Hunger...

[amyh]

I was recently diagnosed with Crohn's.... Is it normal for us to feel hungry all the time? I know there's the malnutrition thing, but man, how I crave food! At the same time, I have cramps and a very noisy tummy, and don't want to eat so much becasue it will act up...

 

[kiny]

I eat like 6 meals a day, much more than before I had crohn, I have no idea why and it's not because of meds.

 

[Keepingfaith]

Sounds like you may have the Prednisone munchies Are you on Prednisone?

I've never had any increased appetite with Prednisone but weight gain/increased appetite are the two most common symptoms. Also, when you are deficient in a certain vitamin/mineral your body craves food that has that vitamin/mineral your lacking. I'm never hungry but I have 'cravings' all the times for salty things. Probably because my sodium levels are low from all the 'D' & vomitting.

 

[AlisonR]

Yes, I am hungry nearly all the time as well. Before I was diagnosed I thought this was related to hypoglycemia, but it now seems to be more related to the Crohn's. I have taken to eating lots of small meals everyday (around 6) instead of just a few large meals. I also constantly have snacks on me for in between meals. I have found that if I let myself get too hungry or go too long w/o eating, I am more likely to trigger a flare and generally just have an upset stomach and more heartburn.

I also spoke about this constant hunger w/ my GI. He suggested I take fiber daily, I thought this was a little strange at first as I have read that high fiber foods is a no no w/ Crohn's. But I gave it a shot and it has really helped. I have noticed that my constant hunger has decreased significantly. It hasn't gone away, but it isn't as persistent. I still don't like to let myself get too hungry though!

Hummus w/ pretzel thins or pita chips, yogurt, breakfast cereal bars, pb&j and turkey jerky are all easy cheap snacks to carrry around and seem to fit well into a Crohn's diet (at least for me). I have taken to carrying a lunch box around with me everywhere with several meals and lots of snacks in it. That way I can change plans easier w/o having to worry so much about food.

___________________
Diagnosed with Crohn's February 2009
Current Medication:
Pentasa (4,000mg/day)
Pepcid
Vitamin D3 (2,000 IU)
Calcium w/ Vitamin D
Fiber (2g Methylcellulose/day)

Previous Medication:
Entocort
Asacol

 

[amyh]

Great suggestions! I'm not on prednisone...yet any way.... I find out at my next GI appointment what medications they recommend... Before I was diagnosed, I'd often skip lunch, and be so hungry by dinner time. Probably wasn't a good thing to do in retrospect...

BTW, had a CT scan this morning and all the barium is still coming out in liquid form... oo:

 

[Beach]

For me it seems to be pork and gelatin (which is often made from pork bones and hide) that causes me to be extremely hungry. I have a hard time believing it. I just tested this again today by eating some pork, and sure enough the extreme hunger came back.

I would imagine pork being a problem food specific to me. Possibly there is a food or foods that cause your hunger pains.

Hope you find an answer!

 

[jimbodinga]

I too am hungry all the time and don't know why. I am well over 350lbs and desperate for some kind of answer.

 

[empressentrails]

I have usually have the opposite problem, I have no appetite and nothing sounds good to me. Plus almost every food causes a painful reaction of some sort, so I pretty much HAVE to eat extremely healthy. Even a small dose of Prednisone will increase my appetite exponentially. It's actually good for me because I'm finally at a healthy weight, but sometimes I'm starved and in a food desperation situation (where there is only unhealthy and dangerous food available) so I eat things that my body cannot handle. What I've started to do lately is to make a healthy weekly meal plan and stick to it as much as possible. I stock my fridge and lunch box with crohns friendly healthy snacks (for me: bananas, avocados, tomato soup, applesauce, canned peaches, and rice) so I never feel I have to eat something unsafe because I'm just so hungry. Canned fruit with a pull tab top has been my best friend lately. I will eat a whole can of peaches or pears and my hunger is gone and I have no reaction.

 

[nicholsamanda50]

I haven't been diagnosed with Crohn's disease but I think I have it. I don't hurt all the time, but I do have flare ups just about every month. They normally last for about 3 days and during that time I can not eat anything because the cramps are so bad. I only cramp on my right side under my ribs. The area is sore to the touch. The only way I can get the cramps to subside for the most part is to make myself vomit Then I pretty much don't eat anything for 3 days straight. My stomach even hurts if I drink anything. I normally get really really hungry before I have a flare up. Even after I eat something I still feel like I'm starving. This has been going on since I was about 11 or 12. It stopped for a while and started back up about 3-4 years ago. The whole ordeal has been terrible. I've been to the ER complaining about it but they never do any test. The most they have told me is that I had gas and to go get some gas medicine and go home. Though some times I do get gassy I know that it can't just be gas causing this. I've heard that diarrhea is a symptom but I normally am not able to use the bathroom when I am having a flare up.

 

[UnXmas]

nicholsamanda - why do you think you have Crohn's? Have you seen a doctor (besides at the ER)?

 

[nicholsamanda50]

No, I haven't. I don't have insurance nor do I have the money to see a doctor right now. I think I have it because I seem to have all the symptoms of it. My cousin was also diagnosed not too long ago. I heard that it can be genetic. This has just been going on for so long. I just want to put a name to it so I can get some help. There may not be a cure but at least they have treatment for it.

 

[UnXmas]

Maybe you should start your own thread? You will probably get more replies that way. Or post on this support group for people with Crohn's with financial diffiiculties: http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=51690

I'm not in the US so I can't advise you on insurance issues, but if you post on that thread you should get replies from people with the same problems you're having, and some who will be able to tell you the best course of action to take.

 

[nicholsamanda50]

Okay. Thank you so much for the info