Should I see a GP or see how it goes?

[Meruem]

I’ll start by saying I’m peri menopausal which may be related. But, my appetite has just fallen off a cliff. I last had a meal 3 days ago which was 2 small lamb chops and a small salad. Yesterday I had a pain au chocolat at breakfast time then nothing else all day. Today I had 3 biscuits at lunchtime and again nothing else all day. I will probably somewhat force myself to have a meal tomorrow. I just don’t feel in the least bit hungry.

Thing is I am about 2 stone overweight (again due to peri menopause) so part of me feels I have enough “fat” to keep me going, and why force food if I’m not hungry. Also fasting is meant to be good for you right? But then I think is it really healthy to be hardly eating? I must stress I am not in the least bit bothered by being overweight. This isn’t some psychological wish to be thin. I still enjoy my red wine which is loaded with calories! I just genuinely am not hungry,

Part of me thinks well maybe I should just carry on as I am and worry about it if I start heading to being underweight. But the other part of me thinks I’m probably missing out on vital nutrients and I don’t want my health to suffer. So do I got the GP or give it a few weeks/months and see how it goes?

Is there anything else going on OP or is it seemingly without cause? If things don't go back to normal within a couple of days, go and see your GP. Make sure you don't get dehydrated.

I can't help but am intrigued by what others suggest.

Massive loss of appetite to that extent means you need to get seen.

I lost my appetite for what seemed like no reason last year, and then after a few days developed strep throat - so I think my body was already trying to fight it.

Losing your appetite for more than a couple of days should always be checked out tbh. Make sure you're drinking enough.

What is your appetite usually like?

I would see your gp but in the meantime could you eat small amounts of healthier things? So carrot, cucumber, pepper etc so your at least getting some nutrients? Could you also drink something like a cuppa soup? Not calorie laden but it’s at least a little something to fuel your body?

If it's literally been a few days only, I'd see how you go. Could easily just be a low level tummy virus!

Yes, please see a doctor.

Absolutely don't panic. It's probably nothing. But sudden loss of appetite can be a symptom of certain serious illnesses. It could also be just one of those things! So get a doctor to decide.

I can’t think of anything else that may be the cause. No dramas or stress in my life. The only thing it’s coincided with is the peri symptoms, which is why I mentioned it. But it’s actually been going on for a while now. If I eat dinner one day I know for a fact I won’t be able to have dinner for at least the day after. I’d say overall I eat about 3 dinners a week, never lunch. Breakfast tends to be a latte, maybe something like a pain au chocolat or a croissant 3 or 4 days a week.

Ah yeah it’s been more than a few days, 6 months at least now. So I think I have my answer!

I'm sure you're fine, but yes, do get it checked out to make sure everything's ok.

So when did you gain this 2 stone in weight?

Ah ok, if it's months then definitely go to the doctor! I thought it was just a few days.

You should definitely go to the gp.

One dinner every second or third day and a only a few calorie laden carby snacks in between can’t be good for anyone. Especially when bone density is important at a certain age. I imagine you can’t be pooing daily either, so whatever is in you is lingering a long time instead of the toxins coming out in the waste daily. That’s not ideal either.

Do you feel full a lot?

Defo get advice and at the very least eat better quality foods like a handful of chicken and a tomato for a snack or a handful of nuts (not salted peanuts) or something. Not bread, croissants and biscuits.

Ok so alongside the start of the peri symptoms I was also put on an anti depressant, mirtazapine. Those who know anything about it, know it makes you stack on weight! It’s prescribed to anorexics but I was put on it to help me sleep mainly and for mild depression. So I stacked on about 4 stone in total. Went from 10 to 14 stone. But I wasn’t sure how much the weight gain was down to the peri or the medication, as both can make you put it on. My appetite was never huge before. I rarely ate lunch (though I did always used to eat dinner each day) but when I first went on the meds I couldn’t stop eating! Then a few months after, my appetite just disappeared.

So now I have lost 2 stone over the time I haven’t really been eating. So I’m 12 stone now.

Well I actually still poo too much! As I have IBS so I go at least every morning and often 2 or 3 times during the day too! Sorry I feel like I’m drip feeding and maybe should have put all this in my OP but it would have ended up really long. I have had IBS for over 20 years now so not a new thing hence why I think it’s unrelated.

You’ve lost 15% of your body weight in 6 months. In healthcare we look at 5-10% as being significant. I think you really need to be seen as your body will be missing out on numerous vital nutrients.

Ok thanks everyone. The general consensus is pretty clear! I’ll get myself to the GP next week and see what they say.

I think you probably should. I'm perimenopausal and I'd eat you, if you stood still long enough.