Could I have done some damage to myself?

[twoisplenty]

I really really struggle to drink enough, even to the point of not drinking for upto 2 days (that was last week, no food or drink for 48 hrs) and not yesterday either (but ate thick soup). (recovering anorexic, please don't judge)

Today I have woken with mild, regular pains in my lower abdomen, with some pains in my arm.

What does long-term dehydration do? Could I have done some harm?

slush puppy is too cold, I would feel it going down. I have had soup!!

twoisplenty, you could write it down or try for short, meaningful statements said calmly, practice them before you go ie

I suffer from anorexia

I am unable to drink

I am very worried about dehydration

I suffer from pains, confusion, cold extremities

I am exhausted

I am frightened that I have done serious damage

You are undoubtedly very dehydrated and your stress levels will exacerbate your symptoms and may even be causing some of your symptoms.

Are you prepared for the eventuality that he may want you to go and be rehydrated by drip? Because it can get to the stage- particularly if you cannot drink- where you can't rehydrate without a bit of help.

I think it would be a very good idea to get your sister or a close friend to go with you.

For my patient's who were unable to swallow liquid/runny foods safely, we used to thicken them with a thickener - 'Thick and Easy' springs to mind, but there are others.

Do you think this might help?

You would still get the benefit of the liquid and it could be used in anything, including water, although you may want to flavour it slightly.

Perhaps ask your gp for a prescription or whether it can be bought over the counter.

Yes I think short statements, and I will write them down.

Am getting more scared by the minute. The possibility of a drip? I am not scared of hospitals but I am terrified of my family's reaction to my behaviour. My mum thinks she knows I have anorexia, she told my dh this. So my dh obviously knows. My sister knows. BUT my inlaws don't have a clue.

You know, I just get this feeling that the GP will think I am over reacting. But I'm not. This can't go on. I wonder how dehydrated I am. Even the counsellor was worried, and she never has a judgmental reaction to anything!

Daftapeth, thick drinks are better but I would still take a looong time to drink much. Oh, isn't it ridiculous?

I'm not getting anything done today. Nothing.

One of my friends (who knows about the ED) would come with me if I asked...but why do you think it would be better for someone to be with me? I will do it if it will help.

Not sure if this is much help, but my GP told me recently that about 80% of one's average "fluid" intake comes from food! So I think soups and smoothies would be quite hydrating. Obv it's a good idea to try v hard to drink more aswell, but that might take the pressure off a bit

Solely because if that person who is with you knows what you want to say, if you stumble or cry or clam up, they will prompt you, hold your hand and remind you of anything you have forgotten. Also, when I have seen the GP whilst upset, I forget afterwards some of the stuff s/he has said and having sombody there means they can remind you. That's the only reason why, you don't want to get in there and do what I do 'oh I probably don't drink enough, I feel a bit under the weather' and then try and play the whole thing down through shame/embarrassment/nerves. This is your opportunity to confront this and somebody beside you will help enormously.

I don't know that they will or even might suggest a drip, just that my Mum had a gynae problem that had her vomitting severely and went to hospital to be put on a drip for a few hours to rehydrate. They do the same with pregnant women with severe morning sickness. It's a quick re-set of hydration levels when you can't re-set them yourself.

Being cold and being sleepy/tired is dehydration, don't worry about those...I used to sit in front of the fire all day and still be frozen.

TIP, you are getting something done today. You are getting some moral support on here and you have taken the positive step of going to see your GP.

I sense your fear of others finding out. You are worried about their reaction. Try not to be and think about you(easy said I know), you have been very strong to get to this point. I think this is an important step for you and the consequences may not be as wide reaching as you imagine. It may all be for the good, no?

Your GP will not think you are over reacting unless you down play it all. You listed your symptoms on one of your earlier posts. Why not take that with you as a prompt.

I have to shoot off now but will be thinking good thoughts for you this afternoon.

Thank you so much for the moral support, I have written the list down and put it in my pocket so I won't forget it.

I am terrified, shaking. Two hours to go.

I need to go out now, then get my dd, then head off to the GP. My sister is having my dd for me.

Yes, I am worried about everyone's reaction (GP especially) but also family if they ever need to know. Hopefully they won't need to know anything. Deep breaths...

I shall of course report back later.

Herecomes, thanks for reply. Are you saying I don't need the GP? Or you are reassuring me that I am basically ok, but need the GP? It is reassuring about the kidneys, though.

Oh, am I getting specific ED counselling? No. The counsellor deals with other issues, but rarely tackles ed. She says it is a symptom and will go when my other issues are dealt with. Whcih is ok up to a point but I do feel isolated and a bit scared of it sometimes, you know, with impact on my health generally.

I think Herecomes was reassuring you from the perspective of a GP but absolutely you must go and see your GP. You're probably there as I type.

I hope it went well, will keep checking in on this to see. Organs can take a lot of 'abuse' and repair themselves, they're really very clever indeed. This is not an excuse not to look after them but is comfort if you haven't been caring for them as well as you'd like.

Hope it went ok x

What an afternoon that was! The surgery was running 45 minutes late, so I had to divert my ds taxi from school, from the journey home to the surgery. My dd was ok at my sister's house.

Then my ds had a 30 sec epileptic seizure in the taxi. He's ok, but it is worrying. He is having these every day at the moment.

Finally, got to see the GP. By that time, I was shaking all over, the wait was agony.

He was lovely. Really caring. Thank goodness.

He wasn't too worried about the fluid, as long as I am weeing! Was very interested in the reason behind the dislike of texture etc, and that is something to discuss with my therapist.

He wants to me to have blood tests for this and that, (not sure what exactly, but calcium was one) I think just to make sure I am getting enough vitamins, protein etc.

But just the fact that he was lovely was so nice. I can have the blood tests tomorrow, then get the results next week over the phone (call the GP to discuss with him over the phone).

Phew.

Oh a good GP makes all the difference. They will be really comprehensive with their blood tests.

You sound a little more positive. Do you feel it? Would your therapist be able to find you some more specific help with the ED because it might only be a symptom, but it's one that's affecting your health and something that tackles that at the same time might make you feel stronger. Being physically drained all the time doesn't help with tackling the root causes of problems.

And your poor ds. You should makes some jelly with your dc and sit and eat it out of a big bowl together while watching a lovely dvd.

Keep talking on here. Just because you've done the first bit, doesn't mean we aren't keen to help/talk/support along the rest of the way.

I've thought about you a lot today. Sounds like you have a lot of lovely things in your life to fight and be well for.

Oh thanks so much everyone, I am so grateful of the care everyone has shown me today. I generally post on the mental health boards, there are a few of us with similar issues of the past to deal with, and it's nice to share our situation together, but the ed is something not really tackled over there.

I shall discuss the ed a bit more with the therapist next week, so I can have reassurance that I am heading in the right direction, with support. It may be that I need a bit more therapy to deal with the ed specifically.

And yes, I am exhausted. I am going to have a bath and calm down in a minute.

Ds is a constant worry, he's lovely but hard work with epilepsy but also cerebral palsy. He's nearly 11yo and getting bigger!

I shall post tomorrow, but for now THANK YOU

two just linking to a thread with details of a doc who deals with food phobia, just in case you need some more help. Good luck with everything. here it is

Romanarama -that's the address I posted on this thread - it's the same thread

Whoosp - really sorry - I posted on both of these threads so the name and address I gave is actually from another thread, not this thread.

I'm not actually sure if this lady works with adults - the programme she was featured in was called 'My Child won't Eat'.

Hope you managed a good night's sleep twoisplenty.

Well done on going to the GP yesterday and I am so pleased he was nice and helpful and understanding.