High metabolism & IBS

[Justcausetyler]

Lost a significant amount of weight since I was diagnosed 3 years ago. Dosent help that my metabolism is also very high. Tired of being a stick. And the worst part is having to hear everyday that I'm to skinny or you need to gain some weight weight or why are you so skinny or just the fact that people look at you differently because of your size.

I feel like I cant eat anything without it triggering....so I guess..I'm like...scared to eat?

I just want to be normal again and have weight back. But when you have a severe case like mine it's not easy to have the urge to want to eat alot because of the consequences. Just tired of being ridiculed and being patronized about my weight....everyday....its like you dont think I know this??? If the world only understood ibs problems.

I try to work out daily to at least have muscle mass but it really does nothing for me. It dosent really qork if you arent eating enough of everything you need daily. Anyone else have to hear about their weight everyday from people?

And I know I shouldnt worry about what others think....and I normally dont. But I hear about it everyday. And sometimes...it just gets to you....you're not normal and very few understand.

Ibs is screwing up my stomach and my mind.

[301246]

Hi, I'm like a stick as well, have lost nearly 4 stones over 18 months. Under Gastroenterologist who is carrying out tests but so far I have IBS-C and SIBO. As well as other people commenting on my size, it is worrying me too. Pain when I eat so today I have decided not to eat and see whether I still get the pain. I have been awake all night with the pain.

[Katie98]

Hi, I went from a size 10 (UK) to a size 4 (UK) because of stomach problems. Originally 9st 5 and ended up being 6st 12. I was this weight for my whole second year of uni. Recently I managed to put on some weight but my symptoms have worsened and are unbearable (toilet trips between 4 and 15 times a day). I'm fine with my weight now (at a size 6 and around 8st) but my weight often goes back down very, very quickly. I keep clothes in sizes 4-8 because its so unpredictable. The joys aha.

I originally lost weight over the summer between my first and second year of uni, and when I came back I got a lot of negative comments about my weight, how I looked unhealthy and gross and how I lacked cleavage etc... I live in a shared house and I'd often be criticized for my portion sizes because they didn't understand how my body just couldn't tolerate anymore. I was barely coping. At my worst I lived on half a portion of rice and a pack of plain crisps but by the time I got back to uni I was able to eat 3 very small meals a day and snacks. But my friends didn't see how I struggled during that summer and what an improvement I'd actually made. I had my friends and boyfriend tell me I couldn't fill my clothes (size 4) and as a 19 year old I felt really self conscious. I'm very petite in general so honestly I had the body of a 11-12 year old and I could fit into those sizes too. It was hard to explain I couldn't have certain foods (I have food allergies and I also follow low fodmap) and alot of people just thought I was choosing to be fussy.

I do struggle with my body image whether I gain or lose weight and I'm dreading going back and have people comment on my recent weight gain too, which is very ironic because it was what I wanted. I just don't want people to look at me and see my weight and make judgements.

At the moment I'm trying my best to eat healthily but sometimes I falter. I've had very severe symptoms for a long time and I have possible microscopic colitis and malabsoprtion (initially diagnosed as ibs d) and I've decided to change doctor and be seen privately. My first appointment with them is in a few weeks so I'm hoping once my medication is sorted and my diet fully dealt with, I will have a more stable weight. Like you I hoped to try and gain muscle but that's very, very hard when we have such a limited diet and I ended up just losing more weight.

I don't have much advice to honest other than to push for answers and establish a diet that works for you but its a very lengthy process. And personally I'm at the mercy of waiting time. I hope your symptoms improve.

You aren't alone. But people who don't suffer these symptoms don't get it. They don't know what its like to be afraid of food and it be totally out of their control. Even my family who watched me deteriorate often find my avoidance of food triggers confusing and I feel guilty when they buy me food that is a trigger and I have to sit them down and explain that its not that im not grateful, I wish I could eat it, but I can't right now. I think its worth telling people how you feel. I have and it helps a little with their comments.

But I don't think you ever fully get away from the judgement. I remember a friend of mine going through something similar at a younger age and whilst I didn't comment I definitely noticed how her weight went down. And it wasn't until I went through what I did that I fully understood that it isn't just an 'upset stomach' its a debilitating illness. And many people can be very understanding but unfortunately I don't think many non-sufferers of this type of illness can fully wrap their head around it. But honestly as daft as it sounds I've found when other people have commented on my weightloss, it was because they were insecure about their own weight and I didn't find out until later but both of my housemates actually went on diets as soon as we started back. So maybe some of the judgement I saw when they looked at me and in some of their comments, actually came from their insecurity too.

Try and not take it to heart too much, you're probably going through enough already. I'm like you, most of the time I just take it on the chin but it does get to you. 'Match stick legs' was a remark for me that got to me, and the one about how I couldn't fill my clothes. But they don't see what I go through to eat what I do. I know my weight is going to fluctuate and I try and change my dress style depending on my weight. So my lowest weight I liked to wear skirts etc... because I liked my legs. And when I feel abit curvier I like to wear former fitting clothes that show off the 'curves'. You can dress however you want to for whatever weight you are. That's just how I like to dress to make myself feel my best no matter what my weight. didn't let anyone make me feel bad because I thought you know what supermodels aim for this, I'll rock it whilst it lasts. I'm not going to let anyone take away from the time where I feel okay and waste it thinking about negative comments. It sucks that alot of people don't get it but I'm glad for my friends and family that don't get it in a way because it means they aren't suffering with it like us... Good luck with everything, you're doing a good job of dealing your condition and I hope everything improves for you x

[Justcausetyler in reply to Katie98]

Thanks that means alot. Thanks for the story.👌

And yeah the word debilitating sometimes cant be stressed enough haha