[honeysalt]

*trigger warning: mention weight in numbers*

Some slight background: I've been struggling with anorexia since I was around 9 (a decade ago). It's been very up and down since then. Relevant diagnosed problems I have are BDD, OCD, and specific food related phobias.

I actually have been doing really well gaining weight as I am severely underweight, did gain a little weight, but still need to gain more. The problem now is that I have a stomach bug that is causing me to slip further into my habits and pushed my weight down again.

It's taken so long to even get to this point and I don't want to lose it all and start from scratch again. Even worse than that, I don't want to get sent away to IP again because I find that entire experience far more triggering than helpful.

I don't know what to do. Thank you for reading.

(((((hugs)))))

my first suggestion would be to see your doctor about the stomach bug just to check it's nothing serious

my second suggestion would be to try and eat small things- that won't cause too much upset

when i am ill like you described, i find soup helps.

and you can keep going like that until it's gone away

then you can eat as normal

post back here and let us know how things go for you.

[honeysalt]

Thank you SS it's so frustrating to finally be getting better and then get hit with this. I think I definitely will see my PC about being sick cos not only can they offer insight but I just realized I'll be less likely to be sent away if they know that I'm losing weight by mistake. Again, thank you

[eskielover]

I struggled with the same thing after getting out of the hospital with anorexia then got sick. One of my problems was that getting food back into my system causes diaherra....which caused me to get dehydrated then back in the medical hospital....but it was my GP that was treating the medical aspect of my anorexia at the time anyway...so its good to mske sure they know what is physically going on with you.

I found out something very interesting last fall when I was caring very closely foe 3 stalluon horses that had been starved/abused during the legal process that was going on against the owner. Refeeding them is much like refeeding us after loosing massive amounts of weight with anorexia. All of the stallions suffered from stomach ulcer pain after they were starting to eat better & gain weight. The vet said that the acid in the stomach produced to digest the hay was causing the ukcer pain. I had to treat them with a new medication that helped aid their digestion along with probiotics to balance the enzymes in their gut. These stallions so reminded me of what I had done to myself only in their case it was someone abusing them (realized that in reality I had abused myself)...but being so closely involved in their refeeding process gave me understanding of the struggles I went through physically not just psychologically with my own refeeding.

That is why its important for your GP to monitor you during this time also....as the body, not just the mind is struggling

[honeysalt]

Thank you eskielover I'm sorry you've had to go through that. That bit about the horses makes so much sense and is honestly really inspiring. I hope you've been doing well since then.

I'm going in to see my GP today actually, and at this point I'm feeling so weak and miserable that I'm willing to do whatever to get back into a more stable place (not like I was stable beforehand, eh? LOL) Wish you the best.

[eskielover]

Not eating when we arent sick makes us feel bad enough but when its a bug we have, that makes it even worse.

Have been doing very well since living alone & out of the bad marriage environment that triggered all my stress that triggered the anirexia. Finding the value of my life & being around wonderful people who I value & who vslue me has made ALL the difference.

[honeysalt]

Turned out to be food poisoning that was made much worse due to other physical conditions I already have. Ironic, huh? Finally was able to eat again and THAT happens.

[eskielover]

glad you found out why........food poisoning is tough.....when I get sick on a food, it's the last thing I ever want to eat again.

Hope you are feeling better now