I'm NOT complaining ......just wondering. My appetite has all but vanished lately. It's about 2 or 3 in the afternoon before I feel like I need (or want) to eat something and then it's just a couple of crackers or a small cup of applesauce or maybe a yogurt. I do drink coffee in the morning but that's it.

I could stand to lose a few pounds so I'm not too concerned about it but just wonder what makes me hungry sometimes and not at others.

Last time I had surgery I lost my appetite totally for several weeks afterwards and lost a huge amount of weight. I know it's not the best or safest way to do it but when you can't eat you just can't eat. Why does this happen? Could it be the MS? Has this happened to anyone else?

I have this too. I can be hungry during the day, but once dinner time comes, my appetite is gone!

I also go in cycles... not hungry much (like now) and then 2 weeks later, very hungry!

When I am upset, I tend to not eat. (which is the reverse of most people). Perhaps your impending surgery?

Things to focus on before and after, are adequate quality protein (if you are in the mood Whey protein is very good for tissue repair), and a quality zinc supplement. Vitamin C as well.
If you have a good senior multivitamin, that should do. Just have extra oranges, etc or take another Vit C. Vit C can help keep inflammatory cytokines in check so there may be less fibrosis/scarring, internally.

I tend to not eat when I get stressed or upset about something I lost almost 30 pounds when DH unexpectedly died.

I plan to get some Boost and keep in the fridge. I love the chocolate flavor and they have some with high protein.....so I figure if I have one or two of those each day it really won't matter if I skip some meals.

It must be the MS because there are days when I just can't seem to get enough to eat.....then, like now, I can go all day with just a yogurt!

Like Mrs. D said though, Kitty, you should make sure you're adequately intaking nourishment before the surgery...

I'm hungry most of the time because I'm trying to lose weight.. It's psychological with me. It's getting better since my stomach is shrinking.

((((Kelly))))

I'm a non-eater when depression sets in as well.

Kitty, have you changed medications recently? When I was on a combination of Amtriptyline and Neurontin a couple years back, I would forget to eat. I went one day completely forgetting lunch. My 'hunger' pangs didn't kick in what so ever!

Nope, not taking anything new. Not really taking much at all. I have eaten today but it was sort of forced. I could take it or leave it. It's probably better to eat at lunch time and not late in the afternoon anyway.

Sal,
There's a physiological explanation why you're hungrier when on a weight loss regimen...the body is afraid you're in the middle of a famine & screams "feed me!"
Exactly what we DON'T need when trying to lose weight...

I eat alot, exercise alot. Surgery doesn't bother me so no problem there. During the swimming season, I ate for 2. Doubt I gained 1lb of fat.
Was just talking about app in chemo room (tysabri) today. I ate a tendercrisp & large coke waiting. edit - no mayo ever on tendercrisp.

Well, true to form I have no appetite. I've really only eaten about the equivalent of one days worth of food over the past three days. Probably not even that much. Mostly just saltines, Sprite and toast. I guess the anesthesia does something to my stomach. Oh well, I'll use this time to lose some weight because I know my appetite will return. Guess it was a good thing to have this done during the holidays otherwise who knows how much I might have eaten!!? I need to lose 10 pounds so I'm hoping I can at least get a head start.