Struggling to eat

Before diagnosis I had a very good appetite, apart from breakfast. Now I am really having a tough time. As each day passes, I find it harder and harder to eat. My appetite has gone out the window. I am on Metformin, so expected some drop in appetite, but not to this level. I managed with great difficulty a couple of slices of cooked meat this morning to take my tablets, no lunch, couldn't even face a shake. I have made a meatloaf for dinner thinking the lovely smells of frying onions and garlic would stimulate my appetite - nothing. If anything, the smell is making me feel sick.

Has this been an issue for anyone else, and if so what did you do/what were you advised to do to help? I know not eating is going to push up my sugar, so now stressing as well. Grrrrrr!! Help...

Daibell said:

Hi. At first Metformin can affect the appetite quite strongly and many, including me, have had a metallic nasty taste to go with it. This is quite normal and can last a few weeks. The strange taste went away for me, but I think you will find Met does continue to suppress the appetite a bit ; good news some would say if you want to lose weight but not in my case.

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Thanks for the reply. I do want to loose some weight, but not like this. The minute I have food in my hand, such as the cooked meat this morning, my stomach starts to heave. It's really troubling, as I know I must eat, but just can't. Like I say, even smells associated with cooking that once would have had me salivating are making me feel queasy.

I don't think I have a bug, I don't feel ill, I just can't eat. My appetite has just hit the floor and it's a struggle. As I said I want to loose weight, but not this way, as it would just pile on again. I would rather do it slow and steady.

I will give it a while longer and if I am still struggling I will speak to my Doctor. I think I will start having very small amounts and often or as often as I can. Testing is going to be difficult, but I have to find a solution to this. Thanks everyone for your comments.

Daibell said:

Hi again. If you are not on Metformin SR (Slow Release) version you might want to ask your GP to change to this version. Because it's slow acting it may reduce the degree of sick feeling?

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Thanks for the suggestion. I am not on SR so will have a word. This has to be sorted out or I will loose a ton of weight, but then pile it back faster than I lost it, and that's no good at all.

Jolo said:

just thinking... have you only just started a low carb diet? just that i've just started low carbing a couple of weeks ago. today i didnt eat til about 11, which was a salad with avacado and cream cheese and mayo as a dressing! i felt so full and bloated after just the salad i felt sick all day and have been sick 4 times at work! I didnt feel hungry til about 7pm when i ate some more salad with fried salmon (yummy and not too fishy!). just thinking that it could be the diet...?

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It could be anything I guess Jolo. At this point I am prepared to listen to any advice. I did a mixed grill tonight, all very high protein, no carbs, and usually I love things like that. Again, the smell can have me salivating. I did eat dinner tonight, but the feeling of being very full and exceptionally bloated started almost as soon as I had eaten the first fork full. Luckily the feeling I was going to be sick was not quite so bad, but even now, hours later I feel so full and bloated, as if I had just finished the meal. I know protein fills you up and keeps you fuller for longer, but this is hours later. Oh well, guess it's all part of the learning curve. Yes, I only began the very low carb diet a week past Monday. It could be my body objecting to barely any carbs in that time.

xyzzy said:

Defren said:

but the feeling of being very full and exceptionally bloated started almost as soon as I had eaten the first fork full. Luckily the feeling I was going to be sick was not quite so bad, but even now, hours later I feel so full and bloated, as if I had just finished the meal.

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Yep I get that but not anywhere as bad as it sounds you get it so can ignore it for the most part and my appetite is suppressed except for last thing at night where I usually end up being a mouse. It's maybe worth you trying the SR version but have a word with your doc as well. If you can find a fix that would be good as Met is stopping you spiking and has good effects on your heart.

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I agree. I think that could help. Tonight I made a leafy salad, and managed to eat most of it, and really enjoyed it. Diabetes is a funny old thing, or perhaps it's the meds. Either way, I'm sure I'll get there soon. For the most part I am feeling better in myself since diagnosis, so something I'm doing is right