In this week’s episode of Full of Beans, I’m joined by Ailidh Musgrave, an eating disorder campaigner, whose story spans years of misdiagnosis, medical trauma, and being repeatedly told she was “too complex” to treat.

Ailidh was diagnosed with anorexia at 13, and spent her teens and early adulthood in a cycle of nine inpatient admissions, severe depression, self-harm, sepsis, multiple surgeries and even temporary paralysis. Alongside her eating disorder, she lives with autism and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which went misunderstood or dismissed for years.

Now, two years out of hospital, back in education and moving in with her partner, Ailidh is using her experience to push for safer, more compassionate care and to challenge the Assisted Dying Bill through the #DyingForTreatment campaign.

In this conversation, Ailidh shares what it’s like to be rejected from over 20 hospitals, labelled “too complex”, and still find her way back to life – and why she believes no one with anorexia should ever be put on a palliative pathway.

This week, we discuss:

• Misdiagnosis, gastrointestinal symptoms and the long road to an EDS diagnosis
• The dramatic shift from CAMHS to adult services
• How autism and neurodivergence were misunderstood in eating disorder treatment
• Being turned away by over 20 hospitals and the “postcode lottery” of care
• Why Ailidh is speaking out against the Assisted Dying Bill and the risk for people with anorexia
• The power of time, trust and being truly listened to in recovery
• How her mum held onto hope when she couldn’t – and why hope is the most important thing clinicians can offer

Lived experience and family perspectives are essential if we want eating disorder care to be truly compassionate, person-centred and safe. Ailidh’s story is a powerful reminder that no one is beyond help, no matter how long or how complex their journey has been.

Timestamps:

• 01:20 – Ailidh's Experience of Inpatient Admissions
• 05:50 – CAMHS vs Adult Inpatient Care
• 09:40 – Autism and Misunderstanding
• 14:10 – EDS Diagnosis and Medical Trauma
• 18:30 – 9 Admissions in 13 Years
• 24:20 – Community Aftercare and Service Gaps
• 29:00 – Concerns About The Assisted Dying Bill
• 36:40 – Finding Internal Motivation For Recovery
• 43:10 – The Impact On Family

Resources & Links

• Connect with Ailidh on LinkedIn

Connect with Us:

• Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast here
• Follow Full of Beans on Instagram here
• Check out our website here
• Listen on YOUTUBE here

⚠️ Trigger Warning: Mentions of eating disorders. Please take care when listening.

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Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛