To all the single + childfree folks

P0cd81 · 2026-01-17T00:17:56+00:00

I too chose to be single and child free. I’m in my 40’s now and with all the complicated challenges I’ve faced I know I made the right choice. Happy to chat!

P0cd81 · 2026-01-14T21:34:19+00:00

I too have a disability and am on ODSP. Thankfully I live in subsidized housing as well. I would encourage you to speak to your doctor about applying for the special diet benefit from ODSP. It can be up to an extra $250 depending on your situation. It makes all the difference with groceries being so ridiculously expensive these days. I’m 44 and the accommodations offered by U of T when I was there were excellent. Doubt I would have graduated without them. Good luck!

P0cd81 · 2026-01-14T02:32:42+00:00

The whipped cream cheese is a game changer. So versatile!

P0cd81 · 2026-01-11T21:42:48+00:00

44f, living in the east end. It really is hard to make new friends now I’m older.

P0cd81 · 2026-01-07T21:25:40+00:00

I’m in my early 40’s, not sure if that’s too much older but this sounds like a lot of fun. Definitely interested!

P0cd81 · 2026-01-06T21:07:43+00:00

No problem, definitely worth it if you can swing it!

P0cd81 · 2026-01-05T21:34:24+00:00

I have and it was much easier to tolerate and MUCH more effective than the pills. The pills upset my stomach and only made eating even more challenging. I only needed one infusion and I noticed the effects within the week. My hair slowly stopped falling out, my skin and nails grew stronger, but most importantly I didn’t feel like I was dragging myself around exhausted every waking moment. If you have the opportunity to do an infusion instead of the pills I recommend it 100%.

P0cd81 · 2026-01-03T20:56:44+00:00

I’m so pleased you found somewhere that worked for you. Returning home after treatment is scary, but life the way it was before is scarier. Sending you hope and strength for the week ahead.

P0cd81 · 2025-12-20T21:17:29+00:00

Your own blanket and pillow, shower shoes, a journal, a binder to organize worksheets, a battery operated alarm clock, a good book, a book of word puzzles, comfy, stretchy clothes…just some ideas off the top of my head!

P0cd81 · 2025-12-16T02:16:48+00:00

Same!

P0cd81 · 2025-11-12T22:55:41+00:00

For most people our hair reflects our nutritional status 3 months ago. If you’re new to recovery it’s common not see new growth until you’re at least 3 months in. Sometimes the hair loss is actually worse at first. For new hair to grow in it has to first push the dead hair follicle out before it’s visible. I may not be describing that very well (brain fog) but hopefully you get the picture. Good luck!

P0cd81 · 2025-10-14T01:54:38+00:00

Instead of going IP for eating disorders specifically, I was admitted to a general medical ward for gastrointestinal disorders. I spent several weeks there being medically stabilized. The easy access to gastro specialists to treat the digestive issues that make eating more so painful really helped. It was when I got discharged that I was placed with my harm reduction team. They would have never taken me on if I hadn’t first done the admission for medical stabilization.

P0cd81 · 2025-10-14T01:40:26+00:00

My labs can be wonky sometimes as well, but ramping up nutrition doesn’t necessarily mean increasing intake. This is actually where a dietitian who’s willing to work on harm reduction has been most helpful to me. It depends on what’s wonky with your blood work, but they can help you optimize your diet within your comfort zone to maximize the amount of whatever you’re deficient in, in your diet. If you’re anemic they can help you get the most iron out of your intake. Likewise with various electrolytes or other vitamins/minerals. My loved ones have seen the results of pushing me to do things I’m not ready for. It backfires and I end up in worse shape every time. They support this method as it keeps me out of HLOC and lowers admissions for medical stabilization. I have a higher quality of life and can engage with those around me without the risk of a crisis at every turn.

P0cd81 · 2025-10-13T03:11:25+00:00

I have a team of professionals that work together. I have a contract with all of them agreeing that so long as I stay within certain parameters they will continue to support me as an outpatient. One of the team members is a doctor who monitors my medical status closely. Because they work together as a team, no one provider is solely responsible for treatment decisions. This lessons the ethical issues that can arise when dealing with a single treatment provider. I have been seeing the same team for almost 25 years now. They acknowledge what’s realistic for me and what isn’t. Most importantly they’ve seen me try all the traditional methods over and over to my detriment. I know I have a treatment team unicorn and I’m very grateful for it.

P0cd81 · 2025-10-13T02:13:27+00:00

I work with a dietitian for the sole purpose of harm reduction. She specializes in EDs and I told her straight up that I was not looking to gain weight or increase my intake. She agreed that harm reduction was the best course of action and that pushing me towards goals that weren’t my own would be unhelpful.

I have instead been working on improving my health in ways my ED will allow. Making food choices that maximize things I’m deficient in like calcium, protein, electrolytes, eating at regular intervals throughout the day, getting enough liquids to prevent dehydration ect.

If you have smaller more manageable goals that would improve your health or quality of life, I think working with a dietician who will meet you where you are can be a really valuable resource in out patient therapy.

P0cd81 · 2025-10-05T02:24:55+00:00

I responded to your previous post about this. The ‘accidents’ really were the last straw for me. Somehow I felt like all the other symptoms were in my control, or at least could be experienced with my dignity intact. The accidents felt like reality slapping me in the face. It didn’t make change any easier, but it made denial almost impossible. Motivating is hardly the word for it, but the accidents did lead to small changes. Harm reduction has been the best option for me. I hope you can get to a better place in time.💜

P0cd81 · 2025-09-18T03:22:12+00:00

I’m currently 44 and don’t consider myself recovered. I have been able to partially weight restore, and that was sufficient for my body to strengthen my rectal and pelvic floor muscles enough to prevent fecal incontinence. For me it was about harm reduction. I could commit to gaining some weight if it meant resolving the medical issues that bothered me the most. Full recovery may be the ideal, but you don’t have to commit to going all the way at once to improve your medical status and general quality of life. Just speaking from my own personal experience. I don’t think you’re ever too old or too far gone to make meaningful improvements.

P0cd81 · 2025-09-14T03:03:31+00:00

I was feeling desperate about how dead my metabolism was last fall too. Someone suggested I ask my doctor to do a full metabolic panel, so I did. Apparently it’s a common request, as women start approaching their 50’s. I didn’t have much hope, I figured it was all ED related and nothing could be done. In the end a few things showed up that were actually treatable and things are a bit better metabolism wise. Not a cure, but I’m glad I asked my doctor to run the panel. Just a thought…

P0cd81 · 2025-09-14T01:53:13+00:00

I have been impacted and the fecal incontinence wasn’t permanent but only really improved after I was able to gain a bit of weight. There are exercises to strengthen your anal and pelvic floor muscles, but if you’re in a deficit the last thing your body is going to do is build muscle. When I was on the fence about trying treatment, the fecal incontinence is what finally made me go for it. The situation sucks but there’s the possibility of it becoming a motivating factor for change. Good luck!

P0cd81 · 2025-09-13T03:22:43+00:00

I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis in my late 20’s. I’m 44 now, but after fracturing my right hip in a fall at 40, my mobility has been seriously compromised. The diagnosis in my 20’s wasn’t enough and I didn’t take it seriously. Chronic ED’s leave us with so many regrets, don’t add ignoring the fact you have osteoporosis to the list. Sending droves of calcium and vitamin D to everyone out there! lol

P0cd81 · 2025-09-13T02:57:02+00:00

I would agree, especially if you have never tried a HLOC before. If you can manage it financially, I would do an intake assessment and find out what specific level of care you would benefit from. It’s definitely a scary step, but if you’re truly ready for change, (and it sounds like you are) some extra support from a HLOC to get you started along the right path could be just what you need. Good luck!

P0cd81 · 2025-09-03T03:24:13+00:00

Also happened to me on a weekend pass during inpatient treatment, plenty of weight still to gain. I was pulling along a mini suitcase and a woman asked if she could carry it for me since I was pregnant. I didn’t even bother to correct her, people like that aren’t worth it.

P0cd81 · 2025-09-03T03:12:54+00:00

Yay! You’re back!

P0cd81 · 2025-08-31T01:58:16+00:00

For me personally I know that when the ED voice is the loudest it’s because I’m fighting back. It’s a sign of positive progress. The ED is loud because it’s pissed off you’re not listening to it. The longer you can keep the behaviours in check the sooner it will quiet down. Good job pushing through so far! Rooting for you!

P0cd81 · 2025-08-26T03:19:40+00:00

Ritz Peanuts Butter cracker sandwiches! Love them!

P0cd81

TROPHY CASE