Clinical psychologist?

[SarahCunnane]

I wonder if anyone else out there has had similar issues to me and has any advice??

I have upper GI crohn's which has recently flared up really badly requiring a 2 week admission to hospital for IV steroids and infliximab. I've also ended up with an NJ tube for enteral feeding as my Alb got so low.

I've had a long path to my diagnosis and naturally the question of eating disorder has been raised. Being a young, female professional, in an at times stressful job I can see where they are coming from but it nethertheless upsets me. I hate being so thin and normally love my food when I'm well and I'm pretty certain I don't have an issue with my body image.

Do I just need to go through the motions of seeing a psychologist to tick all the boxes?! Have other people had similar issues?

Thanks

 

[nogutsnoglory]

I think you know yourself best and if you truly know this is just your crohn's and not an eating disorder than you don't have to. Either way you need to address the issue and get proper nutrition. Have any doctors suggested an eating disorder and seeing a psych?

 

[dominicm]

I agree that you know yourself and your body. You know whether or not you have an eating disorder. People who don't have Crohn's can't understand the illness. They don't understand what it means in terms of eating. If you are having a difficult time dealing with the Crohn's and the stress then it's not a bad idea to see a psych. If you only feel like you need to see one to prove you don't have an eating disorder it may not be necessary.

 

[SarahCunnane]

thanks. I'm pretty sure I don't have an eating disorder. when I'm well I LOVE food!! Whenever I have a flare up I always lose loads of weight - despite drinking loads of supplements and now currently being NJ fed at night. I just find it so frustrating because when I get sick I can't do all the things that I want to do...I'm normally a really active person. My gastro doesn't doubt that I have crohn's, I guess he just wants to cover all bases to make sure there is nothing else going on. He has suggested seeing psychologist.I guess there is no harm in seeing one.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

There is no harm considering stress definitely aggravates IBD anyway and we all can use a little stress reduction.