[inkblot]

I've been reading about ED's again, as I usually do after a period of not eating and then start to eat more again. My chest hurts only during the phases when I don't eat, and will continue for a little while once I start again. During these times when I am more susceptable to chest pain is also when I have muscle pains and cramps. Once I start to eat more again, the muscle cramps start to fade after a few days, but I will continue to have other pains for longer.

This time around, my leg cramps are doing better--but still there--after more than a few days. I have been eating more for close to a week. It hasn't been perfect meals, but more like junk food calories and minimal meals. My other muscle pains are still affecting me, especially giving me trouble walking down the stairs, and a little with doing other things. The frequency of my chest pains has improved, but again I still have them. I have chondromalacia and arthritis in my knees, so I've had trouble walking down steps before. This other pain in a little higher though, in my thigh. I can't help but to think that my eating habits have caused increased muscle damage. My orthopedic doctor told me that I was high-risk for developing chondromalacia because of something the way my leg bones are aligned. I bet my eating habits have caused the damage to progress more rapidly. I've had pain in my knees for two years. The pain in my thigh has been for about eight or nine months, noticing it most around my non-eating phases.

Since I have a lot of muscle pains and leg cramps when I don't eat, I am assuming that my chest pains are probably and most likely the heart muscle causing pain, too. It makes sense.

It's scary to think that I could have these eating habits for so long and no one (physicians) has even noticed or ever thought to ask about how I eat or if I skip meals, etc. I am in my early 30's now. I already have arthritis. The doctor never bothered to look for it early on because I was so young, he never expected it.

I've hinted to doctors about my eating habits. I'd tell them something like, "I don't really eat the greatest" or something similar to give them a clue. You'd think--a clue! Guess not. They always shrug shoulders and think nothing about it. Does that have something to say for our society's value of nutrution? It's true, many in our society really don't bother to eat well, balanced meals. Many even skip breakfast--including doctors. My old doctor admitted that he regularly skipped breakfast--I loved it! I thought there we go, there's one more piece of information to my benefit--if he can do it, so can I!

I still don't know my own outcome and if I want to change or continue with fluctuating habits and eat how I like. I don't want to damage my heart or anything though. It's going to be tough. Last weekend I thought it would be "fun" to pop a pill to speed up the colon a bit. It seemed so automatic, like something normal. Other times like a couple days ago, I had the thought about it but nothing urging me to do it. It wasn't like a happy, automatic "fun" response. I still think about it. I have no strong desire to follow through. I know that I need a break from things like that. I'm almost looking forward to that appointment with my kid's psych. I was unsure before, but I think that I am warming up to it. I wonder what he'll say and ask?

[inkblot]

You know what else the doctors missed? My blood pressures are always low. They think I have a wonderful, fantastic blood pressure at 94/60. I used to work in healthcare, so yes that would be considered a good blood pressure, but it is low. I wouldn't call it that wonderful of a pressure because it is so low, and any lower it would be more cause for concern. Rare occasions when I am at the doctors and have been eating well, my pressure could be 120/68. Still normal. Also, they never seem to have noticed the fluctuating weights. I once dropped 15 pounds in three months, and they never noticed. Do you think I have a lot of confidence in the today's healthcare system?

[Rapunzel]

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Inkblot}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Here's another friendly nudge coming your way. Doctors are human, and they can help you best if you tell them what is wrong. They can't read your mind. The healthcare system definitely has its shortcomings, but the way it works best is when we are active participants and advocate for our own best health outcomes. Got it?

(((((((((((hugs))))))))))))

<font color=orange>"If we are going to insist that people pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, we must ensure that they have boots."</font color=orange>

[inkblot]

True, but doctors also need to, shall we say, take time to smell the roses? They rush through everything, there's no time for them to be thorough. They have a quota of so many patients per hour. It's difficult for them, in turn making each appointment less productive. Then tend to stay focused on one matter at a time because of this. What happened to the days of "Doc Baker" from the TV show Little House? I used to have a doctor like that. He's gone now, and I miss his ways in my current doctors. I have a lot of admiration and respect for doctors. Beauracracy(sp?) is taking control of their and our lives, though, and really raising some H for everyone. Plus, they are overworked and underpaid. Really! Have you ever examined the costs of being a doctor these days? Okay, I'll get off the podium now.

[Rapunzel]

You're right. Doctors are overworked, and they have incredible operating expenses. And they should take more time to talk to you and get to know you and understand your concerns. Still, all this is one more reason why you have to be your own advocate, and tell them what is going on with you, not drop clues and expect them to guess. You need to do your part because if you don't, you're not going to get the best care.

<font color=orange>"If we are going to insist that people pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, we must ensure that they have boots."</font color=orange>

[mj14]

ink, my blood pressure tends to be low, too, but just like you, I've noticed that doctors think that the lower the better when it comes to blood pressure. I read all of these studies that have found people with low blood pressure have higher rates of depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, even suicide. But when you go to your doctor, all they say is, "isn't it great that you have such low blood pressure!"

I can't really offer any helpful suggestions, but just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in your experience with doctors.

*hugs*
Jo