18.10.2026 13:00
Kübra Aygül, a 29-year-old mother of two living in Diyarbakır, lost her sense of hunger after contracting COVID-19 in 2021. The young woman, who says she has been able to eat only bread and ayran for five years, stated that even the smell of food makes her nauseous. Aygül, who explained that despite applying to numerous hospitals no diagnosis could be made for her condition, called for help, saying, "I want to eat to my heart's content. I have almost forgotten the taste of food."
Kübra Aygül, 29, living in the Silvan district of Diyarbakır, says she lost her sense of hunger after contracting COVID-19 in 2021 and has been struggling with an inability to eat for 5 years. Aygül, a mother of two, said she constantly feels full and that even the smell of food makes her nauseous, and that she can only feed on bread and ayran. The young woman, who said she has not been diagnosed despite going from hospital to hospital for years, called for help, saying, "I want to eat to my heart's content. I have almost forgotten what food tastes like."
HER LIFE CHANGED AFTER SHE CONTRACTED COVID-19
The life of Kübra Aygül, living in the Silvan district of Diyarbakır, changed after she contracted COVID-19 in 2021. Aygül, who says she completely lost her sense of hunger after the illness, has not regained her former health despite 5 years having passed.
The young woman stated that she constantly feels full and experiences nausea when she tries to eat, and said she has become increasingly weak because she cannot eat enough. Aygül, who has two children, aged 8 and 5, said she has difficulty maintaining her daily life and meeting her children's needs.
SHE WENT FROM DOCTOR TO DOCTOR, BUT NO DIAGNOSIS COULD BE MADE
Aygül, who said she applied to many hospitals to find a solution to her condition, described her experience as follows:
"At that time, we first said it was from COVID-19 and normal, but months passed, years passed, and I did not improve. When I did not improve, I gradually began to become unable to stand on my feet because I could not eat. I have two small children, and I reached a point where I could not care for them. Then I started going to doctors. I went from doctor to doctor, but no one could make a diagnosis."
Aygül said she applied to psychiatry, internal medicine, gastroenterology and surgery departments and stated that she could not get results from the tests performed.
"I CAN ONLY EAT AYRAN AND BREAD"
Aygül, who stated that her sense of hunger had completely disappeared, said that even the smell of food disturbed her.
"I have absolutely no sense of hunger. It is as if I am constantly full and have just gotten up from the table. Even when I smell food, I feel nauseous. There is no vomiting, but I feel nauseous. I cannot force myself. When I try, I feel nauseous and my stomach takes nothing. The morsel stays in my mouth."
Aygül explained that in addition to tests done on suspicion of celiac disease, she underwent endoscopy, colonoscopy and numerous blood tests, and stated that no finding explaining her condition was found in the examinations.
The young woman said, "I can only eat a little ayran and bread. That is only to stay on my feet and not die."
HER MOTHER AND SIBLINGS CARE FOR HER TWO CHILDREN
Aygül, who stated that she has become weak because she cannot eat enough, said she receives support from her mother and siblings in caring for her children.
Aygül explained that her mother, despite her advanced age, takes care of her grandchildren, and said, "I am becoming weak. As I said, I have two small children, and I cannot care for them. Even though my mother is elderly, she cares for the children in that condition. My siblings also help; they take on the care of my children. We can live thanks to them."
"I WANT TO EAT TO MY HEART'S CONTENT"
Aygül, who is waiting for a solution to the problem she has experienced for five years, called out to doctors and to people who have overcome similar conditions.
The mother of two, who is asking for support to be treated, expressed her helplessness, saying, "I am asking for support from our state and from good doctors for my treatment. I want to make my voice heard. Because for 5 years I have been struggling in this state but getting nowhere. I trust them and believe they will reach out to me. I want to eat to my heart's content because I have not been able to eat for 5 years. I have almost forgotten what food tastes like."