Not hungry and it may be a problem?

[not2late]

Re: Not hungry and it may be a problem?

Vegetables aren't very high calorie, in general. So you need to add fat to them: dips, mayonnaise based dips/sauces, butter, even olive oil.

If you choose to eat lean meats, like turkey breast, you need to add fat to it.

The fat percentages are essentially meaningless, because if you are eating 100 calories a day, you can still have the 65/30/5 ratio and be on target in regard to the percentages. Whatever added fat you eat, it is counted towards your daily calories.

[gman]

Re: Not hungry and it may be a problem?

Three magic words: blue cheese dressing. It's my ketchup in the 21st Century.

[Asclepius]

Re: Not hungry and it may be a problem?

Well, lots of other "cough" unmentionable exercise, but let's not go there. hahaha!

Haha! You make me giggle. You can be dang sure I count that in my activities section for calories burned that day! Fitday has got it all broken down for me, baby!

I have been hypoglycemic in my DISTANT post...like 20 years ago but that went away after I had my daughter 10 years ago.

Oh and Asclepius, the only meds that I take daily are:
.5 mg of Klonopin and 300 mg of Topamax.
I am diagnosed Bipolar but have been "stable" for about a year...due to the meds. Could those be affecting any of this? I know Topamax decreases appetite but it really only did so for about the first year I went on it. Hmmm

thanks so much for all input!!

Glad to hear you're not on Lithium as your stabilizer because that rules out a lot of culprits. Obviously I'm not your official medical advisor, but here are my rambling thoughts in terms of drug associations:

1.) I know you didn't mention BCPs as a med you're taking but just in case - be sure you're not preggo. Topamax is well known for reducing oral contraceptive efficacy.

2.) Be SURE you are drinking enough water! Without increased water intake Topamax can cause some ammonia, calcium, and bicarb to build up leaving you feeling crappy in general on top of being at risk for kidney stones. Flush flush flush!

3.) As for the "anorexia" aspect, 24.5% of folks at your dose experience it long term. I know you've been on the med for a year but I wonder if as you lose weight, your dosage is in effect becoming more potent.

4.) Your dose of Klonopin is quite low (the lowest available pill actually) so it's not very suspect. Sometimes when folks are on high chronic doses we do a blood (CBC) and liver (LFT) workup just to make sure everything is as it should be but in your case something like that is unlikely to be considered. One possibility (as in the case of the Topamax) is that you're feeling the sedating effects of the drug more as you lose weight, assuming your system hasn't developed a tolerance.

5.) The hypoglycemia connection here is that you're already on 2 drugs that sedate in addition to burning more calories than typical. If your caloric intake is such that your blood glucose level is dipping, the combination will knock you flat. I really would reccomend checking your blood sugar the next time you're feeling so woozy and altogether blechy. You've got to make sure your blood glucose is where is should be since no fuel equals no energy and eventual comas are generally accepted as a bad thing. If you don't have a moniter or know someone who does, hit Walmart and snag their $12 version. It comes with 5 or 10 test strips and doesn't require programming. It's as easy as crustless sugar free key lime pie... which really just sounds like pudding to me... but I digress. Given your calories in vs out ratio on top of the low carb WOE, hypoglycemia really is a strong possibility here and luckily is the easiest to remedy. Hitting the fruit rung may be the key.

6.) Check your blood pressure and make sure it's not crazy low. Increasing your water intake will help in that regard as well. Question: are you noticing your heart beating harder at times at all?

The meds you're on really are good meds so I don't want you to think they're demon culprits or something and flush them down the toilet or attempt to feed them to the birds that keep landing on your lawn (true story!). So much physiology is changing in your body right now that it would be a game of shoot the moving target if you began wildly adjusting the variables. My thoughts would be to start with the simple, likely candidates (Calories, blood sugar, water, voodoo) and move along the logic algorithm. If you're not feeling any sort of improvement in the next couple days as you make the changes then there's certainly no harm in getting in to see your regular doc if you have one and she or he may be able to better put all of the peices together.

[gman]

Re: Not hungry and it may be a problem?

By the way you should be seeing someone for that cough.

[MommaRuthie]

Re: Not hungry and it may be a problem?

I want to reiterate from my earlier post. Please go get a check-up with blood labs drawn.

[Asclepius]

Re: Not hungry and it may be a problem?

By the way you should be seeing someone for that cough.

Gman:

I figured you of all people would be aware of the well known fact that Blue Cheese dressing is a natural remedy for cough... well that and lobster.... oh! And prime rib too! ESPECIALLY if the inducer of said cough is picking up the tab.

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Not hungry and it may be a problem?

#1. Listen to what mamaruthie says, not because my mom's name was Ruth which it was, but because you should get checked.

My Mom's real first name was Ruthie--not Ruth. Every time I see Mamaruthie's screen name I almost break out in tears. I miss my mama.

Sorry for the thread jack!

Sunny!

[gman]

Re: Not hungry and it may be a problem?

Sunny here's a hug to Moms!

[rhiannonwins]

Re: Not hungry and it may be a problem?

Gman - I like the cough...sure don't wanna see someone about it. I have tried the blue cheese dressing and like most dressings, they just don't appeal to me. So I stick with mayo i guess.

Megs - I am doing pretty well (for the past 2 days) at getting more carbs and calories in...had a big burger last night with dollop of mayo and the pumpkin during the day, plus a can of tuna with 2 1/2 tsps of mayo...some sour cream during the day and some butter...so good added fat there. No, that wasn't a complete menu. lol Not at all.

Mommaruthie and Asclepius - I think I'm going to go have a good workup on my blood... I have been on these meds and Klonopin since 2000...this is the lowest dose ever...it was once 4 mgs daily just FYI. But I've been at this dosage since 2004. So I definitely have a tolerance to any of its effects in my opinion. Your theory that as I lose weight I may be becoming more susceptible to the effects of both or one of my meds is interesting to be...especially Topamax's "anorexia" effect. I'll just have to eat more to compensaste, hungry or not because this med works so well for me and I am not about to switch to another stabilizer. lol no way! oh and nope, no BCP's.

I'm definitely staying hydrated so the drops in blood pressure and/or blood sugar aren't related to that I don't think. But they could definitely be related to hypoglycemia. I had that before I had my child 10 years ago but never since.

I hate to go to my doctor....I know he doesn't believe in Atkins although he hasn't stated that to me...he has to my husband who goes to him as well so he'll be looking for a reason for me to stop doing it. But with my insurance, I think I can go to someone else. Not 100% positive.

[Asclepius]

Re: Not hungry and it may be a problem?

Yeah- Topomax is a God send for a lot of folks. Definitely gotta stick with what works. It's so stinkin' hard to find a good solid regimen that works reliably. Once you've got it it's like having a golden egg.

As for your doc's attitude: It's a physicians job to support you in your health strides, not be arrogant ignorant SOB's. The way you present it is, "I've been exercising more and eating better recently and with the success I'm having in reaching my weight loss goals, I'm wondering about the potency of my meds and if I'll wind up needing to adjust my dosage." If he probes you just tell him you've been keeping a closer eye on what you put in your body, making sure to get a lot more vegetables in your diet. The bottom line is that all of that is true and if he's an outed Atkin-o-phobe who wants to roll his eyes at you then it's none of his business so then who needs him? Assuming you don't have renal disease or some other contraindication for the Atkins WOE, then the net balance here is toward positive health. That's the evidence based medicine right there staring at him. You are not paying him for his codesention. Medical school did not make us omnipotent and worthy of adulation. Patients should never have to feel that hesitation in their gut over dropping in for a visit.

Grr. Such a pet peeve of mine.

Aaaanywho... *stepping off soapbox* Hopefully your labs come back normal and it all turns out to be a case of intermittent hypoglycemia easily solved at home.

[rhiannonwins]

Re: Not hungry and it may be a problem?

thank you for giving me the words to use in this case. He's actually not my med. mgmt doc - but I don't see him until December. He's an hour away and I go every 6 mos. between visits...he's hard to get in with since he does all the intake at the detox hospital too. lol ANYWAY, this is just my regular PCP doc and he's really young and yes, condescending and cocky. I don't change from him because he is the ONLY doctor that I have found that I can routinely get my migraine shots from without a total hassle. I get Toradol and phenergan usually every other month and when I need it, I flippin' NEED it...in the worst way. Not narcotic so I don't see what the big deal is but most other doctors don't like to do it...they want me to try every other med (which I have) and I think I've just been through the rigamarole with this guy already and just am happy to go in and get the shots. Otherwise, you can bet I wouldn't put up with his B.S. attitude.

I CERTAINLY wouldn't have him managing my meds though. *laughs* No way!

[Asclepius]

Re: Not hungry and it may be a problem?

UGH! Classic. Despite repeated publications that we UNDERtreat pain by up to 60% (women more than men - surprise surprise. Still a very paternalistic & fraternal field) we are still terrified of being stung by a "seeker." So to keep from feeding 1 addiction, we sacrifice the well being of 50. What kind of sense does that make? Lawsuits have made things a nightmare on both sides of the exam table but that's what doctor patient med contracts are for in addition to other systems of monitering that are already in place. No need to make patients suffer because you're too lazy to find a way to make things work. Yes, it's tiring, but at the end of the day you are either in it for your patients or your not.