A call to all; at least read...

So, what are some experiences felt by anorexic/low-weight individuals on their way to a normal weight?

I'd like to know since a lot of body reactions are similar between sicknesses, so it can be hard to discern what is a true medical emergency or just a reaction to increased food intake...

Anyone's input would be greatly appreciated.

This seems like a pretty good idea for a thread! There are deffinitely moments where I wonder if something is an ED thing, or if its just me... you know?

Well very soon after I upped my intake, I found that I wasn't as cold. Same thing goes with increased energy- it was almost immediate.

I think this might just be me, because I've never heard anyone else refer to this: while I was restricting, my nose was always red. Haha I know, weird right? But as I recover, I don't look quite as much like rudolph, which is nice ;)

As I started eating, I found myself able to think more rationally, concentrate better, felt happier, and even felt less anxious about eating higher calorie meals. Amazing how the solution to anxiety about food is food itself- a starved brain doesn't seem to think so clearly.

Ok and this seriously doesn't make sence, but my hair only really started falling out after I started recovery. While I was actively eating disordered, I still had my full head of hair! Strange. I'm hoping with time, the hair issue will start to heal itself.

Erm... my ankle is finally healed! It seems that excersizing vigerously while underweight isn't such a good idea, and I damaged my nerves making it kind of awkward to walk. *sigh* How could I have been so stupid for SO long!?

My blood pressure is back to normal, as is my heart rate.

I'm sure there are others, I'll just have to think!

I think I'll try to share what I think is related to my weight gain also.

At first, I experienced my face poofing up. I also felt odd heart pumps/stonger heartbeats that I no longer experience.

The pain is gone now, but some areas in my upper leg were so muscle-less that I really started to nottice how painful it was to walk because I was only pulling on tendons. Now that seems to be gone.

I also notice an increase in headaches. I reason that out because I actually have muscles in my head and face to get constricted and thus have a headaches.

Now I seem to be rather emotional (I take that as a sign for possible hormones?). I have a hard time getting through the day if I don't have a really good breakfast. I get hungry (too) frequently, and sometimes I get carried away with certain foods.

What I really seem to be having a problem with is waking up in the middle of the night, completely unsure of my feeling of hunger and will go on a mindless-eating spree. I feel it has become a habit, more than just refeeding my body since I eat a lot more during the day now. Has anyone experienced that? What solutions can there be?

I also got very warm, I'm pretty much a heater all the time now. Although, my hair has gotten healthier, and I feel my smile/teeth has gotten brighter (if that's anything positive about weight gain).

Anyone else?

Yes to the poofing up face. Partially weight gain, partially due to bingeing (particularly on high-sodium foods I had previously deprived myself of). My face is certainly rounder now though.

In all honesty, my physical frailties are showing up now that I'm not engaging in my prior anorectic activities - I think I was previously so pumped up on adrenaline that many of these were largely not discernable at the time - but some are now just arising. Which is why I'm so passionate about getting others out of this rut before its too late - the 'delusion' really makes you believe you're just fine when you're doing so much unfathomable damage.

Now I'm having aches and pains - bones and muscular. I will probably need to get scans done for all of this in due time. Also substantial fatigue (though admittedly this could be depression related). I do need to get out of the house and begin to move around. And yes, headaches, which I never had during ED.

Emotions? You betcha. Gosh, I managed to suppress them for so long. Huge source of the insanity really. It was only a matter of time before I "cracked". Which is why I NEVER want to go back there. Because all you're doing is setting yourself up for collapse after collapse. I want to heal and overcome this thing - for GOOD.

Original Post by evolution_revolution:

Ok and this seriously doesn't make sence, but my hair only really started falling out after I started recovery. While I was actively eating disordered, I still had my full head of hair! Strange. I'm hoping with time, the hair issue will start to heal itself.

 The health of your hair is related to your health a few months ago. Eat a good diet of fats and protein and the issue will be resolved  (unless there was a different cause of course, but it's unlikely, since you were starving some time ago)

Since I started recovery, I have experienced an increased appetite.  I can never seem to get enough food, and I try to eat dense food sources, but I still have major cravings.  I try not to binge eat because this just makes me want to restrict my input the next day. 

I also feel extremely hungry during the night, and I can't sleep unless I allow myself to eat a snack. 

I am not far enough along in recovery to say that I am not preoccupied and constantly thinking about food.  I wish that I could just go about my day without constantly worrying about the next meal or snack.  I am always worried that I will not be hungry when dinner comes along and then my boyfriend will think that I am weird.  He understands that I have eating issues, but he doesn't truly understand the full realm of the ED because most people cannot understand unless they have experienced it. 

Thus, I think that since i started refeeding, i feel even more anxious about having an appetite at the appropriate times.  However, I do not know why I worry about this because I am usually constantly hungry, but my mind wants me to believe that if i eat this snack, then i won't be hungry again later.  Does anyone understand that?

grt idea theres several things ive noticed

when i start upping my milk intake my nails just suddenly start growing

food and eating seems to make me come alive almost to the point where im like a kid on blue smarties :)

my mum says since eating better the spark has come bk in my eye

i often find now that if i dont eat on time i feel dreadful and faint yet when i wasnt eating i felt fine

also i didnt eat i didnt feel hungry very often , i start eating more and gaining weight , i become a ravenous bull, werid how the body works youd think you d feel hungrier when your weight was lower  cause you needed it more i know the rational side of it.

since eating better my mind is constantly on the go i often think so many things i wonder how it all fits in there

Like Tessa said, great thead idea!

I have noticed quite a bit of things, here are some:

My body temperature is more back to normal. I'm not feeling very cold all of the time. I remember back in January having to sleep with two duvets, two quilts and a house robe - I was STILL cold!

My tailbone does not fully stick out anymore. Also the reasoning for having to sleep on top of extra blankets, duvets, pillows, etc. I hated always having to "switch spots" (especially at school), to get comfortable since it hurt to sit.

Feeling less tired. I remember having to go for a "nap" every afternoon because I was always SO tired - even after just having got up.

My skin complexion is better. I have always been on the pale side, but before I was even more so.

I don't bruise as easily anymore. I remember seeing a whole bunch of bruises on my body, especially from sleeping on my side or even if I barely fell, etc.

I seem less "moody" (if that's how you want to put it ). I was always on an emotional roller coaster, it seemed! Always getting frustrated, mad, upset, freaked out, etc. It was pretty hectic.

And of course, the re-gain of appetite. Although this part is a very slow, hard and stressful process, it is one of the best accomplishments of all after your body remembers it again. After my body remembered it again, it was like I NEEDED that food all of the time! I remember always looking at the clock thinking "is it meal time yet?!". It's strange at first, but then you get used to it.

Those are just off the top of my head. Obviously there are alot more. When I think of more, I will be sure to add them.

Now when I wake up in the morning, I can spring right out of bed as opposed to having to lie there and try to sum up the energy to move.

Sex life greatly improved(sorry if tmi!)

I did get the night sweats, and still kind of do.

No longer freezing cold all the time!

It doesn't hurt quite as much to sit in a chair(it still does a bit- but I've got weight to gain still :p)

I can carry my purse for longer than 10 minutes without my shoulder being in pain.

I can run!

I don't black out when I stand up as much.(I still have low blood pressure, but the blacking out has greatly decreased.)

My hair loss has also gotten worse, but I'm just going to keep pushing through :)

as a 'recovering' annorexic, i do see myself differently than before. i look at some pictures of the months prior and now dont approve of the way that i looked. although i struggle very much so with the number on the scale; which has jumped over 10 lbs in the past 3 months!... its easier to look at pictures of myself taken that day or the night before and not have to weed out the ones where i look too drawn out, gawky, or unnaturally thin. physically, i notice that i have gained back the weight in most of the same spots that i was always larger; i had been scared that it was going to return in unfamiliar territory lol and i wouldnt know how to handle it, but mother naturedecided to put the few new lbs right back where they belonged (ass and thighs lol). no biggy. i did have night sweats that has stopped, and i can now go outside without having to wear 3 shirts, my hands and legs arent constantly falling asleep, and i can ALMOST do my weighted hula hoop (thats right! *exercise equipment) without it killing the bones on my back. my friends have also started to compliment the way i look and have been telling me that ilook better; theyve evenn gotten comfy enough to tell me that i looked too thin and unnatural months prior. but there honestly is extremely supportive; because if no one was saying anything to me, or keeping me in the loop about my appearance, it would be alot harder to accept the weight gain. although i did put the lbs on rather quickly, i believe that it forced me to accept it, because i didnt have time to complain befoe another one was added lol. seriously tho, a lot of the physical discomforts have subsided as a result of a (minimally) normal weight. good luck. and dont be afraid of the scale. you just have to remember that it is a number, you are a person, and the only digits you should be worrying about are the ones from the next cutie whos gunna ask you out because of ur hot bod ;)

To the poster I am not sure what you meant by weird physical feelings but we are all different and why I think it is very key to have a gp monitor you through this. It is better safe then sorry.

For me  I do see myself as more rational,stronger,better skin and hair. Though some days are very anxiety provolking,depressing,etc overall I am doing more life and mood wise better. I guess that is a big thing I am trying to work on is gaining a life filled with many different things so that I have more of a healthy focus and feel better about myself