Virus or ED?
 

I've felt really sick for a while, and I'm not sure if it's a virus or just repercussions of fasting and purging. Either way, it's kinda freaking me out. I've purged a couple of times today so I contributed my ickiness to that, but when I finally managed to keep something down I didn't feel any better, I don't know if that's normal or not. I feel very dizzy, weak, lightheaded and tired, but I can't sleep. It's hard to stay standing or walk anywhere. I'm home alone for a couple more days so going to the doctors is kinda out. It doesn't feel like a virus really, but I don't really know.
Sorry to bother everyone but I'm not sure what to do or if I should be worried or not. Thanks in advance.

Think about it logically. You are making yourself sick and wonder why you feel sick? You have gotten yourself into a cycle with your purging where making yourself sick is probably making you feel more sick and soon you'll be sick without meaning to.

Your symptoms also shout out dehydration to me. You need to get some fluids in you and soon. Water is the best fluid for you but weak squash or tea will do just as well.

It may also do you some good to have some smoothies or milkshakes. Something which is easy to get down you but will bring your blood sugars up because they are likely to be low which also explains your symptoms. Lucozade is great for that as is adding glucose powder (from chemists - dirt cheap) to ANY of your drinks. And its glucose, not sugar. It gets absorbed by the body faster and doesen't sit there and turn into fat.

Finally, you're not bothering anyone. Anyone is entitled to post on the FAA. I personally wouldn't worry yourself too much providing you drink and try to eat something even if its yogurt or what I already mentioned. Hope you feel better soon.

Oh, and if you are on any meds, taking them on an empty belly will do your stomach no good. Milk is good to take them with even soya milk.

Thanks for the advice. Yeah, I know to expect to feel bad but it's just not been this bad before so it kinda weirded me out. Thanks again.

The body can only take so much and the more you abuse it (and im no saint!) the more that abuse accumilates (builds up). Perhaps your eating disorder is finally catching up with you. Do you get help with it because it sounds like your at the 'time for help' stage if you get my drift? xx

I talked to my therapist about it a couple weeks ago, and we made a plan and everything but my mom went out of state with my sister so everything kinda fell apart.

Oh, im sorry to hear that. Are they coming back? If they are do try making a plan again. It will be worth it. At least you have a therapist - someone professional to talk to and it sounds like you get on with her ok.

My mom is coming back this friday and I think I have an appointment the next week, so I'll try to bring it up then.

Please do. You won't regret it, I can promise you that. ED's ruin lives and can kill. Best to catch them before they go too far.

It does sound to me like it is your ED rather than a virus. Really if you're not eating and are purging then your body is not getting the resources it needs to keep you going. As well as this your body will be losing some of what it has such as water alongside electrolytes (Sodium and Potassium amongst others). This can make you dehydrated and also cause serious damage to organs such as your heart, liver, kidneys and even your brain. Not eating will make you tired and as well as this it may also be that you're anaemic (don't have enough red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen around your body) which again will worsen the problem.

You need to try and eat. I'd advice something small but regular. If you like them than banana's are great as they are a good source of potassium as well as having slow release carbohydrates which means energy will be released into your body slowly and will stay there longer. I would not advise glucose as this will just spike up and then drop off again and so long as you're not diabetic your body should be able to control the levels of that and yes, sometimes it does go low but it isn't a lasting solution.

Drinking a rehydration drink is a good idea which can be water with Diorralyte/ rehydration sachets mixed in with it. These will replenish any water you've had as well as giving you back some electrolytes however, if these are imbalanced they will remain so to some degree. Other things that do the same job are isotonic sports drinks so Lucozade Sport, Gastorade and Powerade; not the 'energy' varieties as they don't have the electrolytes in them and have caffiene which will not aid dehydration at all. Any sports drinks that say the words Isotonic on them is what you want.

Other than that I'd really advise you to try and reduce the amount you're purging. I know this will be really hard but it will help and try and follow what your plan says even if you have no-one there to keep you on track. It won't be easy but it will be worthwhile in the end, you won't see the benefits straight away but in the long-term when you look back you definitely will.

Can you phone up/email your therapist or anyone else? That may really help you.

I have my therapist's number I think. I'll try calling her when her office is open tomorrow. Thanks everyone.

Good luck calling her, its the right thing to do xxx

How did calling your therapist go?

I hope you're feeling a bit better. :)