Chris,
I agree with Polly and the others who responded that not only does the inflammation associated with active MC tend to suppress hunger sensations, but what we eat (whether mostly protein or carbs) has a huge effect on our hunger signaling at all times. This effect is obviously quite common.
I have an entirely different situation though. I absolutely no longer have the ability to feel hunger pangs, presumably because of nerve damage within my enteric nervous system. If I eat mostly carbs, for example (as Polly mentioned), I will sometimes feel typical hypoglycemia symptoms after a while, but I won't feel hungry. Eating will quickly resolve the hypoglycemia symptoms, of course. As long as I'm eating adequate protein, I never feel any indicators that I am hungry, not even if/when I miss multiple meals in a row.
I eat strictly out of habit — never because I am hungry.
Since I also have peripheral neuropathy in my lower legs and feet (and I don't have diabetes), I'm as certain as I can be (without having actual scientific proof) that my nerve damage is due to too many years of untreated gluten sensitivity. I'm just guessing that my enteric nervous system is compromised, because I would assume that the ENS is responsible for sensing virtually all digestive system feedback, and that information is then relayed to the CNS. My CNS is almost certainly also damaged though, because that would be necessary for the existence of peripheral neuropathy. Here's a link to some research info on gluten-induced CNS damage, in case you're not familiar with that phenomenon. As a side note, even though Dr. Hadjivassiliou (who is a leading neurological researcher in the UK) published these findings 12 years ago, I have yet to meet a neurologist who will even acknowledge the existence (or the possibility of the existence) of gluten-induced neurological damage. They can't explain the etiology of my issues, but they insist that they have never heard of gluten-induced neurological damage.
Gluten sensitivity as a neurological illness
I've been taking Metanx, which is a prescription vitamin mix of the active forms of vitamins B-12, B-9, and B-6, for almost 5 years now, and my balance, gait, and reflexes in my knees and ankles, are almost back to normal (for someone my age). My ability to feel pain in my feet is still far short of normal, but much better than it was 5 years ago. Metanx is prescribed for peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes, and it's also prescribed for endothelial dysfunction.
But this issue (loss of the ability to sense hunger pangs) is apparently rather rare. 1 or 2 other members have mentioned temporary loss of the ability to feel hunger pangs, but as far as I'm aware, I'm the only one here who claims to have that disability on a permanent basis. I've been aware of it for roughly 8 or 10 years now, so I assume that it's a permanent issue for me. Since I also have a breathing issue that began to show up a couple of years later, that appears to be associated with a weak nerve function in the diaphragm muscles that control breathing (my ability to take a deep breath is often compromised), I have suspected MG, but so far, no other symptoms have appeared, so I have never pursued a medical workup on it. My autonomic nervous system seems to work just fine — it's when I intentionally try to draw a deep breath that I run into trouble. At any rate, since it's almost surely gluten-related, I doubt that any doctor would pay any attention to my claims.
Your situation regarding the ability to feel hungry, sounds very, very similar to mine, but hopefully it will turn out to be temporary.
Tex
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