[Bodiesneverfound]

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.

[kaliope]

you should go to the doctor for a full workup to see the damage you have done and whether it is reversible. you do not mention if you abused laxatives as well but my sister never bounced back after years of abuse to her body. her intestines could no longer function correctly again and she went thru many operations removing parts of them where food rotted inside of her because it could not digest on its own. she can barely eat solid food anymore. her systems are shutting down on her. she is not expected to live more than a couple more months from all the damage she caused. she is only 48. she hasn't been actively anorexic for over a dozen years. but she continued to have problems with her potassium levels and other things because of it. so please, go get checked out and take care of yourself before any more damage takes place.

[Bodiesneverfound]

Originally Posted by kaliope

you should go to the doctor for a full workup to see the damage you have done and whether it is reversible. you do not mention if you abused laxatives as well but my sister never bounced back after years of abuse to her body. her intestines could no longer function correctly again and she went thru many operations removing parts of them where food rotted inside of her because it could not digest on its own. she can barely eat solid food anymore. her systems are shutting down on her. she is not expected to live more than a couple more months from all the damage she caused. she is only 48. she hasn't been actively anorexic for over a dozen years. but she continued to have problems with her potassium levels and other things because of it. so please, go get checked out and take care of yourself before any more damage takes place.

Thanks! I've never taken laxatives because of my eating disorder but I did have some digestive issues that made me really sick for a while. It was pretty bad but I found out I have stomach ulcers and a pretty severe gluten allergy. Once I quit drinking so much coffee and alcohol the ulcers started feeling better but it's still not quite the same and I still have some IBS issues (gross, I know) from the gluten allergy if I come into contact with it. I have a thyroid disorder too and I'm due for some bloodwork next week. My doctor doesn't know I'm anorexic but I guess I should break down and mention it so maybe they can test some other things too if they think it's necessary. I'm eating again so it's a bit better but I still have dizzy spells and I'm fatigued all the time and I keep getting sprains and things like that when I work out and that isn't normal for me.

[Grey Matter]

Bring it up. Even if it's hard, bring it up. It took me a while to mention it to my doctor, and I have physical repercussions. I recently had my gallbladder removed because I lost weight so rapidly and it became full of stones. Bones take the biggest beating with anorexia I think, so it is important to mention any aches and pains.

[ar2004]

If your T has diagnosed you with anorexia maybe she would be willing to contact your doctor to let him or her know what is going on--with your permission of course. I would think that therapists and doctors often need to consult in order to provide the best care to their patients. If my T diagnoses me with an ED and wants me to go to my doctor for a physical or more tests, I will have to see if she will contact my doctor to explain. It was hard enough for me to bring up my eating problem to my T because I had never talked with anyone about it for the 15+ years I have struggled--and I don't feel ready to talk about it again right now with anyone else.

[Bodiesneverfound]

I chickened out and couldn't tell them when I went to the doctor. I'm a student and I go to the university health center so I don't really have a choice who I see and the doctor I'm assigned to made some rude comments about my scars from self injury so it's hard to bring it up with him. I can't switch doctors either unless I want to pay out of pocket and I don't have the money. I went in for a sinus infection on Saturday to their walk in clinic and saw someone else but didn't have the heart to mention it. I have to go to their orthopedist for my ankle next week so maybe I'll tell them or the women's clinic. I had been in denial about my eating problems for a while- I knew some people with anorexia and bulimia and always thought it as their issues not mine- but when I went for my annual women's exam they kept asking me if I had an eating disorder so I think they already know. I wasn't diagnosed yet but I ended up going to my therapist the next day and she told me I was anorexic. I don't know... maybe I'll go to the women's clinic because they were more sympathetic. It's embarrassing enough that I have all these obvious scars all over my body (they're literally everywhere so unless I wear pants and a turtleneck every day it's going to show and from some of them it's very obvious it was a suicide attempt not just self injury) so it's hard to admit that yes- I have an eating disorder too. I feel like a right mess right now.

[MisguidedGhosts]

I would go to the women's clinic. I only told my doctor about my ED because she is more sincere than most other people.Also if I were you I'd the to talk to someone at the University clinic about how rude that doctor was, He shouldn't be trying to make you Uncomfortable.

Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk

[bellasimon]

Originally Posted by Bodiesneverfound

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.

Hey you you should consult a Physical Therapist soon. It helps in optimal wellness and fitness and optimal quality of life as it relates to movement and health. I would suggest "Abate Injury Rehab",it is a rehabilitation center where you can reverse your body damage. Good luck.