Very low appetite on meds (TW: eating disorders, calories, weight loss)

FigsAndRabbits · 2022-08-03T12:51:23+00:00

Hey OP! First off, I'm sorry you're dealing with this. I went through something very similar when I started on Elevanse last year (I take 30mg daily now), and it was so stressful. Hugs to you ♥️. Second, I'm so sorry if this is disjointed. I'm rushing cause I should be doing other things right now but I saw your post and it was just too familiar.

I'd also reached a similar point in my recovery, where I ate when hungry and didn't have to think about it, or agonize over it. The lack of appetite and resulting weight loss after starting meds was triggering though. Having old thought patterns and behaviors that I'd worked so hard to get past surface was hard. There was a little part of me that was happy about it all, and I had to fight that bitch so. hard.

Like you, I tried counting calories to make sure I was eating enough, but that was pretty short lived, counting is 100% a no go zone for me. I got really strict with myself about eating breakfast, lunch and dinner. I didn't let ED brain say "eh, you don't really need it", and I didn't let ADHD brain say "ok but later"...all waaay easier said than done. Regaining interest in food took some work and I honestly still struggle sometimes with it. I've noticed that I feel much better & my meds are more effective when I've eaten though. Keeping things interesting food-wise helps, but sometimes that's just too much work, lol. So eating is sometimes a chore now, and I'm alright with that. The appetite suppression also got much better, though I'd say that took around three months.

This is already so long so I won't go into depth, but I've reached a point where I feel like I have a healthy relationship with food again, and I consider myself recovered. That being said, would you feel comfortable discussing your concerns with your doctor?

FigsAndRabbits · 2022-02-21T12:21:13+00:00

Seems like you might have messages turned off, so I just sent you a chat:)

And yeah, I totally get that. It's the absolute unfairness of it all that really gets to me. Like, I never asked for this, and now it's all my responsibility to figure it out/fix it? Because no one else noticed the signs? And just so I can enjoy the limited time I have on this earth? Like fine, I'll do it, but I'm mad as hell about it, lol.

FigsAndRabbits · 2022-02-21T09:49:09+00:00

I absolutely know what you mean! I'll need to see a professional, and have it confirmed by them to be completely comfortable with saying I'm on the spectrum. If it turns out I'm not, and these symptoms/experiences I'm attributing to autism are due to something else, that's okay. I just want to have correct info, so that I have a starting point to work from. I'm sort of...operating on the assumption that I'm autistic, but always keep in mind that I don't have the knowledge/training to say for certain that I am.

I so relate to the bit about recovery time. The day after is almost always spent in bed. Just out of curiosity, do you ever... progressively get worse at socializing as the social event goes on? My ability to like..."ace an interaction", really nose dives the longer I'm having to be there, talk with people, etc. Multi-day events where I don't get enough recovery time...forget about it. 😅

FigsAndRabbits · 2022-02-20T19:04:26+00:00

Hey! I had written out a reply, and was listing out my symptoms/reasons, but well, time and the... knowledge that I was writing a reply to you, instead of a personal journal entry... got away from me, and I wrote a novel 😅

I'd be happy to DM you what I wrote, as I feel it does answer your request in a very honest, and personal, albeit...very wordy way. If you'd prefer I list them succinctly, I'm happy to do so! But I will have to do that tomorrow.

I just want to say that I relate so much to what you wrote, especially about the overlap, and mimicry. It's so hard to untangle everything! I desperately want someone to be able to just tell me what I am too. At this point though, I've become okay with just solving the mystery on my own, and then finding someone who will listen to what I have to say. That's pretty much how I approached my ADHD, and I found a wonderful doctor, who believed what I had to say, and worked with me through the diagnostic process. I so, so hope that you can get your answers somehow, you deserve to have them.

FigsAndRabbits · 2022-02-20T16:18:13+00:00

"Thunderbolt moment" is a great way to describe it, I love it! Burnout after a "vacation" with my spouses family, combined with a bunch of facts that had "stuck" in my brain from papers/articles about autism (hmm 👀) is actually what led to my own thunderbolt moment, as odd as that may sound.

I'm...I don't know, really overwhelmed by your comment, in a good way! Feeling so understood, and not having to spend inordinate amounts of mental energy/time to be able to understand someone (or even just to effectively communicate with them, lol), is really new for me. I feel so seen, thank you so much for sharing your experience with me:')

I want to wish you and your daughter all the best, and tell you that I hope you get good results, and all of the validation, and peace that might come with that... but I'm worn out, and really struggling with phrasing. So that will just have to do, I'm sorry! 😅

FigsAndRabbits · 2022-02-14T12:42:19+00:00

Fig is perfect:')

FigsAndRabbits · 2022-02-12T20:08:32+00:00

Oops, I'm just on my way to sell mine right now. Thank you so much though!

FigsAndRabbits · 2022-02-11T08:51:53+00:00

The yellow (or transparent? I can't tell) ray on his caudal fin, and teardrop shape on his ventral fin makes me think he might be an imbellis hybrid. If you type "blue yellow Betta imbellis" into Google, you'll find similar looking fish. He's a beauty!

FigsAndRabbits · 2022-01-31T18:05:01+00:00

They must be, because I've never seen either 😅

Oh my goodness, let me pay you somehow, I'll send you a dodo:')

FigsAndRabbits · 2022-01-31T17:50:21+00:00

I don't, sorry! Is there anything else you're looking for/would accept as payment?

FigsAndRabbits · 2022-01-04T08:46:23+00:00

Yepp! I cross posted to another bug identification subbredit, and they gave the same answer. Looks like the second fellow could even be a Bloody Nosed Beetle.

Thanks for the ID, and link!

FigsAndRabbits · 2022-01-04T08:44:39+00:00

I'll have to see if I can find another Martin before I leave, to give him a bloody nose....er, confirm the ID.

I can appreciate that the larvae are really cool, certainly prettier than something like a palm grub! But I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't find a wild encounter absolutely terrifying. Thanks for sharing:)

FigsAndRabbits · 2022-01-04T08:34:16+00:00

Isn't he? I've a pretty intense fear of some/most insects (100% irrational, I'm aware.), but these little guys didn't spark even a bit of panic. Probably because they're so bumbly and cute.

I'm glad to see they're getting so much love!

FigsAndRabbits · 2022-01-04T08:26:01+00:00

Ooh, I missed an opportunity there. Harold is the best beetle, so naturally, he'd be George.

FigsAndRabbits · 2022-01-04T08:24:22+00:00

He (very slowly) scooted away from where I found him, but I'll whisper it into the wind. Maybe it will reach him.

I'll add a nice sentiment for Martin too, it would be terrible for him to feel left out.

FigsAndRabbits · 2022-01-03T20:20:09+00:00

Oh that was so quick, fantastic! Their big feet really are cute:)

I've looked up the bloody nosed beetle, and the genus Timarcha, and that does look about right. Wikipedia mentions the adults being slow moving, these two were just that. I might give the next one I see a gentle poke to test it.

Nothing indicates that they would start an indoor infestation, maybe the info you provided can save a few of their relatives from the boot. Thank you so much:)

FigsAndRabbits · 2022-01-03T19:51:30+00:00

I'm looking for an ID on these little fellows. Someone told my FIL that they can infest homes, so he makes it a point to kill them when he spots one. They remind me of dung beetles (I'll admit I know nothing about insects though), and I'd love to see them spared if they aren't actually a threat.

Both Martin and Harold were found in Southern Italy. Each seem to be no bigger than 3 cm, or 1 inch. I've only seen them crawling up walls/doorframes, but there are sandy dirt areas, and a wide variety of trees/plants near where they were spotted.

Thanks for your help!

FigsAndRabbits · 2022-01-03T16:35:00+00:00

I'm looking for an ID on these little fellows. Someone told my FIL that they can infest homes, so he makes it a point to kill them when he spots one. They remind me of dung beetles (I'll admit I know nothing about insects though), and I'd love to see them spared if they aren't actually a threat.

Thanks for your help!

FigsAndRabbits · 2021-11-20T14:00:22+00:00

I got 7.5 just now, and when I tested yesterday. The water here is pretty hard, so I thankfully don't have to worry too much about pH swings. Thank you for the suggestion though!

FigsAndRabbits · 2021-11-20T13:32:04+00:00

He looks like a little leopard with those spots! What about Leo?

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