Expert: Joanne - 1/16/2008

Question
I am 24 yrs. old, I'm a 5'8" woman and I currently weigh 90 lbs... I have dealt with anorexia for over 9 yrs. I am finally beginning recovery... I eased my way into "NORmAl eatInG" 2 wks ago and I was 87... now I'm 92 lbs... before new yrs I weighed 81. Why am I swelling up. My face is puffy, my belly is bloated... I'm so hungry but then I'll have a loss of appetite... my body feels like it's under water... I feel obese and disgusting... is this normal... my face looks so fat and the scale says 90 well I look like I weigh 130 lbs in my face and my belly looks pregnant I am scared and depressed and feel out of control and I hate this freak of a body im in... how long does it last... I'm eating 2000 cals a day smetimes more...am I eating to much is that why I'm swelling???? I've gained 12 pounds in less then a month i can't handle it... I'm going to doctors tommorow for the first time to get help with my anorexia... what if since i'm so bloated they say I'm healthy and don't have a problem... well maybe with eating too much... am I going to be stuck like this... forever??? please help me...

Answer
Feather

Congratulations on trying to recover!

Unfortunately, when you begin to try to eat a 'normal' diet again, your body tends to retain water, and your digestive system may not be working to its full potential.  This means that you may bloat, and may gain water weight, and possibly lose some due to fluctuations in water weight.

Be honest with your Doctor, tell them exactly what has been going on.  Your weight suggests that you have a problem, but even if you weren't underweight, you have been brave enough to own up to a problem that many people can't, and that should be enough!  Any Doctor worth their title should offer you some help for this!

I hope that your appointment has gone well!  If you need or want to ask anything else, please come back!

Holly