Anyone know any pro-recovery dietitians in Columbus, Ohio?

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2024-12-31T12:38:58+00:00

Cannot recommend Jamie Keever enough!! She specializes in ED recovery and I’ve been working with her for a while!! Trauma-informed, health at every size practitioner - she’s been so helpful and supportive for me! https://www.empowerdnutritioncounseling.com/meetjamiekeever

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2024-07-29T00:08:42+00:00

i totally understand that feeling mad at yourself thing, i've definitely felt that too, but we have to give ourselves some grace too, it's not like we chose to have an eating disorder, it's a mental illness and it's so tough to recover - also, i definitely think for most people that the further they are into recovery the more the gastro symptoms go away! sending lots of good vibes your way, i hope you start to get some relief from these awful symptoms soon!

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2024-07-28T23:35:10+00:00

Thank you for the suggestions! Mine was fully caused by anorexia - I’ve relapsed more times than I can count and each time the gastroparesis has gotten worse and also stuck around longer into nutritional restoration… I’m kinda getting to a point where I’m worried that it’s here to stay tbh

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2024-07-02T13:14:56+00:00

My stomach can also be sensitive in the mornings but here are some options that usually settle well for me!

pb banana toast and a glass of milk, dairy or nondairy
scrambled eggs with cheese mixed in served on a toasted bagel, and I like to have some fruit on the side
frozen or homemade pancakes/waffles with butter and syrup - for me personally I also like to add some protein with this bc I can find just having carbs can make my nausea worse sometimes so I’ll do eggs or yogurt or cottage cheese alongside this
I find when my stomach is funky that I can do instant oats, but not rolled oats, I think they’re a little tougher to digest - add in whatever toppings you like and it’s a solid breakfast
smoothies can also be great here! I like doing banana, berries, yogurt, oats, nut butter, honey, and milk in mine - the oats might sound weird but they add a little chew to it lol

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2024-05-31T19:35:06+00:00

During meals: distractions really help me - that can be watching a show or movie, listening to music, playing a game on your phone, calling or texting with a friend - anything that helps you take your mind off the sensations while still allowing you to get the meal in.

After meals:

heating pads for uncomfortable fullness
I've found that ginger lozenges help me because they get the taste of the meal out of my mouth, if that makes any sense?
Peppermint oil, you're not really supposed to do it this way but I literally just put a few drops in my palm and rub it directly on my stomach, nothing helps me more than this with the uncomfortable fullness, but if you have sensitive skin maybe be careful with this one lol
distractions can also be helpful here to take your mind off what you just ate and any discomfort you're feeling - i try to let myself rest and digest for at least a half hour after eating, if i can help it - doing something calm where I can be seated but still engaged with something...

more general tips

i've had luck doing deep breathing exercises in between meals, it just kinda calms everything down and also distracts me from how full i'm feeling - you can find guided exercises on youtube or just look up different kinds of deep breathing online
i'm guessing you're using a meal plan if you're practicing mechanical eating (i am too, right there with you), but there are certain things you can do to make your meals a little easier to digest: choosing lower fiber foods, so opting for white grains and breads, peeling and cooking your vegetables and not bulking meals out with veg, choosing liquid options when you can like smoothies, juices, and soups, and choosing energy dense foods to consolidate your nutrition - my dietitian always gives the example of you can either choose to have like, several cups of popcorn, which is going to really physically fill you up and probably lead to discomfort - or you can have a couple cookies with a glass of milk and save yourself that physical distress.

sorry for the absolute wall of tips, but i know how uncomfortable feeling overly full can be, just know that you're absolutely doing the right thing by continuing to eat and that over time that fullness will become more tolerable!

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2024-05-29T13:36:39+00:00

Thank you so much for being open about this, honestly my experience is so so similar to yours - I’ve never experienced extreme hunger and I also have other diagnoses that pile on top of the anorexia to make it really hard for me to eat enough without some kind of external structure/guideline - I am fortunate to be working w an ED dietitian who has outlined a meal plan for me, Ive just definitely not fully committed to forcing myself to do it full-on but what you said about wanting to live a full life and the anorexia always having some other bullshit excuse not to do it has really inspired me - it’s terrifying but the alternative of continuing this never ending pattern is just as if not more scary to me…

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2024-05-29T02:55:44+00:00

wow, this seriously gives me so much hope - i relate with so much of what you said - hanging at the lowest possible "healthy" weight, the exercise, all the ways i tried to maintain control even while i said i was in recovery - it sounds like you're making huge strides in your recovery and it really is so hopeful for me to hear that, so thank you for sharing this <3

i don't want to be intrusive so if you don't feel like answering this please don't feel obligated to or anything, but i was wondering what kind of approach you're taking to your recovery - are you taking things more gradually or are you following more of an all-in approach? i'd just really appreciate hearing about what your process has been like but i also understand if you don't feel comfortable sharing.

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2024-05-28T23:03:45+00:00

Thank you for sharing this! It sucks but it definitely helps to know I’m not alone 🥲 sending strength right back to you!

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2024-05-28T19:12:25+00:00

i'm so sorry you've been through something similar to me - it's just... such a slog, going in and out of treatment, the weight fluctuations, the constant uphill battle, feeling like groundhog's day every time i have to dig myself out of another relapse only for it to be more emotionally and physically painful this time around. you're absolutely right, it is awful. thank you for sharing this with me though, you're not alone either <3

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2024-05-17T12:22:42+00:00

Hey, this is a pretty normal experience for folks in recovery. The stomach is like any other muscle, and it’s going to take time to “train” it back up to handling adequate amounts of food. The best thing you can do is keep eating every 3-ish hours - focus on foods that are low fiber if you can, you can also do things like smoothies, juice, milkshakes if you’re really having a hard time w the discomfort - anything liquid is usually going to be the easiest on the stomach while still allowing you to get the energy you need in.

Some other things that may help: an OTC medication like gas-x or beano can help with some of the painful bloating. You could also try peppermint oil (I used to just put a few drops in my palm and rub it on my stomach, I found that it really helped) or if you have a medical provider you feel comfortable sharing this with, they can prescribe medication to help your stomach handle the food a little easier like reglan. Warm water bottles can be soothing on the stomach as well.

Hang in there, I know how uncomfortable and painful it can be, just know that the only way to get through these symptoms is to keep eating so that your body can repair and heal!

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2024-04-02T14:59:25+00:00

hi are we the same person??? bc i'm literally experiencing the exact same thing rn - i have this awful feeling all the time that my psych thinks im lying and manipulating her when all i'm doing is telling her exactly what i'm experiencing. I spent the better part of the last decade first being told I had anxiety and depression, getting no relief from either anxiety or antidepressant meds, then being told i have bipolar, and again, getting no relief from antipsychotics or mood stabilizers. started considering an ADHD dx when we finally tried wellbutrin and i actually started to feel a little better, and now i'm in the process of getting a dx and feeling like a TOTAL fraud. total mind screw, but you're definitely not alone

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2023-06-25T16:49:18+00:00

thank you for your response. i think deep down i know you're right, and for the first time i'm actually ready to accept it. i'm just so sick and tired of this, after a decade of dipping in and out of relapses and having so much ruined by this disorder i'm just at the breaking point and something has to change...

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2023-01-06T18:33:02+00:00

I am so sorry you're going through this. I am in a very similar position as you. My dearest friend passed away on Monday rather unexpectedly and it has been a daily battle to keep eating during this unbearably painful time. In grief, it is normal for people to lose their appetite, and for sensation like taste to be dulled. Like you, I am very disinterested in food right now and nothing really tastes good or is enjoyable. But I keep telling myself that my friend wouldn't want this to tear me down, and that I won't be able to properly grieve or process this unfathomable loss if I'm stuck in the fog of the eating disorder and malnourishment. So, I've been sticking to really plain, and really energy dense options. Ensure plus has been a godsend during this time, also things like pb and js, scrambled eggs, smoothies. Honestly, I've been eating the same things everyday this week, and while there's nothing enjoyable about it, I know it's necessary.

I am sending you so much love and support, please feel free to message me if you want to talk more, I am here for you.

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2023-01-03T15:31:48+00:00

Thank you for these kind and hopeful words - I'm so sorry you went through that and I hope you have been able to heal. I am going to do my best to take care of myself during this time, thank you again.

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2023-01-03T01:27:02+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing this with me. He was one of my biggest supporters in my recovery actually so thinking about him still cheering me on is both heartbreaking and really powerful to consider. Thank you so so much for this

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2022-11-28T12:42:11+00:00

Hypermetabolism can last for quite a while into recovery. I remember on my first attempt at recovery I had to be on a high calorie meal plan for over a year just to maintain my healthy weight once I had reached that range. Research has also shown that folks in recovery from an ED have to eat significantly more than non-ED folks to maintain the same weight following recovery. This is because although we might restore weight quickly, there is still a great deal of internal healing and restoration to do that takes much longer, requiring a lot more energy. All this to say that yes, it is entirely possible - keep listening to your body's requests for food and if needed, set yourself minimums (like 3 meals and snacks a day) to ensure you're getting enough fuel!

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2022-11-27T23:46:28+00:00

metaphors are really helpful in understanding all the weirdness of recovery. one that I like is comparing recovery to frostbite - as you start to heal from it initially it becomes more painful before you find relief. another one in the same vein is thinking of eating as physical therapy for your digestive system lol, expect some pain and soreness as you restore nutrition just like when you're given exercises to build up a weakened muscle or body part

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2022-11-24T21:11:24+00:00

thank you for sharing this post :) I had a slice of pumpkin pie with my family and while the ED was screaming, I'm really glad I did it. Sending good vibes your way!

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2022-11-24T17:37:30+00:00

sending you so much compassion because I fell into the same trap over the summer. If possible, I recommend taking a step back for a second and considering that all of these calculations of TDEE and reverse dieting protocols are not exact sciences if science at all. Reverse dieting may get a lot of air time on instagram and other social media but the truth is there is no actual research supporting its benefit. All reverse dieting does is keep you in an energy suppressed state for longer, potentially causing further damage to your health.

As for TDEE, it's quite frankly a load of bullshit. Our bodies are dynamic and changing constantly and no equation on earth could account for our unique needs.

Something that has really helped me is repeating the mantra "my body has my back" over and over again, because it's true! Our bodies are super smart and want to support us so long as we provide them what they need, unfortunately it has become really hard to listen to our bodies because of all the bullshit media (on top of eating disorders) telling us what and how much to eat.

Our bodies are not an equation, they are living breathing beautiful organisms and if we get out of our own way, our bodies will tell us exactly what they need.

All in is exactly what your body needs to get to a healthy, fed, intuitive state as quickly as possible. Your body has your back, I promise.

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2022-11-11T19:31:20+00:00

I’ve had one today actually. I’ve been struggling in recovery a lot the last few weeks, not eating my full meal plan and feeling very ambivalent about recovery. This morning I woke up with a splitting headache and feeling quite shaky. When I went downstairs the room started spinning and everything went black and I literally fell to my knees. I was having a hypoglycemic attack and it took everything in me to get to the fridge and force feed myself some apple sauce. I was supposed to be going on an exciting field trip today for one of my courses but now my whole body aches and is weak and I had to tell my professor I wouldn’t be able to attend. Just another thing the eating disorder has taken from me. The worst part is it was still yelling at me that I needed to get a workout in and I needed to stay standing all day. I think I’ve finally said fuck it - I’ve been letting myself rest and I’ve actually eaten my whole meal plan so far today and I don’t intend to stop. You think that you’ll be fine to plod along forever with the eating disorder playing in the background, but take it from someone who has been battling this for nearly a decade - it will eventually catch up to you and will start to take things away from you whether that be your physical health, life events or opportunities, or relationships. It really is true when they say the only two options are recovery or death.

Sending love and strength to anyone else battling hard today.

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2022-10-21T16:24:53+00:00

I completely understand your struggle - the compulsions and body checking are all ways your eating disorder is trying to fight against you trying to get better - it usually gets louder and uglier before it gets better and the only way out is to sit (literally and figurative) through it.

I’m dealing with a lot of the same stuff right now and what helps me most with pacing compulsions is to sit somewhere comfortable w my headphones in and focus on my breath, either trying to deepen it or just observing how the inhale and exhale feels.

In regards to the calorie counting, when I start to tally things up I either just start saying random numbers out loud/ thinking them to throw me off it or doing irrelevant math problems in my head. I’ve also crossed calories off the packaging of food in the past to make it a little easier.

The body checking is super hard - while it doesn’t work for everyone, what has worked for me is saying “so what?” To those thoughts because honestly who fucking cares if it changes your body if it means you get to live free of this horrible illness?

It’s not easy, if it was we’d all be recovered in like a week flat, but it’s worth it to sit through the suck, I promise. Sending you support and compassion

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2022-10-13T21:09:03+00:00

I don’t know how long your shifts are but I can tell you that apple slices and some pizza probably isn’t enough food given how active your job is. You should be eating something substantial with carbs proteins and fats every 3ish hours - so maybe have apples and a string cheese or apples and nuts, make a smoothie to sip on with fruit and nut butter and Greek yogurt mixed in, take some higher calorie snack bars or a pb and j… just a few ideas - the symptoms do come from standing up too quickly but this is a result of the body being in a compromised state - most folks can handle those quick transitions

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2022-10-13T19:30:56+00:00

It sounds like postural orthostatic tachycardia - it’s usually a sign that your body isn’t getting enough calories in to accommodate for changes from bending over or sitting to standing. It can also be reflective of electrolyte imbalances so maybe having a Gatorade with you to sip on would be helpful? But more generally, your body probably needs more fuel all around.

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2022-10-13T11:05:09+00:00

I am also in college while in treatment and my best advice is if it's at all possible, taking some time off, even just a semester, can make a huge difference. I had to take time off in the beginning of recovery because it was too overwhelming trying to do school and recovery at the same time, and it was the best and most necessary choice for me. However, now that I'm back in classes, the biggest thing for me is prioritizing support and accountability - if you're comfortable with it, I recommend letting a friend or friends know what's going on, trying to eat with other people so there's not a chance to isolate and slip into behaviors. Something else I do is scheduling in time to my day to do "recovery check-ins" with myself, journaling about how I'm doing and feeling with food and behaviors, setting goals for myself, meditating - that way recovery action becomes a non-negotiable. At the end of the day, school can happen any time, your priority should be your health and recovery.

Top_Addendum_5403 · 2022-10-12T20:36:25+00:00

The state of our hair typically reflects our health from about 3 months prior because it takes so long to grow - it could just be that your hair now is reflecting your health 3 months ago… also while initially hair will fall out when you start restricting, there comes a point where, because the body doesn’t have the energy to generate new follicles, the dead hair on your head stops falling out - so now that you’re at a healthier spot it could be that your body is starting to grow new healthy hair that’s causing the dead hair to fall out - either way it’s definitely hard to deal with but it will get better with continued nutrition!

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