Understanding Early Satiety: Is It a Concern for My Health?
I’m posting anonymously for privacy reasons. I’m a 17-year-old female, approximately 5’8” tall, and I weigh around 210 pounds (I used to weigh close to 220). Weight loss has been a recent development, correlated with some noticeable changes in my appetite. I’ve been prescribed various medications including antipsychotics, Lamictal, and lithium. My diagnoses include bipolar disorder type 1 and borderline personality disorder. Stomach issues haven’t been a problem for me, apart from a gallbladder removal in 2023. I don’t currently have my menstrual cycle, as I use the NuvaRing for birth control. Additionally, I consume alcohol occasionally, vape both nicotine and THC, and occasionally take over-the-counter medications for recreational use (I can specify if needed). Historically, I had a huge appetite. I was known in my family for finishing everyone’s meals, often ordering multiple items at fast food joints and snacking frequently at home. My weight gain stemmed from this. Thankfully, my active job has helped me avoid being severely obese since I’m on my feet most of the day. However, in the past month, my ability to eat has significantly changed. During the summer, I work daily and usually drink a bottle of Gatorade in the morning since I don’t tend to eat breakfast. If I skip the beverage, I often feel dizzy or nauseous at work. For lunch, I might have some chips or another Gatorade, but by evening, I typically consume one meal. For instance, today I had one slice of pizza, an amount that used to be just a small fraction of what I would typically eat, yet afterward, I felt uncomfortably full for hours. Previously, I might devour a large order of fries, mac and cheese, and 12 chicken nuggets but I found myself feeling ill after just eight nuggets and a cup of mac and cheese recently. This pattern continues—my portion sizes are drastically smaller, and even the little I manage to eat leaves me nauseated for an extended period. Is this adjustment simply part of becoming more typical in my eating habits? I can’t grasp the reason behind it since I haven’t attempted to limit my food intake purposely. While I haven’t been on my medications for a couple of months, typically those I’ve been prescribed enhance my appetite rather than diminish it. This shift is concerning, as early satiety and reduced food consumption can indicate various health issues. I’m hesitant to seek medical advice at this moment, as I anticipate the focus would be on my mental health and the possibility of returning to medication, which I don’t believe I need. Should I consider consulting a doctor, or is this just my metabolism stabilizing? Thank you for your insights!
Answers (1)
7/9/2025, 1:01:44 AM
OpenHealth AI
Experiencing early satiety (feeling full after eating very little) can be concerning, especially when it represents a significant change in your eating habits. Since you've mentioned a history of high appetite and weight loss, it's important to carefully evaluate this change.
Explanation
There are several potential causes for early satiety:
- Medications: Although you mentioned that your medications typically increase appetite, changes in how your body metabolizes them after stopping may also play a role.
- Gallbladder Removal: This surgery can lead to changes in digestion, which might affect how you feel after eating.
- Nutritional Habits: Skipping meals or relying heavily on liquid calories (like Gatorade) can lead to an imbalance in nutrition and energy levels.
- Other Factors: Stress, mental health conditions, and lifestyle choices (like alcohol and substance use) can also impact appetite and digestion.
Considering your unique situation, it’s essential to monitor your symptoms while also understanding how they relate to your overall health.
Next Steps
-
Track Symptoms: Start keeping a food and symptom diary. Note what you eat, how much, and how you feel afterward. This will help identify patterns and potential triggers.
-
Stay Hydrated: Ensure you are drinking enough water throughout the day, particularly if you feel dizzy or nauseous when skipping Gatorade or meals.
-
Small, Balanced Meals: Try to introduce small portions of balanced meals throughout the day. Include protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates to help stabilize your energy.
-
Limit Irritants: If you're consuming alcohol or recreational substances, consider reducing or eliminating them for a while to see if your symptoms improve.
-
Reflect on Medications: If you feel your medications are affecting your appetite, consider discussing this with a healthcare professional when comfortable.
-
Monitor Weight Changes: Keep an eye on your weight, both to ensure it’s stabilizing and to identify trends.
-
Consider an Appointment: Although you may have concerns about returning to medications, consulting with a healthcare professional can provide valuable insights into whether there are other underlying issues. Mention your symptoms and how they impact your daily life.
This approach will empower you to better understand and manage your situation. If symptoms persist or worsen, seeking guidance is important for your well-being. Trust your instincts, and prioritize your health. You’re taking a positive step by seeking insights – keep listening to your body!
Related Questions
Could This Be IBS or Something Else?
Greetings! I’m a 27-year-old male, standing at 172 cm and of European descent, currently using Iqos. My medical troubles began roughly four months ago, around October 5, 2025. Initially, I experienced intense back pain lasting for two days, which I recognized as kidney stone pain. To alleviate this discomfort, I took NSAIDs, predominantly Metamizole-Natrium. Afterward, I visited urgent care, where I was given Diclofenac and Monural, an antibiotic for urinary tract infections. I took one of each at night. **A couple of days later, I started experiencing several troubling symptoms:** - Frequent diarrhea (4-5 times a day, often watery) - Significant gas and belching - Persistent nausea that greeted me each morning, sometimes relieved by eating - A general sense of malaise - A loss of 5 kg (I dropped from 63 kg) because I lacked appetite, especially under stress. These symptoms developed quickly and intensified through October, fluctuating over time. Blood tests showed no abnormalities, with normal CRP levels. Then in November, I underwent a colonoscopy and gastroscopy. - I had three very small erosions, about 1-2 mm, in the terminal ileum, but no signs of inflammation. Histology revealed no pathological issues, all was well. - There was one small erosion in the sigmoid colon, with minor inflammation around it. Histological findings indicated small infiltration in the lamina propria but no chronic signs, leading to a diagnosis suggesting a high likelihood of infection. - The areas were healing, with fibrin present. The rest of my colon appeared healthy. The doctor attributed the ulcers to NSAID-induced damage. I was later diagnosed with LA-A GERD. Due to my anxiety about health, I spent the month consumed by fears of complications such as colon cancer, PC, or Crohn's disease. I finally found some relief and felt symptom-free for the subsequent two weeks. However, in December the troubles resurfaced, though to a lesser degree, with occasional loose stools—2-3 times for a few days— and lingering gas. My anxiety about Crohn's returned, and I mistakenly took Algopyrin Complex, which triggered additional stress. **In December, my primary worries included:** - Loose stools resembling Bristol type 5-6, mainly occurring once each morning - Excessive gas often felt trapped in my rectum - My weight stabilized at 62 kg **I underwent various tests:** - Negative results for Giardia and E. coli - Negative FIT tests - Negative MRI (everything appeared normal) - Negative MRE (all normal) - Calprotectin level measured at 18.7 - I was found to have low levels of B9 and Vitamin D, with B12 at 320 and LDL at 5.9 **Moving into January:** - I only had one bowel movement each morning, sometimes loose, but mostly firm in the past three weeks (Bristol 4), compared to my usual Bristol 2. - After meals, I often felt gas building in my rectum, sometimes getting stuck before eventually releasing. This gas, thankfully, rarely had an odor. - Mornings have been troublesome, as I needed to pass gas 2-4 times, and in bed at night, I felt bloated with gas movements. **What I have observed:** - No signs of blood in my stools - No pain - No nocturnal symptoms affecting my sleep - No extraintestinal symptoms - My weight has stabilized without additional loss after recovering some weight Overall, I feel fine, yet the worry about my condition persists in my mind. Previously, I would have bowel movements twice weekly, with little to no gas. It baffles me that I often wake up feeling this uncomfortable. My primary concern is whether I should be worried about Crohn's disease (which occupies my thoughts constantly) or if my symptoms might stem solely from anxiety. Currently, I'm taking the following medications and supplements: - Itopride (doctor suggested it for motility issues) - L-Glutamine - Curcumin - A B-complex supplement - Ashwagandha - I briefly tried rifaximin for three days, but it did not yield significant changes. - I had also experimented with antacids previously, though they proved ineffective. Thank you for your assistance in advance!
Can Eating More Fiber Alleviate Menstrual Cycle-Related Constipation?
Every month, during the week and a half leading up to my menstrual period, I experience constipation. I'm curious if boosting my fiber consumption might ease this issue. I already ensure that I drink plenty of water throughout the day. I am a woman in my mid-20s.
Did My Appendectomy Resolve My Digestive Issues?
I’m a 27-year-old non-binary person who had their appendix surgically removed due to appendicitis early last October. Since that procedure, I’m experiencing something I never thought possible: regular bowel movements. Remarkably, this newfound routine hasn’t faded away, contrary to what my doctors predicted. Historically, I have struggled with constipation throughout my life. As a child, I often felt compelled to mislead healthcare professionals about my bowel habits, claiming I had daily movements out of fear that something was amiss. In reality, I would only have a bowel movement every three to five days. I also live with autism, ADHD, dysthymia, and PTSD. Given my history of burnout, it would be logical to attribute my digestive struggles to stress. However, these issues persisted even during holidays and rarely intensified during particularly stressful times. Most of the medications I tried, including SSRIs and various birth control options, had no impact, except for Ritalin, which occasionally provided some relief when not taken consistently. Prior to the appendectomy, I underwent two surgeries: one for a fractured arm and the other a double procedure to remove my uterus and breasts. Unfortunately, neither operation had any effect on my bowel function. Since my surgery, my dietary, hydration, exercise, and substance use habits have remained unchanged. A bit of additional context: My thyroid hormone levels are normal, although I occasionally have low Vitamin D, for which I take supplements. I receive B12 injections to address low levels since dietary sources aren’t effective for me. Additionally, I deal with a persistent mystery of chronic fatigue that shows no signs of improvement post-surgery. This leads to my question: Could my appendix have been the source of my gastrointestinal issues? Alternatively, did the surgery trigger some other change that resolved my long-standing problem? I’m curious if anyone else has encountered similar experiences. What are the chances that I’ll revert back to my past issues with constipation? Any insights on this would be greatly appreciated, mostly out of interest.
Interpreting My Gastrointestinal Discomfort
A 26-year-old female, weighing 155 pounds, has a background of experiencing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and anxiety. She has been using marijuana for several years and is currently taking venlafaxine at a dosage of 150 mg each day. Residing in the Midwest USA, she identifies as white. On January 20th, she experienced what she initially believed to be a low blood sugar episode. Due to being preoccupied and busy, she had not consumed much food throughout the day. Consequently, she felt lightheaded, nauseated, pale, and was sweating. To alleviate these symptoms, she consumed around 60 to 80 grams of carbohydrates once they began, but it took roughly 2.5 hours for her to start feeling better. The following day, she faced additional discomforts including nausea, heartburn, body aches, trembling with chills and sweats, along with diarrhea. These symptoms persisted for a few days. By January 23rd, she consulted urgent care, where the medical team suspected a stomach virus and advised her to let it run its course. Regrettably, her stomach has not returned to its normal state since that incident. She has been experiencing occasional heartburn and indigestion reminiscent of her previous severe GERD episodes. Additionally, she is suffering from lower abdominal cramps, particularly triggered by consuming items like popcorn or spicy foods, which feels akin to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. During the height of her symptoms on January 20th, she ceased smoking. She partook in smoking a few times between January 24th and 28th, without noticing any changes in her symptoms – positive or negative – and has refrained from smoking since then. It is worth noting that she has not experienced any vomiting or severe abdominal pain typically associated with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS). Are her symptoms indicative of CHS? She intends to abstain from smoking yet seeks clarity on the underlying cause of her discomfort. She has read about post-viral IBS and is curious if the suspected stomach virus has reignited her GERD, which had been stable for several years.
Exploring Probiotic Effects and Antibiotic Strategies in Gut Health
Greetings, M30. Is it possible that consuming an excess of probiotics could lead to SIBO or a similar condition? Earlier this summer, I suffered from a campylobacter infection, and in an attempt to remedy that without realizing its full extent, I resorted to high doses of probiotics. This approach, however, only aggravated my situation. I experienced severe bloating, intensified brain fog—especially after consuming carbohydrates—and following a comprehensive examination of possible causes, including an initially misleading negative test for c. jejuni that later revealed IgG antibodies in my blood, I was prescribed rifaximin (200mg four times a day). Unfortunately, after five days of rifaximin treatment, my symptoms escalated dramatically, resulting in excruciating lower abdominal pain and a marked intolerance to carbohydrates. Through my research, I discovered that the probiotic strains I had been using were sensitive to antibiotics, so I requested that my physician switch my medication to amoxicillin, which promptly resolved the issues I was facing. Complicating matters, I later learned that I had been contending with an acute bartonella infection, which likely contributed to my motility problems. As the year progressed, I indulged in kimchi after having been on antibiotics for bartonella treatment for about a month. However, I had to stop the antibiotics over the Christmas holidays when I developed rashes from herpes on my face and required alternative treatment. Following my kimchi overindulgence, I began to experience bloating again, cognitive fog intensified, and I felt a toxin-like sensation after consuming larger amounts of carbohydrates, alongside a newfound intolerance to wheat products. My doctor once again prescribed rifaximin as the primary treatment, but I am starting to notice that familiar acidic sensation in my abdomen returning. Is this reaction indicative of die-off symptoms, or could it mean that rifaximin is targeting competitors of the kimchi bacteria in my gut, resulting in their proliferation and creating a cycle where lactic acid bacteria alter the colon's pH, promoting further growth of lactic acid producers? I suspect this situation mirrors what transpired during the summer months. Would switching back to amoxicillin be advisable, or might I need to consider amoxiclav instead, given that the kimchi contained fish sauce which might be a source of beta-lactamase? Best wishes,