disstresful Doctor's visit concerning recovering anorexic.

girlviernes

Good for you for taking your recovery seriously and sharing your concerns. Basically, your doctor does not know what he is talking about. Unfortunately, this is often the case and we need to look out for ourselves. Recovering from AN is hard and not to be taken lightly. You are doing the right thing for yourself and you need a good health care team that knows their stuff, at the very least doesn't give harmful feedback and advice!!

Raynne413

Ugh! I know how you feel. I was seeing one of my doctor's when I was first starting recovery, and had told him that I had been diagnosed with an eating disorder. He asked me how I was doing and I said, Well, I've gotten chunky. So he goes and looks at my weight (which I didn't know at the time) and says, Yes, you have gotten chunky!

holy *kitten* i'm so sorry, and i thought my tales of being congratulated on my weight loss into the eighties by my gp was a horrorshow. i'd have straight up unleashed all my hangry fury on that guy.

LOL At that point I was too devastated and tired to be hangry. I will admit I was so upset, I NEVER went back to see him. I ended up finding a new endocrinologist who I love (especially since he calls me skinny every time I see him LOL).*

farfromthetree

Congratulations on your recovery and having more sense than your doctor!! You seem like a very smart girl, it is not easy to recover from an ED. Unfortunately too many young people here on MFP are struggling with it. I think you need to change doctors. Comments such as his are what creates eating dosorders. He should be ashamed of himself.

sofaking6

Threads like this remind me that 50% of all doctors graduated in the bottom half of their class.

Graelwyn75

Any doctor who says things like that to someone in recovery from an ED should have their damn license revoked. Totally ignorant and irresponsible. 2000 calories is pretty much the average intake of an averagely active female, the recommended intake before exercise, basically, so you most certainly should not be lowering it, especially given weight restoration usually involved intake of 2500-3500 a day.

onelonelysocknoble

First off, so much kudos for you for having the mental strength to be doing so well!

In my personal ED experience any mention of being the 'wrong' weight can trigger my mind to go back to old pathways, your doctor is a silly ar*e for joking about it.

I recommend looking back at everyone who has posted here and take each one as a *hug* from a stranger.
(I know that would give me strength, but admittedly I'm odd. )

norcal_yogi

dr. sounds like an a_ _... who needs to brush up on his sensitivity skills along with update his health/nutrition education. ditch him.

p_emmel5

I second the see a dietitian or nutritionist. Best thing I ever did. Doctors can usually fix you if you get broken, but they aren't typically trained in weight management and nutrition..... at least weight gain goals. I think it confuses some of them as it is totally bass ackwards from what they typicallt deal with. While I haven't battled an ED I know how hard it is to gain weight the right way. Been there doing that.

Good for you and keep working toward your goals .:flowerforyou:

stayfitsabrina

hi do you know if you can still get results by getting thicker thighs using the same weights?

NaomiLyn15

Bad doctor.

Technically you should be eating anywhere from 3500-4000 in recovery. I was on a 3500 calorie diet for about 2 months and i wasn't underweight by very much(maybe a pound or two). The reasoning for that is because you've damaged your body- it needs calories to help heal itself, and that's why you're meant to eat so much.

Most doctors have little to no knowledge(correct knowledge) on dietary needs, so i'd suggest you find a dietician. If you can't afford one, or can't find one, then try the minnie maud way of recovering (http://www.youreatopia.com/blog/2013/3/31/minniemaud-guidelines-for-recovery-from-a-restrictive-eating.html)

Feel free to add me or message me if you have any questions

Hats off to you for choosing recovery. :flowerforyou:

EDIT: i should mention that it's dangerous to go from a lower caloric intake to a much higher one, so be careful if you decide to up your calories. (refeeding syndrome)

Fantastic advice!! This is how my doctors helped me through my recovery. You should definitely look into finding a new doctor, at least for your recovery. Look for someone that understands EDs. During my recovery, I had a team of doctors (primary doctor, therapist and psychiatrist) and they all worked together to create the right plan and communicate the same thing. Might be something to look into. It was very effective for me.

Zekela

I think the doctor just has a weird sense of humor. He is probably right about the calorie restriction. You do not want to put on weight too quickly since this is also unhealthy. You could seek another opinion, or just confront your doctor that you are uncomfortable with the way he delivers information. Congrats on your weight gain.

dlaplume2

I don't know how long you have been with this dr, but if it's been a while and he saw you through the thick of it with your ED, he needs to be sure. You have been trying to lose weight in unhealthy ways and covering it up to boot. He probably knows you well enough, to make sure. Most people with ED do things to hide their weight loss, much like an drug addict would try to hide drug use.
You have been doing good in trying to steadily gain weight, and EAT NORMAL, take that comment as a compliment. It's working and your hard effort is paying off.
That being said, he is trying to get you to work at eating NORMAL. You need to get used to your new body systems, metabolism and cravings. Much like an overweight person needs to learn how to recognize hunger pains from thirst, boredom, or just not feeling full, like they are used to, You need to get to the point where you can identify what your body needs too. Just because you are recovering from an ED doesn't mean you need to eat everything in sight and not worry about your weight, It just means you need to learn balance, just like the rest of us.
I hope this helps. Best wishes to you for continued recovery.
:flowerforyou:
PS don't use this as an excuse you've been looking for to fall off the wagon.

EvgeniZyntx

I was doing really well, until today. I was at 99 lbs at 5'6, and now a month later I'm a healthier 108 lbs. My doctor made a comment asking "if I had bricks in my pocket?" When He Heard about my weight. I told him I was having 2000-2200 calories a day and he have me an odd look and proceeded to ask if I felt it was too much. I told him no, but I still sometimes felt hungry. He told me I shouldn't have any more than that even if I'm still hungry. He also said during the visit I only needed to gain a few pounds then he'd take me off the 2000 calories very soon. Is this normal? Does he sound like a poor doctor or am I'm just being too sensitive?

you put on 9 lbs in a month. Which is the equivalent of 750-1100 excess calories per day above maintenance assuming a gain in fat and LBM. That would mean that your current TDEE is relatively very low (or you are eating more than that).

Despite his awful manners, he is right to be curious about it - it is likely that part of that is not pure weight gain but retention due to a variety of factors. You might see fluctuations in the days to come or more difficulty gaining more. On the other hand, it's also possible you've gained that quickly then your doctor is right to be concerned about too rapid a gain.

You have the right to let him know that the comment bothered you - however, switching docs just because a bunch of strangers say so without knowing the details of your case is doubtful advice. Ask questions, clarify with him. If he fails to be clear and continues to be abrasive then move on - but the concern and surprise on rapid weight gain is legitimate.

LifeWithPie

hi do you know if you can still get results by getting thicker thighs using the same weights?

Please Stop posting the same question in threads that have no relevance to this. Start a new thread in the fitness forum.

mangogirl272727

When I was recovering I was prescribed 3500 calories until I reached the "ideal weight" for my height (bmi of 21), at which point I was prescribed 2500 calories (and I am on the short side). Many GP's just aren't very educated on this particular issue, especially if they attended medical school many years ago. It's best to find a nutritionist who specializes in ED's. I'm sure he meant well, don't let this discourage you.

BinaryPulsar

The reason her TDEE is lower is because her weight is so low, and because in the initial recovery stages there is a low activity level. This will balance out when she gains weight (and health), and incorporates a healthy level of activity into her life. She is still underweight at this time. And she should be eating to gain, not maintain. 9 pounds in a month is not uncommon in early ED recovery.

viddatolife

Let me start by saying congrats on the weight gain. I know it is hard to do. I need a doctor who has good bed side manners. I need to feel they have my best interest in mind. I have had more opinions and was able to choose the best doctor for myself. Good luck.

melwoods

Also anorexic- 2200 is actually too low for a weight restoring anorexic anyway. We need wayyyyy more calories than even a similar weight individual trying to gain weight that has not starved themselves. A minimum meal plan is 2500 calories. Minimum. Mine is over 3000 and I'm only 10 lbs underweight. One reason is the tendency to hypermetabolize and have huge calorie needs. Being hungry is a sign you are not eating enough. Counting calories is a bad idea too- if you can't eat enough intuitive a RD would typically give a meal plan based on exchanges where you hopefully would try to make choices based on what you want to eat, not the lowest calorie option. You need more fat and protein than average. Also, you will likely need to gain more than what is an "acceptable weight" for a non eating disordered person to recover. Leptin levels in the brain will need to normalize and will not do that at a barely normal BMI- most RD's who specialize in ED will want you to be close to 100% of IBW- 100 lbs for the first 5 ft and 5 lbs for each inch of height after that. Now it's pretty individual but every time my BMI dips below 20 I'm threatened with higher level of care (I'm very fit, low body fat, still have strong ED thoughts). That's another thing about leptin- you aren't fully weight restored until those ED thoughts quiet and you can be more flexible with food- and this is not a number which can be calculated precisely because it's different for everyone. Typically though- BMI under 20 is still underweight. And reaching a BMI more like 21 is a higher predictor of staying in recovery. Being "on the edge" is a recipe for relapse especially if you exercise and have more lean tissue/ muscle (and therefore less fat and a higher metabolism).

I hope this helps and I highly suggest finding a ED specialist registered dietitian.

melwoods

Not true. It doesn't matter. Anorexia spares no organ in the body of damage. These calories are going towards repairing damage to internal organs etc. AN patients have HIGHER TDEE than normal. Much higher. Initial weight gain is almost always fluid. It can be harder to weight restore than one would think, for many complicated reasons. Hypermetabolism often starts occurring after the initial water retention and as metabolism speeds up to an abnormally high level weight loss even in emaciated individuals eating a LOT can happen. That's why meal plans are so high. And the reasons for this aren't 100% understood- even medical doctors do not get this quite frequently unless they specialize in ED.

Fatandfifty3

Remember doctors are people too... and some of them are idiots. Go and see someone else in the practice who is more in touch with your issues. The other guy is probably brilliant with broken legs but with ED he isn't!

PlumpKitten

The National Health Service in Britain recommends 2,000 calories a day for women, 2,500 for men.
The U.S. government recommends about 2,000 in general. That's 1,600-2,400 for women, and 2,000 to 3,000 for men.
So you're right in the ballpark, especially as you are trying to gain weight.
I'd ignore your doctor. The last thing a recovering anorexic needs is even MORE pressure and stress over eating habits.
If you feel good and are getting healthier, you are doing the right thing.
Good luck to you.

jrhanna84

How does a doctor "take you off of a 2000 calorie intake" ? Doctors do not have such powers. Believe it or not.

What do you mean by that?

I think what that comment or was trying to say was....you can't take someone off a 2000 calorie diet. You can't really wean someone off of it like you can with medications. If 2000 calories is helping you get to a healthy weight I would stick with it for now and find a new Dr. ASAP.

BinaryPulsar

Not true. It doesn't matter. Anorexia spares no organ in the body of damage. These calories are going towards repairing damage to internal organs etc. AN patients have HIGHER TDEE than normal. Much higher. Initial weight gain is almost always fluid. It can be harder to weight restore than one would think, for many complicated reasons. Hypermetabolism often starts occurring after the initial water retention and as metabolism speeds up to an abnormally high level weight loss even in emaciated individuals eating a LOT can happen. That's why meal plans are so high. And the reasons for this aren't 100% understood- even medical doctors do not get this quite frequently unless they specialize in ED.

Not sure if this was to me or another person. Yes, this is good info and I agree. I was replying to someone that commented that her tdee must be low because she gained 9 pounds a month averaging 2100 calories or so.

I also went through recovery when I was younger. And for me I rapidly regained my weight and then stabilized and stopped gaining. Recovering from an ED is not the same as a healthy weight person gaining 9 pounds. On the flip side a morbidly obese person can also lose more weight in a month than a normal weight person.

MoosyGoosy

Personally, I'd find a proper dietician who specialises in EDs.

My meal plan doesn't use calories as a guide and I like that

typicallystrange

a doctor telling a recovering anorexic to not eat more than a certain amount? utter *kitten*. A lot of gp's don't seem to know anything about what's best for those in recovery, recovering myself, my gp was content to let me eat 1200 calories a day for 'recovery'. if you're hungry, eat! listen to your body! your body needs the calories!

LilMissTucknRoll

colej157 wrote: »

Congratulations on your progress toward recovery.

I've struggled with anorexia and orthorexia for several years, and as far as I can tell, unless they are ED specialists, most healthcare providers -- docs, therapists, even dietitians,while well-meaning, don't have a good understanding of eating disorders. Some of the most insensitive comments I've gotten have come from health professionals. I had a screening nurse tell me men don't get EDs, and another time when I as in the ER for severe medical complications, the PA said she needed to lose a few pounds and wished she had what I had.

My GP is great, but isn't well-versed in ED issues. Fortunately, she recognizes this and is happy to work with my treatment team. She attends to my medical issues, and follows their lead as far as treatment of the other issues, including nutrition and eating. If at all possible, try to find someone who is at least willing to be part of your treatment team and recognize that others have expertise that s/he does not.

On another note, are there any support groups in your area? ANAD meetings can be very helpful. Getting support from others who've been where you are (or are working on getting there) and "get it" is invaluable.

Hang in there. Feel free to contact me directly.

AJ

This is what you should be listening to.

mikostywr

That doctor sounds ridiculous! Quoting my professor, she states ideally gain 1-2lbs/ weekly 3-4 is even better. Sounds like your doing good! I hope you enjoy eating and build a healthy relationship with food in the long run as well!

stealthq

ValGogo wrote: »

How does a doctor "take you off of a 2000 calorie intake" ? Doctors do not have such powers. Believe it or not.

What do you mean by that?

I think what he means is that the doc can TELL you to stop eating 2000 calories but you can still feed yourself what you want regardless.

+1

Food is not a prescription drug or treatment that he can just take away. He can recommend, and if you don't agree then you do as you please.

Oh, and I'm 100% on board with you finding another doc. This one clearly has his head where the sun don't shine.

anna_doe1986

Wow, I agree with everyone; get a doctor who knows ED or who is willing to defer to a nutritionist with an ED specialization.

I'm a recovering anorexic, and let me tell you, I've been hypermetabolic for months and my nutritionist had to bring me up to a 3800 calorie/day diet, just to keep a steady rate of restoration.

But on so many other levels, that is just plain wrong.

astronomicals

Was he gauging your response?

Even if he was, its seems like something that could horribly backfire.