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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Eating disorder or not?

139 replies

sometimescharlotte · 17/02/2020 00:35

Background: I went to the Urgent Treatment Centre on Friday because of severe stomach pain and vomiting. Had bloods and an ECG done. I am 30 (today!) and have one child (2) and have always been fairly slim.

The doctor who saw me was quite adamant that I must have an eating disorder (a lot of "you're not helping yourself and I think you know what I mean by that" comments to start with, but when pressed she was more specific). Apparently, in addition to my BMI being low, my bloods and ECG all showed things which would be consistent with an ED (low white cell count and "a little block" on the ECG). But I don't think I have one! I would admit that I don't particularly want to gain weight because I am now as I've always been, but I don't consciously restrict food or anything.

I've seen the discharge summary, which says "please follow up with this patient who seems to have an ED" and I'm now worried it is going to get messy... I'm also now questioning myself, like, do I have some kind of denial thing going on? I'm getting irrationally stressed about it, and perhaps that's because I suspect there subconsciously is something. Urgh...

OP posts:
EmeraldShamrock · 17/02/2020 18:27

@sometimescharlotte Good for you. It might be stress too. I go off food when stressed, as I've been through an ED I make a conscious decision to eat little and often even if I don't feel like it.

BloomedAgain · 17/02/2020 19:38

Good luck. I hope further investigations will also be done into your heart issues, you can find out whether they're reversible etc.

BIWI · 17/02/2020 20:21

Actually @sometimescharlotte, I'm more and more concerned that you have an ED - or at least a very dysfunctional view of what constitutes a healthy diet and healthy eating. Reading your other thread you talked about trying to eat healthily, and the first thing you said was giving up sugar and carbs. I'm the first one to say that a high carb diet isn't a great one, but it sounds to me like you were conflating 'healthy diet' with 'losing weight'.

Bluntness100 · 17/02/2020 21:00

I have read the other threads too, the symptoms you list are also symptoms of anorexia, which can then start to damage bowels, heart etc if prolonged and chronic.

I also noticed you posted the same menu on your other thread, on what you'd eaten as you did on this one, but days apart.

We can't diagnose you on here, the hospital doctor has stated their opinion, I hope you can be honest with your gp when you talk to them and you get the help you need and that whatever this is, is treated before your health deteriorates any further.

💐

Original poster
sometimescharlotte · 17/02/2020 21:02

No, really, I was just thinking about being healthier by cutting out sugary things / white bread etc. etc. Having more protein, whole grains... it wasn't about losing weight or cutting calories, just eating more nutritious things.

And I have to confess, it was a short-lived attempt...

OP posts:
LaserShark · 17/02/2020 21:05

The other thread sounds like you have some very scary symptoms, OP. I hope the appointment with the GP helps.

Original poster
sometimescharlotte · 17/02/2020 21:07

It is scary and... I don't know. I just want to understand. I feel like I don't get what's happening and it's getting me down, honestly.

OP posts:
TheyDoDoThat · 17/02/2020 21:09

You have a bmi of 16.2 but don’t want to gain weight. So you are intentionally keeping yourself dangerously underweight. This is a wake up call. You have an eating disorder.

WaitrosesCheapestVodka · 17/02/2020 21:17

Many ED units will only admit for BMI

WaitrosesCheapestVodka · 17/02/2020 21:17

Worth getting thryroid checked too

Darbs76 · 17/02/2020 21:18

You’re dangerously underweight - you have a child and they are right to be concerned due to the findings. If you know all that and still don’t want to gain weight then yes you do have an ED

BIWI · 17/02/2020 21:19

Actually, reading your other threads makes me very concerned for you. You have four threads about your health since the 4th February - one about your migraines, one wondering if you're losing your mind, one wondering if you're a hypochondriac, and this one.

There's clearly something very serious going on here, and it seems like you're looking for any answer other than the fact that you have an ED.

Please, please, please go to see your GP and allow them to treat you.

Original poster
sometimescharlotte · 17/02/2020 21:25

3 threads really - one was the same one accidentally twice. But something is not really right, no. And maybe it is an ED. I just don't know.

OP posts:
Topseyt · 17/02/2020 21:31

I hope that your telephone appointment with the GP goes well and you are given access to the help and assessments that you badly need.

We cannot say with certainty what is definitely wrong with you, but there are certainly a raft of red flags.

A lot of what you say is horribly familiar to me as I have had much of it from my DD, who is a diagnosed anorexic. So I would say that an eating disorder is a distinct possibility. It all needs to be properly investigated as your body is now showing signs of potentially serious harm due to inadequate nutrition.

The avoidance, almost fear, of things like bread and carbs, particularly if they are white, is something my DD has also talked about.

MrsSnitchnose · 17/02/2020 21:34

Eating disorder or not, you're clearly vastly undereating. I have just been looking at your other threads and those symptoms you have, plus your recent test results shoul really be the wake up call for you to fix your diet. I'd be interested as to what your hair is like too, that can be one of the first things to show the signs of malnutrition

BrigidSt · 17/02/2020 21:35

Why a telephone appointment, was that the only, soonest availabilty or are you avoiding being seen? Don't you think this would be better talked about face to face, with a GP? Get yourself booked in properly, asap.

ClientQueen · 17/02/2020 21:38

Neutrophils being low can be a variety of things - 1.2 is low but not horrendously, they may repeat the bloods or send you to haematology. I'm neutropenic and mine range from 0.3-0.9 usually, the standard range is 2-8

stayingontherail · 17/02/2020 21:44

Have you tried MyFitnessPal just to track what you currently eating? it might show up when you are actually under eating so you can get a better idea of when you need to up your calories.

InescapableDeath · 17/02/2020 21:50

‘Worrying’ about eating healthy food and avoiding sugar and carbs will do you no good. You already eat ‘healthy’ stuff - you could actually do with some fats and carbs (sugars up to you)

Original poster
sometimescharlotte · 17/02/2020 21:54

I just took the telephone because there was a three week wait for a face to face. It might be possible after the TC that they can fit me in sooner. I don't know.

My hair is fine, actually. No hair loss, split ends or anything. But I had about 3 inches cut off recently so it might be that it is just healthier because of that?

OP posts:
reallyjustreally · 17/02/2020 21:54

OP, I’m assuming you’re also AntoniaForestFan as that user name posted after your OP on another of your threads as if it were the OP. In which case you need help as AFF was also the first poster on another of your health threads and you told yourself to see a doctor. AFF has also just posted about a miscarriage. I mean this nicely but you need more help than you’ll get on an Internet forum.

Topseyt · 17/02/2020 21:57

MyFitnessPal and similar apps are not always a good idea for people with potential eating disorders as they can be too easily misused.

My DD was using MyFitnessPal to ensure she under-ate and continued to lose weight at the height of her illness. It all came out in the therapy sessions so I took her phone and ensured it was deleted, with assurances from her that she would not reinstall it. So far, so good and she hasn't.

I'd be wary of recommending it here, to be honest.

WwfLeopard · 17/02/2020 21:59

Do you still get regular periods? Mine disappear at about a stone more than you weigh now, and I’m shorter than you.
Do you feel dizzy, tired and cold? Got problems with your blood pressure? If so you should get tested for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, that can make weight gain difficult.

BIWI · 17/02/2020 22:01

Are you really also AntoniaForestFan?

fastliving · 17/02/2020 22:20

Ex - Ed sufferer here.
I've been very underweight, eg not being able to give blood as weight was too low etc, but now am a healthy/normal weight size 10.
I have also been over-weight some of my life, up to size 18.

I can always tell when I am over-weight, and obviously when I weigh myself I can see I am overweight, but when I am under-weight I genuinely don't see it. People comment on it and I have no idea what they are talking about. I can see the scales show I am a 'good' eg low weight, but I always think I should go lower.

Luckily the older I get the less I can be bothered with dieting/restricting food and I have maintained and lowish but healthy BMI for a few years - but I am still amazed how I couldn't see how under-weight I was when I look back at old photos etc. I did know I had an eating disorder, but I didn't have a clue how under-weight I was.

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