Should I???

[LeeMarie]

Just got back from therapy. I absolutely love my therapist. She's recommended a psychiatrist for me to see so he can prescribe medicine to help with my anorexia. I don't know if I want to do this. I'm not ready to give it up I think. How will I cope with all the turmoil in my life? I know I need to do something; but I'm scared of taking any kind of medicine that will alter me. I want to be my old self again, and I'm afraid I can't do that with whatever he will prescribe. She told me to think about it and we'll talk again about it next week. I trust her as much as I can trust anyone, so why can't I just say yes? She said this doctor deals with ED's - it's what he specializes in. Just thinking out loud, but any advice would be appreciated. Thanks all. - Lee

[Topcat]

Do you know what the medicine is that they want to prescribe? I think consider it, but, find out everything you can about the drug, success rates, side effects, how it works & what it does. Then at least you will feel informed enough to make a decision. If you're still not happy about taking it, ask for what other options are available to you.

My doctor put me on antidepressants/anxiety meds as he felt my problem was all related to anxiety. And yes, the meds have helped my anxiety, but they didn't 'fix' me. In fact, I'm not sure about taking them any more as they come with their own set of problems. I just don't know what's worse at the mo.

I don't know how a drug can help eating disorders when they (in my opinion) seem to be an addiction problem.

Me xxx

[tentgirl]

Hiya

I don't know about the US but, in the UK, we have an organisation called NICE (stands for National Institute for Clinical Excellence - I think) and they say that medication isn't recommended for anorexia whereas, for bulimia, anti-depressants are recommended.

My own concern, if I was in your situation about being offered meds, is that appetite stimulants don't deal with the psychological basis of anorexia and, for me, would make me worry about feeling like I am out of control if I wasn't ready to accept my body calling out for more food. Perhaps coupled with psychiatric input they may help.

Not sure if me saying the above helps but it's just my take on it.

Hugs
Xx

[LeeMarie]

Thanks for replying. My therapist doesn't know what type of medicine, as she cannot prescribe. I would have to meet the doc first. She thinks it could be about chemical imbalance in the brain. I know I've heard of ED patients going on antidepressants and that was my first thought. It makes me sick to think that I'd have to talk to someone else about all my issues. It's embarrassing to talk about all my weird food rituals and fixations. My therapist understands and never judges or tells me how bad it is. After all, we already know it's bad for us that's why we want to get better. I also know the underlying reason I need to control my food intake. It's a long story that is mentally exhausting to tell. - Lee

[LeeMarie]

Well, after doing the research, it seems there are no meds that will help with anorexia. Not sure what to do. I guess have another talk with my therapist now that I'm more informed.

[tentgirl]

That's what i suspected from the UK's official guidelines about treating anorexia. Are you okay? Don't know how much you were pinning your hope on this. Hugs x

Xx

[LeeMarie]

I was hoping to get my head on straight in order to be able to eat normally again. I'm tired of being tired. I'm tired of explaining to people my weight loss - people are beginning to not believe the "I've been working out extra hard" line. I'm tired of having to fight to focus when I'm at work, due to low nutrition. I'm tired of counting every calorie that goes into my mouth and then spitting it out much of the time. I'm just tired. Thanks for caring Sarah; I know you are going through your own struggles. Peace, Lee

[tentgirl]

Maintaining the 'Yeah, I am okay, just working out' line can be so exhausting. A few months ago, tired of lying and keeping up this pretence, I started answering people's questions about my weight loss with 'I just haven't been well recently' and all I have had from people is love and support. Not one person asked what was wrong or wanted to pry but just said they were sorry to hear that. For me, it took off the pressure cos people can pretty much see that I am not well by looking at me.

Hun, I really get about how tiring it is. I was telling my psychiatric nurse last week that I feel stuck and trapped and that this is going to be my future. So I have some insight about your tiredness with the calories etc. I would love to go out for meal with my girlfriends but I can't. We've just had to cancel our family holiday because of me and I can't tell you how bad I feel but I know that I wouldn't have coped so, for this year, it was the right decision. Recovery is hard to imagine or even a period of being well but from somewhere within ourselves we have to figure what the true nature of this anorexia beast is really about. It's not the food. It's not the calories but something far more profound. I guess only then we can really recover. In the meantime, more than happy to support you. Hugs Xx

[LeeMarie]

You're so brave Sarah. I think that if I told people I hadn't been well recently, they'd be looking at me all the time. Or, people would just feel awkward around me. I'm feeling particularly upset and distraught this week. I'm in work and want to go home and put on my comfortable clothes. I decided to wear pants that actually fit me today. I thought that if my clothes weren't too big, people wouldn't bug me about being too thin. Totally backfired--people still notice the weight loss and I'm very uncomfortable. I don't like clothes that fit because they're too close to my body (weird, I know). I feel fat and bloated and it's very hard to eat anything when you feel that way. Seems as though there're a lot of people on this thread in distraught moods. Maybe there's a full moon or something? - Lee

[tentgirl]

Hope you're home now from work and feeling better. It can be very tough when at work (or anywhere I guess) if you feel trapped and just yearning to be home. I often have a desire to teleport! For me, being happy is home in pjs!

I had the same thoughts about people looking at me differently and constantly if I admitted to being ill. But i guess they'd look at me anyway. In many ways, people have backed off with the questioning. My face can look very gaunt so it can be frustrating when any type of clothing won't conceal my weight loss. I feel constantly watched but I've been so surprised when I've told a selected few people about the anorexia that they too have had MH stuff. Actually some friendships have been developed at a deeper level and I really value it. Even recently-made friends who look so capable and confident. Friends are gonna worry about me whatever and I can't really control that.

Mmm- does seem to be lots of people struggling. The Olympics gives me a chance to curl up on the sofa, lap up at brilliant atmosphere and give my body the rest it really needs right now.

Here if you need me hun Xx