Feeling sick chewing on meat

Posted by da69 @da69, Apr 20, 2023

I am 2 1/2 weeks into Zoloft and Caplyta...The Zoloft i took for twenty +
years until i got Covid and it quit working but nothing since has worked either so i am back to Zoloft at a higher dose with Caplyta.
Here for better than a week any meat i have to chew like a steak or pork chop i can barely stand chewing on it....I can force a couple bites down and i am done....It's like i feel if i eat another bite i will get sick.
Just chewing on it is the problem.
I can eat Spagetti with meat sauce or a taco salad and anything else.
I dont get sick after eating but the process of chewing it is horrible.
I am thinking meds related but why not doesn't all food make me feel this way?
Anybody else experienced this?
Thank you

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

Hello I was curious and looked up your symptoms on Internet and there can be several reasons a person starts to feel nauseous after eating meat.. some with beef and others with other animal meats,, maybe you will get some comments from others here who have had this reaction and the cause, if not perhaps a search on Internet.....but I find this site is better than Internet as comments are from fellow sufferers and moderators.. best of luck to you, J.

REPLY

I’m having the same problem but it’s not the chewing only, I find the taste is making me nauseous, no matter what meat I have, it’s like the taste of the meat is different almost foreign tasting. This started after having covid and you’re the first person who mentioned this problem. I know our covid symptoms vary from one person to another and some of them I have but this one is not a common problem from what I have researched. I also use meds for depression and anxiety, for nausea I use Gravol and find it effective…I have lost too much weight since I had cancer but covid has made the problem worse..it’s hard to gain weight when you’re nauseous and your food doesn’t taste the same. I don’t like the drinks they have like Ensure to help with weight loss, they are so sweet and thick and don’t help with my stomach so it’s not an option. I’m curious if other people have similar symptoms and what they are doing for them, I could use some help with this, thank you.

REPLY

I have always suffered from both anxiety and depression and am currently on Zoloft. My issues with consuming meat products began years ago, and I have been a vegetarian for over 20 years and have never been healthier and happier. It’s been life changing physically and mentally to eliminate meat from my diet. There are so many great vegetarian cook books available to discover healthy recipes that don’t include meat. Highly recommend it!!!

REPLY

For months after Covid uncooked meat smelled spoiled to me. I would have to have my husband smell it to assure me it wasn’t spoiled. It did taste fine once it was cooked. I’ve gotten past that but my taste is still off somewhat with certain foods. . I also gained about 10 pounds almost overnight which I’m sure was due to Covid. I had a very mild case and did my normal routine.

REPLY

Its just chewing on it that makes me quezzy...My wife made meatloaf last night and it was ok but i could break it up.
i just cant eat that much either for some reason.
its like i got to get it down quick.

REPLY

....I realize its not the same thing exactly but having had 4 molars out and finding it hard to chew meat, I have started to put it in the small food processor i leave sitting on counter..... not enough to make it a paste but chopped up enough can "chew" it with vegetables/gravy etc. and swallow and finding its easier on my stomach as like another person here, was giving whole pieces a few chews and swallowing and then seemed to stick in chest... just an idea - of course doesn't work in a restaurant but its my home kitchen so I can do it... J. ps. I am finding many foods are not tasting as good but havent had covid... but I notice quality of food isnt there, or taste buds as ageing - but lucky to get the wide range of foods compared to many in the world; even the last 3 dozen eggs bought all had at least one cracked egg in and we didnt do it... but I think the vendors have lowered the bar on quality ... although as a child my mum bought cracked eggs as were cheaper!!!

REPLY

Since meat can be "chewy" vs. a dish of pasta...just one thought comes to my mind.
As a child, I would chew meat in my mouth endlessly at our family dinner table. A major effort to get it down.
I have concluded - it's all anxiety related. I remember being a nervous wreck sitting with my family at the dinner table. I won't get into specifics. But, without a doubt, it was my childhood anxiety disorder.
As an adult I now have a full blown panic disorder based upon trauma after trauma.
I can now chew meat...but even if it's a little "tough" I remove it from my mouth. Anxiety.

REPLY

You may want to look at a lifestyle plan called the dash diet. The guidelines call for just three one-ounce servings of meat per day, along with lots of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. An additional benefit is that it may help reduce symptoms of depression, according to this article in AARP:
https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2018/depression-dash-diet-fd.html
Some more info on what the dash plan means:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/dash-diet/art-20048456

REPLY

There is a biological explanation for meat allergy and aversion symptoms.
In the past several years a newer disease entity has been identified.
Alpha-gal syndrome is resultant from a tick bite infection occurring in
endemic areas of the US. Once infected patients can no longer tolerate
mammalian meat. A special diet is the only treatment at present.
Most physicians have not seen a case or learned about this until more
recent findings in publications come to light.

REPLY
@seniormed

There is a biological explanation for meat allergy and aversion symptoms.
In the past several years a newer disease entity has been identified.
Alpha-gal syndrome is resultant from a tick bite infection occurring in
endemic areas of the US. Once infected patients can no longer tolerate
mammalian meat. A special diet is the only treatment at present.
Most physicians have not seen a case or learned about this until more
recent findings in publications come to light.

Jump to this post

I have heard this same condition diagnosed in my friend’s dog, resulting from a tick bite. He can not longer tolerate meat of any kind.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.