Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Lack of appetite?

I had posted something earlier this year about my situation. Basically, Oct. 09 diagnosis, affected for 20 years, emergency gall bladder removal in Feb. 2010, several weeks inactive due to this, nausea, gastritis (can't take NSAIDS), little food, I lost a bunch of weight and the flares have been ridiculous ever since. Stopped boxing and lifting weights, now trying light martial arts and trying to eat, but I am really not interested most of the time (which is a huge difference for me). Weak and tired, and little to no appetite. So what do I say to my Rheumy on the 22nd of June when I see him? Of course what I just said but any other advice or direction to take?

Peace

Not an expert on this, but I started the low starch diet due to IBS problems (as well as possible AS), and as I am feeling so much better since doing it, seem to have lost interest in food, especially the sweet stuff! Are you starch free? Maybe your body is trying to tell you what you are eating isn't good for it, hence the lack of appetite? I know it may sound mad, but our bodies are very good at letting us know what is good for us!

If you are low or starch free, when did you start it? Could be the bodies way of detoxing? Also with what you've been through recently it could be your bodies way of coping with it? Stress effects everyone differently. Also, depression can cause loss of appetite; just a thought.

Hope you get some improvement soon!

All the best,
Emma.

Hi Cleaveland,
Lack of appetite is a symptom of AS. I've included a link that mentions that symptom.

http://www.spondylitis.org/about/as_sym.aspx

Feeling run down, exhausted and unwell are included in flare ups. When you see your rheumatologist, bring with you a list of symptoms, questions and then ask what the best way is for you to get in touch with him with follow up questions that occur to you later that day or week. There is a medication for nausea that some have found helpful from what I've read. I hope you feel better soon. Before I found Kick As and learned about the no starch diet and low starch diet in Carol Sinclair's book, I stumbled upon the specific carbohydrate diet by Elaine Gottschall. The introductory diet helped me feel so much better and got my appetite back on track. Maybe it would help you: http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/beginners_guide/the_intro_diet2.htm
Best wishes!

I have extreme nausea with my flares - when my friends notice my driver's license photo, they all say, "We're so glad you don't look like that now - you scared us!" I was already skinny, but at 6 feet tall, I dropped to 115. Couldn't eat anything - terrified to eat. When I got on NSAIDs, I had a year of improvement where I was able to eat normally again. Then they stopped working. Strict no-starch diet didn't help my case. Fortunately, I responded well to Humira, and that has decreased the flares and subsequent nausea.

Other things that really help the nausea and flares - I eat TONS of ginger (throw it in smoothies), cherries (known to help arthritis), big dose of turmeric (I make about 1 curry per day), and if I eat something inflammatory such as sugar or gluten, I have 2 steaming cups of nettle tea (a natural TNF blocker: http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/nettle_leaf.php - out of stock right now, but should be back in soon). My rheumy said all of this is fine with my medications. Oh, I drink 2 cups of green tea a day since it's also got anti-TNF.

Just let your rheumy know you're still struggling with nausea - sometimes it takes awhile to find the right mixture of drugs that you can live with (and that sometimes needs to change periodically). Let us know your progress!

Emma,

Thanks for the thoughts! I am not on a low starch diet, but that has more to do with the gastritis and what my stomach will allow. Hence a lot of mashed sweet potatoes, carrots, potatoes, rice, apples, ginger of all kinds and bit of chicken soup. The depression is possible, though I am trying to stay as positve as possible. I have an endoscopy on the 21st, then then my rhuemy on the 22nd, and finally my GP on the 23rd, so I hope I get some information.

Peace

Thanks for the thoughts! I really appreciate different opinions and experiences. I alos eat a ton of ginger! It has helped some but hopefully more info will come next week.

Peace

Thanks for the information Naj! I appreciate it. The no starch diet sounds good and I do think I will try it, but I will wait to see what the endoscopy says on the 21st regarding my stomach, then talk with my rhuemy and then see on the 23rd what the GP says. I think I saw a doctor maybe once a year on average prior to last September, now I see then several times a month... what are youn gonna do.

Peace

Hope you get more info from your appointments. Do mention these symtpoms though, as others have said, it can be caused by the disease, and/or the meds you are on. You need to keep your strength up, so important they know you can't eat much at the moment. Maybe a supplement could help?

Depression can be a sneaky beast (been there, done that!). Other than mood, some of the classic signs are loss of appetite or increase in appetite, as well as loss of sleep, or the need to sleep more. Also signs of AS!!! Could be worth discussing with your doctors? Clincial depression is different to just feeling "low", and no matter how positive you stay, it can still affect you. It is a chemical inbalance in the brain, and isn't necessarily caused by a traumatic incidence, as I found out. Worth discussing, although I hope it isn't that causing your symptoms! If it is though, there are many treatments available.

All the best with your appointments!

Emma.