TeenHelp - Triggering (ED): Possible eating disorder?? How do I ask about it?????

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- - Triggering (ED): Possible eating disorder?? How do I ask about it????? (http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f15-eating-disorders/t164258-possible-eating-disorder-how-do-i-ask-about/)

Possible eating disorder?? How do I ask about it?????

[FONT=""][COLOR=""][SIZE=""][FONT=""][COLOR=""][SIZE=""][FONT=""][COLOR=""][SIZE=""]Tw cuz this is kinda gross.

I've always been embarrassed to talk about this but usually after meals It'll kinda come back up..? Not like in a throw up kinda way.. just like I need to chew it again..
It's been happening since like 3rd grade and I always thought it was normal. I thought everyone did it, but apparently not?
Someone on discord was venting and said they had an ED called rumination disorder, and I had no clue what that was so I looked it up. It perfectly matched what I've been doing for years.. it's not intentional or voluntary, I just do it. Its just inconvenient, because it makes it hard to sing or talk after I eat.
I was reading about it and it said it didn't have terrible side effects, worst case scenario just being damage to your throat or choking. I can't quite remember.
So I dunno if this is something I'm just making a big deal about? Maybe this does happen to everyone??
And if it is something to be concerned about, how do I go about asking?
The disorder said it was less common and I don't wanna seem like I'm seeking attention, especially if this is just something I can ignore.
Help please![/size][/color][/font][/size][/color][/font][/size][/color][/font]

Re: Possible eating disorder?? How do I ask about it?????

To me, since you said this is not intentional, it sounds like there's something medical going on here, whether rumination disorder or something else. I don't think food coming back up after meals frequently is something that everyone experiences. It would be different if it was something that happens once in a while, but it sounds like this happens pretty often for you. It doesn't sound like something you WANT to be doing and does sound like something that is causing you unwanted problems in your day-to-day life.

Are you able to ask your parents to take you to your primary care doctor? You can tell your primary care doctor how long the symptoms have been going on and exactly what happens. If you notice it happens more often or worse after eating certain types of foods, bring that up too. Does it happen more often in times of stress, or does it happen pretty much all of the time? Does it happen with every type of meal, or only some (for example, does it happen mostly at dinner or does it happen with every meal)? These pieces of information can serve as clues for your doctor. Let your doctor know how it is affecting you, like how you said it's hard to sing or talk after it happens. If there are any other symptoms that you've noticed, such as stomach pain, nausea, appetite issues, or something else, bring that up too. You can even bring up what you saw about rumination disorder and see if it fits for you.

Your doctor might want to run tests on you to rule out any medical causes. Or, they might want to refer you to a gastroenterologist (GI doctor). A GI doctor deals with the human digestive system, so they'd be the experts in this area.

If they find out there's nothing wrong, at least you know! But it's better to be checked out and told there's not a problem, than to ignore it and find out the hard way that there is something going on. It might give you some peace of mind to just get looked at. I don't think you're attention seeking at all, and your concerns are valid.

I wish you the best of luck if you do decide to get it checked out!

Re: Possible eating disorder?? How do I ask about it?????

I can definitely understand how frustrating this must be! Based on the fact that you stated it isn't intentional, it sounds like there may be an underlying medical cause. While I think it's great that hearing about rumination disorder on Discord encouraged you to do some research, I would highly recommend asking your parents to make an appointment for you to see your doctor, as relying solely on the Internet can cause us to inaccurately self-diagnose.

Because this is involuntary and is causing unwanted effects in your life, such as struggling to sing or talk after eating, I doubt anyone will view you as attention-seeking. It sounds like you just want to understand what's going on in your body and if there are any ways to reduce symptoms. If your parents are able to take you to your primary care physician, that would be a great first step! During your appointment, you can tell your doctor about the symptoms you're experiencing, as well as how long you've been experiencing these symptoms and the side effects that have come up along with it. This is also a great opportunity to give your doctor any relevant information, including the frequency that you experience symptoms, any patterns that you've noticed such as time of day or type of food, and any concerns that you have about the way it is impacting you.

It's entirely possible that your doctor may want to run some tests to help narrow down the cause. However, they may also choose to refer you to a specialist. If you do receive a referral, be aware that it isn't necessarily a sign of something seriously wrong! Instead, your doctor may not have the expertise in the digestive system to be able to treat you properly. If they do send you to a specialist, your doctor may just be doing their best to ensure that you receive the best care/treatment possible from a doctor who does have an area of expertise in your specific issue or the digestive system in general.

Even if you don't receive a diagnosis, being seen by your doctor may help provide you with some peace of mind. Additionally, even if there isn't an underlying medical cause, your doctor may be able to provide you with some suggestions for symptom reduction.

Wishing you the best of luck if you do choose to get checked out!