I can't stop eating junk
Posted , 3 users are following.
Hi, I'm 29 years old, 5'2" in height and weigh 46.5kg. I was recently diagnosed with underactive thyroid and I read that hypothyroid people are usually overweight. I've always been slim and petite so that aspect of my illness has never registered. Whenever I've gone to thyroid support meetings the other members immediately guess that I'm hyperthyroid and are shocked when I say that I'm the opposite. I like to look nice when I go anywhere (I don't obsess about it) but I don't like it when I get young girls glaring at me or men looking at me. I have also had unwanted attention from other men and I tend to avoid them when they say/do certain things.
I have no desire to eat - when I say I have no desire to eat it's mainly where I have no desire to eat healthy foods. The only foods I'm likely to touch are:
* Crisps (same ones - sea salt and vinegar)
* Cakes
* Sweets (certain ones but when I have eaten the same ones for so long I change to another type of sweets and go back to the other ones when I'm fed up of those)
* Chocolate (certain ones but when I have eaten the same chocolate for so long I change to another type of chocolate and go back to the other type of chocolate when I'm fed up of that)
* Yogurts (always the same ones and I've never gotten fed up of them - lemon creamy yogurt made with whipping cream)
* Bread
* Cheese (I'm not meant to eat cheese that much because it gives me reflux but that doesn't stop me.)
I have been measuring my BMI but I haven't lost a lot of weight and when I spoke to my employment assessor she was worried that I am now in the underweight range. I don't know how to go about telling my GP that I have this unstoppable craving for sweet, salty, milky foods because I know that I will instantly be in their bad books.
Can anyone advise why I am so addicted to the foods I listed? Could it be a deficiency in a vitamin/mineral? I already know I am Vitamin D and iron deficient but my GP and endocrinologist haven't checked me for any other deficiencies and I really feel that they should.
Ferritin (checked in August) - 28 (30-400)
Vitamin D (checked in October) - 73 (>75), up from 59.6 in June (>75)
Folate (checked in July) - 4.9 (4.6-18.7)
Vitamin B12 (checked in August) - 362 (180-900)
0 likes, 12 replies
Lillypad1 Starla8
Posted
You do seem to be pre-occupied with food and your BMI, these could be warning signs. You need to address why your BMI is so important to you. Your doctor could do a blood test to see if you are deficient in anything and could refer you to a dietician.
Lillypad1 Starla8
Posted
You do seem to be pre-occupied with food and your BMI, these could be warning signs. You need to address why your BMI is so important to you. Your doctor could do a blood test to see if you are deficient in anything and could refer you to a dietician.
Starla8 Lillypad1
Posted
I don't feel able to eat bananas because they are sticky and I get choking fits.
Tomatoes are fine as long as they're peeled because the skin can stick to the roof of my mouth and make me choke. I have got a craving for tomato sauce at the moment.
I could have savoury rice, no problem.
I guess I'm preoccupied about my BMI because my family have said I am skinny and I was also bullied at school about my appearance.
I am worried the GP will not test me for vitamin/mineral deficiencies because of how expensive the tests are.
Lillypad1 Starla8
Posted
Thanks for your reply. Do you find that many foods cause you to choke? Because, to me it's easier to choke on dry foods like crisps or nuts. Did you have a bad experience with choking when you were younger? I ask because, I am wondering if maybe you are fearful of eating certain foods. I would still advise you to talk to your GP and ask for a blood test, they do blood tests all the time and for people with less problems that you are having. The cost of blood tests I would think is minimal to not having a test only to find out that they missed something that you need medication for, so it's cheaper in the long run. I really do think also you should ask to see a dietician. If you feel uncomfortable, write a letter or a list of questions you have when you go. I once went to a GP and said I was too embarrassed to tell her whats wrong and handed her a letter. She read it and was absolutely fine about it, in fact she was brilliant.
I was also bullied at school about several aspects of my appearance which did get me down, but now I am older I now know that they picked on me due to their own insecurities. It still hurts though, but as I got older, got married, started a family, my confidence rose and I had other aspects of life to focus on.
My concern is that you could be malnourished, hence the cravings. I do hope that you take some action to help yourself. Sorry if it comes across as nagging or similar, that was not my intention. If I don't hear from you, then I hope you have a happy Christmas.
bikerjools55 Starla8
Posted
I am only sharing this with you because i want you to address it before it becomes something more please seek someone to talk to. I am not saying it will but the fact ypu are on here might indicate that you are worried.
My local Health board in North Wales have applied for funding to go to a special unit, but its in Engladn. It scares the hell out of me as i wont be able to see my son, but i know its gone to far and cant do it on my own as on top of the eating i over exercise.
I am writing as a concerned friend take care
Lillypad1 bikerjools55
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bikerjools55 Lillypad1
Posted
I cope with self harm and alcohol and exercise but have depression as well, im supported by the CMHTas well, i seem to spend most of my time in bed as cant be bothered, especially at the moment with christmas. What medication were you on that made you gain weight, keep talking it certainly heps to share, take care
Lillypad1 bikerjools55
Posted
You say about your meal plan being difficult to do because new foods are difficult, do you think that you would be able to have a nutritional drink such as fortisip, or ensure? They are a good starting point if solid food is to hard at first. Vanilla is my favourite, then strawberry. Maybe you could speak to your dietician tomorrow, I am assuming she is visiting you because you are too ill to go out? I found the drinks really good, but if you have them I would advise you to put them in the fridge, and sometimes when it's too cold for me (weather) I would heat it up in the microwave.
Have you visited the website Beat? or ieat? They have some useful tips which might be able to help you over the Christmas period.
Feel free to post to me again. Take care.
Lillypad1
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bikerjools55 Lillypad1
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Starla8 bikerjools55
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Lillypad1 bikerjools55
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