Expert: Meg - 4/6/2008

Question
Hello, first of all i want to say thanks for listing to my question/problem! and i ill give you somebackground on my problem..
I have always been pretty skinny as a teen, but ate a LOT so i guess my metabolism was pretty fast. when i got to 16 years old i still continued to eat a LOT, but my metablolism must have slowed down some beacuse i gained about 7 lbs. even though i always wanted to gain weight being so skinny, after i did.. i hated it. so i started tryting to exersize and eat healthier-which turned into a eating disorder. in 5 monthes(late april-august) i went from 112-87lbs! ( i was usually about (105-107) and then i gained 7 lbs to 112. i went to a rehab center called shepard and pratt center for eating disorderses in september 4. i gained about 17 lbs and left in october about 101 lbs. i have gained 5 lbs since then and i am 105-106 lbs now. i eat about 1800-2000 calories everyday. i have been home eating well for 5 monthes now and i feel like almost all the 5 lbs i gained at home has been to my stomach! i feel like poo bear or something and its so embaressgin and kinda triggering me into thinking i dont need to eat as much as i do! also, i have not gotten my period back and lost it back in may. *i DO get vaginal discharge though, is this a good sign or have nothing to do with periods?
Will my belly fat EVER re-distribute? and i am eating normally in my opinion, why hasnt my period come back yet? PLEASE help! my docors nurse said just to wait but i feel it has been a long time! i am back to the weight i have been before WITH periods..and probably with even more body fat than before bc i didnt get much musle back..help!
thankyou!!

Answer
Hi Erika,

Thanks for your question and I hope that I can be of help.  

First off, it sounds like you have been through a lot and have made a considerable amount of progress on your recovery.  Kudos to you.  It is not easy to fight an eating disorder and you are definitely on the right track and working hard-and you should be very proud of yourself.

As for your questions, I hate to agree with your doctor's nurse (as I wish I had a quick, cure all answer to give you) but I agree that it does just take time and patience.  

Weight distribution is a factor for most recovering anorexics (I know that I went through the very same thing when I was recovering and I agree with you, that it doesn't make staying on track any easier).  That said, the most important thing that you can do right now is continue to give your body the consistency that it needs by sticking with your meal plan and taking extra good care of yourself.  I absolutely understand wishing that the whole process would go more quickly, but unfortunately...getting totally better is something that you body has to do as its ready.  The more consistency you give it, the more it can do its job and fully heal.  And, although it can take some time (your experience is not at all abnormal), it will eventually happen.  My advice is to try to find other stuff that interests you to give your focus to right now.  This trick of distraction might sound a little simple, but since there is little you can do to speed your body's healing process up (other than staying consistent), you might as well turn your focus from your weight and body a little bit towards other stuff that is exciting and interesting.  As you do this, you will find that one day, you realize that your body is feeling more normal, that you have gotten your period and that with or without the constant stress about it, what needs to happen has happened.

I have pretty much the same advice in regards to your period.  I would guess that it will come back within a matter of months and again, this is something that really depends on the overall health of your body.  Anorexia is a pretty drastic shock to ones system so it makes sense that it takes awhile for one's body to readjust to normal and healthy functioning.  If you don't get it back within a year or so, I would have your doctor help you figure things out.  However, I would feel pretty confident in saying that you will, and soon.  Again, consistency is key and continuing to take good care of yourself.

It really sound like you're on the right track so keep up the good work and know that things WILL improve.  Perhaps not as quickly as you'd like, but I promise (as someone who has been there-and also talked with so many other girls who have as well) that it will happen.

Take care, okay?  And feel free to write anytime if there is more that I can help with.

Best,
Meg