Really, truly, worried. (Amenorrhea)

I feel as though I no longer suffer from disordered eating habits. I eat upwards of 2000 calories everyday to maintain my heathy BMI of 20.

Why don't I have my period? Seriously, I'm started to get freaked out. I had a nightmare last night in which I envisioned all my bones snapping and my body collapsing. Clearly, the very real threat of osteoporosis is on my mind.

If I were to go to a doctor... what would I even say?

"Hi, I used to be anorexic, I'm not anymore, but I don't have my period."

That is the most embarassing thing I can imagine!

What's wrong with meeeeeee....

I know you are probably worried about what to say to the doctor, but don't be. The doctor will be there to listen and assess why you may not be menstruating despite eating better. Maybe there are other underlying issues that are causing you not to menstruate. The best thing for you would be to go see a doctor asap, and tell them your medical history and where you are now so that they can figure why you are not having your period. It might help if you go see a female doctor instead of a male one, that way you might feel more comfortable and less tense. It is not emberassing, so don't worry and good luck!

Ahh but I can't say I was anorexic! I really haven't told very many people.. at all.

Maybe I can say I lost weight, and my period just kind of stopped and never restarted? Or that I was depressed (kind of true!) and my period stopped?

And I should add.. I haven't had my period for about a year now.

How scared should I be?

sweet tooth is right - you can always try to find a doctor you're more comfortable with, but it's important to see one. It's a big thing to admit, but once admitted, it's very simple to explain: you don't have your period, and you want it. No big deal. Just another symptom to address.

Everyone's body might get their period back at a different pace, but...

Your BMI (or body fat content, too) might need to get higher to kickstart your period. But your doctor might be able to prescribe or give other advice, or refer you to a nutritionist specializing in ED. If you have these resources: make use of them.

Not everyone does, and you'll be thankful you took care of it - you'll never regret the decision, that's for sure, right? In any case, good luck, and hope that posting here helps you decide.

i can understand your worries . i really feel you need to see a doctor but i think you need to be honest about your condition , so he can help you in the best possible way . it will be confidental. I knowthis can happen .also you are at the lowest of the healthy weight range ,i know this is gonna be hard to hear but you may need to higher this might not be enough for your body particuarly if you restricted for so long . how many calories are you eating ? are you getting enough fat ?

Original Post by evolution_revolution:

Ahh but I can't say I was anorexic! I really haven't told very many people.. at all.

Maybe I can say I lost weight, and my period just kind of stopped and never restarted? Or that I was depressed (kind of true!) and my period stopped?

Are you worried about how the doctor will react to you admitting that you are a recovering anorexic or are you in fear that by telling your doctor that others may find out?

Either way, it is best if you are completely honest with your doctor, otherwise they may not be able to figure out the true root of your problem. Saying you lost weight is completely different from stating you are anorexic. Yes, you lose weight, but the body is impacted in a more complex way when one is suffering from ED. Being honest is the only way you are going to get the help you need.

Periods are tricky. I have always been underweight(darn genetics), and yet I have never ever gone without my period. Yet others who weigh more than me, don't have their periods. It really depends on your body, and that is why your doctor needs to know everything to assess you correctly.

Like mulsum stated, you will be grateful that you took care of it and have it over with. I know you are scared about opening up to your doctor, but don't be =).

Good luck!

Honestly I was in this same position almost exactly 1year ago. I was really embarrassed about going to the doc and telling them what was going on but it was the best thing I could have done.

By telling the doctor the truth, they can decide on the best course of treatment. They aren't there to judge or tell anyone else what's going on with you or whatever, they're there to help you get healthy :)

If you are worried, I'm willing to bet that it will be a huge load off your mind if you can go and share these worries with a professional who may be able to help.

Best of luck :)

How long has it been? Sometimes it can take 6 mos. to a year.

If you are that concerned though, you really need to see your OB, let them take some lab tests and do a pelvic ultrasound to examine your ovaries. Odds are, you just need a jump start! They'll give you some hormones to help you out if everything is ok.

You need to go to the doctor and tell him/her the truth. Why would you feel judged by a doctor? They are there to help.

They will give you a treatment so your period comes back. It's what they did to me 15 years ago.

Your period is gone because at some point in the past, or even right now, your body doesn't have enough fat content. Women, unlike men, need a minimum fat content to function normally (we cannot be 0% fat). Since we are meant to have babies, our bodies are different.

When it happened to me, I had a perfect BMI. Regrettably, BMI is not an exact science. It's an average. My body didn't "like" that BMI or my weight, which was considered "perfect" for my height and my frame. The way my body at the time let me know that didn't like that weight was by stopping my monthly period.

Maybe yours is trying to tell you the same. It's a challenge but you must find a balance with what is healthy for your body and what you want to weight. 

If you crashed your car you wouldn't try to repair it yourself, right? You'd go to a mechanic, correct? The same applies to you. Your anorexia has hurt your body, and now it needs to recover. You need a doctor to help you find your healthy you.

Good luck!

Hi,

I agree with everyone here; just be honest with your doc. If they are a jerk or make you feel uncomfortable just find a new one. Particularly I find docs with a background in sports medicine help. Athletes deal with Amenorrhea often (case in point - myself).

I lost it for about 8 months, then it would kinda come back, then it would go again... now I'm prego so i guess I won't be dealing with this issue again for about 5 more months. lol.

Anyhow, diet consistency is important, stress levels matter, sleep matters, and body fat percentage matters as well.

I think it will take some time for your bod to realize it's ok to go back to normal BUT on the slight chance you screwed up your hormones it's beneficial to have an endocrinologist or an OB/GYN specializing in athletes or ED to have your bloodwork taken to check a wide array of factors. Your Progesterone, Estradiol, Keytone, Thyroid, Glucose Levels, and Red/White blood cell count are important to evaluate.

These tests will help with a lot of things: seeing if anythings' off or too low where it may contribute to the loss of your period, AND if you might have developed any issues to your organs from your ED. The sooner you know the faster you can change the issue and begin to really heal

Make sure to get adequate sleep and balanced meals... eating every 3-4 hours about the same amount of cals to keep your blood sugar levels even keel... it helps you from gaining too quick and shocking your system (substancial weight gain can also make your period go buh-bye). It will also let you gradually adapt to a helathier style of living .

I hope everything works well for you and please keep us posted. Don't worry, women have this much more often than you realize and they almost always turn out ok

Original Post by bsh0611:

If you are that concerned though

 Should I be this concerned?

I was under the impression that going a long time without your period (it's been a friggin year) is really dangerous. I keep hearing the word osteoporosis thrown around not to mention the idea that having no period is a sure sign that your body is in an extremely unhealthy state.

You guys make it sound like it's not that big a deal, but if for some reason it's reaaaaally freaking me out, I should see someone.

It IS a big deal.. isn't it?

Hmm. Thanks for your reply, littlemalynda! It seems that we posted at like.. the EXACT same time. haha

I want my period back, but I want it back naturally. I want my body to just have a period- you know, like every other fertile 18 year old woman. Did I screw my body up so much that I have to resort to chemicals?

Also, I'm not gaining anymore. Actually, while I was gaining, getting my period back was a huge motivator. And now I'm here and... still waiting.

I also just want to say- granted, all of those things can likely effect your period. But before my ED,  I got it every month without fail. Extra sleep, barely any sleep, eating regularly, not eating until dinner, eating nutritious foods, eating lotsa junk.. my body just wasn't that sensitive. I didn't have to 'watch my fat intake' to make sure I got my period. It just happened.

I'm starting to feel like I must have really screwed up my body, in ways I can't imagine or something.

a bmi of 20 is not always enough, thats still the bottom range, ur body's happy weight could be higher.

also, r u active?  that could inhibit it as well.

sometimes u just need a kisckstart w meds

having anorexia in your past is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, and your doctor is about the last person you'd want to keep that a secret from. you didn't ask for the disease, you did nothing to deserve it, but you beat it anyway! i think people need to understand that. 

Original Post by evolution_revolution:

Hmm. Thanks for your reply, littlemalynda! It seems that we posted at like.. the EXACT same time. haha

I want my period back, but I want it back naturally. I want my body to just have a period- you know, like every other fertile 18 year old woman. Did I screw my body up so much that I have to resort to chemicals?

No, I don't think chemicals is the answer; you messed up your natural chemistry by bad decisions - I believe for the majority of the time you can reverse the damage done naturally. It may just take time. Just because you haven't had it for a year doesn't mean your bod has been in recovery for a year... (does that make sense?).

Also, I'm not gaining anymore. Actually, while I was gaining, getting my period back was a huge motivator. And now I'm here and... still waiting.

How frustrating!!! I know how you feel and I can tell it's one of those things where you're probably thinking about this issue once per day racking your brain, searching the internet for answers... one day when you least expect it you'll get your period - and it won't be due to one particular thing over another.

I also just want to say- granted, all of those things can likely effect your period. But before my ED,  I got it every month without fail. Extra sleep, barely any sleep, eating regularly, not eating until dinner, eating nutritious foods, eating lotsa junk.. my body just wasn't that sensitive. I didn't have to 'watch my fat intake' to make sure I got my period. It just happened.

Fat intake helped me once... I ate literally about 100g of good fats per day (made me sick) since I normally have about 15-25g per day. Yeah I think it worked - who knows. And before you weren't concerned so much about life, your job, your school, your body, your period, gaining weight, losing weight, and everything else under the sun. Seriously I know where you're at girl and it's time to slow it down a peg, have some fun, and don't worry so much :)

I'm starting to feel like I must have really screwed up my body, in ways I can't imagine or something.

You did mess up; fine. Let it be a lesson - don't fudge up the way you're supossed to lose weight (slow, careful, and listening to your bod). BTW in case you didn't know - the first 7 years of a menstural cycle can change at the snap of a finger. It's only after about 7 years of consistency do you really predict your periods. Hopefully this won't cause them to be sparratic.

I feel that you SHOULD go to your doc. Make sure you explain everything... bring in a little note pad with bullet points so you can tell them everything in short. Then explain what you do have: in the beginning I felt nausea, I had cramps and bloating but no bleed, then it began to effect my moods, I was tired, I started bruising easier. Make sure to notate this stuff even if it seems minute.

There's nothing wrong with seeing a doc for advice. They may not "cure" you but it may relax you a bit and at least if you take all your lab tests you will KNOW there's nothing really wrong. Yes it's unnatural for you to not get your period but at the same time this happens... and honestly IMHO I don't think you'll be getting osteoporsis from the Amenorrhea as much as you might have damaged your ligaments, muscle, and other tissues from the starvation.

So I hope that some of this helps a little... there is a lot of stuff on here about amenorrhea. Most girls beat it; never seen a blog where they didn't actually.

Kepp us posted hun and go see a doc. :)

When you were recovering did you restrict or try to avoid healthy fatty essential foods as in nuts and butter?

I can understand you worrying , but just to make you feel better  ive had no periods for 10 years and my doctors is pretty confident i will get them back . if i was you id gain a few more pounds and hold it there . the weight you are might not be enough , and try and get more healthy fats into your diet x

So you guys think I should deffinitely do the doctor thing then? Is there nothing I can do by myself, to help the situation?

Ok, maybe I'll book an appointment, but I don't think I'm going to come right out and mention my eating disorder. I feel like he/she will immidiately start wanting tests, and reccomending me to psychologists, and hassling me about my weight or something. I hate the idea of people seeing me as something other than a confident healthy woman- I don't want a doc looking at me like I'm this strange, sensitive, pathetic girl with a whole host of psychological issues. Embarassing! I'll just let him/her know: I don't have my period. I want it back.

But then the doctor will immidiately ask when the last time I had it was- to which I'll have to answer that it was a year ago. ****.

I'M SO NERVOUS. I really haven't told anyone before. I spent SO long denying it, actually telling a real life person (not over the internet) that I had anorexia just seems awful.

I'll keep you guys updated.

Oh and just to clarify- I get lotsa fats, people. Peanut butter makes a daily appearance in my life. And salmon- can't live without it. Avocado once in a while, not too often. And I'm a total chocoholic. While I was gaining, I ate lots of high fat dairy too, but now I'm back to mostly lowfat stuff (2% yogurt, 1% milk, 1% cottage cheese, etc). Still, I really think I get more than enough.

It's just so frustrating that it seems like every girl on this website got their periods at much lower weight than I'm at now- and still, nothing.

Original Post by dekkos:

When you were recovering did you restrict or try to avoid healthy fatty essential foods as in nuts and butter?

 Oh- when I was restricting? Well yeah, back then I didn't exactly eat peanut butter by the spoonful. But I get PLENTY now!

Ya know if there was a magical weight, number, or food... we would all know it. lol. There isn't. Which is why you need to see the doc to pinpoint where you're lacking.

As far as telling your doc - it's important for him/her to know why it went away. If you appear to be recovering on your own why would they recommend a shrink? And even then - you do what cha want... they may just have to follow procedure and make recommendations. That being said: any jerk off who judges you is an old fart who doesn't know anything about modern everyday issues.

I once read somewhere that one out of every three girls is effected by an eating disorder at somepoint in their life.

That means if dick-head doctor has three daughters most likely one developed a little issue with food. So relax a little - and make sure to tell your doc everything. Its ok and if they judge you, tell the front nurse staff and ask for the lead doc and report his/her ass. Bc that's not ok.

We got your back girl! Now go get your butt in the doc!! ;)