Expert: Ryan Hale - 2/16/2010

Question
Hi Ryan, thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I am twenty years old and even though I was never diagnosed with an eating disorder, when I moved away, I extremely over-exercised and didn't eat enough. I started getting bad digestion problems and I thought that this was some form of IBS. I only mad it worse by eating smaller amounts and exercising more in an attempt to make it get better. My lowest weight was 85 pounds. I am about 5'2, and I now weigh 105-ish.( mornign weight). I saw a nutristionalist who got me drinking ensures and gradually the stomach problems seemed to get better, but after six months of re-feeding, I got a stomach flu, and ever since then I get really full really fast and even feel nauseous sometime after I eat. (different symptoms). I read that anorexics can have gastroparesis, but it normally goes away once they start eating good again. I never have the energy to do anything because my stomach is always so uncomfortably full and my food alwasy seems to feel like coming back up. What I don't understand is why after I felt like I was starting to get so much better it suddenly got worse. I also heard that gastroparesis is permanent but sometimes in anorexics it isn't always. So I was wondering, because the doctor put me on domperidome, do you know how common this is. Does this problem normally develop a good time after re-feeding? If I have gastroparesis, does this always mean that it's damage to the vagus nerve? If not what could it be? If so, can that get better. i'm really really frusterated and it's really really hard to get an appointment with my doctor right now. I want to know also, is there anything I can do to make this get better? Because even the domperidome doesn't seem to do anything. please any advice, or knowledge you have in this area would be greatly appreciated because everywhere I look, it seems that this is a permanent disease, and I really don't know what to do becasuse I always feel sick and don'tt have the energy to do anything. Thank you so much for your time. I really really appreciate it.

Answer
Tanya- that's really impressive that you have worked so hard to get better.  It's a drag that you've run into this problem now after being on such a positive trend.  I wish I knew what to say, but I really have no knowledge in this area and only one piece of advice. I'm not sure where you are writing from ( I get a lot of emails from over seas).  In America you can go straight to a specialist depending on your insurance, or you can at least ask your doctor for a referral.  I would suggest seeing a gastrointerologist.  That's someone who specializes in the stomach and intestines.  They would be the most help for you I think.  You may also talk to the nutritionist and see what he/she thinks.  Sorry, I'm not much more help than that.