Nutrition and Eating Problems

Being infected with HIV can make it hard for you to eat sometimes. You may be unable to digest certain foods that you used to eat all the time. The medicines you take may make you feel sick to your stomach. You may have infections in your mouth which hurt when you swallow. You may just feel too tired to eat. And you may worry a lot because you know you should eat, no matter how you feel!  The good news is that there are certain foods that can help you feel better when you are having these problems.

Help for Specific Problems

Caution: Some of the eating tips that are given for certain problems may conflict with tips that are given for other problems. For example, a tip for gaining weight is to put gravy, butter or creamy sauces on your food. If you have diarrhea, however, the gravy, butter or sauce could make that problem worse!

If you are having more than one of the individual problems listed below, be sure to read the information in all of the sections that apply. Avoid eating foods which either section tells you might be harmful. Your doctor or dietitian can also help you sort out the differences.

  > ]]>Diarrhea]]>
  > ]]>Mouth Sores]]>
  > ]]>Lactose Intolerance]]>
  > ]]>Dry Mouth]]>
  > ]]>Problems Digesting Fat]]>
  > ]]>Weight Loss]]>
  > ]]>Nausea/Vomiting]]>
  > ]]>Poor Appetite]]>
  > ]]>Dehydration]]>
  > ]]>Fatigue]]>

How Your Doctor Can Help

You are not alone in your struggle to eat right. Talk to your doctor. There are medicines that could help you with nausea, dry mouth, painful swallowing and other problems related to eating. There may be times when you will be unable to eat or drink anything at all. At these times it may be necessary for your doctor to arrange for you to be fed by tube or intravenously till you get your strength back.

If you would like to speak with someone about food or your meals in more detail, ask you doctor. He/she can refer you to a registered dietitian in your community. They are trained health professionals who are experts at food and good eating habits. There is a lot of misinformation about nutrition and HIV/AIDS. People working in health food shops, for example, are often not professionals. The advice they may give is often not based on scientific facts and could be harmful. If you have heard something about nutrition and HIV, check it out with your doctor or dietitian first before trying it.