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Could a doctor help me eat more?

8 replies

BertieBotts · 13/05/2015 22:49

I made an appointment to see my doctor because I am feeling very tired all the time. The appointment had to be moved because of an issue with insurance (I live abroad) so I'm waiting for a new one.

As I was waiting I had an idea to keep a food diary, and was really quite shocked when I realised that my typical vitamin intake is non existent and some days my calorie intake is really low too - I skip breakfast most days and some days I'm skipping lunch as well. The food diary helped a bit in that it reminded me to eat something just to stick it in the diary, but then I forgot to fill it in and I've just realised today that I haven't eaten breakfast or lunch for the last three days.

It's not a control issue or a weight issue, it's more that I feel like it's too much effort to make food and I don't really feel hungry, until I'm really hungry. This is something that I have always struggled with, I don't really want to eat unless I'm being quite active. Of course, then I feel lethargic and don't feel like being active, so it's a vicious circle. There have also been money issues in the past where I felt it was a waste or frivolous, and if I don't fancy something, then I just won't eat it, so bland food/things which require a lot of assembly don't appetise me to the point to motivate me to actually put it together. But this isn't an issue any more, we can afford to buy nice food, I just need to change my habits.

Anyway - so I am still going to re-make the appointment, but I don't know whether I should ask for advice on the tiredness thing (since I think I've identified the obvious cause), the food thing (surely she will just say "So eat more"?) or the other (and probably related) issue which is that I suspect I have undiagnosed ADHD and I would like to explore assessment and treatment for that.

OP posts:
TurnOverTheTv · 13/05/2015 22:56

I think you need to be seeing the doc about depression. The food thing is just a side effect of that.

sleepwhenidie · 13/05/2015 23:02

Do you make the effort to prepare food for other family members? It could, as TurnOver suggests, be symptomatic of depression, but also a matter of low self-esteem - also something you could request counselling for? I don't know what, if any, effect ADHD might be having in this respect....I'm sure someone more knowledgeable on that will be along soon though Smile

pushmepullyou · 13/05/2015 23:12

I read your second paragraph and thought I am exactly like that, I don't think it's that unusual.

Then I read the third one and remembered I have diagnosed ADHD (doesn't affect me much in my day to day life anymore) and thought "oh... That'll be why then..." Grin

TwilightSparkle · 13/05/2015 23:48

Yes you need to see a GP about possible ADHD. You always come across as a intelligent person and yet you describe significant difficulties in basic things - what i would call 'life skills', and feeding yourself is one of those things. It can be related to poor executive function, common in people with autistic spectrum conditions (as ADHD is).

BertieBotts · 14/05/2015 17:46

I have struggled with depression on and off in the past, but the food thing prevails whether I feel down or not, so I don't think it's that. In fact from stuff I've read I'm inclined to think that the depression is a side effect of undiagnosed ADHD, because I get depressed about not being able to do "normal" things, not being good enough, being a total failure, etc.

I make food for DS but he eats more junk food than he should because sometimes I can't be bothered. DH sometimes cooks but he gets home too late to do DS' dinner really. It's about 50/50 whether DH and I eat together or make our own thing, but I always eat dinner when he's here as he tells me off if I don't Blush

The reason I think it's ADHD related is because it's about habit forming. It's not just eating but this is obviously having a knock on effect. I'm crap at taking care of myself in general, and while for a while I could pass it off as being young/babybrained/a bit ditsy, now it's got to the point that I've had a lot of practice but it's not getting better. Executive function, exactly that. (how have I not heard this before?)

Hurry up insurance card :(

On the positive side, I was talking to a friend last night and she recommended I make up a "monkey platter" to eat during the day for a lunch/snack sort of combination. That worked well for me. Still need to work on breakfast, but lunch would be an improvement.

OP posts:
Kittykat7 · 17/05/2015 03:07

Mirtazapine antidepressant stimulates the appetite & helps you sleep. You will put on weight with it though.

Diamond23 · 17/05/2015 04:02

I think it's a bit of a leap to suggest depression unless I missed some background.

I can be like this also- not as extreme now though. But it's a combination of forgetting/ laziness and then just making some toast or something because I can't be bothered. I would suggest a meal plan - maybe you can prep the food for the day whilst you have some spare time or choose easy stuff- maybe ready meals in the evening until it becomes a habit?

BertieBotts · 17/05/2015 17:07

I'm right at the low end of a healthy weight anyway, so putting on weight isn't an issue. But I don't really want to go on antidepressants if I'm not depressed. I just need to remember to eat (sounds stupid, doesn't it?)

Evenings aren't really the bit I struggle with, it's more breakfast and lunch. I've made a pinterest board with loads of ideas for breakfasts I can make in advance and eat on the go but I haven't got around to buying anything to make the things yet.

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