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Original poster

anyone been treated at eating disorders clinic as an outpatient?

53 replies

singingcat · 21/12/2010 22:07

My dr is thinking of this for me now. i am not very bad but underweight and am not able to put on more due to not liking food, having v small appetite and other issues.

Has anyone done this? do you have to see a psychiatrist? I am worried about having it on my notes that I have seen one, will it affect anything in the future like job medicals or health insurance?

did it work for you?

If i don't do this, I am thinking of asking to see a dietician to help me understand food better and having weekly appts with dr or practice nurse for weigh-ins.

OP posts:
Original poster
singingcat · 21/12/2010 22:35

.

OP posts:
Original poster
singingcat · 22/12/2010 16:37

Hopeful bump?

I really want to get better, and DH is keen for me to be referred, but I am worried about it being on my records

OP posts:
mrsmillsfanclub · 22/12/2010 21:38

I had to in my late teens/early twenties. Not sure how it operates where you live, but they will very likely ask you to speak to a therapist as well as monitoring your physical wellbeing.My visits were added to my medical records. Obviously I don't know how your eating disorder effects you, or how it all started but in my case seeing a dietician wouldn't have made much difference, but counselling definately helped.
I still always have concerns with eating/weight at the back of my mind, but I'm a healthy weight now and realise that my attitude to food and my body image was very unbalanced. Anoxeria took up so much of my life and ruined several relationships, I hope you can get some help for yourself and start living properly.Please consider seeking counselling as your first priority. All the best x

blackcoffee · 22/12/2010 21:41

i was in an patient
saw a psychiatrist
It has never affected jobs, medicals or health insurance. Please get the help you need.

bibbitybobbitysantahat · 22/12/2010 21:42

It sounds a lot better than being taken in to hospital as an in-patient.

KatieMiddleton · 22/12/2010 21:45

I think it is already on your medical notes as your GP will have recorded it so is almost a moot point.

Yes it may affect you getting life insurance or similar in the future but probably won't affect current policies that are underwritten when you take out the policy.

Tbh getting better is more important than all if that. If you had a physical condition you'd go. This is just as important.

Original poster
singingcat · 22/12/2010 21:54

Mmm, i'm not sure that it's bad enough for referral. I am not really dedicated to it the way 'real' anorexics are, i just consistently undereat. Wasn't always like this, it started after baby's birth when I felt huge.

I do not think i would be diagnosed as anorexic, but my gp says that remaining this weight is likely to have health consequences, so i want to get over it.

Another issue is the waiting lists, which i hear is huge. I don't want to be hanging around waiting for months,

i already have counselling for other issues. My gp told me to mention the eating to my counsellor, but he said from my description he didn't see the point in talking about it, and that just because i didn't fit 'some NHS scale thing' didn't mean there was anything wrong with me

OP posts:
bibbitybobbitysantahat · 22/12/2010 22:00

So what do you want then singingcat?

Original poster
singingcat · 22/12/2010 22:01

I want to be normal.

OP posts:
bibbitybobbitysantahat · 22/12/2010 22:03

And how do you want to get there?

Original poster
singingcat · 22/12/2010 22:04

No, I want to be healthy.

and I don't know how you get there. i am now able to say something needs to be done, which took months to work out, and is a big step

OP posts:
blackcoffee · 22/12/2010 22:05

consistently undereating is what anorexics do
fwiw I had never heard the word when I was diagnosed nor had my family
health visitor told us the vestal virgins were known for it Hmm
point is anorexia's not out there, it happens to 'normal' people

blackcoffee · 22/12/2010 22:05

you get there with professional help op

mrsmillsfanclub · 22/12/2010 22:08

Eating disorders don't always have to be drastic to warrant getting help for them. If you're very unhappy because of issues with eating or weight then I think its enough to seek some help for it.
The fact that you don't regard yourself as normal tells me that it is something which plays on your mind a lot.

Original poster
singingcat · 22/12/2010 22:10

so, considering that I have got over the first step which is realising there is a problem, is it worth being treated as an outpatient and having all the psychiatric stuff, or to do it with counselling (maybe different counsellor) and GP help? is this even possible?

OP posts:
blackcoffee · 22/12/2010 22:13

I would take your gp's advice, esp as dh is also keen and supportive

mrsmillsfanclub · 22/12/2010 22:16

I think the decision is yours singingcat. Are you concerned there may be a stigma attached to an outpatient unit? I think anything that helps you is good.I know I personally didn't benefit from keeping food diarys or having weigh-ins. Talking about why I had major issues with image and eating was good for me. I tried several different counsellors before I found one who I felt was helping.

Original poster
singingcat · 22/12/2010 22:18

yes a bit of stigma, and also worrying that I will wait and wait to be seen and then the doctor/psychiatrist will be useless or not know what to do with me because I don't fit the exact mould. I have seen the questionnaires that they use to determine what you are, and I don't think they would work for me.

argh

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blackcoffee · 22/12/2010 22:20

it is really good you are serious about getting help and getting help soon

mrsmillsfanclub · 22/12/2010 22:23

There isn't really a mould. People with eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes, age and social groups. Why not try the gp route first? If you don't think it's working for you then you could always consider a private counsellor who specializes in the matter. All I would stress is not to let things carry on as they are, you owe it to yourself and your family to feel better.

hester · 22/12/2010 22:24

singingcat, I wonder if you are thinking 'real' anorexia means being a teenager who eats almost nothing? Because a characteristic of adult anorexia is often a less dramatic, sustained habit of undereating. I never stopped eating, I just existed on 1000 calories a day for years and years and years. This pattern of anorexia can be harder to shift, precisely because it is sustainable, and because it takes much longer for alarm bells to ring with other people (I had to get seriously, seriously underweight before people stopped complimenting me on being 'naturally' slim).

I attended an outpatient unit for years. It was a very good one. I saw a psychiatrist, and was also referred for psychoanalysis. I strongly suspect a dietitian won't be able to give you the help you need: you don't need to understand food better, do you? I'll bet you know more about food than most people, you are probably fairly expert on food and how to avoid it...

It is of course your choice, but I would recommend you at least try outpatients and see if it works for you. I found it helpful. There was no impact on future employment. I have declared it in every medical, but it has never resulted in the withdrawal of an offer of employment.

Best of luck.

Original poster
singingcat · 22/12/2010 22:26

I am already seeing my gp for it. He was concerned and became more so when i dropped 6lb off already (slightly) underweight frame. I am menstruating now but he says its only a matter of time before that stops if i don't do something

OP posts:
blackcoffee · 22/12/2010 22:27

he sounds on the ball, I'd take his advice and see how it goes

Original poster
singingcat · 22/12/2010 22:34

Would it be a waste of GP time for me to have one appointment a week, 10 mins? Or the practice nurse maybe?

OP posts:
blackcoffee · 22/12/2010 22:42

why not suggest it? it sounds like you have a good practice with a gp who is aware of the issues and wants to help you. I'm sure you can work together on this.
Anorexia of any degree is a misery and a blight on your life and the life of your family. It's good you are getting help now rather than later. You should take it seriously, you are worth helping, you have people around you who care for you and a capable gp. Do whatever it takes.
As I say I've had no repercussions at all in terms of jobs, health insurance. I don't tend to chat about it every day - it's something in my past I overcame, and I am certainly not ashamed.