Source
r/TBI•
Sound_Step

Appetite loss since tbi.

So I will start with the tbi cause. I live in nyc and was walking home from a friends apartment during lock downs in July. I don’t know exactly what happened but I woke up in icu then next morning with a double brain contusion. They said somebody found me knocked out on the sidewalk bleeding out of my mouth and wallet and phone stolen. Also they said point of contact was the top of my head so they think I was knocked out from a bunt blow with an object to the top of my head from behind.

That Said the first month was really ruff with constant migraines. Those are gone but I still have no appetite. I will literally be at stomach growling and still not want to eat and I have to force it. Has any of you dealt with this?

Ps. I am not insured and they wanted me to come back for a ct scan a week out but I can’t afford it. They are trying to cover my hospitals bill with special victims relief (bc filed under hate crime, I am an Asian American) but could not cover any follow up bills.

Posted Mar 28, 2021, 9:29 PM UTC · edited

146
Overall_Pie1912•

Yes and also food doesn't taste as good. You may need to adjust your diet but also try to eat a balanced meal as much as possible. I find hydrating is very important.

3
Nauin•

I lost 40lbs last year because of a severe concussion. Drink lots of water, get meal supplements like Ensure to help boost the amount of calories you're getting, some days that was all I would consume. Basically figure out easy access snacks and meals that work for you. On good weeks I would do meal prep snacks packs with cheese and fruit, though it was still something I had to manually remind myself to go get and eat. It will get better over time. I was lucky that I had extra weight to shed, the drop in size was kind of scary, though.

I wish it were easier for you to be able to afford the follow up scan, but that has hindered my own treatment, too. It takes a long time to recover. Sleep and rest as much as you can in the meantime, and good luck with healing.

3
barbberg1898•

I’m sad no one has said this yet…I am so, so, so sorry that that happened to you! The hate and violence in our country appalls me and is truly un-American. It’s just not right, so I’m sorry on behalf of the jerk that did that to you.

And yes, TBI’s can drastically mess with sense of smell and appetite which honestly sucks. And at least in my husband’s case, he doesn’t like the same foods. I can’t get him to eat a vegetable outside of a potato and feel like his brain desperately needs the vitamins and nutrition. When he got home from the hospital I bought his usual favorites and he would say things like “I don’t like steak.” And I would tell him “you LOVE steak.” And he would sadly say “not anymore I guess.” He eats the most sad diet of junk that I’ve ever seen.

I think that CT Scan is really important for you to get. Why don’t you set up a Go Fund Me? Knowing what exactly is wrong will be important in your healing. Best of luck to you!

3
mysweetvulture•

Same. I have to force myself to eat often, because I just don’t feel like eating. Honestly I hadn’t related that to my TBI from last year, but I guess it makes sense.

2
pj925Severe TBI 1980•

Call the hospital and explain the no money thing- they should have social workers to get you some sort of Medicaid or something. It’s REALLY IMPORTANT that you follow up with the doctors now, it gets much harder if you wait too long.

You gotta make a routine for the morning meal. Make sure it’s easy and eat the same thing every day. Same for lunch. I struggled with food forever- still do.

2
thr0wzen•

I've lost 35lbs. No smell and lost some taste. 2 years ago. Keep your calories up. I look like a shadow of my former self and malnutrition causes problems of its own. What happened to you has happened but don't let things get worse if you have the power to.

2