Please or to access all these features

Eating disorders

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

18 year old DD- eating disorder

5 replies

WhatDoIDo1999 · 27/08/2023 19:25

I was hoping someone on here could help me.
DD18 has I think an eating disorder. I’ll do her stats first.
BMI of 16.6
weight 8stone 11
height 183cm (6ft)
she turned 18 in June.
she has depression and is now on sertraline for 4 weeks.
she has lost well over 1 stone in 4 months. (I hadn’t weighed her before this)
her food intake this week has been:

tueday: roughly 700 calories
wednesday: roughly 800 calories
thursday: 0 calories (had few sips of OJ but vomited because of acid reflux)
friday: 0 calories
Saturday: 700 calories
today: 400 calories
Before that she was just eating one meal a day. (And not a lot either)
she’s admitted to drinking lots of water to fill her up.
she comments negatively about her body. Says she’s fat. If she sees photos of herself from a while ago-she comments on her “round, fat face”
She is consistently saying she has tummy ache. Can’t eat anymore. Feels full.
She’s very thin. Has hollow cheek bones. Is cold to the touch most of the time but she complains of feeling hot.
She stays in bed most of the day. Gets up at 4pm. 6pm.
she stays on her phone constantly. Avoids anything and everything. Hygiene is poor too.
her periods are becoming less regular-6 weeks in between when before they were regular.

The days she didn’t eat anything she said she was “Ill” and that’s why she didn’t eat. She vomited, (clear water fluids) and used this to prove she was ill. The day after she only ate 700 calories and said she was getting better “see I’m getting better-I’m eating”

She has an absolute refusal to address this or acknowledge it. She’s “fine”. I know she’s not. I’m at my wits end.

On Friday I rang the nhs mental health helpline. Absolute waste of time. Lady said I need to get her to eat something-even a snack. How???? I tried! She told me if she hadn’t eaten by 5pm the following day then I should ring 111. Which obviously she did but after reading this topic isn’t the best advice? I should have rang hospital? I don’t know. I’m completely at my wits end. She starts uni in a few weeks. I know she’ll not eat.
I had another thread about her and advice. We did go gp and she got SSRIs but point blank refused counselling.
man I overreacting? Under-reacting?
Thank you for reading this far

OP posts:
Rustnot · 28/08/2023 17:08

I am not a medical professional but I do have and ED and it sounds like your DD would meet the diagnostic criteria for anorexia. You are in a really difficult position if she is going off to university, but I would try and go back to the GP or go to A and E. If she is eating so little and perhaps, from the sound of your post, inducing vomiting, she may experience some physical health problems.

Did the GP mention her weight when she went to her first appointment?

I'm sorry your in this situation as you're in a particularly difficult position given her age and circumstances, but keep trying to get her to eat something. At this stage, I would say anything is better than nothing- even if it's low calorie 'safe' foods.

BlueMoe · 28/08/2023 17:13

I think you are under-reacting.

She must not go to Uni, and you must try to get her sectioned.

Can you get an emergency appointment for yourself with the GP, to get things started.
Sadly, you have the fight of your life coming up, and it’s going to be ghastly for you, and everyone else that loves your daughter.
Good Luck!

GreatBigBeautifulTommorow · 28/08/2023 17:36

Sadly she doesn’t sound well enough to start university.
Can you get her to the GP?

Shanghai101 · 09/09/2023 13:49

@WhatDoIDo1999 how is your DD? Just wanted to let you know that Orri have a free webinar coming up on supporting your child going to uni. You can sign up online via their website. Students need a BMI of 16 I think to go. And they would need support so if she is still refusing that then it may not be a good idea.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page