Lack of appetite

[Choirlady]

I am 82. GCA diagnosed 3 months ago. Since then in January I suffered from heart failure. I have felt fairly well until recently but now have lost my appetite and don’t really want to eat. I think the Medics might be divided on this. Is it the Prednisolone or could it be all the heart medication? Or something else.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

What dose of pred are you on? My daughter tends to go off food when on pred and I certainly don't get the munchies like many people on pred do!

Have the medics offered any opinions? Have they offered any other tests to see if there is any other underlying problem?

[nallufl24]

I have GCA. When I was on high does of pred, I had no appetite. Food tasted terrible to me. In fact I lost almost 20 lbs. ironically now that I’m on a low dose, all I want to do is eat. I gained my 20 lbs back and now weigh my original weight. I have to be very careful now what I put in my mouth

[Seacat30 in reply to nallufl24]

I am also getting hungrier as the pred dose reduces (8mg). I lost a lot of weight, stabilised and am now increasing again. That is OK at the moment but I will soon have to stop it.

[SheffieldJane]

Have a look at the side effects of your heart medication. I had no appetite before my PMR was treated but felt really hungry on Pred. You will have to tempt yourself with nice little bits. My mother in law would have a little slice of Brie with a few green seedless grapes. She always knew what little thing she could fancy and we got it for her. It worked.

[Grammy80]

You have heard from the best ....I'll just add that whether it was 80, 60, 40 or now 12.5 mg of pred, it wouldn't occur to me to eat, just never hungry. I make myself eat vegetables and some protien and have yogurt and granola for breakfast....sometimes. I still managed to gain weight and it is just beginning to fall, well taper off. How are your vitamin levels? What does any bloodwork show? I wish you good fortune and hope you feel better.💕

[Choirlady in reply to Grammy80]

Thank you. Uplifting advice

[Telian]

Sounds like further investigations are needed. In the meantime do you have someone who can help coax you with some nice little nibbles to tempt your appetite? Prednisolone gives me an appetite but recent gastritis has reversed that so I graze throughout the day eating little and often as they say. Not eating isn’t an option. You can get supplements while at this stage but your doctor needs to help you with this.

[Sharitone]

I also feel that your doctor needs to have some input here. I hope you manage something nourishing today