[sugahorse1]

Just to clarify from the onset- I do NOT have an eating disorder of any kind.

I eat just a little less than my bf, which I consider acceptable. I eat until I'm full, and often this also includes 'junk' food. Like McDonald's, crisps, fatty meat... And then I eat my fair share of veggies too.

Well, I'm 25, about 1.67m (5'7) and now weight about 50.5kg. I believe 52 is acceptable, so this would classify me as underweight.
I don't exercise more than ride my horse twice a week. I'm not a sickly person either, so I don't consider myself to have a weak immune system.
I've pretty much lost 5kg in 5 months. I don't know what could be going on, or even where to start looking for a cause

[salukigirl]

I think thats about 110 lbs? (living in the last country to not convert to metric lol). That is pretty darn skinny. I'm only 2 inches taller than you and about 45 lbs heavier. Then again I'm sure we have completely different builds. I know, for me, 5'9'' and 150-155 lbs is right where I need to be. I'm sure 5'7'' is probably 135-145 lbs or around that area. So yes, you are considered underweight. But it's all about how you feel.

You say you are 25 and have lost 11 lbs in 5 months without any additional exercise or diet? That is the part that worries me. Have you noticed any other symptoms recently? Particularly I'm wondering if you have been more thirsty than before. More fatigue? Depending on if you have other symptoms, I would start thinking about thyroid issues.

You also mentioned you eat a lot of fast food and fatty meats? I'm assuming crisps are chips lol..... if you are deficient in a vitamin or mineral that is essential to your body, you could be a little malnourished. People who eat crappy foods a lot can still be malnourished. Do you take any multi-vitamins or anything like that?

I would go to your doc, tell them you are worried about your weight loss and see what they say. I would also ask them to do a full blood work up. They will most likely want to test your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and maybe go from there. But I would also ask them to test your B12 levels, Vitamin D and everything else. If it is an issue like that, especially B12, it can escalate quickly. I know a B12 deficiency can cause seizures and all kinds of stuff.

Good luck and keep us posted!

[sugahorse1]

Thanks!
About 1.5 years ago they did do a full blood test, but maybe it's time to go again. I take vitamins every now and again- Vit B, Vit C and Iron. This morning I felt very tired, so I took a super strong multivitamin.
I don't drink a lot of water. Never have, and not now either. I know it's not healthy.
Crisps are chips, lol. We actually call them chips here too. Supper is my healthy meal of the day, with some kind of meat, veggies and usually potato.
I don't mind having a great, flat stomach, but it's the numbers - height and weight combo - that worry me.
And I'm often tired. But have been that way for years.
I know Wellbutrin is weight neutral. This really started worrying me about 8 months ago, when I started the Lamictin.
Not sure what else to really add. My back has started to hurt me-assume it's tension, and I don't do it any favours by clicking it into place myself-twice a day or so.

[Perna]

The Mayo Clinic says you should be eating 1750 calories to maintain your current weight; doesn't sound like you are eating that much? I would log in what you are eating for a week or two and see if you are getting enough calories.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cal...ulator/NU00598

[salukigirl]

I lost 10 lbs in the first 2 months when I started Lamictal (same drug as Lamictin...just different name). I told my neuro and he said it's very common to lose weight when you first start any form of lamotrigine.

You should be taking vitamins on Lamictal anyways. I went out and got a pre-natal. I was always really tired and could take a nap everyday after class. Turns out I was having seizures in my sleep and not getting a good nights sleep ever. Got on lamictal AND started taking a pre-natal. This has all the vitamins and minerals you need. My neuro told me to take it simply bc I'm sexually active and at child bearing age. He said I need to even though i'm on birth control bc if I were to accidentally get pregnant, lamictal could cause severe birth defects.

I suggest going out and getting a pre-nata vitamin. You really should drink more water. I don't generally like drinking just water but, if you have a craving for salty foods, that's an indication that you are dehydrated.

I agree with Perna in keeping a food diary. It helps you be more conscious about what you're eating throughout the day. My bf was complaining about not losing weight so he started keeping a food diary and realized that he was eating without realizing it. You could use this in the opposite way. After a couple days of writing and you realize "man, I go hours and hours without eating" you could shove a little snack in there but not something that will fill you up too much since you are already concerned with being underweight. Try something NOT filling. I can't believe I'm advising someone to eat empty calories! haha

[eskielover]

Meds can be a huge factor in weight loss. I ended up dealing with anorexia when I was on prozac then wellbutrin. Stress in the first place always made me loose weight & then the added meds & the fact that I really didn't care about living....my weight got so low, I kept ending up in the hospital having to have a central line & IV nutrition because of the anemia & passing out that kept happening. Landed in an eating disorders treatment center which really didn't help because that wasn't really where I was coming from with the problem. My weight loss ended up very low, but then I am much smaller than you to start with.....being only 5'1"ish & started at a healthy lower weight when I was working & playing racquettball every day.

If your meds are working, then I would say, it's a lot easier to eat more to compensate for the weight loss than when you are on meds that cause weight gain even when only eating a small amount to start with.

It's important to have your medical Dr make sure that nothing is out of whack that might be caused by the meds either....if you have more than just the meds causing the weight loss, then it's important to make changes there.

Pre-natal vits are the best because they are mfg'ed with better quality vitamines.....so my Dr told me when other vitamines I took made me so sick. When I graduated from college, started my career, & had just had my daughter, my Mother thought she would do me a favor & buy me vitamines to take. I would take them & end up so sick by noon, & I knew it wasn't morning sickness.....so it had to be the vits.....that was when my doc told me that the pre-natal vits were better made because the ones I took never bothered me when I was pregnant.

Water is important to be constantly drinking. When I got really stressed 6 years ago, I was so sick, I couldn't even keep water down let alone food.....it wasn't meds that time that caused the weight loss, but going through a trauma & all the stress involved trying to deal with my mother dying of cancer. Landed in the hospital for about a month again & because of the anemia, ended up having to have a central line & IV nutrition because I couldn't eat or drink without getting really sick....so I couldn't even force food down.

If you really have no problem eating.....then it's just a good idea to up your calories & eat more food to counter the effects of the meds......while getting your Dr to make sure there is nothing else that is causing the weight loss.

Wow, how many people would love to have the problem of having to eat & having to gain some weight while being ok with it. I have to admit that I have a touch of the anorexia thing going on because I also don't want to gain much weight & there is a certain lower weight that I really feel better at even though I have gained a bit over that now.....& I will end up not eating for days....sometimes because I just don't want to bother cooking & don't have the money to go out to eat....sometimes because I don't think about eating until I get really hungry which doesn't happen all that often. Eating one meal a day isn't healthy & really doesn't provide the amount of calories needed to gain enough weight to be at a safe weight. It really takes at least 2 well balanced meals a day & 3 meals a day is really the only way to get yourself to the healthy weight for your height. Eating junk food can cause weight gain (I was eating oatmeal cookies when I was at a really low weight as they were the only bland food I could tolerate).....but it's not a healthy weight gain.....much better to be healthy & gain the weight in a healthy way because the junk food can actually send the weight in the other direction & end up overweight in the long run with mostly eating junk food.

Finding a nutritionist might be very helpful in getting your weight back to a healthy level.

Hoping that you will be able to get this under control.....would really hate for you to end up in the hospital like I ended up......can honestly say....it's NOT a good thing & definitely not a fun vacation getting poked with needles all the time IV fluids & IV nutrition is no way to get healthy.

[lynn P.]

I think you're slightly underweight sugahorse. I've always been slim - I'm 5'6 inches and weigh 118 lbs. When I was in my late teens I weighed 100lbs. not by choice or trying. I ate a lot - 3 meals plus snacks in between....I just had a fast metabolism.

I even wished I could gain weight then and used to get called Lynn the pin. Occasionally I would feel weak and I still can't miss a meal. If you lost weight and don't know why, I suggest you get a thorough blood testing done, especially your thyroid and iron levels. Make sure you eat 3 healthy meals plus good snacks in between meals. Now I'm very happy with my weight and don't have to try so hard to keep the weight on - think my metabolism is slowing down. From your picture it's looks like you have a similar bone and body structure as me. It's all in how you feel - if you're eating healthy but slightly underweight then you're fine.

[sugahorse1]

Thank you all.
An example- today I had a large slice of pizza, will have some mini corn with cream cheese just now; possibly a plum too, and tonight probably pork chops with mash and veg. Don't think that's too bad. Only had about 200ml water and 2 cups of tea.
That's a typical day eating-wise for me.
I have quite a slender bone structure.
Down to about 101 pounds this AM. Worried about needing so much sleep too. I don't get all the sleep I need, and then I take strain. Have been taking a strong multi-vit, especially the last few days. Vitamin B's are all about 10 x RDA.

When I am stressed, I do eat a little less, because I genuinely have no appetite. Right now I'm very stressed, but managing to eat.

When did you start going to hospital? Did you literally pass out? I'd like to avoid that, thanks

[eskielover]

To be quite honest, when I get to 101, I know I'm headed for trouble even though 105 is mu best weight....it just puts me at a safe weight for my 5'2 size.......

I understand your stress feeling taking you down that low. At least you are eating however.....when my stress hit, I wasn't able to eat at all & drinking was almost nothing which was why I got stuck in the hospital.....but even with your eating....know it's got to be hard to eat, but maybe you could focus on fatening foods. I remember when I was a kid & had weight problems from being sick or whatever, my mom would make sure the chocolate shakes were contantly on my diet along with anything else healthy & fatening....just to get the calories on & keep the weight from going too low.

[salukigirl]

sugahorse - unfortunately, ER nurses will not give medical advice on whether you should go in or not. If you want actual medical advice on if/when you should go to the hospital, try calling the main office at a hospital and asking who is on call that could explain what you need to do. Do you have a GP you could call to ask? I'm not sure how the process works in the UK but that's how it is here. I don't know if you are a college student or not.....also here on campus we have access to counselors and medical advice for free. Or there might be a clinic that would be able to direct you to what you need to do.

[sugahorse1]

I have no real idea how things work here in South Africa. I have a T I see weekly, and she'd pick up something first. From there I'd prob go to my GP, and I am assuming he'd be the one to decide if I need further medical intervention. I guess that if I had fainted, was pale and weak, my bf could take me to hospital to be admitted.
Right now I think I'm still going fine

[shezbut]

Great thread, sugahorse!

It's important that people realize that being skinny isn't always the greatest thing. Really important!

I have always been thin myself, and have run into troubles a few times. I am 5'5" and weigh 110 pounds. My doctor says that I am very slim already and cannot lose any more weight. The result has been a nurse checking on me weekly, to be sure I am okay (emotionally & physically). I was put on Boost drinks for about a month when my weight went down to 100. I also had to push myself to eat 3 meals per day.

I have always been a water drinker, which is a wonderful thing (at least I've got that one on my "good list"! ). Having a history in both healthcare and maternity, I do know that 200 mL of water per day is very low. Caffeine is known to deplete the body of fluid as well ~ which is a double whammy for LOTS of people! I know that it sounds like a lot, but I'd highly recommend that you push yourself to drink more water daily. 800 mL - 1000 mL of water per day is what's recommended that adults drink. Drinking 150 mL - 200 mL of milk daily is also helpful with protecting bones from fractures and breaks as we (women) age. Boost also has calcium and lots of other vitamins, which I drank twice per day. It is expensive, unfortunately, but it is very helpful at re-building the body healthily.

Another tip: eat snacks every couple of hours. Doesn't have to be big, or loaded with calories. ie; celery sticks with peanut butter and a Boost. Or an apple, cheese with crackers and a Boost.

You really don't want to be fainting due to low calories and fluid intake. It's not fun (or easy) being IV fed in that state. the nurses have a heck of a time finding arteries when we're that low! I speak with experience on this one, trust me!

Best wishes to you!

[sugahorse1]

Thanks Shezbut. Got up to 104 pounds yesterday.
And then will fluctuate back down to 101 at some stage shortly. It's crazy how much my weight fluctuates. Ate a LOT today, and hoping that will help.
Not much change on the water intake side of things, but need to make it a priority

[theperfectpearls]

Yep, we're in the same boat.

Mine is due to medication I'm on, which not only gives me no appetite, but improves my concentration so much that I get wrapped up in what I'm doing and actually forget it's time to eat.

I was at 120 pounds a year ago, and I did not notice the first 10 pounds I lost. But the next 10, yeah--I knew something didn't feel right. I slept 14 hours a day, I wasn't hungry, etc. You just know when something doesn't feel right. It turns out it IS my medicine causing this, but right now I don't have any backup options where I can just stop taking it.

They're right--you do just have to eat more, and more often, when you can manage it. So do I. It's still you in there, just a more careful you. In general though, as a rule of thumb, trust what your body is saying. You know when it's a problem and when you need to change course. Hang in there!

[sugahorse1]

Think it could be my Wellbutrin and/or Lamictin