Expert: Joanne - 11/24/2008

Question
hi! I have been doing really bad this last year. I am purging more and more, and now I can't eat, I purge even if I eat a little piece of food, but the past days, I have not been able to purge. I try and try, and I gag, but I cannot throw up.
Is there something wrong, should I go to the doc?
It's not that I am saying that "tell me how to purge" I am just worried that something might be wrong inside my throat. I usually can, but now I can't. I'm sorry for the stupid question.

Answer
Nefa

I'm not sure whether being unable to vomit indicates that there is something wrong, or whether it is just because there is so little to vomit.  Sometimes, you can also almost weaken your gag reflex through self-induced vomiting, but as you are gagging, I'm not sure that's the case.

I definitely think that you should contact your doctor though.  I think as well as having your throat checked, you need to have a full health check.  Self-induced vomiting and starving yourself does so much damage, it is important to keep an eye on your health.  You need to make sure that you aren't causing yourself any lasting damage, and also look at treating anything that is going to become a problem.

Most health problems associated with eating disorders can be reversed just by treating the eating disorder!  Please seriously consider talking to your doctor or a counsellor/therapist about your eating difficulties as the sooner this is treated, the better.  Think about the damage you are doing to your body, think about your teeth!  Although you can rebuild the muscle you are damaging, and hopefully correct most problems, you only have one set of teeth, and I really think it is horribly sad to see people who are young, but through years of vomiting and starving themselves, have false teeth, or a mouth of very unattractive teeth.

The longer this goes on, the more it becomes a bad habit!  Have you ever tried to break a habit that you have had for years?  Biting fingernails, or saying a certain word at the end of every sentence....  It is hard, and can be impossible to avoid doing, especially when you are not putting effort into trying to avoid it.  Eating disorders can become very habitual, and therefore can become harder and harder to treat, and also increases your likelyhood of having an eating disorder for years to come, or increases the risk of relapse.  Please think about getting this treated, and please do it soon!

Joanne