It is nice to see anything at all on gaining weight.

terra_allen
terra_allen Posts: 17
edited November 2024 in Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
I seem to be having a catch 22 thing going on. Some days I can eat the recommended 1620 calories I need to gain half a pound a week but then I'll have one or two days where I can hardly make 1000 calories stay down. I use Peppermint tea, Chamomile tea and Ginger either in tea or the chunks to help settle my stomach so I can eat. Anyone know of anything else to help keep food down? So far I'll get up to 102 pounds then in one day of not eating enough and I am back down to 99 pounds again. This is getting frustrating to say the least. My home health nurse helped me get this app on my phone so at least I am having a bit of fun again with food even if I am frustrated at times. I have gone from hating trying to eat to having a bit of fun again that is very good!

Replies

  • JiveDoc
    JiveDoc Posts: 284 Member
    Do you have gastroparesis by any chance? There are several medications that can help with nausea/vomiting associated with this (or other) conditions...if you find liquids easier to tolerate you can try high-calorie liquid supplements (or make homemade ones).
  • 3laine75
    3laine75 Posts: 3,069 Member
    Sorry, the only thing I've heard of for nausea is ginger. You mentioned a nurse, can you be referred to a dietician who could help with food. Like the above poster, I have also heard there are medications to help.

    Start with foods you know you can keep down and try increasing your intake, with either more frequent meals or bigger portions.

    Liquid calories is a good shout but I'd definitely want more medical help if I was you. Good luck with it.
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
    Ginger, licorice/anise are the common ones.

    Depending on why you are nauseated, slippery elm powder dissolved in water helps. It coats your stomach and intestinal tract kind of like pepto, but is usually more effective. Unfortunately, it's not the greatest texture and if you can't swallow it and keep it down for a couple of minutes at least, it won't help.

    One thing that helps me when I'm nauseated is starting a meal with something dry and salty like fat-free Saltines. If I can eat a couple of those, they usually work as a buffer and the nausea goes away or subsides enough that I can get other food down.

    If that doesn't help, +1 on getting anti-nausea meds. They can work wonders.
  • terra_allen
    terra_allen Posts: 17
    Well heck I was trying to find out how to reply and I think I accidentally hit the report button
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    terra_allen wrote: »
    Well heck I was trying to find out how to reply and I think I accidentally hit the report button
    Ha, you're fine we won't kick you out. Glad you've gotten some helpful replies.
  • terra_allen
    terra_allen Posts: 17
    Thank you!
  • terra_allen
    terra_allen Posts: 17
    I want to say thank you again for the helpful information everyone gave me. I finally figured out the worst of the nausea was due to being on antibiotics for a whole month. So I got yogurt and honey and put that in my smoothies and it fixed the largest part of the problem. I also got some Kumbacha which helped also. So thank you very much! ❤️
  • webbeyes
    webbeyes Posts: 105 Member
    Just a small piece of "easy added calories" advice: at the end of the day, if I was a bit short of my net calorie intake, a handful of trail mix and a glass of blood-orange juice was usually all it took to bring them up.

    (I know you had some other issues...but I thought I'd throw that in)
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    How about glutamine? It's a preferred fuel source for the stomach and digestive tract, plus in people who struggle with weight gain it can be helpful for muscles. Not sure if it would help, but maybe providing that fuel source for your stomach lining will aid in digestion.
  • snickerscharlie
    snickerscharlie Posts: 8,578 Member
    Have you tried a liquid meal replacement such as Boost or Ensure? They make a special variety specifically for adding calories. Easy to digest and easy to keep down. My mom (she's 92 and lives with me) gets one as her drink with lunch every day, and it's used in addition to a meal, and not in replacement of one.
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