Anorexia/Eating Disorders/8 months into recovery

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Expert: Melissa - 5/8/2009


Question
Hi i've messaged here a few times before. I'm not 8 months recovered from my bulimia, everything is fine except i worry myself sick about my recurring swollen parotid and glands that STILL go up and down. I feel so alone because whenever i see my doctor he passes it off as a cold, which i hardly ever get. I know its related to my bulimia because they would swell up during my behaviors, have you ever heard of a case where the glands can keep going up and down this long afterwards? They are painless, but eating usually makes them swell up even more. I'm at wits end, i would really like to put my eating disorder behind me now, but i'm being constantly reminded.

Answer
Yes, I have heard of that quite often. I know it's frustrating to be constantly reminded of where you have been but eating disorders can take a heavy toll on a person's body and the effects of them can last long after you stopped practicing your behavior.
If your doctor passes it off as a cold, I would recommend finding a dietician or another MD who has experience in this field. That way, they can correctly assess if there is anything to be worried about.
Hope this helps. Hang in there.
Melissa

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Melissa

Expertise

I battled anorexia and bulimia for 6 years. I am not a doctor, but I learned a lot about the mental, emotional, and physical aspects of having an eating disorder and how scary it is to feel like you are alone in your illness. You are not alone. I can answer questions based on my experience with anything relating to anorexia and/or bulimia. I can provide information on treatment options, some specific treatment centers, resources that may help you find a treatment center, and my opinion on all of the above. I was a patient at a few outpatient and inpatient programs so I am happy to answer questions about those experiences. I am not affiliated with any of the resources I may provide. It’s strictly my opinion based on my experiences. I can NOT answer medical questions. I will NOT answer questions on how to become anorexic or bulimic or how to lose weight in an unhealthy matter.

Experience

I have recovered from a six year struggle with both anorexia and bulimia. I hope my experiences and the time I spent in and out of treatment will encourage others to never give up. I never thought I would or could recover because I couldn’t picture myself ever having a normal relationship with food. Since then, I have grown and learned that I can overcome what I once thought was impossible. Hold on to the idea that recovery is attainable!

Education/Credentials
I am attending college for an unrelated degree.

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