Expert: Joanne - 12/11/2008

Question
I have been bulimic since the age of 20. (now 26). I binged/purged 10 times a day and more until I was 24. 2 yrs bulimia free. I got pregnant and now have a beautiful new baby, yet somehow the awful demon is rearing its ugly head again. I know the awful consequences and so I am getting the much needed help before it becomes out of control. In your vast experience wit ed's, what have I done to my health? I feel fine, but it wan't until I had my son that I realized what a selfish person I was being to my health. If someone gets help will they be okay? I am so worried about esophageal cancer; what are the chances of getting something that serious? I just want to know if there are normal happy people years after bulimia recovery. Thank you.

Answer
Kandy

It is great to hear that you are getting the help that you need for your bulimia now and not leaving to possibly progress into a full relapse.

From what I have read, there is no concrete evidence to suggest that people with bulimia are at a higher risk of oesophageal cancer than the general public, however acid reflux is one of the biggest risk factors for developing this cancer.  As repeated vomiting brings stomach acid into contact with the oesophagus on a regular basis, this may suggest there could be a higher risk of developing Barrett's Oesophagus which can be a cancer precursor, but not everyone with Barrett's will develop cancer, and not everyone with acid reflux will develop Barrett's.  From what I have read, it seems like a very small risk, and not something that you should get overly stressed out about, however if you suffer from 'heartburn' regularly, get a lot of pain down the midline of your chest or feel as though you are having difficulty in swallowing, then definitely do not hesitate in getting it checked out.

There are many people out there that live normal lives after recovering from an eating disorder.  It is all about how well it is treated and whether or not the underlying problems are dealt with.  Some people may always return to disordered eating patterns as a means of coping, however to try and avoid this cognitive behavioural therapy is very useful as it helps you identify different emotional states and addresses how you deal with them, then looks at ways of turning these emotions into something positive.  Basically, you need to find new coping mechanisms!  Unfortunately, this may take time, and will definitely not occur overnight, but it is possible to live a happy life free of an eating disorder, you just need to want it enough!  Eating disorders can be hard to overcome, so it does take a lot of work, but it is definitely worth it!  You have your future to focus on, as well as your son's and possible other children!  You just need to learn to live well, try not to regret anything, nor let guilt or fear stop you doing anything!  You need to feel fulfilled, whether that means looking to get a new job, study something new, take up a hobby or class.  You just need to do what is right for you!  When you are truly happy, you should find that you have little time to waste on your eating disorder thoughts - they will be replaced by other things that are much more meaningful to you!

Joanne