eating disorder. want to start atkins

[allybibu]

Hi everyone,

I am aware i have been having eating disorder. i don't have much to lose. my weight have been going up and down. it fluctuate so much i started inducing vomiting after eating in order to get rid of the extra calories. i have negative self image and don't know how to deal with it other than making myself thin. i don't induce vomiting when i am within my ideal weight.

by lately, due to my work pressure, i started eating non stop. and throwing it all up afterwards...the tremendous guilt + the pressure has throw me to depression.

I am thinking of seeing a doctor coz i have heard that Prozac could make me feel better...until i read about LCing again...

i want to give it a try, before visitng the doctor...

anyone taken prozac before? i heard that i will get addicted to it...will antidepressants really make one feel better?

Ally

[Pickles]

There are several things you wrote about that I would like to address.

1. I also have an eating disorder, and you sound just as frustrated as I am. I have a mix of anorexia and bulimia, although I have been in this episode of bulimia for several months. In january I was very thin to the point of emaciation and had a lot of health complications because of it. Now I'm at a normal weight, even though I feel incredibly fat and disgusting. That is just part of the disease and low self-image. What I have found that helps the most is learning how to cope when the stress is on. Counseling has also helped me alot. I know it is hard to go at first, but there is nothing wrong with getting help. I hate to tell you this, but low-carbing may just make your ED worse. I don't really know. I have been trying for a couple weeks and haven't gotten anywhere, but then I have been under more stress than usual too... maybe I'm a bad example. I would try talking to a counselor first. Maybe she can even help you with the low-carb thing. You just want to be careful, because diets are a trigger for a lot of people with EDs.

2. Prozac. I have, in fact, taken prozac before. It was the first anti-depressant I've ever been on. I don't really think it helped me that much. However, medication like that is very individualized. Even though it didn't help me, it may help you. Right now I am on Effexor XR, and that REALLY makes a difference. If you get hooked up with a doctor, he/she can work with you to try what helps the most. It is worth the effort, I promise.

3. If you ever need or want to talk, I'm around. You can also email me at solitarypickles~yahoo.com . I wish you luck...

Melody

[squidgy]

Good advice from pickles. I guess I'm probably not a brilliant example either. I admit I don't really know what I'm talking about and am nervous of hitting raw nerves, but hey, low-carb is still an idea - could it be that sugar addiction underlies the eating disorder?

I want to feel as though I'm in control of the food I eat. I don't want the food I eat to control me. That's what personally attracts me to low carb, and I guess you can probably identify with that too.

To put it another way, if you were to start doing what you consider to be a low carb diet, rightly or wrongly, but you still feel as though food controls you, then that would mean that something isn't right. Either low carb isn't for you right now, or you've misinterpreted it. Either way, you would still need to get professional advice if this were to happen.

So I think you'd be well advised to speak to a professional first. Try to speak to someone who is clued up about diet, nutrition and eating disorders. If you're not satisfied with your general consulting doctor, either look for another one, or ask to be referred to a specialist.

SSRI's - I've never done them but my sister has. I believe that they alter serotonin metabolism, and that one of the effects of this is that it helps you relax and sleep. If what you call depression is really a general lethargy and lack of motivation, then you may find that SSRI's like Prozac or Paxil actually make you worse, and perhaps some other treatment might be better. But then, maybe not. I'd advise you to try to describe your symptoms as accurately as possible, rather than use self-diagnosing words such as "depression" - it's up to the doctor to diagnose, it's not up to you, and it will help if you try to be as clear as possible. Don't feel ashamed of anything, because it's not your fault, they're there to help.

Hope that helps. Take care, and let us know what happens. :)

[allybibu]

Thanks Melody and Squidgy!

I didn't expect to get something like this...and i am near to tears...feels so good... :cry:

I am at work now since it's afternoon Hong Kong time. I write a longer reply when i get back home tonight..

It's like i can see light at the other side of the tunnel.... :sunny:

[wangeci]

I think your question needs to be addressed by a doctor. Your eating disorder is life threatening, and something that should not be taken lightly. Low Carbing is for us to be healthy and to lose weight, part of your disorder is that you will never be happy at any weight always thinking you are too fat, so continueing to try to lose I do not think is the answer. Please see a doctor as soon as possible and be honest with the questions he/she asks. Admitting your disorder is the first step.
Good luck and I hope everything works out for you.

Cindy

[allybibu]

Hi everyone,

thanks again for the care. i have a stupid question though :confused: ...since i live in the part of the world where not too many people go to the doctor for antidepressants...may i ask...can i see a general practitioner or do i need a psychiatrist? I heard that counselors and psychologists cannot do prescriptions....

Ally

[Pickles]

Ally,

Any physician can prescribe antidepressants, but your best bet is to see a specialist who knows the meds better and can , in turn, more likely give you something that will help. Also, squidgy had a good point.... tell the doc your symptoms and not that you think you are depressed. That will help him come to a more accurate diagnosis.

Good luck on everything..
pickles

[squidgy]

Not a silly question at all. To be honest, I think it's nerves on your part, but I can understand that. Don't feel ashamed, like I say, it's not your fault. It's not anyone's fault. Make that appointment. By all means say "I think I'm depressed" when you get there but I'd advise that you try to go into more detail than that.

If it helps, it's not a bad idea to write things down beforehand too. And if you're unhappy with the outcome, don't worry about it, just make another one and try again. The more accurately you describe the symptoms, the more accurate the diagnosis will be, and the more effective any treatment will be. It's difficult to explain these kind of symptoms properly first time, so they'll understand, and shouldn't mind if you have to make more than one visit to explain it.

There is hope, you can get this sorted, really, you can.

I understand wangeci's hesitance, it's just the point I'd make is that I do consider diet, nutrition and eating disorders to be related subjects. If your doctor is clued up about eating disorders, that's good. If your doctor knows a thing or two about diet and nutrition too, that's even better. But if he or she doesn't, he / she should refer you to a specialist. You won't know what will happen until you actually go in and describe your symptoms, so don't worry about this.

For what it's worth, Dr Atkins suggests that liquid zinc sulphate heptahydrate supplementation can help with eating disorders. But don't self-diagnose! You need to see the doctor.

Take care, hope that helps.

[allybibu]

Thnx for the advice. i just went to my GP. she prescribed some Deanxit for a week. will go back for a followup after one week...

in quite a bad mood today...