Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 2/24/2011

Question
Hello Dr.Rust,
Here is my dilemma..I'm a 37 year old woman, and I have been struggling with an eating disorder for about 25 years now. I have been doing relatively well since my mid twenties, but continued to have occasional relapses every few years or so. Three years ago, after receiving a diagnosis and suffering a lot from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, my identity as a nurse...a wife..a friend, and a mother was crushed, and I bit by bit quit eating yet again. I was already a little overweight, and the weight loss from this last relapsed brought me down to a normal weight, but I had some extremely serious consequences from this relapse, and ended up in hospital with critically low vital signs. After a 6 week in-patient hospital stay, I agreed to go into outpatient treatment. While in treatment, I was started on 1500 calories a day, and on that, I was gaining over a kilo per week..so I panicked and after 3 weeks, quit the program. Over the next year, I gained almost 100 pounds on practically NO food intake, due to a mysterious hormonal problem. My periods had stopped for over 3 years, and I had hormones that were in the "none detected" range (progesterone and estrogen). As my hormones very slowly came back to normal, my weight has been coming off steadily, and after having my Thiamine levels stabilized, I have been eating so much better. The problem now though..is that because of another severe relapse of CHF and fibro, as well as my intense fear of weight gain since I gained so much weight because of that hormonal problem...and because of my many health issues, I already have a poor appetite, and now, I find myself POSSIBLY using this as an excuse not to eat...but I'm not 100% sure. I can't put myself through another eating disorder relapse..I barely made it out of this last one which was 3 years ago. Should I just assume that at my age...this will simply be the way I will have to live, or should I consider entering the treatment program again? I just feel like I'm a lost cause at this point...

Answer
Dear Danielle,

I'm so sorry you've had so much illness!  The hormonal complications are so difficult.  

No, another relapse for you is not an option.  You are not old, many women don't get into recovery until they're in their 40s - 50s.  I do believe however that you need to see a professional at least twice a week, or go into treatment to prevent the relapse.

Sometimes health problems such as you've had with the CFS and Fibromyalgia can actually cause a focus on food where you can develop an eating disorder.  This is what I suspect has happened with you.

The good thing is that you don't have to wait for a full relapse.  You can take action right now either by going into therapy or treatment.  Take a look at my center, Mirasol.  www.mirasol.net.  We get a number of women that are a little older.  It's a program that is gentle and respectful.

Let me know how I can ehlp you!

Warmly,
Jeanne Rust, PhD
CEO/Founder
Mirasol, Inc.
www.mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com
1-888-520-1700