Could my sister have an E.D.?!?!

My sister and I have always been on the somewhat chubby side. However, after graduating high-school, my sister lost A LOT of weight. I think she was around 160 during her senior year and fit into a size 15 jeans, and now she's probably around 110, and fits into a 3!. That's only been within the past year and a half. I've asked her about it before. She told me that she thinks something's wrong with her because everytime she eats, she has a bowel movement. She said that food runs right through her. I dont' know if she made up this medical condition to cover an E.D. up, or if this condition is, in fact, real.

Any advice?

She could be experiencing an honest problem. Has she been to see a doctor? If not, have you encouraged her to do so to have them find out why she is experiencing such regularity? Give her the benefit of the doubt right now; it will be a lot more embarrassing to you both if you jump straight to ED-calling instead, only to find out she does, indeed, have GI trouble.

Since she's 18 and not going to college, she was cut from my Dad's insurance, plus she also has a HUGE fear of going to the doctor. I've tried to get her to go before, but she just doesn't have the money for it.

I'm not really sure what to do. Everytime I see her (which isn't very often) she just keeps getting skinnier and skinnier. She's a skeleton, honestly. I think this might be TMI, but when she was heavier, she was in a full DD bra size, and now she's probably a B. It seems like she's wasting away.

she needsto go to the doctor since it OCULD very well be a medical condition like crohns or something.  or maybe she's got somehting else, or maybe it IS an ed, but i would offer to go with her (maybe she needs someone there...).  if she refuses and you see in a couple weeks or so that she's worse, i would not give her a choice.  drastic weight change is always a sign of something...

It's possible that she's covering for an ED, but she may believe it completely. You reminded me of this story a psychologist told me about her teenage client with an ED who the parents INSISTED had a gastrointestinal problem, even when they had to put her on a feeding tube. The girl eventually died because the parents would not believe anything other than that she had a GI problem. NOT saying your sister is going to die (just sharing the story), but eating disorders are SO serious, and she needs help ASAP regardless of whether it's a GI thing or an ED. Whatever it is, it's really harmful to the body to be so skinny that you look like a skeleton.

Your sister could have food allergies or a gastrointestinal problem.  Before I found out that I had Celiac disease (gluten intolerance) I too would have a bowel movement everytime I ate or I would throw up (sorry for the detail!).  When I stopped eating foods with wheat, barley, or rye in them my symptoms went away.  Keep talking to your sister.  Have her research her symptoms online.  She shoud, ideally, talk to a doctor.  Good luck and God bless!

it could be lots of things like hyperthyroidism (ppl tend to lose weight fairly quickly witht his illness) or other gastrointestinal diseases that she really should take a look at...the sooner the better...problems with extremely rapid weight gains or loss can be serious and could be caused by many things...I would keep trying to get her to go to a doctor..even if that is pressuring her and scaring her a bit with her health and her life (my hub did this for me when I was in my eating disorder and I freaked out! and found help asap). Could be an ED too....but its always important to pay a visit to the doctor first, just to rule out any problems...how tall is she btw? 110 is low enough for a girl my height (5'44).

best of luck

-xo

If the cost of the doctor is a problem, look into free or reduced cost healthcare options from your county government.  Most places have some kind of Medicaid available to those who couldn't afford healthcare any other way.  But she really should see a doctor.

take her to the doctor before you assume anything. It doesnt sound like a coverup, but keep and eye out. Its an eating disorder if shes tracking everything she eats and is constently checking labels. But check her at the doctors first.

Thanks so much for all your advice!!

I didn't realize how many other things could be causing her rapid weight loss. I'm probably just jumping to conlusions. I'll definitely keep an eye out on her, and i'll keep encouraging her to get to the doctor. I know she eats, because I've seen her. It's just that within 10 minutes of eating, she's in the bathroom getting rid of it all. I've never heard her throwup before, but that doesn't mean she doesn't.

But thanks again!!

Actually a couple of bowel movements per day is normal for many people.  Once I started eating less processed foods and eating healthier I went from one every few days to several a day most of the time.  If there is abnormal coloration or density or smells then it would be of concern.

Original Post by alaskanmama:

Your sister could have food allergies or a gastrointestinal problem.  Before I found out that I had Celiac disease (gluten intolerance) I too would have a bowel movement everytime I ate or I would throw up (sorry for the detail!).  When I stopped eating foods with wheat, barley, or rye in them my symptoms went away.  Keep talking to your sister.  Have her research her symptoms online.  She shoud, ideally, talk to a doctor.  Good luck and God bless!

that was my first thought...i had a similar problem that got pretty bad..i lost 10 pounds in 2 days once because nothing was staying in me.

It is also possible that she has a slow stomach...my doctor thought i had wheat intolerance and elminating it from my diet worked for alittle while, then i got sick again.

turns out my stomach is just really slow..and i have too much acid, somehow that turned into me getting sick after every meal.