Posted by Deneb on November 19, 2006, at 16:22:45
In reply to Spoke too soon. :-(, posted by Deneb on November 18, 2006, at 15:52:43
I found this:
http://www.pale-reflections.com/bulimia.asp?page=5
Associated dangers
Important notice
Please seek qualified medical advice before following any guidelines you find here.Any eating disorder carries with it lots of obvious, and sometimes less obvious, dangers. Bulimics almost inevitably encounter health problems at some point. Many of these problems are minor, but others can be extremely serious and may even lead to death. Let's take a look at some potential dangers of bulimia...
Tooth decay
Repeated vomiting can quickly cause cavities and tooth decay. This is because the stomach acid erodes the enamel on teeth. Often, the first person to raise their suspicions about the sufferer's bulimia is their dentist. If you are bulimic, it is recommended that you do NOT brush your teeth straight after vomiting. Rather, you should drink water instead, as this will be gentler on your teeth and help replenish lost fluids.Dehydration
The healthy functioning of cells and tissues is dependent upon a certain level of water content in the body. Also, salt and other minerals need to be kept within a narrow range. In a person who has become dehydrated, it's possible they are suffering from a depletion in salt as well as water. You should drink a minimum of 64 fl. oz. (or 1.5 litres) a day, and even more during hot temperatures. Long-term dehydration can ultimately lead to kidney failure. Amongst bulimics, dehydration usually occurs because the stomach is being emptied of its gastric fluids.Inflammation & rupture of the esophagus
Stomach acid irritates the esophagus, which can cause inflammation and raw areas, sometimes making swallowing painful. Of greater concern is a rupture of the esophagus, because this can be fatal in some cases. A Mallory-Weiss tear is the technical term for a the rupture of tearing of the mucous membrane of the esophagus at its junction with the stomach. It is caused by repeated vomiting (although it is possible for it to occur after just one purging episode) and the person will have bright red blood in their vomit. Although a tear often heals itself after a few days, this is NOT ALWAYS THE CASE AND YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU ARE VOMITING BLOOD.†Irregular or abnormally slow heart rate
Purging can lead to potassium depletion, which in turn can cause problems with the heart. Equally, starving oneself can also lead to an irregular or slow heart rate, which can mean that the heart muscle is undergoing changes. This is likely to lead to low blood pressure and, the lower blood pressure and heart rate goes, the greater the risk of heart failure.Heart failure
The heart muscle is extremely sensitive and can become thin and flabby from nutrional deficiency. A lack of calories and protein can have a negative effect on the heart, and body chemicals may become so imbalanced that heart failure occurs.¹Stomach ulceration
A peptic ulcer refers to an area of the stomach or duodenal lining (the tube that leads away from the stomach) which becomes eroded by stomach acid. These are known as stomach and duodenal ulcers, collectively known as peptic ulcers. The symptoms can vary, with some people not noticing anything out of the ordinary but others may vomit blood and experience abdomen or chest pains. The pain is usually increased when the individual eats or drinks. Peptic ulcers can be serious and need immediate attention if you are vomiting blood or passing digested blood in your stools.²------------------------------------------------------------------
STARTING RIGHT NOW, NO MORE PURGING!!!It's not worth it. One immediate consequence is enamel erosion. I'm not going to damage my teeth any further! From now on, no more purging, no matter what! If it means getting fat for a while, so be it! I'm going to beat this! Even if I binge, I'm not going to purge.
Deneb*
poster:Deneb
thread:703525
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/eating/20060628/msgs/705292.html