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mweckler
Posts: 623 Member
Hello so since being diagnosed with binge eating disorder I was given Vyvanse (it is dual purposes for me as an ADD and BED med). Since taking this is for the first time in years I feel fully in control of my eating. I no longer have the overwhelming sugar cravings I once had. I have reduced the amount I eat on a daily basis, and am actually losing weight for the first time in a long time. My trigger was sweets and chips. Since taking Vyvanse I can pass on both of them. I no longer raid my kids candy and chip bin. I can eat a normal portion of chips of the urge hits me and I can stop. That is the biggest thing for me is I can stop. I do not have to eat until I hate myself or feel sick. That is such a great feeling.
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What are the side effects, if any, that you have noticed?0
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I had some stomach issues for a few days but it leveled out.0
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I've been thinking about talking to a psychiatrist. Up until now, I've been resistant to the idea of Meds but I trally think at this point it's going to take a lot more than willpower. If medication can help reduce the habits, that will empower me to break the cycle and then eventually I hope I can do it on my own. Thanks for the info!0
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For me I honestly had zero control. I could go and eat ok for a couple days but I had this urge that would build up in me until I slipped up and then went off the rails. I was powerless if my kids had candy in the house I would wait til everyone was sleeping and raid it. If there were Popsicles I would eat 4-5 a night or chips I could eat a whole bag in one sitting. I thought it was how I was meant to live my life. But I just could not take it any more and went to get help for depression and then in talking with the Doctor I brought up my eating and how bad it made me feel so she did this questionnaire and I ticked off every box for B.E.D that's when we started to look into a treatment plan and medication. I know medication has a stigma behind it but for me I find I actually am in control now. I have lost 13 pounds in 2 weeks, I have not had the same cravings to binge, my appetite has decreased significantly. I feel more alert and have more energy as well. The negatives from the medicine were diarrhea a few times a day for the first week. I also had to remind myself to eat as this greatly reduces my appetite. But when I eat now I can choose what I want to eat and it I am eating half as much as I did before, even with sweets I was able to pass on cupcakes, and Valentine's Day candy. My kids have candy sitting all around the house and I do not feel compelled to eat it. It is such a great feeling to be able to pass on that kind of stuff for the first time in many many years.0
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It sounds like that has been very helpful for you. I do think it's worth looking into for myself as well, because I'm at a point where I just don't feel I can do this alone anymore. My body and mind are rebelling against themselves, and I really need help breaking the binging cycle and meds may help with that.
Actually, about twelve years ago or so I did take something for binging. I believe it was called Campral, but I could be wrong. Anyway, my urges went away almost instantly. At the time, I was so caught up in the self-identity part of my eating habits that I couldn't handle having the obsession with food taken away from me. Within a week or so, I quit taking the medication. Now, I would do so much to have my urges to binge disappear and to see my obsession with food fade away. Sure, it might confuse me as I don't really know what I would think about all day (what DO people think about when they aren't thinking about food?!?!??!!) but it would be so worth it. And what I've also realized, is up until now I've mostly kept this to myself. Although I may struggle with my self-identity being wrapped up in food, my outward identity is not and maybe people I know could somehow help with the identity thing if that's actually what the issue is.0 -
My mind can now think of everything else except food. Like what o am going to do with my kids. What I need to get done at work. How to best torment my wife. Little things I did not have room in my mind for before.0
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Vyvanse has really helped me too. I encourage you to give it a try because it has impacted my life in such a positive way!0
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The only med I take is St. John's Wort to control depression. I'd like to try prescription meds, but I have no insurance to cover that, and it's expensive!
What I do have is a gym membership. I have replaced my food thinking with fitness thinking. When my mental feces hits the fan, I start thinking of which cardio workout would best allow me to vent the feelings. Elliptical is good for anger and frustration. Treadmill walking is good for general stress. Lifting weights is good for everything, but especially for anxiety. If I'm feeling anxious, but I can go curl 60 pounds or kick @ss working my abs, my mind is forced to look at what I can accomplish rather than what I might fail at or have no control over.
Redirecting the mind can really free up a lot of RAM so to speak.
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I think that you have a good way of dealing with your health then. Going to the gym and finding ways that put you in a better mind frame rahter than eating is a really big step. I find it hard to get to the gym when I am anxious or stressed.0
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What helps you in those times, other than food? Writing, music, walking, knitting, country dancing, walrus training, snipe hunting? Whatever relaxes you or gives you a release other than eating can be your "goto" instead of binging.
That was my point. You don't HAVE to binge. You CAN find something else. At some point, I decided to stop making excuses and start making changes. That's what it all comes down to. I've got my life back because I made one positive choice. Then another. Then some more.
Honestly, it really is that simple. mweckler's positive choices have been different than mine, but he has done the same-a series of positive choices-one at a time.
Self pity is NEVER a positive choice.0 -
For me, anything to do with hockey helps me. Hockey is my passion and it can make me feel better no matter what. I was an elite hockey player for a long time and unfortunately I had to make the decision to stop because I got way too many concussions. If I don't have time to go to the rink if I watch hockey videos on the internet for a little bit it actually really helps me. Most of my anxiety comes at night so I have found that drinking herbal tea is really helpful. Another thing is that I live in a dorm room so a friend is always around or there is always something to do to take my mind off of it or talk to a friend. Also, sometimes just writing down how I am feeling has helped. I still find myself trying to just ignore my feelings a lot because it became a habit as a kid so if I honestly write how I am feeling every once in a while it really helps. Also, calling my mom or listening to music really helps.0
