Odd stomach problems

[Shashi11962]

I've been noticing over the last few months that I can't tell when I'm hungry. I don't get typical hunger pains. I may get nauseous or headachy, but my tummy doesn't "feel" hungry.

On the flip side of that, I also don't feel full. No matter how much I eat, I don't get that "full" feeling unless (and until) I've way overstuffed myself. Even eating slowly doesn't bring on that typical "I've had enough" feeling.

I do have other GI problems such as slow gastric emptying, really bad gastric reflux, and alternating diarrhea and constipation. But has anyone else ever noticed anything like this?

[Reanne]

Shashi,

Much of the time I don't "feel" hungry, but I eat anyway.  Once I get started, I do okay and even surprise myself sometimes on how much I can eat.  I usually need some sort of snack before bedtime also.  Much of the time I eat cereal for a snack.  If I don't eat a little something and take plaquenil, my stomach gets upset if I don't take it right before I go to sleep.  Several years ago, I had some sort of stomach pains which were never diagnosed.  After starting plaquenil, it hasn't been as severe.  At the time my GP and I decided it must be some sort of spasms although all my tests were normal and he tried diligently to find out what was wrong with me.  At least he never thought it was all in my head.  Anyway, I'm not sure I've helped you.  I think GI problems are common with "us".

[Patze]

Hi Shashi,

Yep, that pretty much describes my stomach these days (a few other things thrown in to make it a bit more fun), ugh.

My gastric emptying is pretty fast, everything else is oh-so-ssssllllllllooooowwwww or super speedy fast , double ugh.

Take care of yourself -

Patze

[navydad]

I get that too,, not knowing when I am hungry,, but there have been days I will eat anything in sight,, this is usually when I think back to my last doctors visit and get weighed,, and I almost cry when I see my weight has dropped a few more pounds,, down to 140 again,,,

[Carolina]

Dear Sjogies:

I was just thinking the other day about an odd factoid about my 'hunger'.

When I first experience hunger, it is dreadful, I feel almost sick and it hits suddenly. 

I feel that if I don't eat something to make the feeling go away I will be in serious trouble!   

It's always been like this, but it's worst in the early part of the day.  I never get hungry after about 4 pm.

Does anyone else have this sudden overwhelming hunger?

My granddaughter was like that as a small child.  Playing along and then suddenly demanding to eat something NOW.  She would eat two or three of whatever was offered.  Stop and go on playing.

It was odd to see someone else with this urgency of hunger.

Lately I get full rather fast, and lose interest in the food.  Out of habit I  may continue eating, but if I stop to think if the next bite will taste as good as the last, I realize that 'no it won't' and stop eating.

Needless to say, however, I'm not wasting away.  I get very little exercise since I've been sick with a UTI, and even when I do exercise, it isn't enough to burn serious calories.  And at 68 I need very few calories to maintain my weight.

I have a hiatal hernia, which doesn't bother me at all.   For a couple of years I thought I had heartburn from it, but it turned out to be angina, which was solved with angioplasties and stents.

But I have something I never heard of before it was diagnosed:  AN INCOMPETENT ESOPHAGUS.

This means that a part of my esophagus doesn't work, doesn't push food along. 

Most of the time it isn't a problem. 

But every once in a while everything just stops moving down, and I may take two or three bites before I realize that everything is just backing up!   

Dry, fine foods, particularly chicken breast are most likely to get 'stuck'.   

It can be very painful, and waiting for things to  move is also agonizing. 

I very seldom vomit to solve the problem because I HATE to vomit.

And for some reason, carbonated drinks are likely to get stuck, and the carbonation starts expanding in my esophagus, which is also very painful.

Fortunately (so far) I don't have many of the stomach problems I hear everyone share here, but my whole bottom end has gotten weird, after a lifetime of no problems.   Varying between no action for days, and then way too much!

I guess that may be the beginning of the entire gastro set of problems of Sjogren's.

Always a new experience!

Carolina

[jstroble]

I've had those urgent hunger attacks.  After reading and researching a bit, I think it could be due to low blood sugar.  I notice after I eat a little,  I feel fine.  I also get really irritable when it happens and I know to find food immediately.  My husband seconds that. 

I don't know if you take prednisone but it can wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels. 

Joyce

[ohiolady]

Lisa,

You know I posted yesterday about food being found in my stomach after a scope.  I feel full and nauseated and am forcing myself to eat so I don't feel any hunger.  I've had digestive issues for a couple of years since being diagnosed with Sjogrens. 

I've found that our digestive issues are not easily treated.  I get so frustrated because if a PPI doesn't help you, it seems the doctors shrug their shoulders and you are left to live with the pain and discomfort.

I don't have any answers but I know it is frustrating and difficult to live with.

Anna

[irish]

Carolina, I was just reviewing your medications to see what you were on and it occurred to me that your bowel issues may be related to the cymbalta and iron. Both of these can cause constipation. Iron can also cause diarrhea in some people. It may be that you may need to talk to your doctor about what you need to do about this.

When you have a GI tract that doesn't propel the food like it should and then add meds that can cause constipation a softenor or a laxative might be in order. Oh, calcium causes constipation in some people also. We just have to live with our meds and work around some of the side effects. That is just the way life is.

Also, the oxcarbazepine can cause a poor appetite and also a taste perversion. This taste issue affects what food taste like to you and foods may not always taste good or appeal to you. I have this problem from my diabetes pill. Hope you can settle things down. Generally, we just have to work at finding nutritious foods to eat. Ice cream ad cold cereal are the things that taste the best to mee. Irish

[Autoimmunity]

I've been noticing over the last few months that I can't tell when I'm hungry. I don't get typical hunger pains. I may get nauseous or headachy, but my tummy doesn't "feel" hungry.

On the flip side of that, I also don't feel full. No matter how much I eat, I don't get that "full" feeling unless (and until) I've way overstuffed myself. Even eating slowly doesn't bring on that typical "I've had enough" feeling.

I do have other GI problems such as slow gastric emptying, really bad gastric reflux, and alternating diarrhea and constipation. But has anyone else ever noticed anything like this?

Are you possibly on any antibiotics right now?  I notice when I take them that I get very, very hungry and can eat non-stop without ever getting full.  Obviously have to watch myself when I am on them as not to gain weight.

[wiccagal]

Oh my gosh its like you are singing my song   Carolina!!     I don't seem to get very hungry then all of a sudden I am overwhelmingly starving.. I feeling like vomiting and I get a bit headachy..  when I eat I don't feel full just feel pain in my tummy... eat very little and then totally over the whole food thing.  I think the planiquil has a lot to do with my issues..  not sure though as the stomach problems seem to be "evolving"... at the moment I am sticking to soup... it seems to sit the best in my tummy and doesn't seem to cause as much pain  :-(

[LeoLady]

Carolina:    I too usually don't have "action" for as many as 3 to 5 days and then I have cramping and go 5 or 6 times in one day/night.  It's a cycle I've been on for at least a year.  When it first started I had cramping so severe I vomited at the same time.  Ugh!  That lasted for about 4 months and then my rheumy put me on Omeprazole 1 x day and I haven't thrown up with it in about 6 months.  Yipeee!  Hunger seems pretty normal, except in the morning when I feel ravenous.  I'm coming up on 60 in August and I'm sure that age and limited mobility doesn't help.  Ah, the joys of Sjogren's! 

Gentle hugs,   LeoLady

[jstroble]

LeoLady

I had the same problems you have when I was taking Plaquenil.  On the third or so day I really couldn't plan anything.  I had to stay home or scout for bathrooms as soon as I got somewhere.  The problem got better after I stopped the Plaquenil.  Right now, I am eating a  carton of Activia or Stoneyfield yogurt every day and  as far as my colon,  I am in the best shape I have been in years.  The only time I have a problem is if I eat dairy products.  I have been lactose intolerant ever since childhood. 

Has anyone else tried yogurt with several different cultures in it?  From what I have read, certain ones are needed to help diarrhea and not all the brands have the ones suggested. 

Joyce