Hi everyone. I am still suffering from a complete loss of appetite coupled with severe nausea and reflux and other intestinal issues. I have been maintaining my very low weight just barely for a few weeks, but I simply need an appetite and for this nausea to decrease while I am waiting for my treatment to work.
I have tried ginger which helps a bit and various teas. Does anyone know specifically of any natural appetite stimulants (aside from the obvious one which I don't wanna smoke all the time cuz it kind of impairs me in other areas) that I can try? I am so desperate to desire food again that I may even be willing to try this drug called Megace, which I had been reluctant to do until now.
I simply cannot live this sick all day, every day. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Jess.
Posted by Jolteon (Member # 37850) on :
Chastain- I had a horrible problem with food when I first got lyme. Could not eat because of pain and did not want to eat because of nausea. I was 5'8 150lbs and went down to 110 in a couple weeks.
I never smoked but my grandmother who has ovarian cancer would smoke to help with similar problems. After spending a sick day with her she recommended smoking.
I know you are looking for a different solution, but my grandmother gave me a vaporizer and it helped me immensely.
I was very discouraged because I never tried it and could not smoke daily because of school.
I am very glad I gave it a chance. The vaporizer takes out a lot of the harmful smoke. I only had to smoke twice a week to gain back my appetite plus it gave the added benefit of relaxing me for a while when I was in extreme pain.
I know our situations are probably very different, but this really worked for me and I was completely against it at first.
Idk if it compromises the immune system though which always scared me a little.. I wish I knew more about natural appetite stimulants, but I hope this helps a little.
Good luck
Posted by chastain (Member # 34236) on :
Jolteon- To be honest, I was thinking of getting a vaporizer. A friend of mine has one that she would be more than willing to give to me. The smoking kind of goes back to my old lifestyle from before I got sick, which I wanted to put behind me. However, I am using this medicinally now, not to party and it definitely does work with stimulating my appetite. Thanks for the response. Jess.
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
This is one big reason I take antihistamines (I use Claritin RediTabs), they help to give me an apatite that otherwise I wouldn't have.
Other apatite stimulants:
Garlic, onion, cinnamon, ginger, fennel, caraway, fenugreek - all are good apatite stimulant herbs, and all are good for the gut (except garlic/onion may trigger acid reflux if that's already an issue for you).
Avoid too much mint before meals, that can suppress apatite...
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
There are pills I was told that are an extract of the "smoking" herb that stimulates your appetite, but doesn't cause the other effects.
My friend who had breast cancer didn't find the smoking herb to be the miracle that people taut. Ginger worked better for her.
Good luck.
Posted by chastain (Member # 34236) on :
Thanks Razzle and Judie for the suggestions. I appreciate it. Jess.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
Did you look into trying the Seacure?
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I never found anything to help. I didn't want to take the smoking route, which would have eliminated my need for three other prescriptions (for pain, fibro, and sleep). I had a challenging teen in the house, so I just didn't want to go there. If it were today, I'd probably do it.
In the end, my appetite came back. It took me six months to wean off those legal, but addictive drugs.
Posted by chastain (Member # 34236) on :
Carol, the Seacure didn't help. Really the only thing that helps is that magic plant . I think I am going to get a vaporizer from my friend today, and do what I have to do for awhile with it. It is literally the only thing that works to help me keep my food down.
yesterday I didnt smoke and I vomited three times in the middle of the night. The previous two nights when I did smoke, while I still didnt feel wonderful, I did have more of an appetite and I kept all my food down.
I dont love the idea of doing this right now. it kind of reminds me of my past before I got sick. However, it is the only option right now that works, and I need to save my life. Weight gain is essential for me, I am 35 pounds underweight. This is a temporary but I think necessary measure. I cannot take zofran, it messed up my heart, and the side effects of other meds I have tried are unbearable. Jess.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
Although the Seacure didn't help, perhaps it will help heal the gut later on.
Good luck, I hope this works for you.
Posted by chastain (Member # 34236) on :
Thank you very much Carol! I appreciate it. Jess.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- DANDELION ROOT - easy, safe, legal (therefore accessible) & extremely nourishing. It has many other fabulous benefits.
How to Use Dandelion Root As an Appetite Stimulant
Aug 24, 2010 | By Jonathan Croswell
Excerpts:
Dandelion root . . . . In herbal medicine, dandelions have a number of uses, in part because of their high levels of vitamins A, B, C and D, iron, potassium and zinc.
A common use for dandelion root today is as an appetite stimulant. . . .
Step 1: you can make your own tea from fresh dandelion ROOT. Or:
Step 2: Take 500 mg of powdered root (4:1 standardized extract) one to three times daily, depending on how severe your lack of appetite is. Or:
Step 3: Take 100 to 150 drops of dandelion root tincture (1:2 potency of fresh root in 45 percent alcohol) three times a day. . . .
Chapter from: �The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook� (Tillotson, et.al.)
DANDELION ROOT & LEAF (Taraxacum officinalis)
. . . gently stimulating appetite and improving nutrient absorption. . . . -
Posted by tickled1 (Member # 14257) on :
I discovered completely by accident that coconut oil helps me. The way I found this out was after eating an "Amy's gluten free, soy free, dairy free Rice Macaroni and Cheez" that my stomach had felt better than it had in a long time.
I was trying to figure out what ingredient in it had made my stomach feel better and I determined it had to be the coconut oil.
That particular Mac and Cheez is also very high calorie so maybe it would help you put on weight while healing your GI. Give it a shot!
I haven't read everyone else's replies so I don't know if someone already mentioned coconut oil so sorry if I repeated what someone else may have suggested.
Try it though. I think it would help you in a couple of ways with it being high calorie and containing coconut oil which is healing. I wasn't able to tolerate much food and this was a lifesaver for me.
I'm sure someone will come along and say not yeast friendly but I think chastain just needs to eat whatever she can tolerate right now. I think that coconut oil also fights yeast, bacteria and parasites but am not 100% on that.
Hope you feel better soon Chastain. I also like the "Amy's dairy free, gluten free burritos".
Posted by chastain (Member # 34236) on :
Tickled, I used to eat that Amy's meal all the time before I got sick! its really tasty and it is high calorie, which is great for me. I will buy a few tmrw at Whole Foods-that is a great suggestion! Thank you.
And thanks for the support about eating whatever I can tolerate right now. My candida levels have been going down significantly, even with drinking Ensure and not having a perfect yeast free diet. I think right now an overly restrictive diet will do me more harm than good. I am in an unhealthy zone until I hit at least 100 pounds.
I appreciate the help. Jess.
Posted by tickled1 (Member # 14257) on :
You are very welcome. I hope it helps. Be better!
Posted by 0ldman (Member # 22101) on :
Mustard helps me.
I find food and the very thought of eating nauseating quite often. A half a ham and cheese sandwich or even just a slice of ham with mustard helps tremendously.
I like mustard, but it isn't one of my favorite condiments, but the past 6 months or so eating something with mustard on it is the only way I've been able to eat in the mornings to take my meds.