Yup. Just went through that. Plus, all the intestinal/digestive pain made it easier to choose no food than food.

Well, I found that I like soup. So, I got myself to start eating this Thai Kitchen preboxed soup. I like the mushroom and spring onion. It's only 220 calories if one eats the whole bowl and it tastes good and it keeps the stomach going. I ate dill pickles because they were low in calories and would fill me up. After it got really bad, it was about finding ways to stretch the stomach back out so I would feel hungry again. I also found that Thanksgiving food - total temptation that I couldn't resist.

Just throw out the scale. Focus on eating enough calories. Eat 5-6 times a day, lots of snacks. Plus, if you have a glass of milk or decaf tea/coffee with milk/creamers, that also adds good calories. I like English Breakfast tea with Coffeemate Eggnog creamer.

The scale has to go. Wanting to watch the weight is good. Just eat healthy and keep healthy snacks that you find irresistible. I also keep frozen strawberries and peaches and mangoes and wild blueberries. I pick foods that, after I eat, I feel good and healthy and energized. No caffeinated, no sodas, no corn syrup/sugar, no chocolate (yes, I actually found I could give it up, amazing, eh?).

I also cook my favorite way. I GRILL! I love grilling. I grilled the turkey! YUM! So, I bribe myself with grilled turkey. Plus, Jennie-O has awesome turkey dogs (low carb, low fat, low cal, great, healthy, lean meat and not so bad on the fillers). I keep some pregrilled and just take it out of the fridge and nosh on it. (Yes, cold turkey is good in ANY form.) ;)

I don't have the best advice. I just know that it will get much, much worse unless you nip it in the bud. I have a 3 inch bunch of hair I pulled off my head in the shower AFTER I had brushed and removed the hair 3 times from that brush. My shower drain is perpetually clogged because I am losing SO MUCH hair. I grew out my hair long so I could cut it... Now I am think I need to donate it to myself, for when I am bald. Then I stick it in a pony tail and realize how little there is to donate. :(

good advice, thanks brillante

Yes and no. Yes I was anorexic, and yes it was because of past abuse, but it wasn't that I was obsessed with weight.

Anyway, my advice is to start eating small meals frequently. Even it's a granola bar every 2-3 hours.

You need to get your stomach used to food again, in more ways that one. It will be painful, physically as well as mentally, but it needs to be done.

You don't want to end up in a hospital being made to eat thousands of calories a day.

I'm here if you need to talk.

At the beginning of this year, my co-workers told me I kept losing weight...and was skinny minny. But, I was eating...maybe only 1-2x/day, but big meals at those times. I HAD a GREAT metabolism.

Fast Forward to April '07...I was diagnosed with PTSD and started on my PTSD meds....

Weigh in in November: +35lbs

AAaaacckkk....No matter what I eat or DON'T Eat...it doesn't MATTER! I GAIN WEIGHT!

Thing is:

1. Feel Better & Take meds that will most likely make you gain weight...

OR...

2. Feel Crappy, and look good.

I'd like to choose a mix of both....Feel Good and Look Good.

BUT...HOLD FAST!

My Pdoc is supposed to be putting me on a 'Brain Diet'...and is supposed to help Lose Weight, and FEED the Brain.

SO, when I get the details from him, I'll share.

But, in the meantime, you do need to eat....Fish is good for the brain, Omega-3's.

I'm thinking it will be along the line of High Protein, Low Carb type diet.

I eat terribly...Cheerios, Carnation Instant Breakfast, Granola Bars, Waffles,

More later!

Yeah, and it was scary because I just didn't want food at all. I would go days without eating anything. I had been overweight before but during the acute faze of pts I lost 70lbs. At one point I was afraid I would never eat again. But I did, slowly. I had to go about it like a person does when they are recovering from the flu or something. Plain, bland...soup, crackers... plain rice...

Have you talked to your therapist about this?

Some of the medicine I'm on is supposed to make me gain weight, but I keep losing instead.

I was put on a medication when I was in in-patient that causes an increase in appetite. I was on it to control anxiety (they never told me i was going to be hungry all the time, how convenient) Most people hate it because of the weight gain but maybe it's what you need to get you kick started. It's called "Zyprexa"

I find the good meds, the ones that are helpful for PTS (see post Med Ideas & Why) don't cause weight gain.

The Risperdal you are on is VERY strong. So, if you don't like it, try Geodon. That is what I am trying now. I use it WITH propranolol. Then all the catecholamines should be covered. That is the best case scenario per our research. You could also try Serzone. My doc wants me on Geodon first (because I am sensitive to meds) and Serzone is fairly strong, he said.

Also, I think Zoloft is bad news for anyone with PTSD. You end up with a total disconnect. It made me suicidal in a very matter-of-fact way. I don't get that with the stuff I am taking.

I like:

* Vistaril (antihistamine prescribed for anxiety because histamine (allergic reactions) cause adrenaline to be released, therefore antihistamines help stop the need for the body to produce adrenaline)

* Klonopin (1 - 0.5mg) with Ativan (1 - 1mg) for when I *have* to get to sleep (Klonopin acts on the alcohol receptors and when I use it a long time I find it can make me cranky, just like excess alcohol over time causes moodiness and negativity)

* Propranolol (to stop the panic attacks and to slow my hear rate - just 10 mgs as needed, 20 mgs when I know that I have a big trigger or will be triggered by an upcoming event)

* Geodon seems to be helping a lot (one day, but, yes, that's how fast my body responds... so the question becomes whether it builds up or will hold at this level - if it holds here (as in "if it leaves my body within 24 hours so each pill just maintains the same level each day", I may have fine my "cure" cocktail - WHICH WOULD ROCK!!!!). :)

Yes! I weant through the exact same thing when I was a freshman in high school. I lost 30 lbs. in less than a month and I have anemic episodes because of it. I almost reached the point of needing to go to the hospital, but I eventually started to get better. Some little tips that helped me: I started cutting the size tags off all my clothes. It's been years since, and I still do this. I also haven't known my exact weight since I was 15. At my Dr. office I look away and the nurses know not to tell me. Even now, over six years later, I don't trust myself to know what I weigh, because I know that my head still believes that no matter how low those numbers are, they aren't low enough. I've spoken to a few youth groups and I've talked to so many girls who have the same problems and I've told them what I do to help myself stay healthy and later I've gotten emails that they're doing better. You'll definitely be in my prayers and I'm here anytime you need anything at all. Lots of love!

you have all given me great advice and i appreciate that very much. i have an appt with dr on the 20th and i will discuss meds with him then