Expert: Joanne - 12/15/2007

Question
i have been bullemic now for about 6 yrs. i am so scared to tell anyone and it is destroying my life it is so bad that i was even purging when i was pregnant with my 7 month old daughter its really not a fear of gaining wait anymore i just cant stand feeling full and having food in my stomach and i guess its a little about gaining weight i am 5'5 and weigh 123. my throat has started swelling inside and sometimes its hard to swallow and sometimes breath i wont go see the doctor because im scared they will try to commit me or something is the swelling in my throat and neck because of this? i cant stand being this way but i dont know how to stop and i know my body is malnourished. i shake all the time and always feel like im going to pass out if you have any advice or anything to help me to deal with this and overcome this i would so greatly appreciate it thannk you

Answer
Patricia,

I'm sorry to hear you having such a hard time of it just now!

The swelling is most likely due to vomiting, but I would never right everything off to the eating disorder and think it is nothing to be concerned about!  I think my best advice would be to go and get that checked by a Dr as soon as possible!

Very few people are committed over an eating disorder!  It is usually used as a last resort when death is very close, yet the eating disordered person can't see it and refuses to do anything to help prevent it!

Loads of people have bulimia and manage to have it treated very well around their normal daily life!  This may involve meeting with a therapist of some sort once a week or so, maybe with some medical input, and then a bit of dietary advice!

As this seems to be affecting your health quite a bit, I would definitely recommend getting a physical done in order to make sure that any damage that is causing you to feel like this is easily fixable when eating a normal diet and that there is nothing more serious going on.

Please feel free to get back in touch if you have absolutely anything you would like to ask!

All the best
Holly