bulimia? side effects? - Eating Disorder Recovery Message Board

itsjustmeLR · 02-16-2004, 12:30 AM

My question is two fold. First, do you think I am bulimic? I am 5 foot 3 inches, 15 years old and weigh 120 pounds. I first made myself vomit a few days before new years so it has been about 1 & 1/2 months. I now make myself vomit almost everyday, often two or three times a day. (the days that I don't purge at all require a suprizing amount of dicipline). The thing is that while I recognise that this is not healthy I find it hard to label myself as "bulimic". I mean, I don't really want to purge, its just that I love food and once I start eating unhealthy goodies I just keep going, so in order to keep my weight in check I have to make myself puke. Also, I'm not really skinny, though many people say that the reason my weight is a little more tward the heavy side of normal is because of my muscle from being athletic. (I play lacrosse)
So that was question one, question two is how long does it take for purging's side effects to occur? I'm wondering because a few times i have seen a little blood mixed in with the vomit. I assume this is the result of scratching my throat while triggering my gag reflex, after all, I haven't been doing this long enough to have caused any thing more serious have I?

mia21 · 02-18-2004, 07:32 PM

Hi itsjustme,
I want you to know that Bulimia is a very addictive and very dangerous disorder. As a sister disease to anorexia, it comes with severe concequences if left untreated. I suggest you start to research these two disorders to educate yourself and find out the side effects. (with Bulimia if left untreated can cause death because when you make yourself throw up the electroyds in your body are depleted and all wacked which can eventually cause a heart attack! In can also cause stomach ulcers and even ulcers in your esophagus (from constant contact with stomach acid from throw up) The blood in your vomit is a big red flag, a way of your body saying THIS ISN'T NORMAL, it could be your fingers scratching your throat..I hope to say it is that and not your stomach bleeding in which case you must seek medical care. Sweetie, this is not a way of losing weight or a way not to gain, Im a recovered Bulimic, I almost died because the potassium levels in my body were so low and my brain couldn't function. Please read up on it. Let me know if you have any other questions,

Take Care

itsjustmeLR · 02-18-2004, 08:52 PM

Mia21,
Thanks for your reply. I know your right, actually I've researched the topic a fair amount. And yet, part of me doesn't want to stop. It feels so good talking to someone about this because I could never tell anyone who knows me. Your response ment a lot to me, I can tell you really care. When you called me "sweetie" you sounded just like my older sister who is away at college.It sounds silly to say but that one word made me tear up( mabey partly because my sister just called and was crying to my mom about how she needs to break up with her boyfriend because he is a workaholic kinda). Anyway, sorry to ramble, but thanks again.

P.S. there has not been any more blood in my vomit so I think I had just scratched my throat.

mia21 · 02-28-2004, 11:48 AM

Its good to hear that. How have you been doing lately? I've been wondering about you. I don't come on here that often because I have a new little baby and its hard to find the time to sit down at the computer. Is the bulimia still in active force? Im glad to hear your researching about it. That really helped me out, I kinda realized all the harm it caused but I still know how incredibly hard it is to quit the vicious cycle. I've heard that eating disorders are as hard to quit as heroine is! Anyways, hope your doing well, let me know..

itsjustmeLR · 02-28-2004, 03:03 PM

mia21-

Congratulations on your little baby! I've been okay, a bit depressed though. I have practically no motivation, I just want to spend the rest of eternity sleeping. Luckily im not quite so depressed that I want to die, just don't particularly want to live

But don't worry, I'll be fine: the biggest problem with this is that I haven't been going out and running or working on my stick skills for lacrosse and tryouts are on Monday. I think I'll make the team still because I made it last year but I'll probably make a fool of myself. Oh well. Got to go now my dad is up from his nap. Bye