight was always perfect until I had kids. I am muscular so my weight is deceiving...I can weight 150 and be a size 8.

Thank you so much. I know many of you have so many worse problems but I have other health issues and am trying to figure out what's going on with this one since the docs seem to think I'm just doing marvelously and don't get it when I say "i can't eat".

Tracey (makinit)

[lil_bit]

Firstly, congrats on your first post and welcome to PC!

You mentioned that you have a lot of acid coming up into your stomach, have you or your doctors ever looked into acid reflux disease? I have that and the burning can be unbearable sometimes no matter what I eat/don't eat.

700 calories a day is a bit low. Generally less than 1300-1500 is considered starvation (depending on your source). To me, the nutritional value in what you do eat can mean more than the food itself. In my opinion (and this is just me) as long as your bmi is within a healthy range and you as long as you still desire to eat and to be healthy then you are okay. Perhaps you should discuss your concern with your doctors?

[Perna]

Yes, welcome to PC.

I had trouble with taste and smell, etc. when on narcotics from my appendectomy. Could be your meds are messing with you, they can do that.

I have my acid reflux problems solved with Pepcid Compete (only use one every 12 hours). I don't need them daily/routinely though but I also don't have a problem as severe as yours sounds.

I would imagine too, like lil_bit says, the losing/gaining weight stuff and changing diets, etc. is doing a number on your body.

[makinit]

I do have acid reflux but take a medication for that. Haven't had a real problem with that except occasional icky burps. And my diet is bland because of my other medical conditions.

I know my calorie count is low. I drink a Hi protien drink by Bolthouse called Vanila Chai made from soy...it has, in one bottle (considered 4 servings but on a bad eating day, I'll drink the whole bottle) 500 cals, 120 grs protein and 100 carbs. Sometimes that is all I can get down, although I sit at the dinner table and try to nibble so my 12 year old and 17 year old girls will not get into me with their hang ups about weight. My worst fear is the two of them developing problems so I am desperately trying to model eating. (they know I can't eat sometimes, but my older girl, who is built like me but won't exercise...sees that i don't eat and wants to do what I am doing)

I've been on Narcotics for 5 years...That hasn't changed much. Maybe my intestines are withering away to nothing (ha, ha, ha) I'm not using them enough..I think with Thanksgiving, my body didn't know how to handle that food and that has opened my eyes to a problem because I only ate tiny bites.

the worst part is trying to convince my doctors I am experiencing a problem. If I continue not being able to eat, what will happen when I've lost a bunch more weight?

Thank you...I'll check back with you all if I'm stuck.

[Perna]

What I hated about losing weight when I was sick (from not eating) is that the muscle goes too, faster, so I still weighed "too much" but my body wasn't use to supporting me anymore and working properly.

Have you had any antibiotics recently? The wrong kind of those can throw things off. I was sick 5 months because one kind of antibiotic was being used but not the other that I really needed. You could have an infection/pain of some sort somewhere hinding under the narcotics. I'd have them do an MRI just for the heck of it :-)

[makinit]

I have had a lo grade fever on and off for a while...but I have fibromyalgia, interstitial Cystitis, many different auto immune things...no antibiotics...I'm allergic to almost everything so I don't take the one I can take unless I absolutely have to. I wouldn't be surprised if I don't have an infection somewhere..my blood count goes up...and down. I'm not sure what they'd MRI...I guess maybe pancreas or gall bladder, ugh...maybe if they MRI'd the belly they would find some scar tissue. If I could just get one of my docs to overlook my current weight and look at their own guidelines to look at the amount of weight loss. OH WELL...my daughter and I are sharing protien powder now in smoothies (she won't eat meat...or anything that is healthy so I've put my foot down and said she has to eat these things each day, and check it off, or she will have to go back on a reg. diet..she's 12) I worry about anorexia with her and she uses my lack of eating to justify hers, (she weighs 93 pounds and has dropped from 104) She doesn't understand the difference.