I am 25 years old and have struggled with anorexia for 10 years now. I have been through counseling and am on the road to recovery. I am eating 2000 calories and my mother (a nurse) and my husband (a licensed therapist) says I should be eating 2400 calories daily. This sounds like way too much. I have hit 2200 here and there. I eat healthy and well-balanced, but 2400 just seems like I am gorging myself. I do want to gain. I want to have a child and know I need to be over 100 pounds before I even think about it…. I still fear gaining too fast. It seems like when I do start to gain weight, I gain it quickly and then I fear it won’t stop. What do you think of my nutritional goals? Another question….Have you ever heard of gastroparesis? I have been tested for acid reflux and tried medication. The medication didn’t help. I then ran across information about gastroparesis and I seem to fit the typical patient. If I eat too much at one time, the food comes back up into my mouth, through no effort of my own. Also, certain foods such as high fat, tomato based, and broccoli tend to make matters worse. I now eat various times throughout the day so that my food doesn’t stay in my esophagus. Are you familiar with anyone else who has struggled with an eating disorder and these problems as well? Do you know if they subside after time? Thank you for your time and answers. – S.
Dear S.
It sounds like you are really trying to make the right choices. It’s common to want to gain weight and have the fear that you may gain too much. It’s important to remember that your body is designed to be a certain set weight. Once your metabolism adjusts to you eating more regularly and the right amount of calories you will be able to trust that you won’t gain too much. Your nutritional goals appear to be on target to meet your needs and facilitate a gradual weight gain, but this should be assessed by a registered dietitian who can give you individualized guidance.
As for gastroparesis it does sound like you have a lot of the symptoms. It would benefit you to see a specialist that deals with the gastrointestinal tract. Certain medications can help decrease the symptoms and help with digestion. It’s hard to say if the symptoms will decrease. It really depends on the extent of the damage. I have known a few other girls who have struggled with the same symptoms and they benefited greatly from medication.
Hope that this helps… you are on the right track.
Carrie