Absolutely no appetite with IBS
Does anybody find a complete lack of hunger with IBS or when they’re having a flare up? I remember before this all flared up 3 years ago, I used to have a voracious appetite & could polish off anything & everything. Now I’m full so so easy & find eating a chore, I’m down to two meals a day and even at that I don’t look forward to each meal. I don’t even have diarrhoea or constipation, which I suppose I should be grateful for, just massive bloating, pain, wind & getting full so easily.
Ps Can I ask the moderators is it ok to start multiple discussions or does it have to be included under your original topic that each of us started?
Hi
, first of all, I wanted to say that you can of course start multiple discussions on different topics! We really appreciate your contributions to this community.
Regarding your question, I am the exact same whenever I'm having a bad time IBS-wise. Even mild symptoms make eating feel impossible and during flares, I can't even think about food. I especially find that bloating makes me feel full all the time, so I totally get why you struggle with your meals.
Maybe some of the suggestions in this article could help? https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/severe-bloat. You might also be interested in our articles about SIBO, like this one: https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/getting-tested-for-sibo. Maybe this is something you could discuss with your doctor if you haven't already?
Wishing you all the best, Karina (team member)
Thanks for your questions. IBS does include more symptoms than diarrhea and constipation. Bloating, gas, nausea, etc are examples of other symptoms. In addition to speaking with your doctor, these articles may be helpful: Symptoms of IBS: https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/symptoms and a great detailed article about all things SIBO: https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/sibo. Best, Kelly, Irritablebowelsyndrome.net Team Member Unfortunately, I don't have answers to that, I just thought of SIBO when you mentioned your struggle with bloating and that it might be worth a shot to get tested. Have you tried talking to your doctor about it? I'm sure they'll be able to respond to your question about the antibiotics you already took as well!
All the best, Karina (team member)
I get hungry but usually later in the day. Morning appetite isn't that great. I don't think there is anything wrong with just having 2 meals a day so long as there isn't a medical condition which makes that unwise. I always only had 2. But for a while now I haven't been able to eat anything LIKE a hearty healthy breakfast (my "breakfast" is more like brunch anyway) But even at 11am I can only eat very lightly. Usually some toast and a few blueberries. If it's a real bad gut day I am lucky to be able to eat two mini slices of plain toast (no blueberries)
If it's not such a bad gut day, I add a little chopped banana, and sprinkle the toast with sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Yet it's only a small amount. I can't manage more. The body just doesn't want it.But at dinner time (6pm) I am hungry and have appetite. Then I could eat anything, but generally stick to foods I know suit me best.
In a particularly bad flare up my appetite disappears. I feel like I'm in survival mode, and get queasy and shaky, and heart misses beats. Those are really bad days.
But mostly my appetite is fine later in the day. I sometimes fantasize about foods I love at 10pm! Everything sounds wonderful. I feel ready to eat anything imaginable.
Cassoulet with onions and garlic....lentil stew....roasted stuffed peppers....cake with spray cream....mint choc chip ice cream....healthy or not I would love to eat it!
Then I get real and have a camomile tea and 2 plain cookies if I'm lucky
@hateibs I am similar. Mornings are hard for me. I do have an appetite but I am most sensitive with food in the morning so I am hesitant. Until this day I am still figuring out what is best for me to eat in the morning. It's constantly shifting too. Then by the afternoon and evening I have a good appetite. Glad you know what works for you, because that is so important to know what the body needs. We are all so different. -Elizabeth (team member)
sometimes I don't want to eat whatsoever, even if I'm hungry my brain is turned off to the thought of food because I don't want to be rushing to the bathroom. You're definitely not alone with this! Stress is such a huge trigger for many of us. I used to feel exactly the way you're describing on my way to work every morning, and I still do whenever I have to leave the house early. Most of the time, it's not even a flare, just my anxiety making me feel like I need a toilet now. Then once I get to a place with a toilet, it just calms down and I oftentimes realize I don't need a bathroom after all.
How have you been feeling lately?
Karina (team member)Much the same as I was Karina. Bloating and feeling of extreme fullness following a meal especially (in fact mainly) following the 6pm meal. After the 6pm meal, I’ll usually sit on the sofa bloated the whole night irritable & cranky because I’m feeling like this. My bowl of oats never really affects me at all in the morning.
That said, there’s not really a pattern to what might affect me in terms of food in the evening. What food might affect me one evening might not affect me the next. I’m an anomaly in every respect.
I can relate 100% to what you said: "there’s not really a pattern to what might affect me in terms of food in the evening. What food might affect me one evening might not affect me the next."
I am the same. I have been able to eat something like peas for example, with no ill effects the next morning. But the next time I try them (even though I haven't had trigger foods as well, or eaten a lot of high Fodmaps, extra stress or something...I will get a bad reaction the next day.
It's frustrating because at times it can seem like we have no control, or are even able to identify some things that make us flare. That is really disheartening, I feel.It certainly is disheartening. For me personally, this can be one of the most frustrating aspects of IBS. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Best, Elizabeth (team member)
