Guest guest Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 A friend recently told me her granddaughter has an eating problem which is of recent onset. She had been losing weight and told her mother she had a problem with eating. She was taken to her physician who told her to eat 1,000 calories per day and made the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. At that point no referrals anywhere! On f/u 2 weeks later the MD told the 17 year old she would be hospitalized soon if no weight gain. At this visit J was told not to exercise at all as a " heart test showed her heart was working too hard. " The 15# weight loss has happened over approx. a 2 month period. She is 5'3 " tall with UBW of 115#. At 99# her family describes her as " very, very thin. Down from a size 4 to 0. She is very pale, feels weak, has frequent stomach aches and constipation problems. From what I understand she is managing to eat 1,000 cals per day and has for the last 2 weeks. I've never worked in ED, but have had contact with students and acquaintances with anorexia who were of lower BMI and appearing more well than this girl does. This cardiac problem seems rather dramatic. I keep thinking about thin surgical patients who had great weight loss in less time and didn't suffer cardiac problems as a result. Are GI sx common with anorexia nervosa? I guess I'm wondering if there is an underlying medical problem that is causing the anorexia rather than the other way around. I think I might need to hear the dx of anorexia nervosa made by an ED therapist before I feel comfortable that this girl is getting appropriate medical care. Thoughts and opinions welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.