Does Anorexia Cause This?

[The Road goes ever on]

Recently, I was shocked to discover that a relative, 39 y.o., with a 16 yo son, just was diagnosed with anorexia. Things were so bad, that from her lack of food intake and malnutrition, she could not move her legs or walk. She is slowly recouperating.

I also found out that during this 3 month starvation ordeal, she would only eat every other day, something like a boiled egg. Now she may have been suffering for months - do not know. During this period, she also started having swallowing issues as well. (This is not what caused her anorexia, it was anxiety.) Now, when you don't chew/eat normally, does that weaken those muscles used for swallowing? Or is it anxiety that caused her swallowing issues? She has been depressed for a year or so.

Also due to the fact that she could not walk and felt her legs very weak, has her malnutrition caused any sustained damage? I was so shocked when I found out, yet very surprised that this not eating would disable her body.

 

[flecha57]

I really don't think 3 months is long enough to do any severe damage...she would have had to of been suffering a lot longer than that.

Eating disorders can cause digestive issues like acid reflux which can make it difficult to swallow...but I believe that is more with bulimia than anorexia. I know when I was in patient for bulimia, I had horrible acid reflux and it was hard to eat b/c my throat was so messed up.

 

[Southern Plunger]

I'm sorry you had to deal with that. I had no idea that reflux can be caused by eating disorders, though in a way, it does make sense. May I ask, how did you recover? What did you start eating? And diod your swallowing go back to normal?

It's quite strange that from not eating to eating too much or the wrong thing, that it effects our throat/swallowing/stomach as well.

 

[Contest]

Well, I spent a while in the hospital getting stable b/c I was severely dehydrated and all. And then when I was released I went back to out patient treatment and I'm still there...it's been over a year since I left the hospital now. My entire digestive track is really messed up now...I had to have a colonoscopy and upper GI endoscopy a few weeks ago...and even though I haven't purged in a few months...my esophogus was still irritated. I have to take Prevacid now to help with the acid reflux but it doesn't help 100%. I took Carafate for a while to help with my stomach but it was messing with the absorbtion of my thyroid medication. (another complication from my eating disorder...long term calorie restriction reduced my thyroid function and metabolism and now I have to take medication for hypothyroidism) and then I have to take Bentyl 30 minutes before I eat anything or it will go straight through me undigested...still does half the time even with the med.

And then theres the psych meds...Buspar 3 times a day to help with the anxiety that isn't being reduced by purging anymore...Cymbalta to help with the physical pain from the anxiety...and Neurontin to help stabilize my mood.

 

[Ove]

Horrible disease, what you are describing though is Bulimia.. not Anorexia.

 

[ferrarilover63]

It has been a good 15 yrs or since my severe eating disorder. I had for 10 yrs. Both Anorexia and Bulimia.
I still have stomach issues ! AND very serious dental issues. YES, I agree that these are long term health related issues directly affected by having an eating disorder.
I think the orginal poster may have been mis informed of the time frame though. This person probably has suufered an eating disorder for a lot longer then 3 months.
I believe the swallowing issues could be from anxiety more then anything else. As long as she has gone to the docotor and is medically cleared for anything elese causing the issue, it is more psychological.
Eating disorders can occur no matter what age. More and more older women are becomming afflicted too.
People might say that I still have a ED, because I am ow overweight. The other extreme of the spectrum. Not healthy at all either, which can make my health issues worse.
I too have thyroid issues and being treated for that . I really do not have any fond memories of the ED that took over my life and nearly killed me. It is a very serious disorder. the only way to get better all the way is for the person to want to get better and then make the effort to stop the behaviors, eat, and know that they are not fat or ruining the body. It takes a enormous toll on the body and spirit. ED's are dreadful, and extremely serious.