Why do I feel bloated?
It’s common for people to experience some gastrointestinal (gut) symptoms as their body is re-nourished. When your body is in starvation mode, fewer digestion enzymes and hormones are produced and food moves through the digestive tract more slowly. Because the muscles involved in digestion have been undernourished and underused, it takes a while for the gut to adjust to you eating more food. You might also experience gut symptoms related to purging or laxative use if these behaviours have been part of your eating disorder.
If the gut symptoms you experience discourage you from eating, this can make the recovery process more difficult. Experiencing these symptoms doesn’t mean that you’ve eaten too much or that your body can’t handle the increased food; they’re actually a sign that you’re taking care of your body. Unless you have an underlying gut condition, you can expect these symptoms to improve as your body becomes re-nourished and your digestion returns to a healthier state.
Common gut symptoms
Nausea
If nausea is making it hard for you to eat, you can speak to your GP about whether an anti-nausea medication would help. Some people find that cold food is better for nausea, as it tends to have a weaker smell than hot food. Your dietitian can also work with you to adapt the size of your meals and snacks to spread out your intake more evenly.
Feeling too full and abdominal cramping
This is a normal part of the recovery process, as your body gets used to having more food again. Many people find that applying a heat pack (or a hot water bottle) to their stomach after eating can provide some relief. It’s also helpful to wear comfortable clothes that aren’t too tight, as this allows room for your body to relax as much as possible. Some studies show that peppermint oil can be effective, but speak to your GP or pharmacist about whether this might interact negatively with any medication that you’re taking. The suggested dose is three 0.2 ml capsules per day, starting with one capsule per day for a few days then two, then three.
Gas and constipation
It’s common for people to notice that they open their bowels (do a poo) less often when they aren’t eating enough food. This is because your body will slow down the speed that food moves through your gut so that it can extract as much of the nutrition as possible. This can lead some people to become constipated when they start eating more food. This will usually resolve when you start eating more food, but it can take a little while. If you feel constipated, speak to your GP about whether an over-the counter product (eg. Movicol) could help. This might not be appropriate for you if you have a history of misusing laxatives.