Expert: Ryan Hale - 8/20/2011

Question
Hi, soo I purge pretty much everyday, once or twice a day, and recently I stopped for like two weeks, then I started up again. Well yesterday while I was bingeing I ate a home made pizza with sauce, ice cream, a hostess cupcake, and cookies. I was purging and I saw red stuff, i wasn't sure if it was blood or pizza sauce? My name is Brianna, and I'm 15.

Answer
Brianna- I can't say for sure what the redness was.  If I had to guess I'd say it was pizza sauce but it's impossible to say.  It is absolutely certain that the longer this goes on the more damage you are doing to your health.  It's important to begin to deal with the feelings associated with your behaviors.  Your relationship with food and with those around you can be addressed in counseling.  It could be a tremendous benefit to you to begin seeing a counselor.  Talking with your family physician, or school counselor is a great place to start.  In fact, in many states, someone your age can see the school counselor or psychologist for a certain number of visits (like 4 or 5) before your parents even have to be notified (if that's a concern).  I would recommend figuring out how to include them in on what's going on so that all of the various aspects of your life can be addressed, since often there are a lot of aspects of your life that are affected by or contribute to the binging behaviors.  I'd suggest looking into talking worth your school counselor.  As for the red stuff.  If you continue to see it or have any other symptoms that are uncomfortable or worry you see your Dr. right away!