Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Scaring myself!!

Ok, so former anorexic now eating healthy???
Well being injured-which means no exercise & a little bit of swimming, sucks cause you sit at home and eat.
Which is fine cause i know I am a few lbs under-weight. I'm 5 ft 2 1/2 and weight approx 105 lbs, depending on the day.
I realize a healthy weight is the weight where I get my period back...wwhich has been gone for roughly 2 years. Wow has it really been that long??
Anyways, I can stand to gain a few lbs but being stuck in this eating disorder is hard!!
It's a constant battle between ME and the eating disorder.
I do not want to be sick! and it hurts to see my family worry and try to fix me.
I started eating healthy-2000cals/day but eating fruits, veggies, whole grains, less processed food and food with healthy fats not bad fats. I also try to use honey instead of sugar-or worse artificial sweeteners.
However, since the day I first purged I purge when I feel I over-did it with eating or I "binge" on ice cream (my fave) (binge is not really a binge but for a former anorexic its a binge) I throw up. Which is bad. Real bad. So here are the scary facts about purging & other stuff about it.

  • apparently bulimia is more common than anorexia? (in Australia)
  • Demi Lovato had bullimia & anorexia but recovered
    • Cardiovascular problems. Electrolyte imbalances due to vomiting can lead to heart muscle disorders and irregular heart rhythms. These can be life-threatening. Fainting and low blood pressures are also common issues.
    • Tooth and gum problems. Repeated vomiting washes up an excess of stomach acid over teeth and gums, which can cause a significant and permanent loss of dental enamel. Teeth may become ragged and chipped, and dental cavities may increase.
    • Throat and mouth problems. Frequent or regular vomiting can cause sores in your mouth or throat due to stomach acid irritation.
    • Low potassium levels. The purging process tends to dehydrate your body and lower the level of potassium in your blood. This can cause weakness and irregular heart rhythms.
    • Digestive problems. Purging by vomiting or use of laxatives may irritate the walls of your esophagus and rectum. In severe cases, your esophagus can rupture, leading to life-threatening bleeding. Repeated purging may also cause constipation. Laxative abuse can lead to dependence. Gastrointestinal bleeding also may occur.
    • Psychological problems. Bulimia is often associated with depression, anxiety, and/or low self-esteem. People with bulimia may have trouble controlling impulsive behaviors, managing their moods or expressing anger.

http://goaskalice.columbia.edu/dangers-bulimia

  • Ketoacidosis - high levels of acids that build up in the blood (known as ketones) caused by the body burning fat (instead of sugar and carbohydrates) to get energy. It can be a result of starvation, excessive purging, dehydration, hyperglycemia and/or alcohol abuse (it can also be a result of uncontrolled or untreated diabetes). It can lead to coma and death.
    http://www.something-fishy.org/dangers/dangers.php
  • Dental Problems, Decalcification of teeth, erosion of tooth enamel, severe decay, Gum Disease - will be caused by stomach acids and enzymes (from vomiting); vitamin D and calcium deficiencies, and hormonal imbalance. Can also be due to the lack of exercise the teeth can get from the process of eating certain foods. Dental problems can sometime indicate problems with the heart.
  • Pancreatitis - this is when the digestive enzymes attack the pancreas. It can be caused by repeated stomach trauma (such as with vomiting), alcohol consumption or the excessive use of laxatives or diet pills.
  • Tearing of Esophagus - caused by self-induced vomiting
    Mallory-Weiss tear - associate with vomiting, a tear of the gastroesophageal junction
    Gastric Rupture - spontaneous stomach erosion, perforation or rupture.
    Gastrointestinal Bleeding - bleeding into the digestive tract.
  • Esophageal Reflux - Acid Reflux Disorders - partially digested items in the stomach, mixed with acid and enzymes, regurgitates back into the esophagus. This can lead to damage to the esophagus, larynx and lungs and increases the chances of developing cancer of the esophagus and voice box.
    Reflux can sometimes become severe enough that food cannot be kept down at all and medical attention should be sought immediately.
    Barrett's Esophagus - associated with Cancer of the esophagus and caused by Esophageal Reflux, this is a change in the cells within the esophagus.
  • Swelling - in face and cheeks (following self-induced vomiting).



No comments:

Post a Comment