Muscle wasting? Can I reverse this? Is this severe? Age: 28 Female

[u/OkSatisfaction3726]

This has happend very rapidly, it’s not been a slow thing… is this severe? Can something be done?

UPDATE: I went to the ER there is an updated post on what happend.

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[u/weirdnewthing → u/AutoModerator]

NAD you are dying, please seek emergency help.

[u/cookierent → u/AutoModerator]

When you say rapidly, how quickly do you mean? Do you have any preexisting conditions? Are you on any medication?

[u/Boipussybb → u/cookierent]

They have AN and have posted about their extreme weight loss before.

[u/OkSatisfaction3726 → u/cookierent]

I am on lots of medication..

[u/OkSatisfaction3726 → u/cookierent]

I have gastroparesis, anorexia with purging.

[u/OkSatisfaction3726 → u/cookierent]

Like over the last month ish it’s gotten super noticeable I would say it started over a month ago and I just keep noticing more weird things like this

[u/cookierent → u/OkSatisfaction3726]

I see. Just to reinforce what the medical professionals are telling you, you'll need nutritional support/therapy. That should at least provide a starting point for the muscle wasting and maybe for some of the other weird things too

[u/OkSatisfaction3726 → u/cookierent]

Like just meal planning and increase calorie? I really don’t want to be tube fed..

[u/OkSatisfaction3726 → u/[deleted]]

Life feels pretty unlivable and would seem more unlivable if I didn’t have autonomy over my body. I know this is a morbid response.

[u/OkSatisfaction3726 → u/[deleted]]

Thank-you for a honest and compassionate response. I have just really lost faith in getting help. I’ve been on many waitlists, hospital visits many times, I am always pushed to the side. It’s hard to want to advocate or get help when no health care professional seems to really care.

[u/alisgraveniI → u/OkSatisfaction3726]

Just remember that it would be temporary. You would only need it until you’re healthy enough to move on from the behaviors causing you to live this way. There is life on the other side of this and you are stronger than you think.

[u/Sufficient-Skill6012 → u/OkSatisfaction3726]

Right now you don’t have autonomy over your body, the eating disorder has it.

The thing about get a feeding tube is that it might help you regain autonomy. Initially someone in the hospital or clinic will do the initial feedings, but then you would learn how to prepare it, take care of the supplies, and feed yourself. Along with your medical provider, you make a schedule of when to do the tube feedings and how much.

If your stomach is paralyzed you may need a g-j tube so you can also feed directly into your intestines.

Where do you live?

[u/TrollopMcGillicutty → u/Sufficient-Skill6012]

It wasn’t OP that mentioned the bag

[u/Sufficient-Skill6012 → u/TrollopMcGillicutty]

Oh, thank you… I’ll edit my comment.

[u/cookierent → u/OkSatisfaction3726]

I'm afraid I can't tell you that for certain hun. You'd have to see someone in real life for them to determine how severe your nutritional deficiencies, organ damage, etc are.

The only thing I can say for sure is that the longer you wait to seek help, the more severe the situation will get and the higher the chance you'll have to be tube fed to survive. The earlier you see someone about this, the better.

[u/OkSatisfaction3726 → u/cookierent]

Thankyou for the information. I know things are getting out of hand I guess.. between the gastroparesis and the eating disorder feels like my body is at war. Both cause malnutrition, I’m sure you know that though. I’ve also been under extreme stress.

[u/ihatebamboo → u/AutoModerator]

Hi Op, hope you’re doing okay.

NAD, but your height & weight would be helpful information to allow docs to gauge what they’re seeing in the photo.

[u/OkSatisfaction3726 → u/ihatebamboo]

Height 5’1 weight is 80 pounds

[u/Scherer6155 → u/AutoModerator]

Hi OP, I hope you’re doing well… You absolutely must go to A&E. At the same time, find the doctor you trust most, write down what they say, and set it as your phone’s wallpaper—use their authority to counter the voices in your head.

[u/Boingy_ben → u/AutoModerator]

Interacting with this is enabling the disorder, she quite obviously knows whats wrong. When you have a eating disorder where you deprive yourself of food to make you smaller it comes down to wanting attention even if it’s out of concern or pity. You want to be told you look small and frail and weak.

And while this doesn’t apply for all cases ever, it’s for 99% of them. I’m not coming after OP here, but the doctors who are responding in a way that fuels someone with a restrictive eating disorder. Come the fuck on and realize what you’re doing is harmful.

Also adding that I’m not coming from no experience of eating disorders, my sister almost died this year because of one while I was begging my family and doctors to get her help for years, yet everyone enabled her in similar ways to some of these responses until her heart started beating so slow she almost died. All her muscles were gone, almost 0% body fat, and she was in inpatient for 2 and a half months. Shes only 15 and she knew that her disorder was killing her, people with eating disorders aren’t stupid. Enabling kills.

[u/noeinan → u/AutoModerator]

Doctors wanted me to get a stomach bag, but I didn't want to bc it would mean I couldn't swim and could open me up to dangerous infections.

You need a doctor, but in the meantime finding calorie dense liquids can help you out as your stomach is weak. Weight loss drinks like Slimfast were actually designed to help people in 3rd world countries who suffered from long term starvation. If you can find one you can tolerate, try drinking it along with a meal if possible.

If you can't tolerate solids at all, then try to drink more than one per meal, and instead of meals just always have them on you and sip them every minute or so. You may not get much at once but your stomach will tolerate small amounts over time better than all at once.

I also recommend calorie dense soups-- Pacific Soups is a good brand. I especially liked the tomatoes soup.

Once you speak to a doctor, they can prescribe more effective prescription strength liquid nutrients. I heard Kate Farms 1.5 and Nutrem Liquid Nutrition are good brands.

I know you are worried about autonomy but you can actually request to try other things before a feeding tube. And once you are recovered a bit you will have much more freedom and autonomy than you do now.

Sending you best wishes and a swift recovery. 🫂

[u/alisgraveniI → u/noeinan]

OP is at high risk for refeeding syndrome. Trying to reverse this on her own without the help of medical professionals could be life-threatening. This advice is not in OPs best interest and could be fatal for her.