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AIBU?

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Original poster

To admit I have a problem (please help)

153 replies

Mangolatte · 16/07/2022 00:42

Any advice would be really appreciated!! I’ve given myself a bad habit so posting in case anyone knows of any advice to stop it and get back to normal.

I recently ended up in hospital with a bad ibs flare up. Tried fodmap and all the elimination stuff already. I stopped eating completely (7+ days with no food) because I was desperate to stop the cramps and diarrhoea and I realised by fasting I could control and even stop the IBS. All the staff in hospital were really nice to me but they were saying I needed to eat but I really didn’t want to and i promised them I would start eating normally again when I was discharged and in the safety of my own home.

Once I was discharged, I started eating again. But then I started having ibs symptoms again and I remembered when fasting stopped it, so I did it again. Then when the IBS stopped I started eating again. Ive been doing this eating-fasting back and forth thing ever since then. Sometimes I eat normally and I’m fine, then other days I don’t eat or I only eat 500 calories.

At first I started the fasting thing just to stop the IBS symptoms, but then I realised I had lost weight with it and it felt so good. Not only was I not having cramps and diarrhoea but I also lost weight which obviously I was happy about. The weird thing is I was fine with my weight before it all started and it wasn’t actually what made me fast in the first place, but once I saw I had lost weight I felt like it was an ever bigger boost. My BMI was about 20 before and now it’s probably 18.5-19 so I know I’m not fat, but I felt happier being skinnier.

Just to be clear, I don’t fast or calorie count everyday. I do eat normally sometimes and I’m fine healthwise. But I’m definitely doing it more and more now, and if I’m being totally honest it’s sometimes on days where I feel fat rather than just to control the IBS symptoms. Even on days where I don’t calorie restrict, I’m always counting the calories and I’m always checking the numbers now. I don’t have an eating disorder but I feel like I’ve given myself a bad relationship with food, which is what I was warned about happening in the hospital and I was so sure wouldn’t happen. I thought I had it all sorted and I had finally fixed my IBS by doing this fast/calorie restrict thing, but all I’ve done is get myself addicted to losing weight in the process.

When I was in hospital I fasted for too long and ended up having to drink glucose because I wasn’t well, so I wouldn’t fast that long again as I know it’s unhealthy, but I want to stop the habit altogether.

I don’t want to waste my GPs or parents/friends time with this because it’s not serious and I’m 23 so I’m old enough to sort it myself, but I want to kick this bad habit before I lose more weight or get more addicted and start doing it more often. Does anyone have any advice on how I can get back to normal again?

Thanks💓

OP posts:
Quincythequince · 16/07/2022 00:45

This reply has been deleted

Not in the spirit

BethAfra · 16/07/2022 00:53

You won't be wasting anybody's time. As pp says, seek professional help. The main thing I picked up from your post is denial.

TimeForTeaAndG · 16/07/2022 00:53

You might not have an Eating Disorder but this is definitely disordered eating.

I would try to see a nutritionist, someone who can help identify triggers for your symptoms, a specific intolerance.

Is there any food that doesn't cause the symptoms that you could eat in the meantime. Probiotics? Plain chicken and salad?

user1477249785 · 16/07/2022 01:17

This reply has been deleted

Not in the spirit

Goodness - did you have an empathy bypass?

OP this sounds really tough. You honestly wouldn't be wasting a GPS time to talk to them about it. If you don't, at best you risk this turning into an eating disorder. They will want to help you. You need two things: a strategy for a more healthy relationship with food and a plan to manage your IBS. Both are medical issues which your gp can help with.

Good luck and hope you get the help you need. Posting here is a great first step.

Goingforarun · 16/07/2022 01:48

you Have found a way to control your IBS - that’s brilliant but I agree with you- I don’t think you’ll be wasting a gp’s time. You are 90% there - take professional advice and soon you’ll sort the last 10%

Quincythequince · 16/07/2022 01:51

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Quincythequince · 16/07/2022 01:53

And to PP, posting here is an understandable
first step.

NoSquirrels · 16/07/2022 01:54

You’re minimising the seriousness of this. I’d dispute that you don’t have an eating disorder - you need to see a GP as soon as you can and tell them what you’ve written here, that you’re restricting your food intake because you’ve become psychologically addicted to losing weight. You need specialist help for disordered eating. Don’t minimise this. Don’t be ashamed.

Quincythequince · 16/07/2022 01:58

When I was in hospital I fasted for too long and ended up having to drink glucose because I wasn’t well, so I wouldn’t fast that long again as I know it’s unhealthy, but I want to stop the habit altogether

Why did you have to drink glucose? Who told you to, how much and after what period of time?

Baaa · 16/07/2022 02:07

Many doctors are not known for their people skills. Hard to teach I imagine.

Quincythequince · 16/07/2022 02:12

Baaa · 16/07/2022 02:07

Many doctors are not known for their people skills. Hard to teach I imagine.

How many Doctors do you k ke?
We’re trained to help and prevent harm.
Coming onto Mumsnet for help
massively increases chances of a patient incurring the latter.

I never give medical advice online, but I do advise when it should be sought.

And slow clap to your apparent insult too 🥱

Quincythequince · 16/07/2022 02:12

*know

Original poster
Mangolatte · 16/07/2022 02:17

Quincythequince · 16/07/2022 01:58

When I was in hospital I fasted for too long and ended up having to drink glucose because I wasn’t well, so I wouldn’t fast that long again as I know it’s unhealthy, but I want to stop the habit altogether

Why did you have to drink glucose? Who told you to, how much and after what period of time?

It was when I was in hospital, it was a little bottle and it was really sweet (I think they said it was glucose anyway, I might have misremembered though) it was because the test where they prick your finger for blood was like 3 or something if I remember correctly and they said it was from not eating for too long so I had to drink it and eat some sweets.

I told everyone I felt fine because I didn’t want to cause a fuss but I felt so weird, like I was in a bubble or something. Once I had the drink I felt better but then the nurse had to get the doctor because my heart was going too fast (like 150 or something) but it was all fine and it slowed down I had just got myself a bit worried.

They were all really nice to me and understood that I didn’t want to eat because I was trying to stop the IBS and I told them that once I got out the hospital I would eat like normal again because I thought I would but I got so happy that the IBS had stopped and that I had lost weight x

OP posts:
KittytheHare · 16/07/2022 02:23

@Quincythequince bloody hell your online social skills are appalling. There are far more empathetic ways of helping the op

Quincythequince · 16/07/2022 02:25

Mangolatte · 16/07/2022 02:17

It was when I was in hospital, it was a little bottle and it was really sweet (I think they said it was glucose anyway, I might have misremembered though) it was because the test where they prick your finger for blood was like 3 or something if I remember correctly and they said it was from not eating for too long so I had to drink it and eat some sweets.

I told everyone I felt fine because I didn’t want to cause a fuss but I felt so weird, like I was in a bubble or something. Once I had the drink I felt better but then the nurse had to get the doctor because my heart was going too fast (like 150 or something) but it was all fine and it slowed down I had just got myself a bit worried.

They were all really nice to me and understood that I didn’t want to eat because I was trying to stop the IBS and I told them that once I got out the hospital I would eat like normal again because I thought I would but I got so happy that the IBS had stopped and that I had lost weight x

Show quote history

OP, please see your GP.
Sounds like your BG was very low, unusual in an otherwise healthy person, but easily investigated.
They can help you, or refer you.
Do not consult a ‘nutritionist’, it’s not a controlled profession and any old advice can be given with no accountability, although some are great (but how would you know!)

You are not wasting our time at all, so please seek an appointment.

Quincythequince · 16/07/2022 02:28

KittytheHare · 16/07/2022 02:23

@Quincythequince bloody hell your online social skills are appalling. There are far more empathetic ways of helping the op

Except they’re not.
Imagine this exchange in a surgery.
You would get identical questions; factual to the point.
Nothing rude about it at all.

Original poster
Mangolatte · 16/07/2022 02:42

Quincythequince · 16/07/2022 02:25

OP, please see your GP.
Sounds like your BG was very low, unusual in an otherwise healthy person, but easily investigated.
They can help you, or refer you.
Do not consult a ‘nutritionist’, it’s not a controlled profession and any old advice can be given with no accountability, although some are great (but how would you know!)

You are not wasting our time at all, so please seek an appointment.

Show quote history

Thanks, as ridiculous as it probably sounds I was so worried about being a timewaster because it’s not serious and it’s something I’ve (accidentally) caused myself. Everyone in hospital warned me that I can’t fast forever to control the IBS but I tHought it would be a temporary thing I would do until I got home. I really didn’t expect to get hooked on it or to lose weight from it. I just liked the control that I could go out with my friends or to work and I knew I wouldn’t have cramps or an upset stomach because I hadn’t eaten anything, I felt so safe to actually enjoy my life without worrying about the IBS suddenly happening. Then I realised I lost weight and I just got more hooked on it.

yeah my health is absolutely perfect and I have nothing wrong with me so I had just made it go low by not eating for too long, everyone had tried to get me to eat so it was completely my own fault but I felt fine and I thought it had stopped the IBS so I was invincible! It was only at the last minute I felt like I was in a bubble but I didn’t want to cause a fuss so I just kept saying I felt fine, meanwhile I felt like I did on my 18th birthday night out after 10 vodka shots ahah.

OP posts:
TooManyPJs · 16/07/2022 02:46

@Quincythequince

It's doctors like you that give doctors a bad name. You can ask the same questions in two different ways. One sounds abrupt, rude and arrogant, the other kind and sympathetic. I know, I work in advice and i work with people. Unlike you I know how to talk to them.

If this thread is a taste of how you speak to patients you need to go back to the bedside manner class or stop working in a field where you deal with people.

Canopic · 16/07/2022 02:47

I am also a doctor and have expertise in the field of nutrition

Odd way to describe your area of practice.

Are you a medical doctor?

Quincythequince · 16/07/2022 02:50

TooManyPJs · 16/07/2022 02:46

@Quincythequince

It's doctors like you that give doctors a bad name. You can ask the same questions in two different ways. One sounds abrupt, rude and arrogant, the other kind and sympathetic. I know, I work in advice and i work with people. Unlike you I know how to talk to them.

If this thread is a taste of how you speak to patients you need to go back to the bedside manner class or stop working in a field where you deal with people.

Fascinating to make this leap based on an online transaction.

And yet the OP seems just fine…

Quincythequince · 16/07/2022 02:53

Canopic · 16/07/2022 02:47

I am also a doctor and have expertise in the field of nutrition

Odd way to describe your area of practice.

Are you a medical doctor?

Yes, of course.

I have an MD and then did a PhD in my specific area (endocrinology and gut physiology).

Many of us treat patients and also undertake research activities.

You’ll probably hate this, but I’m very oversubscribed.

Mumsnetters with hand-wringing tendencies may be bothered by this. Actual patients…not so much.

TooManyPJs · 16/07/2022 02:57

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Quincythequince · 16/07/2022 02:58

I know, I work in advice and i work with people. Unlike you I know how to talk to them

Is that right 😆 What is it that you do
exactly?

Quincythequince · 16/07/2022 03:00

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

No, of course it isn’t.
I answered a specific question about me.

I have also asked reasonable questions and given resonance advice.

So how about You ‘ODFOD’

Canopic · 16/07/2022 03:00

You’ll probably hate this, but I’m very oversubscribed

Why would I hate that? I have no idea who you are, and that question was my first one to you.

Yes, of course

There's no 'of course' about it. You should know that.

Your posting style is paranoid and hostile. It's pretty unimpressive, despite your posturing.

I'm turning in now - so good night - but I hope you turn your fire elsewhere by tomorrow, for the OP's sake - you've turned yourself into an unhelpful distraction from her thread.

Bonne nuit.

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