Eating Disorders Support Group

Eating disorders are marked by an obsessive need to control the intake and/or purging of food. This community is dedicated to those struggling on the road to recovery. Join to discuss your experience with others and find support. Get advice, ask questions, and meet others who are going through similar struggles.

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loralp 02/10/2016

Hi all short bio about me, I'm a 51 year old mom of 2 beautiful daughters, one of whom is a recovering anorexic. I am sooooo proud of her! She has been through treatment at Rosewood in Arizona back in 2011 and with stops and starts is now healthy and helping others!
I suffer from chronic pain, neck and back due to a car wreck in 2002 when I was hit by a drunk driver. I also suffer chronic headaches.

The reason I'm here though is I am a disordered eater. I am 5'8 and weigh 96 pounds. The doctors cannot figure out why I'm loosing this weight besides ulcers. But I also know my eating sucks. I tend to eatnmaybe one big meal a day, maybe two on a good day. Most of the time it because I am either just not hungry, I'm nauseous, or due to financial problems lack of food. Let me be honest on that last part. Lack of food I want to eat I guess. That's the 1st time I've admitted that. I have no aversion to food, when I eat I tend to eat a lot! I don't feel guilty about it, I love my ice cream, cookies, all the empty calories that are doing me no good at this point.
I had a heart attack back in 2010. I'm really worried with my continued weight loss is going to cause further heart problems. I try ( when money is available and I'm not so lazy) to do protein shakes, but even then I have a problem keeping up with them.
My boyfriend and housemate are awesome and annoying about making me eat, but even that isn't helping.
I NEED to gain weight! My insurance will not cover a nutritionist, or anything similar. I need help! I have.downloaded meal plans from recovering anorexics, but I guess I need real people to help me actually do it. How do you overcome the not hungry, the nausea, ( ulcer, or not).?
Again, I don't know if I'm in the right place even! But if anyone can help me I would appreciate it!
Also I cannot go to my Daughter for help, she is so worried about me already and has her own problems I don't want to add to her stress.

Thank you again!!!

54Mariposa 02/11/2016

Oh boy......

I wonder if there are any community health resources for you?

loralp 02/13/2016

There is nothing in my community! When my daughter was 1st diagnosed anorexic we had serious issues finding any help in the ENTIRE STATE!!!! And now with my issues there is even less. I am scared because I have already had a heart attack and with my weight this low I worry its affecting my heart. I keep in touch with my cardiologist about it, he is concerned as well. The only one not concerned is the gastroenerologist who is supposed to be helping!
One bit of good news, I saw a headache specialist on the 11th. There is a medication usually used for allergies that helps with migraines. It seems it is also used for recovering anorexics or people like, disordered eaters, to stimulate appitie and help gain weight! Why NONE of my local doctors, or the GI specialist have never mentioned it I'll never know! I just pray it helps.

As the mother of a recovering anorexic, and someone who has an odd eating disorder I hope I can help someone out there even if my problem doesn't fit here.blessed be to all

jonroland 02/19/2016

Taking small steps at a time and not shocking your body could really help. Eating big meals when you're not hungry is difficult, but a smaller meal would be more manageable. Record what you eat in a typical day, add up the calories, add maybe 200 calories to that and divide it up between 5 or 6 meals. That's a great start, and not a whole world away from normality for you. Try to include some fruits and veg, and protein like eggs for breakfast, and don't completely cut out the sweets. Some sweets everyday isn't a bad thing, provided they're a part of an overall balanced day. Be consistent with that, and you should notice a great difference in your mood, energy, brain function and appetite. Right now your body is used to a giant meal and a long absence without, so your brain has adapted and isn't sending any hunger signals out. Letting your body eat a little something and waiting 2 or 3 hours and eating again, will correct this. Giving it a chance and sticking with it is what will make the difference. From there, when your adjusted to that sufficiently, you can start to think about adding calories or changing some of the foods. But first, just the beginning step

Hope this helps

loralp 02/21/2016

Thank you! I have been trying to do just that, still struggling with it. My eating habits have always sucked which I have always worried contributed to my daughters anorexia. I never critacized her weight, looks, or anything,

my ex did. He was verbally abusasive. Example; He constantly called her sister " big butt McGee" even though she had no weight issues or a big butt. His thinking he always said was so they would not get vain about their good looks..... That is one of the main reasons he is an ex.

I have always suffered ulcers, nausea, and horrible eating habits. But my weight has never dropped like this. And ( most of) my doctors don't seem to care. My cardiologist and a PA at my Primary Dr office are the only ones who seem to notice and care but the primary and Gastroenerologist don't. Because of my heart I am scared. Because of what my daughter has gone through and is still going through makes me scared.
I thank you for your help. I know I don't fit the criteria here but I don't know where else to turn.

ann54 02/22/2016

first, I think you belong here for sure, we are all here to support all sorts of eating disorders and I feel you have one. your doctors are awful and it is sinful there is no help for you. I like the idea of small meals all throughtpout the day, sticking with it, and not eating all the sweets, some though, and with the money not spent on sweets buy protein rich fods. I understand money issues, I am in the same boat. it is shocking to me they don't admit you, what with the heart attack and the losing weight and the weight you are. one meal at a time, and then another. hugss

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