What exactly will happen if I go to my GP with a suspected eating disorder?

[Username90210]

I need some help with my eating but I keep putting off calling my GP.

Can anyone give me a bit of advice about what sort of questions I might be asked and what the next steps might be if I do work up the courage to make an appointment?

I've just eaten an entire cheesecake, a swiss roll and two steak pies, then thrown it all up, so I do realise I need help but I'm conflicted.

I also bought a copy of overcoming binge eating on vinted last week, so I will have a read of that at some point.

I've struggled with EDs my whole life - currently feeling pretty stable and a healthy weight but I'm in awe of you sticking with this despite the blocks!!

I've just found this from the NICE website:

Referral
1.2.10
If an eating disorder is suspected after an initial assessment, refer immediately to a community-based, age-appropriate eating disorder service for further assessment or treatment.

If you are emailing someone at the GP I would include this - they definitely suspect an eating disorder as that's what they said - so next step is a referral I to the ED service, not the BEAT website.

More here:

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng69/chapter/Recommendations#identification-and-assessment

The GP called back to say they are going to refer me to the ED service. It was a very quick call (30-40 seconds) so I didn't have a chance to ask any questions, and I'm not sure what happens next. I guess I just wait and see.

I'm popping over to see my son tonight (he's only 50mins away by train) and will give him a rundown on progress.

I am actually amazed at myself today.

Well done for persevering and looks like a good outcome and well done for not giving up.

@Username90210 really well done for persevering with this! I'm pleased they are referring you - hopefully a step in the right direction.

Amazing. Your son will be so proud of you I bet 🙏

Well done OP, you've done yourself proud today.
Maybe you already feel a sense of relief knowing the wheels are in motion to get you back to health?

I think you will hear directly from ED services, who will make an appointment for an initial assessment.

Well done @Username90210

You've taken the first very brave steps to dealing with your ED. If you can find a support group that has face to face meetings, it might help you to meet other people who are struggling too.

Don't give up. You can definitely do this. 💯

Well done in taking the first steps, it's not easy and you had to fight too! So well done for persevering.

Well done @Username90210 - it's so hard to persevere when it feels like an uphill struggle, but you have done an incredible job today. Your future self will look back and thank you.

Well done @Username90210 I'm so pleased you're persevering. You've taken the first steps to the road of recovery and that's huge.

Well done OP, you've done so well. I have a telephone appointment with my GP tomorrow to discuss a binge eating disorder and I'm really really anxious about it, even reading through the BEAT link posted above made me tearful, no idea how I'm going to get through the appointment. My GP surgery is usually excellent and the nurse I spoke to initially has booked me with a sympathetic GP but I am still very anxious. You've done so well to advocate for yourself

Dietitian / therapy

Please get help, I had an ED as a teen for five ish years not bulimia but something called chew and spit absolutely vile thinking about it now.

I have a whole mouth full of dental fillings, crows, a missing tooth and periodontal disease. Cost me thousands of pounds to fix and I'm still not there.

My experience- nothing.
I got no help at 18.
No help at 60.
Nothing.

All the best RockfordP. Do tell your GP you find it hard to talk about. By their very nature, a huge amount of denial, secrecy & shame surround EDs and speaking out loud about it can be tremendously hard.
ED trained professionals know this and will take the lead, and ask you questions rather than sit back, arms crossed with a "so, tell me what's been going on" approach, but (as we know) GPs aren't very trained in EDs.

Have you written things down?

You won’t necessarily put on weight (but also surely op you understand that this is an issue?)
Antidepressants will probably make your life better. Isn’t that the goal?

Anyway the doctor won’t force you to do anything. it’ll just be good to have had the first step. It’s your body and your life.

Thank you. I spoke to the GP and she was lovely. She said it's really hard to talk about and that it's a disease and not my fault. She asked some questions and then booked me a blood test and referred me to an eating disorder clinic. I'm relieved it's done but very heightened. Been crying a lot the last few days. Hopefully it will settle down

Well done! The crying is from relief and being a bit overwhelmed I imagine. Go with it, you won't always feel this way.

It sounds like you have a good GP. I wish you all the best.

This is almost identical to me.

I have recently at the age of 61, realised that I probably have ADHD and masked for a lifetime. My overeating is absolutely a sensory thing, as is my abject hatred of the feeling of hunger. This has enabled me to shed the shame and guilt and. Concentrate on healthier eating habits. Slimming world is helping as I don't have to suffer the hunger that I loathe.

No GP has ever helped, even recently. I went just before my epiphany and she was as useless as they always have been.

I hope you find your answers.

So impressed with what you have done OP, and so glad you got the referral. Wishing you well from here.

Apologies for this pointless post...Just offloading a bunch of stuff because I'm having a really hard week.

I've had my parents staying and they have thrown my eating off, so I've started losing weight again (it was previously stable for weeks at a time and only very gradually dropping). It was obvious to them that I am unwell, so I had to talk about that, and now they're moving things around (holidays/work) so they can come back and stay again next week. I'm not sure this is a good idea.

Then yesterday I had an induction event for a new job. It's a 3-4 year training programme and will be very challenging. I'm not sure I will cope. While there, I ate a sausage roll and had awful pain in my gut for the rest of the day and evening. So bad I was in tears at points and couldn't stand up straight. I also threw up on the street on my way home. I was trying to keep it down but it was unavoidable.

I think things are moving with the referral though - someone called to check I'd booked in for blood tests, because they don't want to see me until they have the results. Blood was taken on Wednesday so maybe I will hear something next week.

@Username90210

I'm sorry you're going through a hard time - there will be ups and downs and please keep posting here whenever you need to.

In terms of your parents - what have you said to them about being ill/what is your dynamic like with them generally? I think if you are worried about them staying and possibly setting you back it's not unreasonable for you to say no, but I appreciate it's not always this simple.

In terms of the training for new job - I know you've said challenging but is it also exciting/something you are looking forward to?

I'm pleased referral is progressing and hopefully something good will come of this soon.

I told my parents I have an eating disorder and that I'm seeking help. After they visited the first time I called and said if they came back I needed them to fit in with my eating schedule and planned meals, because not knowing exactly what and when I was going to eat was making me restrict my diet even further in case I ended up eating something I didn't want to.

They listened and they are back visiting again and it's going ok. They're eating what I'm eating, with extra bits added, and not trying to take me out for lunch/dinner. I'm glad they're here because I'm suddenly not feeling great. Very weak and dizzy, I have fainted a couple of times, and I'm struggling to look after the dog alone. I live on the third floor and all the stairs multiple times a day are tiring!

I am looking forward to the new job, which starts tomorrow. It's going to be a perfect fit for me, I think. I've been wasting my brain in boring/easy roles for a few years and a challenge might be just what I need. There'll also be a lot more contact with people face to face - my previous role was mostly remote and very isolating.

I have an appointment with a doctor from the mental health team next week - so things are moving in the right direction - and much more quickly than I anticipated.

Feeling positive(ish)

This is brilliant OP. Well done for telling your parents what you need, it's very difficult putting yourself 'out there' - I find this very hard still, and my difficulties are really not a secret... Hope the new job goes well, it sounds like a great opportunity 💐