A qualitative investigation of eating difficulties in adolescents with cfs/meA qualitative investiga

[Luther Blissett]

Many of the adolescents discussed experiencing anxiety, in particular, catastrophising thoughts in relation to their nausea, which they perceived impacted on their eating. Previous research suggests that catastrophising can increase symptom perception in patients with fibromyalgia (Hassett, Cone, Patella, & Sigal, 2000). The adolescents in this study worried that nausea meant imminent vomiting even though most had never vomited as a result of their CFS/ME. Therefore, these catastrophised cognitions often caused the adolescents to avoid certain foods they believed would cause or make the nausea worse. The selective attention and vigilance for vomiting is likely to exaggerate the feelings of nausea in a ‘vicious circle’ (Veale & Lambrou, 2006).

'Catastrophising'? I would say that most people worry that nausea means imminent vomiting. It's kind of a learned behaviour of people who own carpets ffs.

I thought 'Catastrophising' was a cycle of thought that leads to avoidance behaviour in an extreme way?

Like the person who will not get onto an aeroplane, because they are convinced it will crash. I would not say that a person getting onto an aeroplane who takes something to calm their stomach is exhibiting 'catastophic' thinking.

 

[KauaiWahine]

Naturally the authors have no idea what orthostatic intolerance is, nor how it is impacted by a meal:

I haven't heard about this before... Can you easily explain the connection or point me to where I can read about it? (I'm guessing this might have a lot to do with my eating difficulties/avoidance. And feeling hungry and nauseated at the same time is awful!)

 

[Hutan]

I think it's as simple as: when you eat, blood goes to the gut to take away the products of digestion. If the blood is around the gut, it isn't in your brain. This produces signals to lie down, to get the blood back to the brain.

I find I feel better if I lie down after any sizeable meal.

Dr Chris O'Callaghan covers the body's response to lack of oxygen in the brain and a lot more in this video.

 

[valentinelynx]

"The adolescents in this study worried that nausea meant imminent vomiting even though most had never vomited as a result of their CFS/ME. Therefore, these catastrophised cognitions often caused the adolescents to avoid certain foods they believed would cause or make the nausea worse."

The authors don't even understand nausea! I deal with post op nausea and vomiting all the time as an anesthesiologist. Preventing vomiting is not enough. The feeling of nausea is the problem - most people would prefer to be in pain than to be nauseated. Vomiting is not so bad - it often relieves nausea. People don't avoid food to avoid vomiting - they do it to avoid nausea! Idiots.

 

[sarah darwins]

"The adolescents in this study worried that nausea meant imminent vomiting even though most had never vomited as a result of their CFS/ME. Therefore, these catastrophised cognitions often caused the adolescents to avoid certain foods they believed would cause or make the nausea worse."

The authors don't even understand nausea! I deal with post op nausea and vomiting all the time as an anesthesiologist. Preventing vomiting is not enough. The feeling of nausea is the problem - most people would prefer to be in pain than to be nauseated. Vomiting is not so bad - it often relieves nausea. People don't avoid food to avoid vomiting - they do it to avoid nausea! Idiots.

Great post.

When are the BPS crew going to start on allergies? Or have they already? Presumably in their world no one has an allergy — they just believe they do.

 

[KauaiWahine]

Great post.

When are the BPS crew going to start on allergies? Or have they already? Presumably in their world no one has an allergy — they just believe they do.

Ugh. Seriously. I don't even know how many times I've heard people flat out say that "gluten allergies are just a fad" (I have a gluten allergy, confirmed with tests) and I even heard someone say "If someone dropped their kid off at my kid's party with a list of allergies, I'd make sure to give them a sandwich and they'd be just fine!!"
Seriously I just can't.

The arrogance of so many people who are fortunate enough not to have health issues is absolutely appalling.