Struggling with Anorexia

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  • vegmebuff
    vegmebuff Posts: 31,389 Member
    noowaseem13579 wrote: »
    Please strive to be healthy. Health is beauty.
    It is not fun to be dizzy all the time. If you are not comfortable with 120 yet, at least strive for 115 to begin.
    Your BMR is what you need to be alive. Just to simply breathe and have your organs function normally. If you don't eat the amount you need to be alive, your health will completely deteriorate.
    Eat way more than 1300 calories.
    Many people recovering from anorexia need more than 3000 calories to recover the damage from starvation

    OP needs to be cared for - she can't just 'simply' (ha) start eating 3000+ calories. Her body could go into shock...

    "Any individual who has had negligible nutrient intake for many consecutive days and/or is metabolically stressed from a critical illness or major surgery is at risk of refeeding syndrome. Refeeding syndrome usually occurs within four days of starting to re-feed. Patients can develop fluid and electrolyte disorders, especially hypophosphatemia, along with neurologic, pulmonary, cardiac, neuromuscular, and hematologic complications."https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refeeding_syndrome

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  • 5stringjeff
    5stringjeff Posts: 790 Member
    jamocha101 wrote: »
    Thanks again for all the advice and compassion. A small update, in case anybody would like to know what's been going on:

    I visited a nurse practitioner on my college campus and she found that my pulse was dangerously low. They drew blood and found that my electrolyte levels were alright, but my blood pressure and heart were suffering. She monitored my heart rate a few days later, and it had gotten down to forty-four at rest and was beating irregularly, which she said was "critical" and my safety was at a serious risk.

    The medical and counseling team coerced me to call my mother so that I could go home on medical leave and get help from a better-equipped facility. Currently I am home and have come clean to my mother about the disorder, and we're scheduling doctor appointments and working out solutions. Right now my weight is around 105, and the plan is to work on bettering my nutrition and heart rate. Luckily we caught the problem before the danger was even more imminent.

    Psychologically, this is a huge struggle. I am still obsessed with calories and being thinner, but I'm willing to work with my mother and with doctors to help my heart get better. Thank you all for your encouragement and kind words, every bit of solidarity helped me more than any of you could know.

    That bold sentence is why you will succeed. Best of luck to you!
  • CVAB
    CVAB Posts: 56 Member
    It's great that you're getting help. I had anorexia in high school and never did get the right help. That coupled with other mental issue caused me to flip to binge eating and now I'm the heaviest I've ever been. I am now on meds and talk to my doctors and others. If I got help in the first place this all could have been avoided.
    Work hard and accept the love and support and you'll do great.
  • ucabucca
    ucabucca Posts: 606 Member
    Glad you are getting help. Learning about nutrition and teaching you brain a new way to think is a big part of treatment but you also have to figure out what the controlling issue is for you. You can do it. My registered dietician that I worked with was amazing. She worked around my likes and dislikes and introduced new foods and ideas in steps and made it so it wasn't overwhelming. I had some electrolyte issues and BP problems and was able to address them and very lucky not to have permanent damage of any kind. I now am doing great and monitored two times a year for bloodwork only. I use a trainer in the gym and have gained some after treatment and didn't think I would allow that but I did. Its amazing my gain was muscles and the power I feel and things I can do now I would never trade for a number on a scale. I can not say I never have those thought but now I know to turn to others and turn quickly so those thoughts don't take me down. I have been healthy now for 5 years. I use MFP to monitor because I do not feel hunger and make sure I am eating enough to keep up with my exercise and lifestyle
  • fitoverfortymom
    fitoverfortymom Posts: 3,452 Member
    I am so glad to hear you sought treatment. You aren't alone. You can do this.
  • Noreenmarie1234
    Noreenmarie1234 Posts: 7,492 Member
    I love the input and help on this thread and it is amazing that you are getting help so early on. We are all rooting for you. However I see a lot of people saying they had anorexia when their lowest weight was above 17.5 BMI. Keep in mind to be diagnosed you have to be below 17.5. I think they are changing the weight criteria though which I am all for because it is more a mental disorder than a physical one. The physical is just the consequence.
  • fitoverfortymom
    fitoverfortymom Posts: 3,452 Member
    Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »
    I love the input and help on this thread and it is amazing that you are getting help so early on. We are all rooting for you. However I see a lot of people saying they had anorexia when their lowest weight was above 17.5 BMI. Keep in mind to be diagnosed you have to be below 17.5. I think they are changing the weight criteria though which I am all for because it is more a mental disorder than a physical one. The physical is just the consequence.

    I totally agree. My daughter was officially treated for EDNOS simply because we discovered it early enough for her not to have all the "physical requirements" to be diagnosed as AN. The treatment was the same. The symptoms and compulsions and anxiety were they same. It just hadn't manifested to a super low BMI or body weight yet. I think the main difference it made for us is we were able to manage it a little better through an outpatient program, rather than inpatient hospitalization.

    My heart hurts for anyone plagued with disordered eating and their families. It is such a hurdle to overcome and requires such an intense level of care.
  • laceyslabaugh
    laceyslabaugh Posts: 113 Member
    You are so brave @jamocha101! You are an inspiration and I hope you keep us in the loop on your journey! Prayers to you! <3
  • ahoy_m8
    ahoy_m8 Posts: 3,053 Member
    Kudos to you for reaching out for help and for actually receiving it. Thank you for your updates, too. It's a relief knowing you are well cared for. Sending hugs and positive thoughts your way!
  • LesleyEcksmann
    LesleyEcksmann Posts: 14 Member
    Focus on that deep down feeling... anxiety is a cruel beast. Revel in even your smallest wins, and always put your feelings out here - good or bad, the strength and reassurance support can give is immeasurable. You may have put yourself in the hands of others but YOU did that, YOU are controlling your destiny. Cheers to you! xxx
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,415 Member
    I'm so glad you are getting the help. Let them care for you, let go and let God.
  • djwar9858
    djwar9858 Posts: 43 Member
    Awwww...sweetie. So glad you came clean to your family. You got this and we're all behind you. All the best..you've taken the first step.
  • AmberlyMarlene
    AmberlyMarlene Posts: 120 Member
    jamocha101 wrote: »
    Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »
    I love the input and help on this thread and it is amazing that you are getting help so early on. We are all rooting for you. However I see a lot of people saying they had anorexia when their lowest weight was above 17.5 BMI. Keep in mind to be diagnosed you have to be below 17.5. I think they are changing the weight criteria though which I am all for because it is more a mental disorder than a physical one. The physical is just the consequence.

    Well, I can tell you what my doctor in inpatient told me, but heaven knows how much information varies from place to place.

    She said that the criteria for the diagnosis has changed and that a person no longer has to be at a certain BMI in order to receive it; she said it is looked at as a mental condition, rather than a physical one, now more than ever. Therefore, anorexia nervosa can be diagnosed in a person who, although their mental condition has led to rapid weight loss, may still not be within the "anorexic BMI" (17.5 or lower) range.

    She also said that EDNOS is a term that is no longer used in the medical field and that there are a variety of disordered behaviors that are attributed almost exclusively to cognitive function (or lack thereof), rather than physical manifestation. So a patient won't receive the diagnosis "EDNOS" just because they have anorexic behavioral patterns, but aren't at a low enough weight. It makes more sense to make the diagnosis before that weight is reached, so that it can be medically treated before it becomes more critical.

    A different doctor in a different hospital might say otherwise, but this is what I was told.

    This is very important to me and may be important for me to here. I lost 55 lbs in 3 months by restricting and exercising like a nut, and have been having similar mind set issues and I cannot say that I'm anorexic however, I've been having this sort of weight bouncing for years and my weight has ranged from obese to normal range since High School. I don't know what I'm doing. But anyway, good job finding help, keep pushing forward, and thanks for sharing your experiences.
  • staticsplit
    staticsplit Posts: 538 Member
    Yes, they changed the weight criteria a few years ago for diagnosis, which is good. When I was a teen I had a very bad eating disorder and was on the 'pro-ED' sites (so toxic and dangerous) and many of the people there were aiming for that BMI to be considered 'sick enough.' It's very damaging. Also someone who naturally had a BMI of 19 doesn't have to lose as much to reach than BMI as someone who was 30 and dropped a lot of weight. BMI is not an indicator of health anyway.

    OP--I had a good team that helped me recover 10 years ago. I had therapy, a nutritionist, and supportive friends. It's good they're gradually upping your intake as well, to help you get used to eating more.

    I've been struggling with my appetite and disordered thinking since late January, but at 10 years older, I'm recognising the signs and triggers much earlier on. I have periods where my disordered thinking almost disappears, but if I get stressed, it rises up again. I am gentle with myself for a few weeks and usually the anxiety starts to ease.

    I hope your treatment goes well and you are very strong to recognise you needed help. All the best. <3
  • solieco1
    solieco1 Posts: 1,559 Member
    How brave you are! I'm so happy you are doing the very hard work to get healthy - please keep us updated. We care about you. <3
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