You know what I think Ann.

It's not about weight. I'm a "normal" weight and many times I have been pushed to be IP because my thoughts and behaviors still occur. I have alot of anorexic thoughts and bulimic behaviors so it's really a dangerous mix...but keep in mind, I'm not underweight. You can definately be IP just for behaviors, and if they are really bad and difficult to overcome then yes, IP is a good idea. Basically, if you feel you can't change them and need more intensive help, then go. I know it's a hard decision to make, you have to really think deep down and not let ED cloud your thoughts (which is possible, difficult, but possible). Those are my thoughts. I don't know if I helped.

yes hearing of another person in the same position as me is helpful, it helps me to realize that i am not abnormal. i still feel like i would be laughed at if i mentioned this to my doctor and god forbid my family and at work. i cant afford to have no income, it is frustrating. my mind keeps saying im fine.

You wouldn't be laughed at by people who really understood eating disorders.

I'm also remembering you didn't do well physically when you tried to eat some different foods recently, so some monitoring while you do that might be a good idea...

Ann,

If you are physically healthy, I do not think you need IP. You may need out patient CBT. (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) Everyone deals with mental struggles and obessions wheter they talk about it or not. Its a part of life. I can realte to you because I eat the same thing for breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner every day. I switch up the dinners between chix, turkey burgers, egg white omelets and pasta, but that is it. I have to have oatmeal everynight before I go to bed. I hate that my eating is so ritual and so restricted......so I can relate. My husband and I will eat separte things for dinner becasue I refuse to eat food that I define as unhealhy. I do not want to be this way. We are thinking about starting a family in the next year or so and I need to get healthy for that. I do not want to eat this way infront of my kids. Hang in there.....maybe try and add a food you normally would not eat everyday to your diet. I know its hard.....I am trying too. XO

On the contrary to the above post I feel that you can go to IP if you are really struggling. IP is not only for those who ate physically unstable. You can still be sick enough for IP due to you eating habits and behaviors and thought processes. Go to IP can be at any weight. You can be sick mentally just as you cam be sick physically. Think about it.

I feel the same as you Ann about being laughed at or not taken seriously. I'm seeing a new doctor who deals with alot of different EDs but I fear that she will take a look at me and think "oh she's not sick". I know it's wrong but I can't help feeling it. I have come to accept that if she does judge me then, well, screw her there's more doctors that treat EDs that I can go to.

But please know that most people who deal with EDs or know you history will take you seriously and if you take time to explain how you feel and what you do it will go over much better.

At a BMI of 12.6, I didn't see myself as thin enough to be worthy of IP treatment.

It's our faulty thinking that causes our bodies & minds to suffer, and that can happen at ANY weight. You don't have to be a complete skeleton to get help, so never count yourself out.

If you are hurting, you are eligible for treatment. Just consider yourself one step ahead of the game.... you won't have to go through the awful weight restoration part of treatment, which REALLY sucks.

MAY TRIGGER FOODS MENTIONED to clarify about what i eat and still maintain is pitiful. i have a tiny bit of protien bar in the am, lunch 1 or 1/2 bars, then nothing till 9 when i have 2 big bowls of dry cereal with added walnuts. this has caused me to become so isolated, used to go out and eat, even earlier in my anorexia, id at least have a small salad or half sandwhich, for many many months not that anymore. the "timing" is always the same everyday, so i wont even stay out past 8:45, so i can get home.

Okay, that's close to nothing. You can't survive for long on that. Sure, you may be fine now but it's going to come back to haunt you. I would say because you are so consumed with the times you eat and what you eat AND that it interfers with your life that you should consider IP. The whole part of interferring with life is huge. That's really important. If you do decide to go IP make sure you tell the intake people everything.

thank you everybody for all your input. i see the clinical nutrtion doc. on thursday, ill let you all know how it goes.