Question:
I had surgery 10 months ago and am now anorexic

Ilost 146 pounds in 10 months. I just got out of a "MENTAL Hopsital for anorexia, severe anxiety and depression. Was there 6 days. I Struggle to eat a normal persons 4 bites in 1 day. I AM SEEKING TREATMENT Guess i was wondering if this has happen to anyone else. i am 5'9 and weigh 144 from 20-    — Kelly W. (posted on September 18, 2000)

September 18, 2000
I am so sorry to hear about your struggle, I am sure you are going to get some responses that will help, I am just writing to say that I will be praying for you and thinking of you. Stay strong...Peace, Trina
   — Courtrina Amur W.

January 17, 2001
My heart goes out to you. I'm a recovering anorexic/bulimic myself. At 108 lbs. I had heart failure and did permenant brain damage. Now I have siezures and am hemiplegic, and sufer headaches daily. After trying every diet plan I could find. I was so amused with myself at the control I had being anorexic. Then I almost died. I will pay for it the rest of my life. Then my partners love gave me the will to survive so I did find professional help and learned to enjoy eating agian. Looking back on it now I can see how sick my thinking was. Now I'm to scared to diet out of fear of becoming anorexic again. It is a far better thing to be heavy and love yourself. You'll be ok when you find your reason to live. Meanwhile...eat!
   — Melissa P.

January 18, 2001
Kelly, I'm sorry you are having problems, but I checked your BMI and you are not anorexic. In fact, you aren't even in the thin category. You are in the "ideal" range. Hope this helps.
   — Cindy H.

January 18, 2001
Cindy H., I would like to respond nicely to your post to this question. I know that you had the best interests at heart but....to tell this wonderful person that she is "not' anorexic when she has clearly been diagnosed with it is not terribly responsible. If I am correct, anorexia is a state of mind rather than a physical thing. Anorexia and bulemia start in the mind and work their way to the physical parts. Just because someone is not terribly thin does NOT mean that they are not exibiting signs of anorexia. Clearly, not being able to eat even 4 bites of food is not normal mentally. I wish this person the best of luck and hope that the help she is recieving for herself helps her tremendously. Again, I know that you only had her best interests at heart.
   — Barbara H.

January 19, 2001
You are right, Barbara, anorexic does start in the mind - which leads to eating disorders. However, I thought she might also be confused about her physical state being anorexic, and she's not there yet -- however, without good mental healthcare, she could get there. I wish her the best.
   — Cindy H.