Anxiety about eating

[sweetsoleil]

hello!

i have been worrying about something, and maybe someone can relate or shed some light on what could be the cause. I have a really hard time eating. I feel like its more than just a lack of appetite though, i feel like physically my body doesnt want me to eat. It reminds me of early pregnancy, when you are woozy and the smell of food and the textures make you sick. I can force myself to put something in my mouth and then i feel like its almost impossible to swallow it. I have mix food with water just to make it go down

I have mentioned this to my doctor 3 times since January. I have lost weight (which ill admit at first i wasnt upset about) but now im worried Im going to look not well to my family. I know my doctor relates most things to stress, but i have never had this happen before. I have had blood work done which came back fine. It upsets me because I dont know how to stop it from happening. Im obsessed with thinking about food all day becuase i know i have to eat. I was doing ok eating puddings and yogurts for quite a while but now i cant stand either thing. I bought some meal replacement drinks but UGGGG i feel bad for anyone who has to drink those.

Any suggestions as to what could be happening? My doctor assures me that my throat is NOT swollen, but he doesnt really offer any reasons as to why eating is so difficult and sickening to me (other than anxiety, but ive had anxiety issues for so many years it doesnt make sence to me why this is happening as a result)

 

[forgetmenot]

Have you started any new medication that could be affecting your appetite or you could be having a reaction to it. I know when i started a new pill all i felt was sick and yes like a pregnacy feeling sick too but that wore off as my body got use to the medication

 

[sweetsoleil]

no i dont take medication yet forgetmenot...i used to take a multivitamin but convinced myself it was the reason i couldnt eat so stopped a few weeks ago but it didnt help

 

[forgetmenot]

I would ask your doctor to see someone then to take a scope of your throat to see if there is narrowing of the esophagus Rule out physical reasons first then go to emotional reasoning

 

[sweetsoleil]

thanks for that advice forgetmenot...thats what i kinda think as well..i never seem to know what is a mental issue and what is a physical issue. There seem to be sooo many problems that can arise from untreated mental issues, i think my doctor tends to relate everything to my mind. I however, think most things are physical (even though i have never had a physical health problem other than a cold).

I have a very hard time standing up for myself and asking for things. Even with my Doctor who i have seen for 10 years. I feel like when he says "thats just your anxiety" i walk away with that....and come home and continue to worry that i have cancer or something that is being left untreated and of course it causes me much stress. If i am even able to say "are you sure its not something else, like physical?" he sort of laughs and trys to reassure me its anxiety related. But then i think....dont you see how much weight i have lost in the last 6 months? isnt it obvious that something is wrong? I try just to trust him on whatever he says, as i know its POSSIBLE its anxiety related but have such a hard time asking for more than his opinion.

I do go see him tomorrow morning so if im feeling brave ill mention a scope. I wouldnt even know what to ask for so thank you for the suggestion forgetmenot!

thank you!!

 

[Retired]

I wouldnt even know what to ask for

Think of your relationship with your doctor as a partnership in looking after your health care. When thinking of it that way, it may help you frame your question.

As in any partnership, you want to work in cooperation and not in confrontation, so you would not want to insult your doctor by challenging his or her clinical judgement. However, doctors are usually accustomed to working with colleagues in a collegial atmosphere, where second opinions are welcomed and encouraged.

So in this situation, if the doctor suggests "thats just your anxiety", you might say, "You're probably right, Doc, but for my own satisfaction, would you refer me to a specialist to rule out anything physical?"

Let your doctor select the specialist and the specialist will determine the diagnostic test required. I suppose you might be referred to a gastroenterologist or perhaps an ear nose and throat specialist (otolanryngologist).

Doctors are well aware their patients are better informed today than they were a decade ago, but in using your knowledge, you want to let your doctor present you with your options rather than dictating to your doctor what to do.

That way, you work in partnership with your doctor.

 

[sweetsoleil]

thankyou for your helpful suggestion Steve

that last thing i want to do is make my doctor feel like he doesnt know something or make him think i dont trust him. Asking for something more makes me feel bad, like he will think i dont believe him and that it will hurt his feelings somehow. Youre right though, and it makes sence that he would be used to these types of situations. Ill try my best to ask him properly...sometimes its hard to get out what im trying to say as i fight through my anxiety of jus tbeing there...sometimes i come home and dont even know what i said at all...anxiety is so frustrating

thanks for your tip and i will certainly do my best

sincerely

 

[Retired]

last thing i want to do is make my doctor feel like he doesnt know something or make him think i dont trust him.

OK, then tell him that. You could say something like, "I trust your judgement Doc, and it's probably just anxiety, but to satisfy my own curiosity and to rule out anything physical, I'd like a specialist to have a look at me."

He may offer reasons why he doesn't agree, so you should not feel any sense of rejection. Remember everyone has the right to say "No" to any request, and at that point you have to decide if it's important enough to you to pursue.

Let us know how it goes.