Side effects?

hey all

I was just wondering if anyone else gets these ugly 'side effects' with the eating disorder... I've realised that the veins in my arms protrude out quite alot and makes me look like I've got really veiny, 60 year old arms =/ and on my hands the veins are very prominent there as well. Also, I realise that I have incredibly dry skin around my abdomen and I've always used moisturiser but its not improving.

There are more things like a really large 'dent' (can't think of an appropriate word xD) in the middle of my chest, and my ribs protrude out quite abit making me look like I'm constantly sucking in my stomach even though I'm not.

I was just wondering if this is temporary with recovery and if i would look normal again once i reach my goal weight? I really hope so because it looks quite gross -.-

Hi xfalling!

I also have the vein thing - on my arms and my legs the veins stick out and look GROSS!  My doc says this is to do with there not being enough fat on our limbs to cover the veins, and that once we get the natural layer of fat back they won't show so much.  As for the dry skin, I don't get that, but I get "mottled" areas of skin - I use a moisturiser and buff away at them, and I'm told that they'll also go.

As for the dent, I can only presume that will change as well...for me, all my weight gain so far has gone right to this 3 square inches of my belly, just to the right of my belly button - giving me an odd lopsided beerbelly!  Apparently, weight distribution takes a while, but it does happen, so don't worry!

It sucks doesn't it - sometimes it feels like they'll never come a time when you feel good about yourself! But hopefully this WILL ALL CHANGE

Hope this helps

xxxx

Hey! Oooo i feel you on the akward looking effects! I'm so veiny and gross, but it's getting better and i can wear short sleeves and skirts again! and The dent in my chest is gone too. so you can look forward to these things going away eventually. After 15 lbs gained my weight is starting to redistribute a bit, i'm not as embarrased of my bony legs and arms but most of the weight is still in my abdomen. Either i'm getting used to looking like this or it really is spreading out a bit lol, but don't worry, you'll look normal before you know it :)

Both of those are just a result of having too low bodyfat.  Once you regain weight and it redistributes, it should get better.

I definitely have/still am experiencing the veiny-ness and dry skin you're talking about. 

But here's another one:  Can acne be a problem associated with eating disorders or weight loss?  I've been trying to gain weight for a while but recently took a huge fall back after travelling to a foreign country and losing 10 lbs (due to a big change in my eating/living schedules).  Since that time my face has started breaking out like it hasn't in years!  I don't think the acne is stress related, because I am having a blast and don't feel stressed out despite living in a new country.  Also, it started about 3-4 weeks into the trip, so definitely after I'd acclimated, but also after all the weight had come off.  Any ideas on this one?

i also have very veiny arms and legs, even have then sticking out on my stomach, everyone comments on them all the time, i have dry skin, mainly on my hands, but also every where, my knees go purple too, and i lose feeling in my toes sometimes, going to the doc about that tomorrow, also my mouth goes tingly and my teeth, also get a vry dry mouth and sore tounge, im always thirsty no matter how much i drink, i hate it, i said today that i was so thirsty that i could drink loo water lol ewwww how gross but i was that thirsty, one more thing all my glands in my whole body are up and stick out, i know this might be tmi and i will say sorry now, i havent told anyone this but my butt looks like an old persons its horrible. only thing ive found that is good that my hair doesnt get greesy.

lucyxx

Original Post by xmasbaby1974:

i also have very veiny arms and legs, even have then sticking out on my stomach, everyone comments on them all the time, i have dry skin, mainly on my hands, but also every where, my knees go purple too, and i lose feeling in my toes sometimes, going to the doc about that tomorrow, also my mouth goes tingly and my teeth, also get a vry dry mouth and sore tounge, im always thirsty no matter how much i drink, i hate it, i said today that i was so thirsty that i could drink loo water lol ewwww how gross but i was that thirsty, one more thing all my glands in my whole body are up and stick out, i know this might be tmi and i will say sorry now, i havent told anyone this but my butt looks like an old persons its horrible. only thing ive found that is good that my hair doesnt get greesy.

lucyxx

Please tell your doctor about all of this.  Excessive thirst is a sign of diabetes.  So is numbing of the feet and toes.

Original Post by xmasbaby1974:

i also have very veiny arms and legs, even have then sticking out on my stomach, everyone comments on them all the time, i have dry skin, mainly on my hands, but also every where, my knees go purple too, and i lose feeling in my toes sometimes, going to the doc about that tomorrow, also my mouth goes tingly and my teeth, also get a vry dry mouth and sore tounge, im always thirsty no matter how much i drink, i hate it, i said today that i was so thirsty that i could drink loo water lol ewwww how gross but i was that thirsty, one more thing all my glands in my whole body are up and stick out, i know this might be tmi and i will say sorry now, i havent told anyone this but my butt looks like an old persons its horrible. only thing ive found that is good that my hair doesnt get greesy.

lucyxx

 sorry, i'm changing up the topic of this post a bit, but xmasbaby, you're suffering from many of the effects of starvation right now and you really really need to eat more and NOW because it will only get worse. I know me saying this isn't going to do anything, you have to do this for yourself, but I know you have all the best intentions and you do want your life back. So please take better care of yourself! I suggest using everything you've written here and making a list for yourself of all the reasons for wanting to recover. I did this and it really helped me out early in recovery because anytime I was struggling I would pull it out and read it and remember all the good things that would come with getting better and getting to a healthier weight, and also what the scary alternatives were. Keep fighting!

Ok, so i guess its quite a relief to know that all these things will go away. Thanks eveeryone for your reassurance! it's annoying having to wait isn't it? sometimes I just feel like telling my body 'HURRY UP!! recover already!!'

But I guess its not only the body, but the mind as well ^^ And i'm really not looking forward to all the weight going to the abdomen! I know the weight will redistribute but I can't bear to have a beerbelly or bigger stomach... it was actually one of the main reasons I developed the ED - because i wanted an unnaturally flat stomach x.x

xmas - i also get really thirsty all the time, but thats always been the case for me. even before the ED, i'd always be constantly drinking water. but now i'm even more thirsty at times probably because i'm eating alot more. You might want to tell the doctor about those symptoms though =)

went to the doctor today and she is doing some tests, checking my sugar levels, full blood count a few other things, hopefully fingers crossed they will come back ok, got to have them done on friday morning wont get results for a week tho, she asked me if i could farst for 12 hours before the blood test!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i ask you what the hell, told her no way, i have to eat breakfast no matter what. she also gave me some stuff that might help my sore tounge.

lucyxx

Hi there!

As a nursing student, it is quite obvious that you are suffering from severe nutrient deficiency...which in turn affects every system of the body. Most of your symptoms could be from deficiendies in the B vitamins...particularly the sore tongue. Now, I know you have probably had 100 people tell you what the ED can do to your body, but if you are having symptoms like these and you still don't eat, they will put an NG tube down and force feed you...I know this sounds harsh, but it was the only thing that scared me enough to eat when I was really bad about 6 years ago. So go eat a WELL ROUNDED diet, get some good protein, and love yourself! You can do it!

I've never been hospitalised before where they force feed you, but i heard they just pump calories into you so that your body can regain all that it needs back.

But i was wondering how many calories they pump into the patient a day? and is the patient in bed all day with absolutely no exercise? (not even standing up) =o

The actual amount given is specific to the patient...I have had lots of patients on this --most are elderly folk who have bad GI tracts or comatose people. Basically, the formula is just like Ensures or similar shakes, and the tube goes through a nostril and down the esophagus--they are not fun to put down :(

And no, the patient usually is on complete bed rest...eventually some activity may be allowed, depending on the doctor's orders. All in all, eating is way better!

Wow, I'm quite relieved that I was never hospitalised. I actually was really depressed at one stage and was struggling with coping with the ED & recovery and wanted to be hospitalised because I just gave up hope. But its alot easier to eat now =)

hi! i hope that you're feeling good about yourself today. by the way, i also have the same situation as you have. i dont have this before, my sking looks good before and veins doesn't show this much. but when i started to work out  and take a bath right away, my arms became veiny, it maybe due to heat and cold effect on muscles and veins. plus the fact that i skip meal and i became skinny. so my body doesn't get enough nutrients it needs. you're doc may be right. there's no enough fat on our limbs to cover the veins.

i hope in god that i can bring back my body before and cover this veins. i feel for you guys. it's not easy. it lose my confidence. and i cant wear sleeveless as i used to. it sucks. but i hope one day i can recover from this nightmare.

I have reeeeally veiny arms. My knees go purple if they're a bit cold, and my hands and fingers go the colour of stone, with little orangey/red blotches on them. I think that's just bad circulation? Lack of iron?
Umm I have the dent as well :[
And I wish my face would fill out a bit, like I still have sunken eyes and stuff. Plus the hair loss is the worst side effect for me, it's not too bad but my hair falls out a lot whne i brush/wash it.

My knees go purple if they're a bit cold, and my hands and fingers go the colour of stone, with little orangey/red blotches on them. I think that's just bad circulation? Lack of iron?

Probably both, Dolly.