Hello, all. I am new to this message board. I am over 50 years old and have been bulimic since I was in my early twenties. I consider myself perhaps the World's Oldest Living Bulimic. It's okay to be amused by that. A sense of humor is necessary to survival on this planet.
Anyway, my question is: Is anybody out there middle-aged and still struggling with bulimia?
Thanks,
erlybirdy
The following 3 users give hugs of support to: erlybirdy Phoenix (07-14-2011), slenderella (07-17-2011), SlimPix (07-20-2011)
I rarely smile or laugh these days but noticed the corners of my mouth beginning to curl upwards.
I'm in my 40's and have been to OA (Overeaters Anonymous) meetings where several women were in their 60's and 70's.
Take it from me,you're not alone.
Personally stated,
Phoenix
Thanks for your response, Phoenix. It's good to know others are out there. You said you rarely smile or laugh... if you don't mind me asking, why? I understand if you'd rather not say. (Another of my issues is believing everyone should be happy and it's up to me to make that happen. lol)
Thanks for your response, Phoenix. It's good to know others are out there. You said you rarely smile or laugh... if you don't mind me asking, why? I understand if you'd rather not say. (Another of my issues is believing everyone should be happy and it's up to me to make that happen. lol)
Peace,
erlybirdy
You're welcome erlybirdy.
Long story short,bulimia is not the only disorder i'm plagued with.
My ED began in early childhood and would surface from time to time through adulthood.
From 2000-2005, I was episode free;until I was involved in a motor vehicle accident in late 2005.
My ED decided to resurface with a vengeance and continues to this day.
Let's just say that life hasn't been the same since then.
Respectfully
Phoenix
__________________
When in doubt, post it out.
Last edited by Phoenix; 07-17-2011 at 07:03 AM.
The following user gives a hug of support to Phoenix: slenderella (07-17-2011)
Hi there, I'm close to 50, I've been in treatment and there is a running group that I've been in and there are several women that are older than myself in that group. You're not alone in this struggle.
What I'd like to say, most importantly though, is that you can recover. You don't have to struggle with this for the rest of your life. I've struggled for years, and years, with anorexia and bulimia, but have found hope and freedom. I'm sending healing thoughts your way.
Cup of Coffee
The following user gives a hug of support to Cup of coffee: slenderella (07-17-2011)
Yes and no. I recovered at age 50 after over 30 yrs of severe bulimia. I am now nearly 62 and have not had a recurrence. Cravings have been gone for many yrs and I weigh less than I ever have.
Hello, all. I am new to this message board. I am over 50 years old and have been bulimic since I was in my early twenties. I consider myself perhaps the World's Oldest Living Bulimic. It's okay to be amused by that. A sense of humor is necessary to survival on this planet.
Anyway, my question is: Is anybody out there middle-aged and still struggling with bulimia?
Thanks,
erlybirdy
I too am a long term bulimic. Started at 13 and now 47 years old. I tried cbt a few years back but it only helped for a few months. I use binging and purging to control my emotions rather than my weight...though that too. I have little hope that i can change such ingrained habits. Am i too pessimistic?
I am a 37 year old mother of 4. I have struggled with bulimia and anorexia since I was 14. I still have relapses from time to time and I am currently going through one now. I am so disappointed in myself because I am better than this and I want to be a good example to my three girls, one of which is currently in inpatient treatment for anorexia and bulimia. I guess I have not battled my demons completely and gotten ahold of the triggers. I just quit smoking recently and gained weight...I almost find myself thinking that I would rather die from lung cancer than to be fat again. This is so very unhealthy... I know it is! I am just not strong enough right now. I feel like a failure as a mother and as a wife.... I don't know what to do....but I know that even knowing all of this, I will not stop making myself throw up and comstantly taking diet pills.
Does any one have any ideas what differences there are between middle aged bulimia and teenage bulimia? Are the cures different?
I think as a teenager i thought being thin would make me beautiful and loved. Today i know i will never be beautiful....good for my age is the best i can hope for. I am 47. I also know that being really thin would actually make me look older than my age. I truly cannot see why i really want to be thin. Is it just a habit now? It seems that there are so many triggers now that trying to avoid them is impossible. I do it when i am angry, bored, irritated. But also when i am having a good time eg a party. Sometimes once a week, sometimes three times a day. I can make myself throw up with minimal effort...no fingers down the throat. So many years of practice! My teeth are fine, blood tests show no defficiencies. Although of courwe i do not know what it has done to my heart muscle.
I want to stop but i do not know what to try. Over the years i tried group therapy and cbt. Neither works for more than a few weeks. Do not want to see a shrink (i live in a foreign country and my knowledge of the language is not sufficient). Any suggestions?
Hi
I'm 51 and I've had anorexia but that finished in my 20s and I've still got ~bulimia although not every day. More info on my post Any 50yr olds out there....
There are a few of us. I know a 70 yr old. Also a family with eating disorders.
You are not alone.
Take care
The Following User Says Thank You to dogcito For This Useful Post: Cartouche (08-28-2012)
I thought I would like to share with you my recent experience. I started 20mg of Prozac on July 5 this year and have only binged and purged once since then...and that was the first day. After being bulimic for 35 years I suddenly lost the urge. Although I suspect there is some placebo effect, I am now convinced the urges were chemically induced. I cannot fully comprehend it but as you can imagine I am thrilled. I only wished I'd sought that kind of help 30 years ago.
I know this will not work for everyone and that I still have many emotional issues to sort out but if it can encourage you to seek the help there is out there I will be very happy for you.
MY POINT OF VIEW ON PROZAC AND EATING DISORDERS
I am so glad you are keeping better. I think there are different reasons why we have it. Personally I think it's mental, emotional and physical. Despite what people/media may say I find Prozac 20mg to be a very helpful drug. More MG and I feel drugged up.I used to let people tell me it was dangerous and felt guilty about taking it. Now I dont listen it's always people who DO NOT NEED MEDICATION/or have few problems in life that say it. One of my friends has had a very hard life and she says as soon as the big problems occur she takes it for a while so that she can keep functioning because falling to pieces never helps. she has never experienced any of the scary side effects that the 'media' talks about! I also have had none.
So if it stops you being bulimic take it! It's fine trying to go without medication in your 20s etc. if you're in therapy. But at 51 when you've more years behind you than in front of you. If it helps take it - there's no point not! Frankly i expect to be on some from of anti-depressant all my life.
I know some alcoholics and they say they have to take medication when they stop drinking permanently. It's better than being on alcohol!
MY ANSWER to anyone who criticises medication for addictions i:
Would you tell a schizophrenic/manic depressive not to take medication?? they nev
er have an answer!!
Good Luck and thanks
Excuse my English !
I am 39 and bulimic since I was 16. It all started with a stupid diet.
I hate this disease! The only idea that I literally threw my life in the toilet depresses me even more.
I should seek help but I am too ashamed to tell any one...and I am too ashamed to tell any one that I kept this secret for over 20 years.
I dont' eat/purge because concerned of weight. I used to to do that until I was maybe 28. Now I "only" binge/purge - maybe once a month - to cope with anxiety or sadness or loneliness...with feelings in general
Buongiorno
I feel for you. Getting help was the most difficult and scary thing. I made appointment to doctor. I walked in and was unable to sit or start talking. Eventually I started pacing up and down the room and without looking a him I said: "I have no physical illness but a mental problem! I have been bulimic for the last 35 years. I started at age 13 and apart from a couple periods in my life (pregnancies) it has always been part of me."
If you can find it in you to seek help go for it. It will probably be one of the most courageous thing you will ever do.
I don't know how therapists are in the US but here in Italy it is very easy to meet an incompetent one.
I know my problem with bulimia is all about coping with negative emotions.
I don't give a damn about being thinny or avoiding certain foods... I am over that phase/stage of the illness ( I do care about my figure and my body but now I do it in a normal way, not anymore obsessed by kcalories ecc ecc)
I also know that my eating disorder has been a direct consequence of my mother's (crazy!!) behaviour.
So, I know the reasons, the traumas I had etc. but still cannot control it!
I too live in continental Europe and have never tried therapists here. I went to doctor because I felt at the end of my tether. In fact the doctor suggested Prozac and although I was rather dubious I thought I would try it. I was one of those people who thought only people with serious mental illness (which of course was not me!) took it. The doctor put me on 20mg which is much less than the recommended 60mg for bulimics. It was worked virtually instantly. See a previous entry I wrote in August.
My bulimia also is not weight related although it was initially when i was a teenager. I had the urge (and I saw it as an I controllable urge) mainly when I was angry or maybe bored in the evening. I think it became a very deeply seated habit, almost a reflex reaction.
My doctor wants me to start doing therapy at the same time as taking Prozac but right now I do not feel ready to embark on that. I do not know if the Prozac will keep on working for me or if it would work for you. I just put it out there as an option to consider.
i heard prozac is working treating bulimia, but it is still a medecine..( a very strong one by the way) If i where you I would do therapy as well... you cannot take prozac for life
I will seek for help next week. It is 3 days that I am constantly crying, feeling really depressed (never happened before to cry so much!! I did not even go to work this week!)
I also stopped smoking (2 weeks today) ... maybe this is also why I am so sad?
I am so ashamed of being bulimic...and i feel so stupid for not having seeked for help before...
I wish I could stop the vomiting right away (maybe with prozac??) and than take care of curing the causes of bulimia. I DO NOT want to throw up anymore!!
Dear ludovica
You feel ashamed and stupid for being bulimic and waiting so long to seek help? I know exactly what you mean. But look at it this way I waited 35 years, you only waited 22 years!
Hang in there.
Middle-age bulimia 
Re: Middle-age bulimia 
