Reged: 08/06/04
Posts: 4381
Loc: Within stray mortar fire of DC
Hey Lisa! I know how you feel, because I've tried to gain weight most of my life, but it's been hard because like you, I stop eating when it hurts. It doesn't make it easier that most people don't underrstand that when you are underweight, it is actually easier to lose pounds than it is to gain them. At my worst IBS moment when I started high school, I was 5'8" and 76 pounds. I didn't reach 100 until I was 19 or 20, and it was so frustrating trying to gain, then gaining a little and losing it all when I wasn't careful about managing my D. I just KNEW that everybody noticed I didn't have boobs-- embarrasing!
The only thing I did to effectively gain weight was to add a snacktime plus 3 new foods, and keep it up. I wouldn't give up any one of my pounds now without a fight! I figured out that I could digest a little dairy if I upped my imodium, too. Dairy was essential to me to break that 100 lb. barier!
But it still is tricky for me to keep on weight. I went from 155 the last week of March this year to 134 after being hospitallized for 3 days with non-stop D and vomiting (when I had my nasel-gastric tube) due to a virus I must have caught on a plane back from London. 21 pounds dissappeared in 3 days, and I've just now (at the end of september!!) managed to put them back on.
Scary knowing it can all go, just like that!!
I say good luck, and go slow! Find something, and stick to it. Don't get discouraged if the weight doesn't come on a quickley as you'd like. I'm in your corner, Lisa! You can do it!
Let us know how it goes! BTW, LOL about the shoes!!! I have the same thing, a ton of shoes, but hardly any clothes that fit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!