Expert: Joanne - 1/20/2009

Question
i've been anorexic and bulimic for 4 years. i was recently hospitalized for low potassium, two months ago. i ewnt in at 86 lbs and got out at 97. my weight was fine, but i started throwing up, afterwords i would try desperately to rehydrate. i ate 9-1000 cals a day and exercised a bit, but not excessively. i didnt gain weight at all unless i purged and then rehydrated. over the course of about a month, i gained 20 lbs, note that weight gain only happened after a bout of purging had ended. what's going on? my dr said i dont have edema. am i retaining water? if so, why hasnt it gone by now (granted ive only been 4 days purge free so far) .. oh, fyi my clothing size is the same and so are all body measurements other that stomach.

i just want to know what's going on, it's freakng me out.

thanks!

Answer
Caitlin

Rapid weight gain is very rarely true, true weight gain.  If you have stopped purging then this could be some true weight gain, but it is quite likely to be water retention combined possibly with some bloating seeing as you are noticing it in one area.  You should note, however, that a lot of weight gain occurs around your middle initially before it redistributes, but this is more true of recovering anorexics.  People that follow much more behaviours typical of bulimia are unlikely to notice much weight gain/loss in the same way, and I'd think that the water retention is much more likely.

Are you still getting medical advice, or was that simply for the potassium and now that is fine, you don't see anyone?  I think if you aren't seeing anyone, then you should really think about getting this sorted out.  If you are getting help, then it is important to discuss this with them.

Do you realise the danger you were in with your potassium?  Potassium helps regulate your heart rate, and when you have too much or too little, you are risking potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias!  You need to get this sorted out before your health suffers even more!

Please talk to a doctor, tutor, relative or counsellor/therapist about this, and do it soon!  You need to get help!

Joanne