Monday, January 12, 2009

I Wonder If Amazon Deals In Troublesome Organs

Me and my stomach have a long standing rivalry. So severe that it has been in a state of rebellion since Thanksgiving 2006. Quite honestly, there are days (like oh today for example) where just the thought of eating is enough to send me to the bathroom and emptying whatever I have in my stomach at the time.

It's not purposeful.

I just have no appetite. Almost starting to forget what one felt like.

It scares my friends immensely. Tinkerbell admitted that she was terrified the next time she would see me would be my funeral. Before we started dating, Eva would convince (read: manipulate) me to come over for dinner under the excuse of her needing a study partner. The Bait and Pippi would drag me to lunch after Mass every week. And because I hate to make the people I love worry, I would make myself eat.

And more often than not, throw it all up later.

It is so strange to see old pictures of myself where I weighed about 250 to know when I weigh 190 when full of water. Scary part? This time last year I was 170 but I basically forced myself (with help) to eat and exercise enough that I gained back about 15 pounds of muscle.

The worst part of all this?

That although I know my friends only worry because they love me, sometimes they go about it in very wrong ways. When Eva and Imogen cornered me over the break and started in on me needed to eat more I tried to get away. When they wouldn't let me without me pushing them (which they and I knew I wouldn't do) I started to panic. Then Eva suggested they make me weigh in front of them.

I fucking lost it at that point. And while I did apologize later, I made sure they understood that I meant it when I basically said that them doing that made me feel like livestock. I also thanked them for caring about me. It was kind of tears all around from there.

So when people (mostly women) say they would like to trade stomachs with me, I make sure they know what they would be getting themselves into.

1. Cramping (I've lost count of how many times I've lain awake at night in tears because my stomach was cramping. Now consider the fact that I can dislocate my shoulder and pop it back with only a grimace.)
2. Complete loss of appetite (Say goodbye to any holiday meal. Haven't had more than a few bites at a holiday since July 4, 2006.)
3. Acid (When you decide not to eat, your stomach AKA that treacherous bitch decides to punish you by letting you deal with that constant burning feeling in your stomach. The burning that gets worse when you feel bile rise up.)

So anyone still willing to trade?

5 comments:

  1. Can we say, 'doctor'? Honey, that is NOT normal. And it is not good. If you haven't visited the doc, it's time to do so. And if you have, and he/she did nothing for you, then it's time to find someone else. And I'm not someone who runs to the doctor for every little thing (I have to feel pretty damned bad to even think about making an appointment).

    I'm a mom... listen to me... I know what I'm talking about. GO. Damn it.

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  2. I agree with Diane. You need to get yourself to a doctor. I cannot stress enough that you MUST eat, especially if you're exercising!
    There are very serious consequences to these actions, even though they are not on purpose. If you continue on like this, your stomach could rupture, the enamel on your teeth will dissolve (and your teeth will follow), you'll develop osteoporosis... I could go on and on about the issues you will develop if you don't seek medical attention, but eventually, it all leads to cardiac failure.
    You NEED to be healthy, Kendall, for your own sake.

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  3. Gosh I am so sorry you have to go through all this :(. I'm assuming you have already been to the doctor because you know you have ulcers? Is there a cure for this? Take care dear, I am very concerned for you, you're one of my favorite blogger friends out there and I genuinely care about you...

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  4. What does your doctor say about that! I would hate to loose my appetite! I LOOVVE food!

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  5. I'm sorry you are going through this. Chronic pain sucks--I hope you can get some relief!

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