I need help. :( - Binging, Purging, No health insurance

VeggieGirl · 06-02-2008, 02:09 AM

I don't know what to do. I left a full-time job making $40,000+/yr to move across the country and go back to school to get my undergrad. Now I don't have insurance, I'm a full-time student (which means I have no money) with three years left of school, I'm not really happy and I'm struggling emotionally with my hair loss. I'm got some seriously disordered eating- some kind of cross between bulimia and binge eating- that I feel I need treatment for before I really mess up my body. I'm considering dropping classes down to part time and getting a job that offers insurance so I can get my hair under control and get some counseling. It's such a big decision and it hurts to think about it. I'm tired of this.

I'm comfortable dealing with all of my other PCOS symptoms. I just don't know how to deal with the thinning hair and the body image issues. I'm 5'8" and I weigh around 140 lbs so it's not like I need to lose weight, even. I know my weight is healthy. I never had an eating disorder until the hair loss started, and now it's like I'm pre-occupied with controlling my appearance. I thought I could deal with it on my own and for a while I was doing pretty well, but then it kicked back in even worse. Ugh.

Sweetface · 06-02-2008, 02:55 AM

That's a hard decision. I'm in a similar situation where severe lifestyle changes created no insurance and I'm battling this without it. I'm applying like nuts to do admin work at a hospital or proj mgt which is what I used to do so that I can get full benifits and still cover room and bills to go to nursing school. First-prereqs. So I hear you. Minimize your life before life does it for you and get treatment. You will not scceed at school if you are not taking care of this condition.
Slow down, get a pt job and get benefits. I want benefits so bad so I can go to therapy to deal with the traumas I have been thru in the last year. I totally understand your situation.

lovelyinkedlady · 06-02-2008, 03:04 AM

Well if you don't have your health, you wont be around to enjoy your undergrad!

As much as it might hurt, look at it in the long run, You will be better health wise to deal with your job if you are able to get the help now.

Please cut back the classes and get the medical help you so very much need before you end up getting hurt.

LoLo32382 · 06-02-2008, 03:44 AM

Your health has to be priority. Starbucks has great health insurance for ppl who work as few as 30 hours a week. I know 30 hours a week can suck when you are in college! When I was in college, I got a job working with ppl with disabilities. I was in their homes and had a great deal of downtime to study and do homework. There's probably a few agencies in your area that are starved for employees!

Also, my school had a decent campus health center that you could access for free. I always asked for only the $4 scripts from Walmart. There should also be a counseling thing at your school...ours was called the Student Support Center. Maybe you have some resources like that at school??

Just some thoughts. Anyway, make sure you put yourself first!!! =)

Mariposie · 06-02-2008, 11:50 AM

Does your college offer medical insurance? Many of them do, at fairly decent prices. Also, do they have any kind of student health clinic? The university I attended had a free health clinic for students.

Another thing to look into is state programs. You may qualify for medicaid or something else. My state offers a limited, but valuable insurance program for people without insurance who have a low income but who don't qualify for medicaid.

I hope things work out for you! Take care of yourself!

VeggieGirl · 06-02-2008, 01:36 PM

Thanks, everyone. To answer your questions- my college does have a student health center. Several months ago I actually went to an eating disorders screening with one of the therapists. She recommended that I seek treatment and wanted me to schedule an appt., but I didn't like how she treated me throughout the screening and I didn't think therapy with her would be effective because of that. She kept putting words in my mouth and talking down to me, and when I brought up PCOS and bulimia, she actually seemed skeptical about there being a link the two. I'd like to be able to "shop around" and find a female therapist who understands PCOS, or at the very least, hair loss, because I do strongly feel that my disordered eating was triggered by this.

For the hair loss- I'm not sure that student health would give me prescriptions without running tests, and the tests are still really expensive. I got my thyroid, cholesterol, and something else tested recently and it was $50. I wanted them to check vitamin levels in my blood and they said that would have been over $100. My Yasmin script is from there, but since they don't carry it in the health center, I still get it filled off-campus at $60/month.

My school offers a health plan but it's something like $70 or $100/mo and it isn't very good. Also, I recently got denied a "disaster plan" by Humana, so I feel like my best bet would be to get insurance through a job.

It's so hard to make the decision because I don't always feel such despair. Some days I tell myself "Stop being dramatic, it's not so bad, you can handle it!" and I really feel like I can. My coping skills vary from day to day.

I really appreciate everyone's advice and support!

Somewhat Damaged · 06-03-2008, 12:00 AM

Take care of your health now, because it will only get worse if you don't

I would say a large part of that would be seeking treatment for your eating disorder. Many people with PCOS find relief from their symptoms by getting their diet in order. It would seem that you've got a 'vicious circle' going on... the negative body image from the PCOS and it's symptoms cause you to get depressed and binge/purge, which messes with your nutrition, which worsens the PCOS symptoms, etc...

It would serve you well to heal the eating disorder to heal the PCOS.

Take care.

Venea_Taur · 06-03-2008, 04:02 AM

I don't know if you're still looking for advice, but I thought I'd add my two cents. I've dealt with PCOS in college and its like having a fifth or sixth class dealing with it. Most of the times, dealing with it will be a side concern- I know I certainly put off dealing with it because it was too difficult. But the emotions that come with it are certainly too strong to deal with while handling a full class load. Even though it might cutback on the financial aid you might be getting, I would suggest cutting back to deal with PCOS. Once you get it under control, you'll enjoy everything so much more and be able to deal your best in all of your classes because it'll be in the back of your mind, not the front. Hope this helps and good luck!

VeggieGirl · 06-03-2008, 12:31 PM

Thank you both for the advice- I AM still looking for it.

I'm definitely going to do something, I just don't know what, yet. Right before I wrote this initial post, I had binged (but not purged) pretty bad after a week of really healthy, low GI eating. A few hours before that, I had binged and purged. I don't even know what caused the binges. Yesterday morning I woke up feeling so sick that I cancelled my morning volunteer appt. and slept all morning. I didn't eat all day until about 8pm, when I finally felt well enough to eat saltines and have a 7up. Then I went to bed early and ended up waking up in the middle of the night and throwing up, NOT by choice, but because I was sick. It was almost like I had food poisoning, but I think it was my body's reaction to binging/purging/binging. I honestly scared myself with this one. Hopefully, this will help me avoid the urge to binge, next time it comes.

I'm going to start journaling when I have the urge to binge and purge. I think that will help, a lot.

KatCarney · 06-03-2008, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VeggieGirl

...when I brought up PCOS and bulimia, she actually seemed skeptical about there being a link the two. I'd like to be able to "shop around" and find a female therapist who understands PCOS, or at the very least, hair loss, because I do strongly feel that my disordered eating was triggered by this.

Clearly, that doctor was ill-informed, and LAZY. 2 seconds on PubMed would have brought up several studies on PCOS and eating disorders.

More importantly, it would have brought up studies on EXCESS ANDROGENS and EATING DISORDERS.

Lazy doctors make me sick. Ironic, huh?

Anyway...below are some links to studies. You might want to print them out, and keep a folder for any new doctors you see.

Also, because of your age, I would be VERY, VERY careful about having 'pcos' put in your medical records. I would insist on the doctors lising codes on only for the specific symptoms you're seeking treatment for (ie bulimia, hirsutism, etc...)

Many women are being denied health insurance due to PCOS. My philosophy is this: If doctors don't have a definitive diagnosis for PCOS, then they don't need to put it in your medical records (It's LAZY doctoring, as far as I'm concerned.)

Anyway...here's the information your other (lazy) doctor should have found:

Quote:

PCOS is also associated with a high incidence of eating disorders including binge eating and fasting. Eighty percent of people with PCOS practice binge eating. The first step in weight loss treatment is to learn to be mindful. Katrin Kratina, MA, RD, LD developed a food journal to help identify hunger and satiety cues. The food journal also teaches about your nutrition needs and your eating habits. Brenda Bryan RD, LD/N a nutritionist for PCOS women at the Center for Applied Reproductive Sciences, uses the Food Pyramid and American Diabetes Guidelines of reducing calories by 250-300 per day from saturated fat and carbohydrates to counsel women with PCOS.
SOURCE: Nutrition Intervention for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

PCOS, Hirsutism and eating disorders...

Antiandrogenic Birth Control Pills lower testosterone and HUNGER in women...

PCOS diagnosed in some women with bulimia eating disorder

PCOS in bulimic women--an evaluation based on the new diagnostic criteria

Bulimia May Result From Hormonal Imbalance (PCOS mentioned)

STUDY: Many women may not recognize bulimia symptoms (important for cysters)

Are Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Eating Disorders Related?

Eating Disorder Among Women Can Cause Failed Conception (PCOS mentioned)

Also worth reading:

ARTICLE: What Patients Can Do To Get Better Care From Doctors

VeggieGirl · 06-03-2008, 11:49 PM

Thank you, Kat. That's really helpful! I'll definitely print some out for my next appt. It's so reassuring to know that there are published studies with women who are dealing with similar issues.

KatCarney · 06-03-2008, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VeggieGirl

I'll definitely print some out for my next appt.

There's only 8 studies...print them all out

Plus, any doctor who is skeptical about the connection between pcos and eating disorders will want to see as much information as possible.

VeggieGirl · 06-03-2008, 11:57 PM

Will do. Thanks again, Kat. You're wonderful!

raydians · 06-04-2008, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KatCarney

There's only 8 studies...print them all out

Plus, any doctor who is skeptical about the connection between pcos and eating disorders will want to see as much information as possible.

So true: Doctors are notorious for not listening to one or two studies: if they see 8 studies, they will be more likely to listen.
Good luck Veggie Girl. I hope you will find good and competent help.
Is it possible for you to state that you don't want to see the lady counsellor at your school that you didn't like and could you ask to see a different counsellor? Do you have that option? Don't be shy. Counsellors should know that not every client will be a fit with them. They are trained like that.
Annemarie

VeggieGirl · 06-04-2008, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raydians

Is it possible for you to state that you don't want to see the lady counsellor at your school that you didn't like and could you ask to see a different counsellor? Do you have that option? Don't be shy. Counsellors should know that not every client will be a fit with them. They are trained like that.
Annemarie

I think I could do that, and I might give it a try. I just have to remember the name of the one I didn't like!