Fast/pounding heart rate..ED

Options
I know that if an average person would eat an enormous meal , one that is particularly high in calories, the heart rate with increase noticeable, so as they could sense it. With my meals, let's say I eat half a sandwich and a cup of rice, if I decide to add in just a bit more ( for example, 100 calories more), my heart rate increases 12-20 bpm and it feels like a "hard" heart beat. Before I had disordered eating, the amount of food I ate for meals does not compare to my past average sized proportions. I tI did not get an accelerated heart rate back then. Now I do. It is veeeeryyy annoying and upsetting. Sometimes I avoid eating too much just so I don't have to go through this. It last for 10-30 minutes. Will this go away?
My BMI is not underweight, but it is under 20.

Also, If I happen to eat a "heavier" snack at night, I will wake up with my lower abdomen sticking out. I've experimented with this and I've concluded that anything I eat after 11pm at night, will make my belly noticeably bloated until at least 7 hours have passed. ( It's as if it's taking 7 hours for that heavier snack to pass).

Replies

  • FFfitgirl
    FFfitgirl Posts: 369 Member
    Options
    Does it happen more with carbs/ sugar??

    Could it be more you are worrying about your food intake? stress increases your Heart rate
  • blue__hydrangea
    Options
    This happens to me. When you eat, blood goes to your stomach to help your food digest. This means less blood going to your heart/brain, so your heart will beat faster. Do you find your heart increasing 30 bpm or going to 120+ when you stand up? This are all common signs of a syndrome called POTS - Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. It's not life threatening but it can really be hard on your quality of life.
  • wavesurfer2
    Options
    In response to FFfitgirl, I really don't know. It can be any type of food..it's just the amount. Thing is, I find it ridiculous that my meals are still not average sized and I still experience that. It's very much uncomfortable and not fair, I think.

    And in response to blue_hydrang, I've only had that rate noticeable rate increase once or twice. I woudn't say I have something like POTS.

    Will this heart rate effect ever go away? How can I ever reach a normal meal, forget everything about my ED, if this continues happening?
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    Options
    My heart can pound after a substantial meal and/or after a large amount of carbs. It happens to everyone.
  • emtjmac
    emtjmac Posts: 1,320 Member
    Options
    I am not a physician but I think it's reasonable to assume that your preoccupation with these "symptoms" has more to do with the obsessive personality characteristics that led to your eating disorder in the first place and less to do with something that's "wrong" that you can somehow change. What you are describing are normal sensations in your body that occur when you eat an appropriate amount of food. You will notice that your belly is full and you will notice that your heart rate has increased slightly if you focus intently enough on it.

    Is it possible that part of you is still looking for ways to avoid eating by finding things wrong with it? I think it's important that you bring these concerns to a therapist if you are not already seeing one and working through them as you would any of the other unrealistic fears that you've suffered with as part of your eating disorder. Best of luck, feel free to message me if you want to talk further.
  • cwoyto123
    cwoyto123 Posts: 308
    Options
    Haha this happens to me, it is normal.
  • Springfield1970
    Springfield1970 Posts: 1,945 Member
    Options
    Haha this happens to me, it is normal.

    Nelson Muntz! I've finally worked out who you remind me of!

    The Haha kid from the Simpsons....
  • love8383
    love8383 Posts: 169
    Options
    because you seem so overly aware of your hear rate i have to ask if you have any type of anxiety disorder..a lot of times people with anxiety will over analyze things like this (constantly checking pulse, worrying about illnesses that don't exist ect) and anxiety does make your heart beat fast and hard. If your pulse and blood pressure are normal when you go to the doctors wouldn't worry too much about it.
  • love8383
    love8383 Posts: 169
    Options
    .
  • doingthisfortheboys
    doingthisfortheboys Posts: 35 Member
    Options
    could it be more of an anxiety issue, i get very anxious when i eat and before i eat so heart rate increases and i find it hard taking a proper breath maybe speak to your gp or ed councillor
  • cwoyto123
    cwoyto123 Posts: 308
    Options
    Haha this happens to me, it is normal.

    Nelson Muntz! I've finally worked out who you remind me of!

    The Haha kid from the Simpsons....
    oh lord

    at least you tried
  • littlekitty3
    littlekitty3 Posts: 265 Member
    Options
    I don't know your whole background for posting this so I'm going to assume ED since it's part of the title.
    This is where you should go see a doctor and not rely on posts here. Especially if you're recently coming out of an ED, there could be some imbalance and needs monitored. Or it is a mental thing and you are mentally tricking yourself to have a mini panic/anxiety over an extra 100 calories.
  • Jaslene181
    Options
    I guess that's all in your mind, you just worry too much and it seems to you all is so bad, to be sure your heart works well you may follow two ways- consult a doctor and pass some tests or just start wearing heart rate monitor to see the full picture of how your heart copes with the burden during the day .
  • MoosyGoosy
    MoosyGoosy Posts: 44
    Options
    I don't know your whole background for posting this so I'm going to assume ED since it's part of the title.
    This is where you should go see a doctor and not rely on posts here. Especially if you're recently coming out of an ED, there could be some imbalance and needs monitored. Or it is a mental thing and you are mentally tricking yourself to have a mini panic/anxiety over an extra 100 calories.

    This. Go to your doctor, you don't want to mess around with your heart.
    When I told my ED specialist that I got heart palpitations and had an abnormal heart beat, she told me that I was a high risk patient until I had been given the all clear by a doctor.
    Disordered eating patterns CAN effect your heart.

    This is ESPECIALLY important if you've been purging.

    Going to the doctor will also give you some peace of mind- it could be anxiety, which is a problem, but it's fixable.

    Stay safe hun!