Signs of anorexia?

amother

Tue, Nov 30 2021, 12:09 pm

amother [ Dandelion ] wrote:

It does not sound like anorexia to me, anorexics tend to be secretive about all their symptoms like constipation, and your daughter is sharing everything.

Definitely take her to a regular doctor, since that is what she's asking for.

Eating a lot of fruit and vegetables can ironically CAUSE constipation and gassiness if you suddenly eat a lot more than you are used to. Fruit and vegetables are great, but you have to add them into your diet slowly. Most prople don't know this.

A hula hoop sounds healthy. A girl who is close to 18 shouldn't even have to ask for permission to buy something as parve as a hula hoop. Without knowing more details, I think you should give her more independence. If she's anorexic and secretive she can do jumping jacks in her room with the door closed and you won't know. Asking for a hula hoop means she's not being secretive about wanting to get exercise, and she shouldn't have to be, because exercise is healthy.

So that's what I was thinking. She is not secretive about it. Even the hula hoop wasnt. (She asked my hub to buy it, bc he does all the ordering on Amazon - its a specific one with weights)

She always exercised. She does jumping jacks openly and reg stretching. She doesn't eat a ton of vegetables or fruits. REGULAR.

I don't mind taking her to a dr. Although I dont think they will do much testing if she is complaining only for a week. But will try anyway.

She had once as a 10 yr old that she needed to use the bathroom on the bus, and after that if we ever travelled in the car for 45 min even, she panicked about needing the bathroom. She was so anxious, that we actually needed to stop in Manhattan and find a restroom, even though she had just gone.
This issue lasted a few weeks, until she got over it.

Not sure if she is anxious about being constipated or she is starting to obsess about her food.

I guess I'll wait another week and see how it goes.

amother

Forsythia

Tue, Nov 30 2021, 3:06 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Why would you wait a week? If your daughter is uncomfortable, why not address the problem now?

amother

Purple

Tue, Nov 30 2021, 11:41 pm

OP:

is there a reason that you dont want to send your daughter to the doctor?

Unless there is something you are not sharing (that's your right, but then we cant fully answer your question).

Going to the doc is a simple and easy procedure (unless again, there is a reason).

Otherwise, im not understanding: an adult of 18 asks to go to the doc, and for some unexplained reason she is not being allowed to go.

Just saying-thats how it comes across.

So...

amother

Ginger

Tue, Nov 30 2021, 11:43 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

It does sound to me like there’s more going on here than just constipation. Does she tend to have an anxious, obsessive type personality in general?

amother

Dandelion

Wed, Dec 01 2021, 12:09 am

amother [ Purple ] wrote:

In America a lot of people have insurance where you pay the first $800 of whatever costs you have in a year, then the insurance pays the rest (or kicks in). So if OP's daughter didn't have any medical expenses yet this year, she could be paying $200 for this one doctor visit.

amother

Wed, Dec 01 2021, 12:12 am

amother [ Purple ] wrote:

I never said I don't want to. I never said she is not allowed to. I don't know how that came across to you - just saying.

First of all, she mentioned the dr half sarcastically.
Second, I don't believe in running to a dr. for every little thing. Its not like she can't use the bathroom at all. She is just more constipated than regular.

Third, going to the dr here is a hassle, and will require several visits. I will need a referral to a specialist and make several appts. I do have other children that need other appointments plus a very sick father in the hospital

Obviously, if I felt she really needed it, I would go. 3 days of not going regular and being stressed so much can be more of an emotional thing. Like another poster asked, it may be related to anxiety. I will wait a few more days to see if everything back to normal.

amother

Gladiolus

Wed, Dec 01 2021, 11:04 am

There seems to be a lot of stress going on in your house based on your last post, perhaps your daughter needs attention from you and this is her way of telling you.
Maybe take her out and spend quality time with her. Discuss her concerns without brushing them aside and offer her the option to go to a dr on her own and if it’s more than a minor issue, you could go to a specialist. By pushing her off and letting her wait this out (I’d be furious at my parent). You’re showing her that everything else you’re dealing with is more important than her.

ShishKabob

Wed, Dec 01 2021, 11:15 am

amother [ Purple ] wrote:

This, all of it

amother

Wed, Dec 01 2021, 8:05 pm

amother [ Gladiolus ] wrote:

Not at all lacking attention. She is our oldest and we are crazy over her. She spends time every night with us shmoozing, playing games, dancing, or watching videos together...all the younger ones are jealous. During the day we are obviously busy more with them.

I know her.. she gets a little overly anxious/worried about things. My husband became so concerned and brought up anorexia, so it got me scared as well.

While writing the posts here, I intuitively realized it must be anxiety. After telling her that we'll go, if things dont improve in a week, she relaxed and everything is back to normal BH.

In reality if I'd run to the dr for every concern he has, I would visit a psychologist for PMS every.single.month..

dancingqueen

Wed, Dec 01 2021, 8:09 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

A lot of anxious kids develop ibs-c. It’s worth a trip to a GI if she’s in pain.