I'm glad I found this board because I have a TON of questions! I haven't received any kind of treatment, but I am definately bulimic. I have been binging/purging since high school 10 years ago. Today is the first day that I've realized how long it's been going on. I don't do it every day, or even every week. I guess I can go months without it. I don't really think a full year has gone by in those 10 years that I was able to go a full year without doing it at least a few times. I do go through periods when I'll do it a few times a day for a few days straight, and then not do it again for some time. (haven't done that in a while, but that's besides the point) Still, I am bulimic.
I was just wondering what sort of bodily damage you all have suffered as a result of your long term bulimia. I've been reading a few things on the internet lately about damage to the esophagus and I'm so worried of something like that being wrong with me and not even being aware of it. I've read that the esophagus lining can change as a result of exposure to the stomach acid and that this can, although rarely does, lead to cancer. I'm not trying to freak anyone out, just get some anwers for myself. I know a lot of people have dental problems, but I haven't really heard people saying they've had problems with their esophagus or throat. I'm freaking out about all the long term damage I've been doing to my body through all these years of on and off vomitting.
My biggest result of my long term bulimia? Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I have no energy, my immune system is shot to hell.
But other than that!!...no other real problems. Yes, stomache acid can do damage. I take nexium. Lots of bulimics get acid reflux. If you get sore throats or are hoarse, you should probably get checked out.
You shouldn't brush your teeth right after a binge, it grinds the acid in. Rinse out, eat something, then brush and use floride.
Heart problems are common, low potassium.
Although you definitely still have a problem with bulimia, on the positive side you aren't doing it every day or even every week or month. I have gone a long time without bulimia, then it starts again. I don't think it ever really goes away for most people.
eek!!! not as much danger - oh boy. so what if you hadn't throw up for a year and the next time you chose to was the time you burst your esophagus or choked to death on the food coming up or aspirated it back down into your lungs??? It is always dangerous. Stomach acid eats up your insides, it can rot out your teeth, cause sores or ulcers, heart problems- a-fib, skipped beats, an actual heart attack. not a good thing not ever
I'm with maggie on this one. if you're doing anything ed-related, you're putting yourself in serious risk.
I don't know who said it on here, but it really touched a nerve and I've never forgotten it. They said if you have an ED that you're literally dancing with death.
I thought if I didn't have the ED-behaviors but every so often, I wasn't doing much damage, either. Every action has a consequence, remember that.
If you're not resistant to getting help, OUTOFMIND please do it for yourself.
For me, it has to get to a point where I'm not "curious" as to what I could be doing to my body long or short-term healthwise--the behavior of the ED has to end so you're not putting yourself at a risk for developing these life-threatening effects.
eek!!! not as much danger - oh boy. so what if you hadn't throw up for a year and the next time you chose to was the time you burst your esophagus or choked to death on the food coming up or aspirated it back down into your lungs??? It is always dangerous. Stomach acid eats up your insides, it can rot out your teeth, cause sores or ulcers, heart problems- a-fib, skipped beats, an actual heart attack. not a good thing not ever
We all know that. I was not endorsing bulimia, even if throwing up "only" once a month. But lets face it: throwing up once a month will do less LONG TERM damage than throwing up daily. But yes, you could die from throwing up just once. But long term damage (i.e. tooth decay) is more likely to happen to a person who throws up more.
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