how to i keep moving toward recovery?

[Rach878]

Well i've just been discharged after 5 weeks in residental and 5 weeks in partial. I'm finding it harder to stay on track with not restricting and with binging and purging. Mostly because since i got out i feel like i look like a whale. I just don't know how to keep the neg. body image down enough so that i can stay on the path to recovery adn not relapse. I mean i worked really hard. I didn't use behaviors for the whole 5 weeks in residentall and for 2 weeks in partial, but know they are occassionally creeping up on me and i don't know what to do to stop them. Can you please give me suggestions?

Also when i was in residental they did weights and vitals every day. I was wondering what it means when the jump in your vitals is more than 40 from laying down to standing up. They called it severe hypo something, but i was wondering if it was something that should go away or that i should worry about.

[Rach878]

i wasn't stable when i left, but insurance ran out so i couldn't stay any longer.I'm also not a low weight anorexic, but an average weight anorexic/bulimic. Although i have lost a lot of weight recently. I do have a  treatment team although i haven't met with them regularly yet. I don't have an appointment with my doctor yet, so i'll ask you.
Is it ok to exercise when you have orthostatic hypotension? And what causes it?

[Patricia Pitts, PhD]

Good for you for doing the hard work of RTC and PHP!  It is a challenge to get back into life.  Yet I am sure your learn some solid tools while in your treatment.  The goal is to practice, practice, practice.  The more you practice your skills, the more you will appear, not the eating disorder symptoms.  I assume you have a solid treatment team who you see regularly.  Aftercare is as critical as going through the programs.  Working through an eating disorder is liken to a marathon.  It's a long process and you need to stay focused and perserve.  The great reward is having your own self-expression instead of the ed sypmtoms controlling you.  Orthostatics jumping greater than 20 points can be medically dangerous.  The term is orthostatic hypotension.  The need is to medically monitor electrolyte disturbances and cardiac concerns.  It is a severe condition.  Individuals do stabilize.  Since you were discharged from treatment, your orthostatics must have been stable.  However, they could become unstable again.  We usually see it in low-weight anorexics.  In light of your struggling with your eating disorder symptoms, it is wise to consult with your outpatient medical doctor to monitor your orthostatics and other medical concerns.  Best, Dr Patricia Pitts  The Bella Vita  Los Angeles, CA