I'm sort of new at this so I'm not sure where to start or what to expect. I've struggled on and off with anorexia for a few years but never really thought it was much of a problem for me- I was more concerned with other things at the time like my self injury, drug use, past trauma, mood and anxiety issues and I've also always been able to hide it really well. I had to go on an all liquid diet after jaw surgery, I have a gluten allergy and I have a thyroid condition so that's all made it possible for me to hide it from other people, even my doctors. But it eventually got to the point where I couldn't hide it anymore and I started having medical issues.
I was dizzy every time I sat up or stood, had more than a few incidents where I'd start to pass out in public, my periods got irregular and I had to go to the doctor for that, I started getting heart palpitations and circulation issues. I love to work out and have been doing power yoga and karate for at least an hour every day for the last six years and it's the only thing that's managed to keep my anxiety at bay (I used to have panic disorder and I still have PTSD). My wake up call was when I realized my eating was making me incapable of performing my workouts anymore- I was just too weak and the fear of passing out in public at a yoga class got to be too much for me. I started eating again but I'm still underweight and struggling.
I was wondering if these physical symptoms are normal, when they'll go away and if I should talk to my doctor about it. I've talked with my therapist but she doesn't know anything about the medical side of it. Something else I'm concerned about too is my bones/joints. I go to metal and punk shows all the time and I love to mosh. I've been going to shows for years and never sustained any injuries besides the occasional bruise or ripped out earring but the last two shows I went to I ended up spraining my thumb and my ankle. I got the thumb xrayed and it wasn't broken so that was good but it never fully went back to normal and it's been two months. Also I haven't gotten my ankle checked out yet but it's been bothering me for about a month now. I just don't seem to be healing.
I know anorexia can cause bone problems but can it cause joint problems or make you heal more slowly after injuries? My therapist brought it up and suggested I might be deficient in certain vitamins or something and that could be affecting me negatively. I know my body very well and it just isn't normal for me to heal so slowly. Does this happen a lot? And the weird thing is I'm eating again too- I have been for a few months and I've gained a little of my weight back. How long does it take to reverse the damage I've done to my body? Should I be worried? Thanks- this is all so new to me.