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Always hungry and gaining weight after massive hemorrhage stroke
My fiancé who is only 37 yrs old had a massive hemorrhage stroke on the right of of the brain in October 2015. She still has left side paralysis, but making some progress. One of her major issues is weight gain which is making her recovery more difficult. She is experiencing a feeling of always being hungry and has not had the feeling of being full since her stroke. She also does not remember what and when she eats. I continually remind her of what she ate, portions and the time she ate. I have tried recording everything she eats so she realizes how much she is consuming, but she doesn't have any interest and is only concerned about how hungry she is at the moment.
We have inquired with her neurological Doctor, family doctor and brain surgeon, but none of them have offered any solutions. Her family doctor suggested a wellness plan, but I know she will not follow it.
This hunger issue is also causing her frequent emotional breakdowns.
Any suggestions would be appreciated!
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@alivmontoya - I'm seeing your remarks in 2021 about the blood clot being harder than childbirth to recover from. How frustrating. Just wondering how things have gone since then? How are your leg, hand and arm?
I am 66, post Hemorrhagic stroke w the same issue. I hope someone here knows of a pathological cause for the consistent hunger?!
He had a big fall last year during his routine morning walk..not tripping on anything. Just fell and since then had several more falls though not as great due to imbalance. Doctor said he had a mini stroke and also his medication needs optimisation as they may be too much or incorrect as his skin has become very dark in color and leathery. He is been referred to see a neurologist , but as he is ever so stubborn- doesn't want to go. My dad now eats anything that he sees in the dining table especially carbs, he is very thin .
@madirdee, how long ago did your father have his stroke? Have you talked to his doctor about his appetite? Does he eat things that are good for him or favor a particular food?
In the nearly six years since my stroke, I have gone through different phases.
I've had times of no appetite, excess appetite, weird cravings, etc.
I have had incessant pain this entire time. Eating can become a problem since it's the only thing I do that doesn't hurt!
The brain and body are going through some severe adjustments and healing. I don't know about other people (since no two strokes or stroke patients are alike), but I think this will continue for the rest of my life.
You may find my YouTube channel helpful. "From Recovery to Discover":
https://www.youtube.com/@srlucado/videos
I hope your fiance is better. My dad had a mild stroke and he seems to be having the same condition. Although he is very thin , the way he is consuming food and drink is quite worrying as the amount if times he wants to eat is endless. Not sure why 🙁
Strokes change ur life completely.
U almost become another person
Changes ur personality.
So I suggest, be patient w him, let him be, remember is not his fault to be acting like this.
I had 2 strokes n changed me.
Even my closest family, grown up kids, don’t understand me w all this changes. I became a little isolated from their opinion in order to learn n adapt to my new me.
Read about stroke damages to Hypothalamus or damage to the Amígdala n u will understand him better.
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1 ReactionDefinitely her stroke damaged her Hypothalamus
Hypothalamus is the portion of your brain that controls hunger. hormone cortisol, which can create hunger
hypothalamus controls emotions.
regulates your body's temperature
controls crucial urges, such as eating or sleeping.
What organ controls hunger and satiety ?
the hypothalamus
These processes show that the hypothalamus is the key central integrator of various hunger signals from the body.
What signals the brain to stop eating ?
Cholecystokinin (CCK): When we eat fat and protein, the gut releases CCK, telling your brain (through the vagus nerve) to stop eating.
a high-protein breakfast might prevent from overeating at dinner
Your body has a system for managing your
long-term energy and nutrient needs.
It’s called the leptin feedback loop.
Leptin is a hormone that’s released by fat tissue. Leptin tells the brain how much energy we’ve just consumed and how much excess energy we have stored up (as fat). The more body fat we have, the more leptin in our blood
The brain makes decisions based on leptin levels about hunger, calorie intake, nutrient absorption, and energy use and storage.
symptoms of a hypothalamus problem
High blood pressure
low blood pressure.
Water retention
dehydration.
Weight loss
weight gain with or without changes in appetite
Hi
Read my experience below.
Drs only know so much .
Hi
I went through the same issue n put quite a bit pounds.
I was overeating n could not understand why.
It’s been 22 months since my stroke n now is that am getting a little control of overeating.
What I found out is that is not that ur hungry, is a kind of stress anxiety in the nervous system area of the brain that was affected, the one that controls ur r full after eating, so for being affected u don’t have control n makes feel u want to eat more n more even after finishing a meal.
I will suggest give her a camomile tea during or after meals, camomile calms u down, soothes anxiety.
Try to give her fresh fruits, lot of liquids.
Yeah I remembered waking up in the middle of the night to cook n eat.
What happened is that her brain was affected in the control area, that’s why she cannot have control of the eating n overeats.
Hope this helps. Be patient. Strokes are serious. I had 2 already.