High cholesterol and bulimia? - Eating Disorder Recovery Message Board

Stacycat · 07-22-2005, 06:58 AM

I'll be 50 in November and I've been bulimic on and off for my whole life.

After several months of not binging and purging, my cholesterol was 208 in January. I've been binging and purging again (at least twice a week) since about March. Last week my cholesterol was 300.

My doctor is on the fence about putting me on Lipitor. I'm wondering if anyone else has had experiences with their cholesterol shooting up when their ED is active, and going back down when they've stopped the behaviors?

I'm curious how much influence being an active bulimic has on the cholesterol levels?

maggie043 · 07-22-2005, 05:26 PM

That happened to me as well - last November when I was very actively starving and purging what little I ate my cholestral went up to 318. My first thought was what the HELL?? because how can you eat less than 800 calories a day and have high cholestral, I was not eating any junk food - in anorexia mode. It will be interesting to see what others say, by the way I am 43 been doing this well FOREVER ( since age 13) Yikes

Stacycat · 07-22-2005, 07:33 PM

Are you on medicine for your high cholesterol, Maggie? I remember when I was anorexic once my cholesterol was 286, and at the time my dr. told me anorexia raises your cholesterol. I'm not sure why but I remember from then. I don't know about bulimia though, but it makes sense.

I kind of want to see if I can get my diet under control and see if that takes care of the high cholesterol. I wonder how long I should give it before resorting to the Lipitor or whatever.

maggie043 · 07-22-2005, 09:51 PM

Lovastatin - the Lipitor was expensive because it is not generic. I don't always take it though makes my stomach feel nasty. Does your doc says bulemia raises it too? I have done so much damage to myself with throwing up and starving...its pretty ridiculous - you would think that after you damage your teeth and esophagus you would get a clue or at least get the crap scared out of you... They say some people are able to manage cholestral with proper nutrition - maybe you'll be one of them

Anterrabae · 07-23-2005, 05:43 PM

yeah, my LDL (the bad cholesterol) spiked up 30 points in six months because of my ED. basically when your body is starving, your liver will begin to start making a lot of LDL because the body does need you to have *some* cholesterol in your diet.. it's really important for your cells and other stuff.. so cholesterol isn't actually the antichrist we are all taught that it is. I'm not sure what happens when you start eating again.. but you absolutely do not need to cut back on cholesterol in your diet. if you can, try to eat some food that are good for your HDL levels (the good cholesterol).. like fish or something. and you should really let your doctor know about your ED so that they know the reason behind the cholesterol spike and can tell you what to do about it.