Why Does Eating Make Me Feel Sick?
Q.
I am a 15 year old female. Since about 6 months ago, I didn't eat as much and it slowly got worse, to the point where I would only have one or two small snacks or nothing at all to eat a day.
Then whenever I ate I threw up. I didn't make myself throw up but after I did throw up it felt better and I occasionally made myself sick. I don't have any issues with my weight. I am very sporty anyway and I don't usually think about whether I'm fat or not. I just really don't like the feel of food in my stomach and I don't like the feel of it going down my throat.
I spoke to a teacher at school and we have tried something that includes me having breakfast every day. I have done this for the last two weeks. I have researched Bulimia and anorexia and I don't think that the amount I eat and the way I feel about food has much to do with my opinion on my weight. If you could give me any hint in the right direction that would be great.
A.
Your description of what you eat, small snacks or going full days without food, combined with the sporty lifestyle you describe is worrying because it is very likely that you are not feeding your body enough fuel to keep going through all of the activities you ask of it. You say that your diet is not related to trying to lose weight but rather down to the way that you feel after eating, or the way that food feels as you chew and swallow. It is great that you discussed the situation with a teacher, but it doesn't sound as though these sensations have lessened in the time that you have forced yourself to eat breakfast every day. It is now imperative that you see a doctor about your physical complaints.
There could be any number of underlying health reasons that you do not feel well after eating. For example, a food allergy could be the culprit for an upset stomach after eating certain foods, or an excess of junk food and fizzy drinks may have made you feel lethargic after eating. An upset stomach after eating could also be linked to heartburn, a digestive disorder, Irritable Bowel Syndrome or even an ulcer. Explaining the kind of pain you have in your stomach after eating will help your doctor narrow down if there might be a physical cause of this pain and if further testing is required.
Your description of not liking the sensation of swallowing food should also be shared with your doctor. It might be that you have an underlying health concern here, or it could be that you have aversions to certain foods or textures of foods. However, your strong reaction to the feeling of swallowing food - to avoid eating it all together - is neither healthy nor sustainable. Your body requires fuel to grow and remain strong so you must find a way to feed your body the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that it requires to flourish.
Seeing a teacher about your food and eating concerns was a great first step. Now continue on towards finding the right answer by discussing your situation with a medical professional. Your parents or the teacher you originally trusted would be great starting points for contacting a GP.
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