Posted by Racer on December 22, 2004, at 1:30:50
Thank you, Dr Steinhauer, for being our guest expert.
I'm experiencing a relapse of AN, after about a decade symptom free, and am finally receiving treatment for it. I also have a dx of major depression, and anxiety disorder. Right now, I'm having trouble with motivation to work towards recovering from this. Although I know that I am suffering from an eating disorder, and more or less remember feeling better when I wasn't experiencing symptoms, it's just not really registering right now. For one thing, my body is truly disgusting me right now -- the weight I've put on has all hit me around the waist and abdomen, which I know is normal, but it still distresses me a lot. Then there's the general digestive upset, etc.
My current treatment team consists of a psychopharmacologist, an RD for nutritional counseling -- who has been invaluable so far -- and an individual therapist. My lack of sustained motivation, though, is interfering a lot -- I've had absolute relapses lately, due to specific stress triggers, and the RD is ready to require biweekly doctor's visits if I don't put some more weight on. My anxiety is through the roof right now, and I'm ready to throw in the towel.
I'm not entirely sure what to do about all this, but some ideas that have been put forward are residential treatment centers, day hospitalization programs, and switching to an ED specialist for therapy. I'm not sure any of those seem safe to me, though. At the same time, I've got some of the health problems that go along with it -- cardiac abnormalities and osteopenia, and one doctor (PCP) has recommended a gym membership for those. I'm also not sure that's safe, although I know that it can actually spur weight gain in animals. I'm also concerned about the interactions of the medications used for bone loss and the antidepressants I'm on. Lastly, I'm hoping there are alternatives for bone loss that would not preclude pregnancy.
I'm currently taking the following:
150mg Wellbutrin XL
60mg Cymbalta
100mg Provigil
10mg Propranalol BID for anxietyCan you offer any advice about where to go from here in terms of treatment options? What you think might be most beneficial to try next?
Thank you.
poster:Racer
thread:432726
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/eating/20041128/msgs/432726.html