No appetite but craving sugar in the evening

[sobs1962]

Does anyone else have a poor appetite, I am so obsessed with gaining weight because it makes me feel suicidal, that I think not eating has made me have no appetite and I'm convinced my metabolism is like a sloths. I don't do any exercise because of my fibromyalgia as it hurts too much, so no activity = no appetite, I guess. Any encouragement, advice or support really appreciated as my anxiety is really bad and propranolol is not helping but don't want to take a higher dose because of what it does to conversion.

[Lalatoot]

Sobs eating is like taking your thyroid hormones. You need it to be well. If we don't eat enough our body shuts down and part of this shut down stops thyroid hormones working. You need calories to convert t4 to t3.So please try to eat a little more. It is as necessary as taking your levo is.

[sobs1962 in reply to Lalatoot]

Thanks for reply, but my mental health is so bad, I'm not seeing things the way they actually are and when I look in the mirror, I see a fat person. I've only gained a huge amount of weight once in the 1980s and I felt suicidal, have this thing about fat people, guess it must be the generation, I was brought up in. I eat most food in the evening but find myself craving sugar, maybe my body telling me it needs more calories during the day.

[Yesletsgo in reply to sobs1962]

First please bear in mind I'm not a doctor so what works for me may not work for you.I've found that the more sugary food I eat, the more I crave it. If I cut it out and eat healthy stuff the cravings reduce. Take an honest look at what you consume and just evaluate what bad habits you've got. It used to be that if I had a packet of biscuits I'd eat most of them. I stopped buying them, temptation was removed, it helped.

A lot of areas offer support with mental health, I believe it's called IAPT, this may give you the support you need. Your mind and body need to work together on this one.

[nellie237 in reply to Yesletsgo]

Hi Sobs,

I'm so sorry that you are going through this horrible time.

I have to second what Oldbadknees has said about cutting out the bad stuff like sugary foods and take aways does stop you wanting them.

I try and satisfy my sugar cravings with really sweet fruit.........yeah, I know slightly green bananas and unripe apples are better for nutrient value, but as far as I'm concerned nothing beats a perfectly ripe piece of fruit...if you can find any these days.

I also found that buying expensive chocolates, instead of multi-packs of mars bars etc helped. Having an expensive chocolate with a cup of coffee became a luxurious pamper myself treat rather than wolfing down loads just because they were there.

[Yesletsgo in reply to nellie237]

Sobs, Nellie's suggestions of expensive chocolate is a good one. If you can force yourself to acquire a taste for 70-80% dark chocolate it can really put you off milk chocolate because it'll just taste too sweet and oily. Plus there are proven health benefits to eating small amounts of dark chocolate daily.Your body is an amazing and complex thing. It carries you through life but like anything so precious you need to look after it to get the best from it. Have you spoken to your GP about your mental and physical health? Chronic pain is a horrible thing to live with and if you can get some help with that the rest of your difficulties are more likely to be resolved. Good luck.

[sobs1962 in reply to Yesletsgo]

Thanks for reply, yes saw a GP, last week and told him how I'm feeling, didn't seem that interested to be honest just talked about painkillers and that was about it, so seems a bit pointless, once they know you have BPD, they just see you as untreatable, as they know that you will be very likely to self harm or use some form of self sabotage and that unfortunately is what having BPD does to most people. Their attitude appears to be that it is likely the patient will die sooner rather than later and they can't do anything to stop their behaviour. So unless I can manage to stop hating myself, it likely that it will be a self fulfilling prophecy.

[Delgor]

Sobs, I really do empathise with your plight but in case it helps I have osteroporosis, scoliosis and CFS and in a lot of pain with my spine but I do try to keep going for a walk every day or else as I see it as "use it or lose it". I'm sure you will already be aware that some form of exercise is beneficial for mental health also. As for diet, have you read up on gut health and how it can impact both physical and mental health and have you ever done an online food intolerance test. I did one a few months ago and found to my horror that I was intolerant of all dairy, eggs, gluten, wheat, yeast and certain nuts. I saw a nutritionist and changed my diet completely to basically fish, meat, veg and fruit with no processed foods (now read labels on everything). I cut out caffeine and sugar and can honestly say that I no longer crave sugar at all and even lost weight even though my appetite has increased and the bonus was that I rarely feel depressed now although I realise you have BPD so it might not be the same for you but it may be worth looking at at your diet in more detail - from someone who cares!

[Naomi8]

Hi sobs1962.Take a look at the website of "Overeaters Anonymous"& click on "New To OA"I had enormous support & friendship in two other anonymous fellowships,some of whom were members of OA.

[HashiFedUp]

So sorry to hear of your struggles. Mental health is pants when we lose it. What support are you having with your MH? If you have issues with food, eating, etc and you have suicidal thoughts, then there might be an underlying issue that you need help with. Maybe you need a GP referral for counselling? Definitely tell your GP how you’re feeling.

Please also bear in mind that poorly managed thyroid dysfunctions can lead to depression and anxiety. Even just small under or over medication can cause mood disturbances. I had it just the other day and am hopefully working my way back out of it, having changed my doses of t3 and t4.

PM me if you want to talk MH/feelings xx

[sheeraRFC]

Struggling with the weight gain to same extent x

[Miffie]

Have you had an HbA1 c test recently? When I had zero appetite, low self esteem and craving sugar when most tired I was tested and diagnosed with diabetes.

I can honestly say healthy eating keeping carbs in moderation took care of the sugar cravings. I now find if I have a sweet treat I can soon fancy another.

I hope you find a solution soon.

[sobs1962 in reply to Miffie]

Yes had the test done result was 36mmol/L (26-41mmol/L), so as far as I know, no sign of diabetes, as sure they would have told me if there was.

[Miffie]

Excellent, at least it’s ruled out. Good luck

[thyr01d]

Hello sobs, I'm really sorry to hear how you feel. I read somewhere (didn't keep it) that craving sugar in the evenings is a sign of stress. Can you reduce your stress levels? Perhaps by being more sympathetic to your poor body as it is trying to achieve homeostasis?

[sobs1962 in reply to thyr01d]

I really wish I could but the truth is that when you have BPD, your stress levels are always high, due to rumination and negative bias, in longterm therapy and hopefully that will help, unfortunately been in this state of mind since childhood but doctors don't take your adrenals into account when treating your thyroid as they fail to make the connection with HPA axis dysfunction and therefore don't test adrenal function before prescribing Levothyroxine and inevitably make the problem worse. So as you can see, I'm battling my own mind, as well as the medical profession.

[thyr01d]

Oh sobs this is so sad, especially that you have been in this state of mind since childhood. I don't understand about the HPA axis dysfunction. It might not be appropriate but I wonder, have you ever tried Yoga? I find Yoga marvellous for reducing stress and some of the poses seem to benefit the adrenal glands in particular. I have quite a few students with BPD who tell me it really helps them - strangely they do a breathing practice that is advised against with BPD and tell me it makes them feel better. Not looking for business btw, I'm gradually reducing the Yoga and doing more Counselling, just thought it might give you some relief.

[sobs1962 in reply to thyr01d]

Yes, I have tried yoga but failed miserably as some of the poses were painful for me as also have fibromyalgia but I put myself under so much pressure and give myself unattainably high standards to live by and unfortunately I judge others by the same standards so no-one ever lives up to my expectations, especially not me. I don't do any form of exercise as it hurts, especially my thighs and hips. I don't know what the solution is, I feel very much stuck.

[thyr01d]

Oh this is awful for you, however, do you know that fibromyalgia often improves (if it was even the right diagnosis) when thyroid medication is right? I know it's hard to keep finding out more and I expect you've worked hard at it already, but do keep going, it's worth it. With hugs of support and care.

[sobs1962 in reply to thyr01d]

I have no idea whether fibromyalgia was the right diagnosis or not was over 20 years ago, but have got quite hung up on it and was prepared to have a massive fight with GP recently when statins were suggested, as statins can cause rhabdomyolisis, especially in those with fibromyalgia. All I know is that when I go out walking, my back, thighs and hips hurt. My husband says,it'll improve if I keep doing it but the pain puts me off.

[Canu]

Hi sobs1962. I sympathize, as I also have fibromyalgia and adrenal issues which nobody tested before prescribing levothyroxine. I also crave something sweet in the evening. I wonder if it has to do with the adrenals. I read somewhere that people with low cortisol issues should avoid carbs during the day, to keep cortisol levels up, but to have some carbs in the evening to reduce cortisol levels for better sleep. I also have low appetite, but only when I'm undermedicated.

From what I understand, taking NDT or a T3/T4 combination, or even T3 only (for some) may be a better option for people with fibromyalgia. I suspect, with what you've shared here, that you are not optimally medicated. I have tried levo, NDT, and Metavive, and now I'm taking Metavive + T3. I'm feeling a little better but still have a long way to go. I was sensitive to levo and would have overmedication symptoms (especially anxiety) whenever they tried to bring my TSH down to 2 with levo only. I understand it might be difficult to tell if some of what you're feeling is from the BPD or from hypothyroidism, but I suspect this level of anxiety, depression, heart issues, etc. are likely the result of not being properly medicated for your hypothyroidism. Please don't let the BPD label trick you into thinking you can't get well physically or psychologically!

[sobs1962 in reply to Canu]

Thanks for reply, sounds like you're in the US, however we in the UK, have a serious problem, firstly because doctors won't carry out all necessary blood tests ie t3 not tested. Secondly if they think you might need t3, they won't prescribe it as the cost to the NHS is ridiculously high due to legislation allowing pharmaceutical to charge whatever they want for t3 not being revoked. So as you can see we're up against it here, thyroid patients have no chance.

[Canu in reply to sobs1962]

I'm really sorry about that. I hope you find a way around it. Perhaps if you know someone who travels to Greece or Turkey, they can get it for you. It's cheap there and you can get it without prescription.

[sobs1962 in reply to Canu]

Honestly, I don't know whether I need t3 or not as can't get it tested apart from paying to have it done and I cannot afford to do that as my husband is on half pay due to waiting to have a knee replacement and will be on half pay for 6 months, so as you can see, I'm really stuck.

[Canu in reply to sobs1962]

From what I've read, us fibro sufferers need T3 anyway. Blood tests don't show the full picture. They only show what's circulating in your blood, not what's getting absorbed into your cells. You might want to read this: healthrising.org/blog/2019/...

Dr. John Lowe did not prescribe levothytoxine only for fibro patients.

ndnr.com/anxietydepressionm...