I've been in medical crisis since May 4th and I'm struggling to eat basic foods. Trying to work with doctors to figure out what's wrong with me but the US Healthcare system sucks so I have to wait weeks for an appt. Sick, scared, sad. Posting will not be normal until I (hopefully. god please.) have this resolved. Expect vent posts and food longing posts in between memes or w/e. Be nicies to me. This has been the worst chapter of my life so far.
FAQ:
Q: What is the medical crisis?
A: I cannot eat anything right now except for hardboiled eggs and plain chicken pan-fried in butter. Attempting to eat anything outside of that has resulted in itching, burning, and swelling in my mouth, lips, and throat. I feel a constant level of nausea and I am eating less calories than an adult needs to survive. I have lost over 10% of my body weight, have high heart rate/high blood pressure/severe insomnia/severe muscle weakness. I am taking a multivitamin to try and prevent things like scurvy, but it is not comparable to eating a varied diet. I'm not even going to get into what my bathroom experiences have been like.
Q: Why is this happening to you?
A: I currently do not know why this is happening or how to treat this. I meet with an allergist June 22. This all began with me being hospitalized after eating sunflower seed butter (which I am apparently allergic to.) I do have a history of treenut allergies (lifelong, carry epipen) and occasional, minor allergic reactions here and there due to cross contamination or pollen exposure. But never ever anything like this, and my list of allergies was small (treenuts, oats, truffles). To make matters worse, I have severe obsessive compulsive disorder. So my brain is constantly telling me this is some sort of punishment, or I willed this into existence.
Q: I spend time on Tiktok and this sounds like MCAS.
A: MCAS is a very real disorder but generally it is not caused by IgE reactions ("true" food allergy). I also experienced a psychotic episode at the beginning of all of this, fully convinced that this was the diagnosis. Please do not mention any diagnoses to me at this time. That will be the job of my doctors.
Q: Why do you post random food items throughout the day?
A: I still have cravings for food, and it helps to externalize them so that I'm not just thinking about it constantly. It's a form of grief. And it's also aspirational. I want to eat these foods again when I am well. I will make it happen. I will survive this.
