Can't tell if hungry or full

Spazactaz
Spazactaz Member Posts: 15
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I'm now 4 weeks out of radiation... and this has been happening since about half way through the treatments. I NEVER feel hungry at all... and on the other hand, I can eat a HUGE amount and feel no different, as if I haven't eaten at all. Now that my mouth is healing a bit and I am able to eat certain foods again... I can eat insane amounts, like 10x what I could ever normally eat before. I gained 6 lbs back this week.
I realize loss of appetite is normal... but has anyone else experienced this, having absolutely no feeling of both hunger or fullness? I'm assuming it is still bad to eat too much right now as well.

Comments

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #2
    not hungry
    Hi Spazactaz,

    Very interesting situation; way back before getting on the bus, before even getting a ticket for the ride, I knew what it was like to feel hungry and what it felt like to feel full, not anymore. I’ve noticed, even while living mostly on smoothies I am never hungry. My Dad even picked up on it and asked why I wasn’t hungry. I don’t know. I use to love to eat, to go out to restaurants, to barbeque, but not anymore. In my radiation clouded mine I just assumed it will eventually all work out. Secretly, very secretly, I am hoping things return to old normal, but if they don’t, I am going to be one lean middle aged man that is not hungry.

    Go figure,

    Matt
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #3
    I never actually FEEL hungry either....
    I feed myself pretty much by the clock, because I can't rely on hunger pains...I don't think about filling up, either...I'm just counting calories...like eating is just a function rather than a pleasure. Doesn't stop me from dreaming about food, or drooling my pretend drool when someone is cooking, or I'm watching TV.

    Weird, huh?

    p
  • Tim6003
    Tim6003 Member Posts: 1,514 Member
    #4
    phrannie51 said:

    I never actually FEEL hungry either....
    I feed myself pretty much by the clock, because I can't rely on hunger pains...I don't think about filling up, either...I'm just counting calories...like eating is just a function rather than a pleasure. Doesn't stop me from dreaming about food, or drooling my pretend drool when someone is cooking, or I'm watching TV.

    Weird, huh?

    p

    Hmmm..
    can't help with this one ..but I care :)

    Maybe all the fluids you are getting is causing that "no hungry" feeling???

    Tim
  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #5
    Yup, Jim has no hunger
    Yup, Jim has no hunger either. He is having a hard time gaining weight because he never gets hungry and can only eat small amounts at a time. If I don't get hungry he doesn't realize he needs to eat. I have thought about setting a timer to remind him to eat. I, unfortunately, can eat way to much at one sitting so I can go without a meal. :)

    Debbie
  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #6
    Appetite
    I am 4 weeks out too and I am rarely hungry. When I eat, I seem to tire of eating before I feel full. Today's menu was half an omelet mid-morning and pea soup for dinner. Will top off with a root beer float later. Then again, it was 108 in St Louis today which puts a damper on anyone's appetite. Strange thing is I can't quit watching Food Network!
  • Spazactaz
    Spazactaz Member Posts: 15
    #7
    I am thinking the
    I am thinking the dexamethasone drug had something to do with this... I went off it a few days ago, and today for the first time after I had my morning smoothie, I felt full and didn't want to have anything else!

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