Expert: Leigh-Anne Persing, PA-C - 10/30/2008

Question
When I was about 13, I was so sick of people telling me that I was fat (I was 135lbs and I was 5"6) and that I ate too much, so I stopped eating all together. Now I am 18, and go all day without eating, sometimes not at all. Especially if I sleep, but I don't get REM sleep and can't focus. My stomach feels like it's eating itself, but the doctors don't know what it is. I am pretty sure that I have an eating disorder, but none of them talk about being able to go days without eating or sleeping, and not feeling effects, and then when they come, they are extreme. I fit a lot of the symptoms and medical issues that come with eating disorders, I just don't know what I have. I am sick of it, and want to get better, but I don't know how.

Answer
Does your physician know that you are not eating? This can certainly cause an array of symptoms including abdominal pain, trouble concentrating and sleeping, etc. Treating an eating disorders includes involvement with a psychotherapist, nutritionist and a medical dr. It can be a long haul, but they main goal is to slowly start introducing foods back into your diet until you are able to reach and maintain and healthy daily caloric intake and body weight. 135lbs at 5'6" is just fine... that is well within the healthy range. Going to a normal diet after starving yourself for so long can cause refeeding syndrome, so you should not try to  fight this on your own... you need guidance from a nutritionist and your blood work needs to be monitored by a physician.