I've noticed another resurgence of anorexia symptoms in N recently. This time it's been a little worst than in the past. And that usually means one (or both) of two things: 1) He isn't getting enough calories or 2) He's lost weight. So I weighed him - 119 lbs, which is down about 1/2 pound. Then I measured him. I was so startled by the results that I measured him again. A conservative measurement shows that he has grown a full inch in the past month. With that much growth, a stagnant weight is just like loosing weight. That explains the up and down struggles that he has been having over the past month or two.
So, we've gone back to a similar routine like when he was really sick. I dish up his plates. He eats it all. I track his calories. It's just been two or three days since I measured him and I can already see a decrease of those pesky symptoms. I just have to be so attentive right now -- especially since he is growing so rapidly.
And just to clarify, these reoccurring anorexic symptoms are so minuscule compared to how sick he was a year ago (at most a "1" on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being his worst symptoms ever). I might notice that he is acting a little more self-conscious or emotional. He starts to be a little picky about what he eats. He also might struggle to get going in the morning. Mostly these resurgences don't interfere with his (or our) normal lives. I'm just so highly attuned to these warning signs that I try to address the problem right away.
I continue to be amazed about how consistently important it is for him to keep his weight up. A drop in weight always correlates with an increase in symptoms. At a reasonable weight, he is just like a "normal" 12 year old.
Now he is officially taller than his mom.
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2 comments:
My d lost almost a pound last week, she is growing incredibly fast, and boy did the behaviors start to resurface. We are also going back to the old ways of feeding, and a planned birthday party at a friend's house tomorrow is up in the air...
While my d's symptoms are so much better and as you say a "1 on the scale" compared to where we were a year ago, I find myself slipping into the familiar pit of depression. I hope I can kick this feeling, but this illness just brings me down.
Erica - I know just what you're talking about. There are moments when my shoulders literally tense up with the heaviness of potential relapses. And it is way too familiar. There is also an immediate sense of frustration. I got my first gray hairs last spring. No wonder. I think the emotional toll on the family is huge!
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