I need info from people with eating disorders!?!
Question: Here's the problem, I think I've developed/or am developing an eating disorder, I've had VERY little amount of food in the 8-9 days, and I havn't even eaten in the last 33 hours.
Did you ever get sick when you first developed this? I've had chronic coughing in the last 5 days, I'm thinking its just a flu or cold, but can it also be because I'm not eating?
Answers: Here's the problem, I think I've developed/or am developing an eating disorder, I've had VERY little amount of food in the 8-9 days, and I havn't even eaten in the last 33 hours.
Did you ever get sick when you first developed this? I've had chronic coughing in the last 5 days, I'm thinking its just a flu or cold, but can it also be because I'm not eating?
There's a reason for why eating disorders are considered as very serious mental diseases. If it weren't for the fact that food is vital to live, it would more have been characterized as a choice or lifestyle. However, food is vital to live, and trying to avoid eating, purging and even overexercising may cause tremendous damage to your body, both physically and mentally.
If you start losing weight in a speed that's not healthy for you, or become underweight you will become sick. It is only a matter of time. Malnutrition will in the first place cause a weakened immune system (which may cause several diseases), loss of menstruation (for women), headaches, stomach pain, tiredness, loss of concentration, temporarily stop of growth, anxiety, dry skin, loss of strength and muscles, sunken eyes, poor blood circulation, thinning of hair and decreased metabolism (to mention some), but if the malnutrition continues, this may evolve into being permanent health issues. If you're underweight over time, you may also stop your growth and puberty, become sterile (unable to get children), develop migraine and get bone problems in young age, to take some examples of the permanent health issues that may occur. Extreme underweight may also cause the same health issues and also organ failure and other life threatening health issues that may be hard to heal. It is difficult to know when the different health issues will occur.
It's not good that you keep coughing, it may be a result of a flu your immune system currently have a hard time to handle due to the lack of nutritions. Your immune system works in a way that it often fight "harmless" diseases before they can make you sick, but with a weakened immune system you will get sick more often, and the harmless diseases like flue, will take longer time to heal. It's of course not unusual to get a flue once in a while, even with a healthy immune system, so there is a chance you would have developed it anyway, but your body will now have a harder time handling it.
If you're doing a sport, it will also definately affect your performance, and it may take a long time before you get back to the same level, and in the worst cases your sport career may be ruined as a result of the malnutrition.
If you don't think you can manage to get back on track by yourself, and get a healthy relationship to food, which means eating normal and regularly, I strongly recommend you to seek professional help. Even you feel you got control (though it definately doesn't seem like you do), I would spoke to a doctor.
Hope you get better and good luck:)
I think it is a cold or flu too, but you have weakened your entire body by not eating. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can result in eating disorders. You may want to check this out.
Consider eating some protein - now. Canned tuna is quickest, canned salmon is even better. A bit of fruit and some nuts like peanuts or almonds make a balanced meal that won't send your blood sugar up too high. Try for a snack in between meals too.
When you are not eating your ammune system becomes very low and you will catch almost any sickness you come into contact with.
Please go and see you doctor asap. This is not good for you, you are in great risk of having a heart attack (no joke) I suffer from an eating disorder and am getting help.
Good Luck
Not eating can affect your immune system...so it can be a cold or flu that you otherwise would have been able to resist.
If you feel like you may be developing an eating disorder, get help NOW. Eating disorders are much easier to treat before they become entrenched. Once the ED really becomes a way of life....it's hell. I know. I'm recovered now for many years but I still shudder when I think about it.
Since your avatar has identified you as male, I'll assume you're not pregnant. Not eating has weakened your immune system a bit, nothing that a can of soup and some vitamin c won't help. It's probably just a cold-flu would put you off far worse.
If you makes you sick to look at food- try drinking vitamin drinks and juices especially those high in vitamin c. Try finding juices that are 100% juice, not just watered down high fructose corn syrup.
Your loss of appetite could also be the symptom of an illness, like the start of your flu or cold. This is common. If you're really worried about it, go see a doctor, but keep in mind fluids at this point are very important.
Hope you feel better :)