apetite lost please help

[michaela]

for the last week i have lost my apetite, i just try to eat but not able to finish my meals. I started taking vitamims, complex b, ensure shakes and nothin will open my apetite.
I have lost weight and not see a way out, I am very worry and thinking about this new issue constantly.

please any advice will be appreciated.

thanks

[sixpack]

I don't know your abdominal pain history.  Meaning I don't know if you have IBS or some other digestive issue. 

I do know that anxiety and abdominal issues often go hand in hand----they twirl around with each other.  By this I mean sometimes IBS is a digestive disorder in and of itself---occuring without anxiety.  But sometimes it is caused by anxiety.  And sometime people with the non-anxiety form of IBS have worse symptoms during times of stress.  So as I said I don't know where you are on the spectrum.

Have you ever been diagnosed with a digestive disorder? 
Have you ever been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder?

Those are the two big questions.  I really can't help you with the digestive disorder aspect as I don't have one.  If you do have an anxiety disorder, then I can tell you that anxiety can cause all kinds of abdominal distress, from lack of appetite to diarrhea and so on.  When I've been stressed, I can feel like I would vomit if I ever tried to eat a thing.  I also lose weight in an alarming fashion.  I have lost 3 pounds overnight when I'm deep in the BEASTS grip.  I also couldn't eat a bite.  It's like my throat closes and nothing would make it down.  Other issues with anxiety and gastro things include constipation, diarrhea, reflux, abdominal pain--upper and lower, cramps, overeating, loss of appetite, burning sensation in the tummy, bladder contractions, stabbing pains. 

So my advice is to look at yourself.  Did this come up pretty suddenly?  Have you ever had these issues before?  Is there a family history of IBS or stomach issues?  Is there a history anxiety in your family?  Have you been under any new type stress--good or bad stress, something big or something small?  All of these things can point to what is causing your present issue.  I'm going to say that since you are on an anxiety board, you must, on some level anyway, believe that what's going on is anxiety.  Now if you do suffer from anxiety, perhaps you can see that the discomfort you've been feeling lately is directly caused by your mind.  When we get stressed, we start pouring out adrenaline.  Eventually our body is going to react.  And usually that reaction is going to be with discomfort.  Our body doesn't know there is nothing wrong but it is going to react to what our mind is dishing out.  And a very common reaction is abdominal pain, loss of appetite etc.


The best way to combat this, atleast it has been the best for me, is to really grasp logically and emotionally that our minds are causing these physical symptoms.  Then try to distract yourself with exercise, hobbies, reading a good book, etc. Then little by little you'll start feeling better.  It won't be an instanteous thing but over time.

***if you have a dx'd digestive order, however, I would run this up flagpole to your doctor.  Just know that digestive ills are exceedingly common with anxiety.  And it seems, to me, that this is what is going on with you.***

[michaela]

Yes, i do suffer from anxiety, specially health related. Last week my son got influenza A, and since then I guess the lost all my appetite not that it was good before. This is my first son and is only 16 mos. old

Now all I think about is my loss of appetite and not finding a way to regain it makes me more afraid.

I have requested a psychiatric appointment for next week, but still I am also afraid of taking medications. Do not know what book to read anymore or things to do over come this issues. Hope I can find a solution to all this soon.

thanks for your input.

[marc]

The books "Worry" or "Brain Lock" may help you. I would try to read self help
books at the library or search the internet. You could also go on our chat room, where
you could talk things out.

[jasonibs9]

Michaela ,
  How is your stomach doing these days?  Still drinking the ensure shakes? 

[michaela]

Thanks Jason for asking.

Well i did an complete abdominal sonogram last week, the technician mentioned only nothing to worry about.
I do have an endoscopy schedule for the 4th of august. Did notice a dicrease on discomfort big time after what the tech told me. :)
I am eating better and a little less worry, also feeling better. I am now thinking that is related to my anxiety and over thinking about it.
It is amazing what our worries can do to us. Today I am just feeling if I have a gas stuck on my left side, but that is all.
Now my next worry will be getting close to the endoscopy day...