No appetite

[Silent Sage]

At the end of August 2025 I suddenly developed chronic digestive symptoms after an evening takeaway meal (vegetarian burger). I lost 20 lbs in the first 5 weeks but after that the weight stabilised. At first I thought it was a stomach bug, but the symptoms continued. I felt constantly bloated, had frequent burping, and no appetite, and felt full very quickly when trying to eat even small amounts of food. I could only eat a few teaspoons at a time and lost weight because I couldn’t eat properly. Around the same time I also developed a dry mouth and a white-coated tongue and was given medication for suspected oral thrush. Before this started I had never had any digestive problems or significant illnesses, and I went to the gym regularly and had a strong appetite.

 

My digestion has improved and I can now eat regular meals and reasonable quantities again. However, my appetite signal has never returned, and I experience burping all the time and my stomach constantly feels full/inflated which make talking uncomfortable.

Tests and investigations so far (none have identified the cause):

    •    Full blood tests – normal

    •    Helicobacter pylori test – negative

    •    Endoscopy – normal

    •    Abdominal ultrasound – normal

    •    Chest X-ray – normal

    •    Stool calprotectin – initially 98, later normal at 18

    •    SIBO breath test – clear

    •    Geneva Diagnostics stool test (Dec) – key findings:

    •    Microbiome mostly within healthy range (except low Akkermansia)

    •    Short-chain fatty acids slightly low

    •    Faecal secretory IgA slightly elevated suggesting mild immune activity

    •    Blastocystis parasite DNA fragments detected on PCR (not seen under microscope – may represent past or very low-level infection)

 

Since this started I have not been able to resume exercise, whereas previously I went to the gym regularly. I have also been experiencing lethargy, lack of motivation and low mood due to these health issues.

I now feel very lost on where to go because nothings picked anything up 

[Natasha Tori Maru]

I am sorry to hear this - and that you have tried a lot and had no results.

Have you had covid recently, or around the timeframe of the burger that nuked your system?

[Silent Sage]

1 minute ago, Natasha Tori Maru said:

I am sorry to hear this - and that you have tried a lot and had no results.

Have you had covid recently, or around the timeframe of the burger that nuked your system?

No not that I’m aware of 

[UnbornTao]

Welcome to the forum.

[Ramasta9]

If you can try to stay at least 3 days on just water or freshly squeezed fruit and veg juices, and adding ginger, turmeric, mint, and lemon to the juices and drinking herbal teas in between that support digestion and gut inflammation like peppermint, licorice, fennel, chamomile, marshmellow root ect... then gradually after a few days introduce a light simple meal (minimal ingredients or a mono-meal) of simple fruit or veg, observe how your body responds, this should return to normal. If you notice feeling and digesting better but still have trouble you can try few days longer.

Cucumber, apples, greens, grapes, melons, oranges are all great things you can juice. If you can water fast for 3 days at least, that's even better.

Otherwise i would recommend try dry fasting for 24 - 48 hours and then have a juice to break your fast. 

Whatever feels most natural and easiest for you, see how that goes and you should feel much better and reset your gut.

If this doesn't work then you may need to do a longer water fast or a juice cleanse with anti-parasitical herbs which is often mostly likely the cause of such issues. Another thing that comes to mind is mold or bad bacteria. If this interests you, feel free to keep my posted, i'll try help as much as i can. 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by Ramasta9

[sholomar]

did you get a gastric emptying test? Sounds like gastroparesis. Interesting how it can just start after one meal... sometimes they don't know what causes gastroparesis but I often suspected it's from sympathetic dominant nervous system. 

Delayed stomach emptying can then cause LPR or GERD and the body responds to this reflux by producing mucus, resulting in a coated tongue. 

Edited 1 hour ago by sholomar

[integral]

1 hour ago, Silent Sage said:

Around the same time I also developed a dry mouth and a white-coated tongue and was given medication for suspected oral thrush.

Candida?