Posted by iris2 on October 2, 2004, at 22:36:02
In reply to RE: More info please...stressed, posted by stressed on October 2, 2004, at 11:37:34
Because of her binging problem, I am not supposed to mention a diet, weight, etc. at all to her. I really can't ask her if she has lost anything. Doctors instructions, of course.
I am curious is this doctor a therapist?
I think it is paramount that your daughter sees a therapist. If she has an eating disorder than no matter what medication she needs to work on the causes. You seem really preoccupied by her weight more than the binging. How overweight is she? Are she or you over stressing the weight problem? Does she have a lot of body image problems? Is being a little overweight seems like a huge amount and impossible to deal with? Or is she actually very overweight. I know at this age body image is very important but if it is overblown by those around her that only makes her emotional problems worse. I am asking because I have had an eating disorder since I was 15. I was anorexic and weighed 56 pounds at 5'2" before I started eating again. My mother was always weight conscious. Way too worried about her own weight and both her daughters. It created many more problems for me. I have been bulimic and binge eating for 30 years now. I am better now. I do not have the symptoms most of the time but I always suffer with body image problems. I am not happy unless I am very underweight. A lot of grace and age has been helpful to me. I am probably about the correct weight for my height but I feel like I am overweight. The problem is too much emphasis on weight and not enough on physical activity and eating correctly. That is especially important to a teenager. They, as all of us need to be physically active as it creates a better more muscular body and from that a better body image to say nothing of improving self image, confidence and boosting those all important good feeling chemicals in our brains.
It would be interesting to know how much your daughter really is overweight? You sound very concerned. How much is the concern coming from her just feeling bad about herself as apposed to a big weight problem.
Unless someone is morbidly obese no one should take a medication solely to loose weight. Topimax is used as a mood stabilizer. It is news to me that a doctor would prescribe it to someone just to loose weight. It is a difficult medication and one needs not to be in any rush with it. It can be dangerous.I took it as a mood stabilizer only because I have a bladder disease that makes it virtually impossible for me to take most medications and I was able to take Topimax. My doctor never told me that it could cause weight loss. I never noticed any improvement in my bulimia or binging. Nor did it get worse. My depression either got worse or nothing happened. But it seemed to me that when I took it I was more tired. I did not loose any weight. I was on it for several months. I cannot remember how much. I weaned myself off of it. I cannot remember all the side effects but it took me a couple of months to get off the stuff. After I went off of it I gained about 30 pounds. I had no idea it was from not taking the Topimax. I had not been I touch with my doctor. When I told him how I had gained so much weight so quickly he asked me if I had stopped taking the Topimax. He than told me that it was a common effect to gain a lot of weight even though I never lost any on it when you go off of it. Because of my eating disorder and what this weight gain caused me mentally he suggested I go back on the Topimax. I immediately lost the weight I had gained but not more. I weaned myself off of it again but this time over several months.
I tell you all this because I have a lot of experience with eating disorders and it started at about your daughter’s age. I also have taken Topimax. From what you have described I do not think this is what your daughter needs to be taking. Just my opinion.
I think the doctor is dealing with symptoms and not with the disease. In the end that will hurt more than help. Loosing weight is not the answer if she has an eating disorder. I have seen people actually gain weight and be overweight but because they got the right kind of help for their eating disorders they were a lot happier and dealt with the weight gain like "normal" people do.
I hope I did not make you feel too unhappy with what is going on but I think there needs to be good judgment when dealing with such complicated and life threatening illnesses and medications.
irene
poster:iris2
thread:5053
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041002/msgs/398414.html