physical health
 

I was wondering can an ed start effecting your physical health when your still a healthy weight? I am probally loosing quite alot of weight from restricting and latley iv started noticing that im always cold, im getting tired alot, i get out of breath walking up the staires or walking up hills, i get light headed and dizzy alot and i quite often feel sick oh and i have no concentration.

So am i right in thinking that its possable my eating could cause this? or am I just to big for it to effect me physically?

Anyone?

As far as I know, yes. Your lack of eating can be affecting you, even if you're still a healthy weight. The fact is, if you're not getting enough energy, your body is in "survival mode". And although the effects won't be as extreme as they would be if you were severely underweight, they are still present.

I hope you're able to get help for this love... I'm always here if you need x

regardless of your weight not getting enough or the right nutrition can and will effect your physical health. As can purging and abusing laxatives/diet pills. These behaviors are damaging and the damage can start long before a person becomes under-weight (and some with EDs never become underweight but can still do a LOT of damage or even die)

I'm not trying to shock or scare you here, just put across the importance of understanding that no matter what your mind might be telling you your weight is not a full indicator of health and someone can be very ill without being at a low weight

Theres been no mention of me getting help for this, the psych didnt even care about me using laxatives to get rid of the food :s

That doesn't sound like a good psych, to be honest... I think you do need help for this love. Would you talk to your psych at uni when you get there? I'm worried about you.

Yeah il tell my psych at uni about it, but shes reffered me to the eating team before when I wasnt as bad, and they said i didnt need help, so i doubt she will do it again. You dont need to worry about it lovely il be ok.

Well, if she referred you before when you weren't as bad, why would she not do so again when you're worse? It really does sound like you need help here. I would talk to her about the physical symptoms you've been experiencing too.

But if the eating team said I dont need help in the past wont they say the same thing again? im scared they'l think im wasting time. And i hate how they insist on weighing me but they wont even let me know the weight (they weight me facing backwards) I just dont want them to think im attention seeking are something.

You said you weren't as bad before. They might say you don't need help again... But what is there to lose? I know you're not attention seeking, and if your psych. refers you to them they should know you aren't either.

that makes sense. I hope your right. well either way im going to be honest its up to them if i get help or not.

It's up to you whether you get help or not. Yes, the ED team and MH professionals can provide difficulties but if you want help, you can get it. I have had incredibly difficult teams in the past but I simply kept ringing them until they gave me an appointment. When my doctor didn't listen to me, I was super honest with her and then she did and she got me some help. No decision as big as this is someone else's, it's yours, as harsh as that sounds. If there's a will there's a way.

As for whether EDs can have impacts on your health at a healthy weight, I think you already know the answer. Of course they can. Eating disorders aren't about weight; they're about mindset and behaviour. If you are taking laxativies there's a chance you could end up with IBS or become reliant upon the laxatives. If you purge, you will ruin your teeth, your tongue, your stomach will mess you around with acids... There are so many health implications that I am feeling and I am a healthy BMI. EDs are dangerous regardless of your weight.

I agree with Ailsa in that you aren't attention-seeking and you do deserve support.
Take care.

I was given 2weeks to live and taken to ITU when I was at a normal BMI (which is bigger than I am now - you have met me so you know my size). It was all caused by my ED behaviours.

Does that anwser your question?

Well,

A lady I know had a heart attack from her bulimia and she was not underweight at the time.

And my partner who was obese at the time stopped eating for a while and was told eat or we tube feed you tomorrow morning. Her friend managed to convince her they were serious, but at the time she was bed bound, her organs were not coping and her heart was doing abnormal things, she could not walk or lift her head.

That help answer your question?

Thank you for your replies. I understand its me who has to try and get the help and my health is my responsibility. im sorry if iv offended anyone.

I don't think you're offending anyone love - we're all worried about you, and wanting to make sure you do take this seriously as it can have huge consequences on your health, whatever weight you are. Keep pushing your psych/doctor/ED people. You do deserve that help. I'm here for you xxx

Just to say, ED support is hard to get in many places, even when a person is underweight it's still hard. The reason I got the help I did was because I literally begged them to help me, and even then, there was a lot of waiting and hoping. Nowhere near the majority of people I met were particularly forthcoming with support either.

When you speak up and tell them you wont be dismissed; and keep prodding them till they pull their finger out, it shows two things. First, that there is a problem, otherwise you may have just accepted what they said as right, and secondly, that you WANT the support, that you'll work hard on using it because it means a lot to you.

I don't think anyone was offended, just trying to tell it how it is, you deserve support, but it probably does mean fighting for it.

xx