Eating Disorders Support Group

Eating disorders are marked by an obsessive need to control the intake and/or purging of food. This community is dedicated to those struggling on the road to recovery. Join to discuss your experience with others and find support. Get advice, ask questions, and meet others who are going through similar struggles.

3,896 Members
20,112 Posts
0 Online
Mental Health
/ Eating Disorders Support Group

Quick Question

Katie12345
Katie12345
I have a question. My therapist says that I have bulimarexia (sp?). I recently got bloodwork done and had an EKG. Everything came back fine. I am still in the average weight range, though on the low end. My therapist keeps telling me that I could still drop dead at any time.

I have severe OCD and some of the ED things I do are also related to OCD. This makes it very hard to make progress. My therapist wants me to go to an ED inpatient program.

I am not very knowledgable about Eating Disorders. Can a person with an ED of average weight be in danger of dying?
deleted_user
deleted_user
I would think it would depend on your behaviors.. Im pretty sure purging can lead to a sudden death....

you should trust your therapist, he/she is there for you...
deleted_user
deleted_user
question your therapist and have him/her explain what he means and ask him any questions you have. i would g by his advice after understanding what he is saying, he knows you the best.
crystalicbabe
crystalicbabe
Even if you are average weight, you may still be at risk. Anyone who partakes in Bulimic like behaviors puts themselves at risk for sudden death. Purging and laxative abused deplete the body's store of electrolytes which can cause your heart to suddenly fail. Starvation can also lead to this.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Not much to add, just that you should listen to your therapist. He sounds like he is right on. And each purge can be your last one because your heart might give out.
And life with ed is pure torture. You might not feel like that now but I can promise you you will down the road. So the earlier you get help the better.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Yes, your heart and body go through so much, its rediculous! Electroyle imbalance and stress and your heart are not good combos. I think your therapist is right on. Scary to think about, huh?
Katie12345
Katie12345
Thank you all for your responses.
whitefingers
whitefingers
Hello Katie! Your therapist is an exception to the rule, unfortunately.. too many do not understand that you can be in what is considered "healthy weight range," and still be very much at risk, due to behaviors. I remember getting "the shakes" when I was b/p'ing, and also sometimes strange metallic taste in my mouth... Those were the times I realize now, I was really stressing my body's chemistry out, and was at great risk, and completely unaware... And I've always been in the healthy weight range, even thru thirty years of bulimia, and healthy check-ups, no doctor ever questioned me, EVER, because I seemed fine... The only one who ever approached the subject with me was my dentist, because you can't hide the damage to your teeth..

Hope you are taking your T's advise seriously. Be grateful that you have a T who takes this disorder seriously. They are rare!