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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by platinumbride on November 24, 2003, at 9:01:22
Hi,
I think I am on the road to bulimia at 35 years old and 240 lbs! I am using laxatives like they are going out of style, and am begining to double my armour thyroid meds in the hope of increasing my metabolism. Can anyone here relate to any of this?
Diane
Posted by Poet on November 24, 2003, at 11:20:12
In reply to bulimia at 240 lbs?????, posted by platinumbride on November 24, 2003, at 9:01:22
Hi Diane,
Bulimics come in all sizes and ages.
I've been bulimic since age 20. I managed to get it under control on my own in my early 30s. Now at 46, I started binging and purging again. There's a bunch of threads in psychological babble archives.
Are you taking the laxatives and extra thyroid meds after eating large amounts of food?
What does the food symbolize? For me it's comfort.
What are you feeling emotionally when you take them? I make myself throw up and until recently it gave me a rush of emotional release and feeling completely in control. My last binge/purge was physically bad, and I realized I did it to punish myself, no emotional release. A therapy breakthrough with a high price. Sigh.
Ask me anything, I'm here to help.
Poet
Posted by platinumbride on November 26, 2003, at 13:54:44
In reply to Re: bulimia at 240 lbs????? » platinumbride, posted by Poet on November 24, 2003, at 11:20:12
Thank you,Poet, for your response.....
I don't really feel any release or anything particularly at all, just a sense that I can't lose all of this weight without doing something radical.
i just keep thinking that if I get some of the weight off.....like 50 lbs, which will still be a drop in the bucket for me, I might be able to motivate myself to get out and exercise or something, and then take a healthier approach.
Laxatives after a lot of food, yes....I can't make myself vomit.....no real gag reflex here.....
Thyroid meds, well, you are supposed to take them on an empty stomach, so I just take more than I am supposed to, whenever I take them.
Food is surely comfort, but also a sense of giving in to what has become hopeless (like my life...meds or no meds). I guess that is a comfort to me as well.
The rotten thing is that I cant deal with the abuse of laxatives (some would say this is good, I guess). Feeling sick to my stomach all of the time is not fabulous.
I guess I can't even be a real bulimic.
D
Posted by Poet on November 29, 2003, at 11:27:05
In reply to Re: bulimia at 240 lbs????? » Poet, posted by platinumbride on November 26, 2003, at 13:54:44
Hi,
Laxitive abuse has some nasty physical reactions, it's a good thing that you recognize that your body can't handle them.
I can understand that overeating is a way to give in to what's become hopeless. My recent binges have been due to career failure and talking in therapy about painful stuff from my childhood. Food used to be my comfort, now it's my punishment.
I wish I could give you a diet that magically makes weight disappear. You don't want the bulimic diet plan, believe me.
To get myself back in control (physically anyway) I plan every bit of food I allow myself to eat in advance. I don't go near any food that triggers binging. It might work for you, too.
Be strong.
Poet
Posted by Dinah on November 29, 2003, at 12:27:03
In reply to Re: bulimia at 240 lbs????? » platinumbride, posted by Poet on November 29, 2003, at 11:27:05
It really is easy to use food to feel better. I've been eating enough to make myself sick lately, and I'm afraid to take my blood sugar readings. I think I'm endangering my glucophage-free status.
You find that planning your food helps? I'm afraid I just wouldn't eat at all then. I'm such an impulse eater. I'd rather not eat anything than eat something I'm not in the mood for. How far in advance do you plan? Do you make sure you have all the food on hand?
I'm down to 182 or so from almost 200. And with extra stress coming up at work soon, I really need to lose another ten or so pounds to make sure I don't have to go back on the glucophage.
Posted by Poet on December 1, 2003, at 9:59:20
In reply to Re: bulimia at 240 lbs????? » Poet, posted by Dinah on November 29, 2003, at 12:27:03
Hi Dinah,
Planning what I eat absolutely helps. I figure out all meals and snacks the day before. Pizza for dinner, means, fruit for breakfast and a veggie salad with fat free dressing for lunch.
I always have low cal and fat free food at home. Lean Cuisines are my normal dinner if my husband isn't cooking. He gets crabby that I ask him what's for dinner tomorrow, but he's used to my "obsession with food." He has no clue that I still binge/purge. He thinks that's all in the past.
He has high cholesterol so we don't have a lot of junk food in the house. I buy small bags of chips, so I eat a few ounces and not a pound in one sitting. I don't buy the giant snack pack, I mean I buy one little bag at a time. The chips are calculated in my meal plan as a snack or with a sandwich (no mayo or cheese, thank you.)
Controlling my eating is easier than controlling the emotions that trigger the binging/purging. Therapy is tough right now, lots of digging into childhood pain. I'm trying hard to avoid my favorite binge foods. I made it through Thanksgiving without eating an entire pie, not that I've ever done that... :-(
I think my menu planning is like Weight Watchers without calculating points. I can't gain weight or it triggers a binge/purge frenzy. It works for me, if you try it I hope it works for you.
Poet
Posted by Dinah on December 1, 2003, at 10:23:14
In reply to Re: bulimia at 240 lbs????? » Dinah, posted by Poet on December 1, 2003, at 9:59:20
If I adjust that to making the plan in the morning I think it might work.
Congratulations on Thanksgiving! I had a huge problem with pumpkin pie and whipped cream.
Posted by Racer on December 4, 2003, at 16:49:57
In reply to Re: Thanks » Poet, posted by Dinah on December 1, 2003, at 10:23:14
Dunno if it'll help anyone else, but since this is an issue that just came back up for me recently, I thought I'd jump in with a few thoughts.
Planning what to eat really does help. For weight loss, I've moved my 'big' meal of the day to lunchtime, which gives me the energy to get through the day without cravings. Dinner is my 'slim' meal. Not only does that mean that I'm not hungry in the afternoons, but I sleep better, too, without having all that food to digest. (I know, sounds like one of those things Mom used to say, "Don't go out with wet hair", "Don't go to bed on a full stomach", etc, but it really has made a difference for me.)
Also, if you're serious about losing weight, rather than making your weight yet another thing to beat up on yourself over (that's usually what it *really* is for me, so I'm throwing it out there in case you do it too), PLAN on having a snack during the day! PLAN that nice Doritos mini-binge. That way, when you pull out the bag, you put the chips into a bowl, and you don't feel as if you have to eat the entire bag to punish yourself for your weakness. (Please, this is just the sort of thing I go through with food, and is offered to anyone else who does the same -- it is not meant to offend anyone.)
Oh, yeah, and almost forgot: for the original poster:
Yes, you can develop eating disorders at any age. There was even a recent segment on one of the prime time news shows about older women and eating disorders. Much more common these days, and very serious at any age. Hard as it is to admit that there's yet another thing to worry about, talk to your counsellor -- whoever you vent to, if not a professional -- and try to get some help for it now. Trust me, you don't want to have to dig your way out of the full on, long term version.
Good luck.
Posted by Poet on December 4, 2003, at 20:57:14
In reply to One thing that helps me with weight/ED stuff..., posted by Racer on December 4, 2003, at 16:49:57
Posted by afatchic on December 6, 2003, at 21:30:13
In reply to bulimia at 240 lbs?????, posted by platinumbride on November 24, 2003, at 9:01:22
Oh yes, I can definitely relate. I'm 41 and I weigh 190 lbs. I'm hyothyroid and I take Armour thyroid too.
When you double your dose, do you have hyper symptoms? Perhaps your prescribed dose isn't high enough. Do you know what your TSH is?
> Hi,
>
> I think I am on the road to bulimia at 35 years old and 240 lbs! I am using laxatives like they are going out of style, and am begining to double my armour thyroid meds in the hope of increasing my metabolism. Can anyone here relate to any of this?
>
> Diane
Posted by platinumbride on December 7, 2003, at 0:06:24
In reply to Re: bulimia at 240 lbs?????, posted by afatchic on December 6, 2003, at 21:30:13
You know, when I double the dose, I can't say that I really feel hyper, which is odd. I don't know my TSH...the whole thyroid thing has really been another unsucessful cog in the wheel of trying to get depression under control.
I do know that the levels were borderline, though.
I've now stopped all meds, including the thyroid because I am so sick of taking a bunch of pills and still feeling lousy :(I think that as previous posters mentioned, the bulimia diet isnt worth it....guess I am remaining fat for a while.
Do you double up on your thyroid meds to lose weight?
Diane
Posted by afatchic on December 7, 2003, at 20:51:56
In reply to Re: bulimia at 240 lbs?????, posted by platinumbride on December 7, 2003, at 0:06:24
Diane,
Do NOT stop taking Armour. It is not a drug but a natural replacement for the thyroid hormones your body isn't able to make on it's own. Remember, depression is a major symptom of hypothyroidism.
I'm concerned that you are being undertreated for your thyroid. When was the last time you had your TSH measured? It should be between 1 and 2 for most people to feel well.
Please go to: http://thyroid.about.com/mbody.htm
to learn more about coping with your thyroid problems. The site is a wonderful up-to-date source of medical information and the forum is excellent and supportive.Write back and tell me how you're doing.
Alex
> You know, when I double the dose, I can't say that I really feel hyper, which is odd. I don't know my TSH...the whole thyroid thing has really been another unsucessful cog in the wheel of trying to get depression under control.
> I do know that the levels were borderline, though.
> I've now stopped all meds, including the thyroid because I am so sick of taking a bunch of pills and still feeling lousy :(
>
> I think that as previous posters mentioned, the bulimia diet isnt worth it....guess I am remaining fat for a while.
>
> Do you double up on your thyroid meds to lose weight?
>
> Diane
Posted by platinumbride on December 7, 2003, at 22:20:52
In reply to Re: bulimia at 240 lbs?????, posted by afatchic on December 7, 2003, at 20:51:56
Dear Alex,
Thank you for your kindness. When I had bloodwork done (maybe four months ago), it was read by my shrink and regular doc. My shrink thought that the levels were potentially indicative of Hypo., while my regular doc felt everything was normal. So I was never really officially diagnosed as hypo....it was just a shot in the dark about the origins of my depression and obesity. Since the armour has done nothing for either, and since the deviation from "normal" range was so questionable, I figured that the thyroid is not the issue. I will be seeing my shrink on Wednesday and I guess I get his view on the situation. I guess you are implying that if I am feeling nothing from the armour then it is possible that I am being undertreated, as you said.
I am having major anxiety ..... STUFF.. (LOL) also, so things with meds are tricky all around now.
Thanks again.......
Diane
Posted by afatchic on December 7, 2003, at 23:59:13
In reply to Re: bulimia at 240 lbs????? » afatchic, posted by platinumbride on December 7, 2003, at 22:20:52
Diane,
Most doctors are not familiar with the true normal range for a TSH test. It's very common for a doctor to tell a patient that her test results are "normal" even when they actually indicate thyroid disease. A year or so ago, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologist (AACE) made a formal statement that the true normal range for a TSH is .3-3. Anything below that range can indicate hyperthyroidism, and anything above that range usually means you're hypothyroid.
Remember TSH stands for thyroid stimulating hormone. When your thyroid isn't producing enough hormones (hypo), your body releases more TSH to urge your thyroid to make more hormones.
You need to find out what your actual lab results are. If you want, you can post them here or e-mail them to me and we can sort them out together.
Alex
> Dear Alex,
>
> Thank you for your kindness. When I had bloodwork done (maybe four months ago), it was read by my shrink and regular doc. My shrink thought that the levels were potentially indicative of Hypo., while my regular doc felt everything was normal. So I was never really officially diagnosed as hypo....it was just a shot in the dark about the origins of my depression and obesity. Since the armour has done nothing for either, and since the deviation from "normal" range was so questionable, I figured that the thyroid is not the issue. I will be seeing my shrink on Wednesday and I guess I get his view on the situation. I guess you are implying that if I am feeling nothing from the armour then it is possible that I am being undertreated, as you said.
>
> I am having major anxiety ..... STUFF.. (LOL) also, so things with meds are tricky all around now.
>
> Thanks again.......
>
> Diane
Posted by judy1 on December 8, 2003, at 9:30:21
In reply to Re: bulimia at 240 lbs?????, posted by afatchic on December 7, 2003, at 23:59:13
when I was in-patient for bulimia treatment, patients came in all sizes- actually the sickest (like me at the time) were normal weight, the heavier patients hadn't destroyed their bodies nearly as much. It is such a difficult behavior to beat, even though I got treatment in my 20's, my 30's are proving difficult whenever I'm under stress. I know it's a control issue, not a food one. I wish you all the best of luck- judy
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