eating disorders

[heni]

I'm sorry to be raising an older post here, but I would like to hear if anyone else has had problems with disordered eating as a result of their CFS.

I have been suffering more 'dramatic' symptoms for approximately 13 months. I stopped working 7 months ago as a result of my CFS. I suffer from resulting depression, and an adjustment disorder.

I am struggling a little with 'mind games' over my weight gain. Since 13 months ago, I have gained approximately 16kg. 8kg of those came on 5 months ago, during a 2 month trial of a low dosage of prednisone. I was quite miserable on prednisone and it exacerbated my depression. It also made me quite 'angry'.

Since January, I have been taking Effexor XR. Results have been up and down, although I found the most recent problem to be more with my inconsistency in taking the medication on time (& missing some days). Since getting on track with taking on time, my symptoms have reduced in intensity but are still there. I seem to have what, from what I have read, a new symptom of 'brain zaps' - or waves of a strange sort of diziness. They are very short, but especially towards night time or when I am heavily fatigued, they become quite frequent.

Anyway, the weight gain worries me some, and I find myself desiring to go down the path of unhealthy eating habits just to 'get rid of' this extra weight. I have been told to forget about my weight until I am healthy again, but this is very difficult for me to accept. I almost wish that I could throw my food up, or just not eat - I know it won't solve any issues and will make things harder... but I suppose in a way it IS more like a way to gain some control again, and to help my self esteem at the same time. When I last weighed myself I was 80.5kg. My usual weight is 62-64kg - and even at that weight I don't feel happy and would prefer to be in the low 50s. I am 167cm tall.

I just want to know, do others experience these feelings? How do you handle them? And what can I do to shift this weight? I feel it is a combination of the medications I am on, as well as the level of inactivity for such a long time. I also find it very difficult to eat properly, as when I am feeling unwell, I will grab anything out of the cupboard and just eat that, not WANTING to eat it, but not having the energy or 'couldn't be bothered' to make something else.

Please help! I dont'want to add to my problems with my CFS. I want to be well, I want to go back to working, I want to lead a happy and successful life. I am sick of being unemployed, feeling unwell, broke, fully dependant on my parents... I feel like a loser... and a fat loser to top it off.

[*Emerald*]

Hi. Sorry to hear of your weight problems. I have had a life long battle with my weight. Im around 70kg at the mo, my heaviest was around 80kg. Im under 5 ft tall so its a health problem. Two wk ago I had allergy testing done at the health shop and found most of the foods I have eaten all my life are ones my system cant tolerate. Im unable to eat meat/poultry/fish, wheat, milk/dairy of any type, chilli, citrus fruit, msg, soya milk, oats. There were many more on the list - mostly my regular foods. For the past four yr especially I have struggled with what. I thought was ibs symptoms and is actually allergy or intolerance. Its maybe worth getting tested yourself to see if your diet is doing more harm than good

[heni]

Hi Emerald,

As part of my searching for an 'answer' I also had allergy testing and kinesiology to see if allergies played a role. I too had a million and one things that were identified as my having a sensitivity to. I tried to follow it, but it's just too extensive. Basically I could eat vegetable and fruits (except nightshades), and taht was the extent of it. Basically all processed foods of any kind, all dairy, all meat, etc were off limits. I couldn't survive like that, and I gave up on it quickly.

I just hate where I'm at but I have no clue how to change it. It's so frustrating considering my past (I actually was working in the sporting field, and have worked in Personal Training Studios, been a weightloss consultant, etc).... everything I know is basically not 'applicable' for me now. i can't do what I 'know'.