Question:
Anorexia or bulimia, or both?
Hi, I have an eating problem, where I eat as little as possible, I've been like it over a year this time, and lost much weight, but still feel huge. I generally eat around 200-300 calories a day, over Xmas I had to eat more as we went out for meals, but I used laxatives to rid myself of any extra weight I might put on, I came off them a little while later, as they were making my epilepsy worse because of the dehydration. I have crohn's disease, so there are many foods I cannot tolerate, and for a little while lately I've been extra hungry, but cannot deal with it and have deliberarely eaten foods I used to like but now cannot, eg things with pickles, custard, spicy foods, as I know my bowel will be upset enough to expel it pretty soon. My bowel is already messed up through my crohn's getting out of control two years ago, and I have a colostomy, so obviously would have no 'accidents' or having to get to the loo quickly, am I anorexic or bulimic though? I know I should care about myself more, but I'm suffering with depression also, and I saw my gp about my weight problems a while ago, my gastroenterologist was also concerned with my weight loss, and I was given a mental health assessment where an eating disorder person was also, I was told I didn't have an eating disorder, and yes I told the truth, but was told it was a coping strategy for my stress, which it is, but as I'm an adult I wasn't taken seriously, apparently at my age (forties) I should be grown up enough to realise what I'm doing to myself, I feel worthless and unhappy, and self harm also, I don't know where to turn any more, I cannot talk to my husband, he's unapproachable at the best of times. What to do please?
Answers:
Ok first of all sorry to hear of your prob and BIIGG HUUGGGGSSS!
Lets have a look and take this step by step.
1. Laxatives. you are wasting your time taking them! Why? because by the time your food has reached the poo stage, all the calorie and nutrition has been taken in by your body, and therefore, laxative is NOT preventing you from getting fat. All laxatives will do is make your bowel LAZY. AND you are risking your epilepsy.
Your calorie intake is far too low. Now, at this point you shouldnt be asking the question "am I anorexic or bulimic? you should be asking yourself "why do I eat so little?"
Honey, I am over 40 also. I UNDERSTAND what you are going through. Self confidence has a lot to do with it. You have kinda anwsered alrready in your question. You are low and unhappy - you probably have high expectations of yourself right? you feel alone? So the self harm gives you release.
Maybe you didnt want me to answer your question.. maybe you just wanted to know if someone would be there for you?
WELLLL I am and there are other who feel the same.. so PLEASE remember you are so special and you are worth the very best in life, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! XX
Finally try and open out a little to husband - if he really loves you he will try to understand xxxx
sounds like ED-NOS which you dont fit into either diagnosis but you do have an eating disorder you should get help for it you important and what your doing is dangerious and can result in fatal consequences!
atemping to recover from AN and BN