Saturday, January 21, 2012

Meds You Should Be Taking

My previous post had me thinking about meds people recovering from an eating disorder should be taking, if it's applicable to their specific situation. Our bodies have been denied the nourishment they need to properly function, so they rely on what they've stored for "just-in-case-I'm-not-given-the-nutrition-I-need." However, when you've been abusing your body for so long, it runs out of all extra stuff stored away, and begins devouring itself for what it needs to simply function.

Taking meds is an important part of recovery because it's replenishing your body with what it needs. Even after being on medication for a few months, it takes a couple years to fully "restock" your body. 

Basic Meds You Should Be Taking Anyway

- Multi-vitamin: Women's one-a-day is great, or I got a prescription pre-natal vitamin because they're stronger than store-bought ones. If you're like me and don't like swallowing pills the size of golf balls, chewable vitamins are a good option. Just make sure if you're taking a multi-vitamin in pill form, you don't take it on an empty stomach. You may get so nauseous, you vomit uncontrollably out of your mouth AND nose (yes, this happened to me).
- Calcium: Same as the multi-vitamin. Your bones suffer so much from the malnourishment and those with anorexia are more likely to have osteoporosis. Taking calcium is important for everyone, especially women, and ESPECIALLY those with eating disorders.

For Those Who Purge

- Prilosec (omneprazole): This medication helps to repair the damage you've done to your esophagus and stomach from purging, which is violent and really damages your body.
- Sulcrafate: OK, so if you've done some major damage to your body from purging, you have stomach/chest pain, and are purging blood often, ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT THIS MED. It's a pain to take because they look like horse pills, you're supposed to take them four times a day, 1 hr before meals or 2 hrs after meals. But it's powerful. How it works is it binds itself to the raw areas of your esophagus and stomach.
- Prescription Fluoride Toothpaste: After giving me four fillings and mentioning I'll need gum surgery, my dentist also prescribed me fluoride toothpaste, which is stronger than store-bought. Brushing your teeth with this helps to bring down high-acidity levels in your mouth, which are what destroys your teeth in a major way. 

Depression/Anxiety/Insomnia Meds
- ProZac: This specific med may/may not be the right one for you. But if you have depression, high highs and low lows, this helps to kind of even everything out and make those feelings a tad less extreme. Working with a psychiatrist/PP to find the right dosage is really important.
- Xanax, Atarax, Atavin, Visterol, etc: If you experience panic attacks, you know how scary and real they can be. Finding an anxiety med that's right for you and your body can help calm you down and bring you back to a safe place. I've tried so many anxiety meds and the only one that seemed to work for me was Xanax. Warning though- most anxiety meds cause drowsiness, some more than others. I found out the hard way and missed an entire day of my life because I was so knocked out.
- Seroquel: MY LIFESAVER. It's known to work really well paired with ProZac. It helps your mind shut off at night, especially helps if you have racing thoughts that keep you from sleeping. I take this almost every night. It does make me a bit drowsy in the morning if I take it too late though.
- Ambien: Helps insomnia, but can be addictive. I only have it when I REALLY need some sleep and need to be knocked out FAST. Warning: Do not try to stay awake after taking ambien. You will illucinate,  collapse in the shower, or make a fool of yourself but remember nothing in the morning. From experience? You bet. 

Others

-Miralax: Helps when you begin recovery and your body isn't used to actually digesting food. Even on miralax, I didn't go to the bathroom for two weeks in treatment (think 3500 cal/day x 14 days=a lot of poop stuck in my body). Tasted horrible to me so I had it with gatorade in treatment (hated the taste so much I was willing to have extra calories!), and now I mix it in my coffee (smart? maybe not). It's not meant for long term use, but my treatment team still wants me on it for some reason.
-B Complex vitamins: For nerve damage. I actually did damage my nerves somehow from starvation.
-Potassium/magnesium: Your doctor would prescribe depending on lab results.

20 comments:

  1. Jesus christ you're a moron. Just open your mouth and chew some food. Stop hurting everyone around you- selfish girl.

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    1. Its OK, people have the right to stand behind their opinions.

      oh wait. you're hiding behind anonymity... you go! way to stand up for your beliefs!

      and she's the moron....

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    2. Fittingly the person who wrote that comment chooses to be anonymous...

      I don't have an eating disorder, but a different mental illness, and I support your effort and recovery wholeheartedly. It's never as easy as just stopping, unfortunately.

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    3. thank you! I'm sorry to hear you have a mental illness as well, but I am glad you are so understanding. Thank you for the support. I support you as well :)

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    4. Anonymity? Your names are all probably fake anyway...hypocrites! 'Ragan' isn't even skinny, you just sit there feeling sorry for yourself waisting your therapists time when there are other people a lot worse off then you. You don't even deserve food after all the hurt you've put people through. And yes i do know Danilee personally unlike all you commenting so you're the ones that need to go.

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    5. huh. reallllyyyy...interesting. i don't think you know me very well then because you're pretty ignorant about eating disorders. you can have your opinions though. i obviously have my own.

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    6. Don't act as if you don't think anyone else says stuff like this behind your back. If you think this is ignorant you haven't heard half the things the people from falls say about you.

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    7. I don't know who you are, but there's obviously a lot of hate. If you have a problem with me, talk to me in person instead of leaving anonymous comments on my recovery blog. I'm very aware of what some people probably say or at least think, but anyone who actually cares about me and knows my heart would never say the things you have. side note: From the falls?! I have no idea who those people can be, considering I haven't been in contact with anyone I knew from the falls. Weird.

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    8. @ Anonymous - You must be very sad and unsatisfied. Your words are full of hate and ignorance. I don't know Ragan personally - but I would never presume to say such horrible things (you don't DESERVE food) to anyone on this whole earth. Before you judge others (that you obviously don't really know) - look at yourself and your hate-filled heart. Britta

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    9. You have absolutely no right to judge someone's struggles and hurts. ED are very real!! Whether you know Ragan personally or not NO ONE, but her and JESUS CHRIST KNOWS what she's really dealing with on the inside!! She is NOT selfish otherwise she would not be putting herself out there risking being put down by people like YOU!!! That takes a LOT of guts if you ask me. Not only does it take guts to share her heart and hurts and be vulnerable! It takes some guts to make the choice to choose recovery!!!!!

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  2. That was an extremely rude comment. Eating disorders are much more complex than just "eating something."

    Informational post. I think I would rephrase "Meds you should be taking" as many people do not need to be on antidepressants. I would add some natural foods where you can get vitamins and moodboosters as I like to say that we need.

    Especially be careful when mentioning things like miralax...

    Hope you are doing well. and I applaud anyone going through the recovery process.

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    1. You might find this website helpful? http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/

      I've come to realize just about anything can be seen as "distorted" or "triggering" to someone. Some people might feel triggered to be overtly focused on getting the right vitamins, etc. from foods. *shrugs*

      Even taking these recommendations into consideration, its not like you can just pick up prescriptions without seeing a doctor (hence the need for them). Everyone's different; there's no one set way to treat everyone. Ask a doctor if you're uncertain what's best for you.

      I hope I don't come across bitchy because that's not how I'm trying to be! I'm just trying to give my honest opinion

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    2. You're right, not everyone should be taking all the meds I've mentioned, only the ones that apply to your specific situation. I would never say everyone should be taking depression meds, unless you were seriously suffering from depression and had a diagnosis. Hope that clears things up a bit! Thanks for the support! It's a long process.

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  3. Thats a great post and goodness rather unfortunate comment! You have such a great heart and nope don't have the privilege to know you in real life but you are one very real and courageous girl fighting this all hard! I need to get back on vitamins I tend to slack! Sorry I always comment on my phone and can't figure out how not to be anon! Jalynn

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  4. My heart sunk after reading some of these comments. I discovered your YT account a couple months ago & it lead me to your blog here. I have been wanting to write to you many times but something always held me back...but I had to reach out to you because I fear the possible damaging effects of those comments. You already know that your actions do hurt the people who love you but this is a disease. Your behaviors that cause pain for your loved ones are symptoms of the disease---not personality traits!!! But people who haven't been through this, will never fully understand or will never try to...which appears to be the case of whoever left those hateful comments. If you ever need to talk to someone who has been through an ED and made it to the other side...I would love to help you any way I could. I am sure people thought the same about me 5 years ago before I was in recovery...but I've proved them wrong & you can too!!!

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    1. Thanks :) I understand your concern of these negative comments causing some damage, considering they're things I tell myself already when I'm feeling particularly hateful towards myself. But the great thing is I'm secure in who I am as a person and I know my heart and character. Yes, I've hurt people I love because of my eating disorder, but that's never my intention. The only reason I wanted recovery for a long time was for the sole reason of not hurting anyone else anymore because of my behaviors. It is a disease though, and I hate it passionately. If I could simply "put food in my mouth in eat" I would. haha I WISH it was that simple. Thanks for you love and understanding. No worries- I think those comments have actually made me feel more secure in myself, which I kind of find a bit comical and ironic, since building me up is obviously not their intention. much love!

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    2. That is great!! :). I would leave you my e-mail but I don't want it all out there since it's my real name. If you ever want to talk recovery or need some support, leave your e-mail & I will write you. Much Love-Jenny

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    3. raganmae@gmail.com :) I'd love an email from you!

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  5. I can't do ambien anymore because I have a terrible habit of juuuuust staying up a liiiiitle past when I think I should get in bed. I have mortified myself on the stuff, yet I can't seem to get in the damned bed after taking it! Wow, you'd think I'd have learned.

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