Fear of eating -- losing weight

Daba · Post by **Daba** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 12:37 pm

Hi. Has anyone gone through the fear of eating because of what the results would be. I keep losing weight because I am afraid to eat a lot. I have an appointment with a dietician, but it is not until the end of June. I think I should probably see a social worker or psychologist. Just want to know if I am the only one who has this issue.

Post by **tex** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 12:58 pm

I'm pretty sure that a lot of us, maybe most of us, go through that stage, but the problem is if we don't eat, we lose weight even faster. I tried not eating, and it didn't work for me. I soon went from being underweight to hide and bones. I hardly recognized myself in the mirror.

Tex

Daba · Post by **Daba** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 1:08 pm

So, how did you get over the fear? How do I start trying new foods?

kariswalstad · Post by **kariswalstad** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 2:13 pm

Hi Daba, short answer: YES. I saw your other post about depression tapering off Budesonide, and since you mention seeing a mental health professional here, I wanted to strongly encourage that. I went into a major depressive episode all last year, as I got sicker and sicker, and ultimately closer and closer to surrendering to this disease and treatment with drastic diet changes. I am nine months into healing and am SO much better! I tried everything I could think of before finally cutting gluten, dairy, soy, oat, and artificial sweeteners out of my diet.

As many folks on this board have shared, MC is about way more than digestive symptoms. I thought if I could just manage that, I could live a relatively normal life. Unfortunately, I had to also suffer from muscle pain, arthritis, brain fog, increasing allergies, indescribable fatigue, and so on before I began accepting that I had to change my life. Fortunately, I had some experience with major life upheavals, starting with sobering up in Alcoholics Anonymous. Essentially, I keep learning that in order to have some serenity, I have to live life on life's terms. For me, part of that is self-care. I am blessed with an excellent counselor and fantastic psychiatrist, both of whom I had to search for (the first couple of both were not the right fit for me) and build long-term relationships with. In fact, my counselor has been my biggest advocate and guided me toward this forum and taking charge of my own health. She is smarter than all of the GI docs and other medical professionals combined and I'm so grateful for her. When I think of the years I blindly trusted medical folks who said to eat pretty much opposite of what works for us...what a waste.

Ultimately, MC is as much about mental health as it is physical, and of course it's a chicken and egg scenario, where if either are left untreated, the other suffers too. Both head meds and retraining the brain will help you to release the fear and build trust that you can get through this. This worst part is temporary. We are all here rooting for you!

As for today, I'd start by consuming the least scary item. Whatever that is (bone broth, turkey breast, etc.), have as much as you can every hour so you can give your body the fuel it needs to begin healing. For me, the gift of desperation was big too. I had nothing left to lose, so I decided to trust all the wonderful folks on this forum who promised that I would get better. They're right. I promise.

Daba · Post by **Daba** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 2:36 pm

Thank you so much for your kind and truthful words. I really appreciate your honesty and openness. I have to start somewhere!!

Post by **tex** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 2:37 pm

Karis wrote a great post. She's quite right. Published research shows that the neurological symptoms of this disease are an least as bad as the digestive symptoms for many of us. In fact, a few people have only neurological symptoms (no digestive symptoms).

The section on Guidelines on Recovery contains some excellent recovery advice. For example, the thread at the link below discusses how to select a recovery diet.

Suggested Eating Plan - Stage ONE

Tex

Daba · Post by **Daba** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 2:57 pm

Thank you very much. I'm not sure how to use this site. Where do I find the different stages? Stage 2?

Post by **tex** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 3:28 pm

You can find stage 2 and a lot of other tips in the category at the link below, but it's difficult to believe that you're ready for stage two if you're still reacting. Have you read all 10 pages of the Stage One thread and followed the recommendations?

Guidelines for Recovery

Tex

Daba · Post by **Daba** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 3:49 pm

The problem is that I was diagnosed in January. I have been on Budesonide since then. I was better earlier on than I am now. I wasn't so fearful of eating. But, then the nausea set in, the ER for low sodium, potassium and dehydration. I don't even have that many flairs now -- I did this past week for a few days -- 4-5 times of D. I am tapering off the Budesonide now. I am at 6 mg and going down to 3 mg tomorrow. I think it's more psychological than anything -- the fear of eating.

Post by **tex** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 6:50 pm

I hear you. I had nausea also, when I was reacting. But that was long before I learned about magnesium. Have you tried taking an ordinary antihistamine? Dramamine and most of those nausea medications are actually just strong antihistamines.

Tex

Daba · Post by **Daba** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 6:55 pm

Dramamine takes away the nausea? I didn't think it would be strong enough, which is why I am taking Phenergan.

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Thu Jun 11, 2020 6:50 am

Hi Daba,

If you check my sign in date I've been here for 10 years. There is a strong link to stress and MC. I have been to a counselor
several times over the years. It has been helpful. We did not specifically talk about fear of eating but I think we talked about fear of work with MC, fear of life with MC etc. It has been helpful for me to talk to counselors.

Karis--a really great post.

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Thu Jun 11, 2020 6:52 am

kariswalstad wrote:Hi Daba, short answer: YES. I saw your other post about depression tapering off Budesonide, and since you mention seeing a mental health professional here, I wanted to strongly encourage that. I went into a major depressive episode all last year, as I got sicker and sicker, and ultimately closer and closer to surrendering to this disease and treatment with drastic diet changes. I am nine months into healing and am SO much better! I tried everything I could think of before finally cutting gluten, dairy, soy, oat, and artificial sweeteners out of my diet.

As many folks on this board have shared, MC is about way more than digestive symptoms. I thought if I could just manage that, I could live a relatively normal life. Unfortunately, I had to also suffer from muscle pain, arthritis, brain fog, increasing allergies, indescribable fatigue, and so on before I began accepting that I had to change my life. Fortunately, I had some experience with major life upheavals, starting with sobering up in Alcoholics Anonymous. Essentially, I keep learning that in order to have some serenity, I have to live life on life's terms. For me, part of that is self-care. I am blessed with an excellent counselor and fantastic psychiatrist, both of whom I had to search for (the first couple of both were not the right fit for me) and build long-term relationships with. In fact, my counselor has been my biggest advocate and guided me toward this forum and taking charge of my own health. She is smarter than all of the GI docs and other medical professionals combined and I'm so grateful for her. When I think of the years I blindly trusted medical folks who said to eat pretty much opposite of what works for us...what a waste.

Ultimately, MC is as much about mental health as it is physical, and of course it's a chicken and egg scenario, where if either are left untreated, the other suffers too. Both head meds and retraining the brain will help you to release the fear and build trust that you can get through this. This worst part is temporary. We are all here rooting for you!

As for today, I'd start by consuming the least scary item. Whatever that is (bone broth, turkey breast, etc.), have as much as you can every hour so you can give your body the fuel it needs to begin healing. For me, the gift of desperation was big too. I had nothing left to lose, so I decided to trust all the wonderful folks on this forum who promised that I would get better. They're right. I promise.

Karis, this is a really good post.

Daba · Post by **Daba** » Thu Jun 11, 2020 7:11 am

Thank you very much. I am actually having a virtual visit with a nutritionist today and am also looking into finding a therapist to work with coping strategies because I need them. My life is stagnant right now and damn depressing. If anyone knows a great therapist in Southeast Michigan, please let me know.

kariswalstad · Post by **kariswalstad** » Thu Jun 11, 2020 10:17 am

Tex and Brandy, thank you - that's high praise coming from two experts who have helped me so much!

Daba, I've asked my counselor if she has a colleague in your area or if she could see you electronically and I'll let you know. I would caution you putting too much stock in the nutritionist, simply because the only guidance that has given me tangible healing has come from this forum. I understand your desire to see one, but the education most professionals receive ends up being detrimental to us with MC. So if she tells you to eat leafy greens and lots of veggies and fiber, yogurt, or even the BRAT diet, re-read the Stage 1 diet and try that instead! But this is your journey and you may be like me, who bought Tex's book back in 2014 but decided that was unnecessarily drastic so I'll just suffer for another 5 years...so long that I forgot I even owned the book!

At any rate, we're in the right place and we're on the path to healing. Thank God!

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