Hi I was diagnosed with copd about 10 years ago and stopped smoking right away, I put on a little weight but wasn't too worried as my favourite food was fruit and veg. I was still at work and was pretty active back then.
Now I find that I am never hungry and am losing weight, I just can't bare the thought of eating and the tiniest amount I force down myself fills me up quickly, I live alone so do not have the luxury of someone to prepare something to tempt me. I have tried ready meals but don't like them, I do however drink plenty of milk.
I am not dangerously thin but I have noticed my clothes are a bit more roomy than they used to be and a couple of people have commented that I am losing weight. I just wondered if anyone else feels like this and is it "normal" with this disease. Thanks : ) x
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gejay
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I can relate to how you feel. I never feel hungry and am very under weight. I do try and make myself eat even when I don't want anything but, like you, I soon feel full and bloated.
I have nutritional supplements on prescription and it may help you to see if you can get these. These are drinks that are easy to take but some days I have to force myself to drink these too. In my area (NE Lanc's) you have to be referred to a dietician for assessment first. I don't know if you can get the supplements direct from your GP but contacting your GP would be the first step.
In the meantime, it may help if you could turn some of your milk intake into fruit shakes by liquidising added bananas for example.
I do hope that you find something that helps you. Best wishes.
1 in 4 people with COPD are affected by weight loss which can increase as the disease progresses. You are right, however, that any other possible cause should be eliminated. In my case there is no other cause.
I mean as it progresses. COPD is a progressive disease, some people progress more slowly than others. I had a poor appetite when first diagnosed with emphysema 5 years ago at which point I was moderate. I am now very severe in spite of my best efforts and treatments to slow the disease down. I have been told by a COPD specialist consultant that a rapid deterioration sometimes happens, particularly when people have a lot of exacerbations and infections (which I haven't had) but the cause is often unknown.
I’m severe emphysema and find now I don’t really get hungry very often and I eat mainly because I make meals for my husband. I have a small portion, a quarter of what I used to eat. There again I do need to lose a few pounds so for me it’s a good thing but I am aware something is going on within me. I suppose it’s the disease progression sadly. ☹️
I am at severe stage with the copd, it never occurred to me that it may be something else, I am on medication for a hiatus hernia so it could be something to do with that. Your right I need to see the Dr. Thanks X
Hi gejay may I ask what medication you are on for your hiatus hernia? My husband has a large one which affects his breathing mostly when he bends down, as well as having PF. It cannot be operated on as he has a damaged esophagus due to acid reflux. Many thanks Carole
I have the same problem the only time I have a good appetite is when I'm on antibiotics and have to take preslidone as well and boy I eat for england as soon as the course is finished my appetite disappears the only thing I seem to eat paella. Hubby does the cooking he tries everything to get appetite back mo good and I like you have people saying losing weight consultant has said to put weight on and has put me on high energy fortisip drinks 4 a day they do do a milky one in different ones speak to you doctor to get on prescription. Hope you eat soon.
Easier said than done isn't it to put weight on. It took me 2 years to gain 6lb with the help of dietary supplements and this year I've lost 5 of those. I had a recent GP appointment and she asked how my weight was. When I told her about the loss she replied "that's your chest", really just confirming what I already knew.
Yes our chest has a lot to answer for. Hopefully things my change for you and you gain a few pounds. I'm going back to see my gp next week to see if there is anything she could give me similar to preslidone to keep my appetite up. Preslidone does see my appetite shoot up.
Thank you. GPs used to prescribe an appetite stimulant but I can't remember what it was called. I don't know if they still prescribe such things but there is nothing lost in asking.
You do well to have 4 fortisip drinks a day. I used to get fortisip but last year it was taken off the prescribing list in my area amd replaced with fresubin (cheaper) which doesn't have many flavour options and isn't as nice.
Prednisolone never gives me an appetite but I know it has that effect on many people. We are all different.
Hope all goes well at your GPs. Does annoy me when they stop prescribing things, we all have worked all our lives to pay in to the system and people like us need these extra things to help us and they take them away and we have to pay expensive prices .
I have bronchiectasis, but also severe osteoporosis, kyphosis and scoliosis, lpr gerd and gallstones which means my foods are fairly restricted. I can’t have dairy or soy so unfortunately couldn’t get the drink supplements as most contain these. I never feel hungry and at lowest weighed 34kg at the beginning of the year.
I am vegetarian so eat lots of vegetables. But I have found adding almond butter to meals, extra Virgin olive oil helps. Also you can get coconut yogurt which can be high in calories. There is a drink called Mylk it has coconut, cashew and rice milk and is also high in calories. You could add a little honey, banana etc and blend or cocoa powder and make hot chocolate.
When I saw the dieticians they all seemed to supply Ensure. Which does come in lots of flavours, including a fruit drink version, pudding and soups.
Perhaps if you could get a referral to them, then they may be able to offer something.
I was also diagnosed about 10 years ago I’ve put on a st and and half part is due to a daily steroid of 5 mg I’d love to go back to my original weight. How r you doing -0 years layer
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