ED's without medical complications.

[starrynight]

I have had an ed for years. I'd say at least five. Anyways, beside a vitamin D defiiency, I'm not really off in my blood work. I've never had an electrolyte imbalance, low blood pressure, low heart rate, etc, and sometimes I wonder why some people have medical complications, while othes don't.

Can anyone relate?

Comments

[liv3_once]

I have had bulimia for 8-9 years now and aside from the odd period of low iron which I'd take supplements for and it would correct, I never had any physical trouble until this year and it has all just hit me. I semi-recovered last year, behavioural wise, but I relapsed in December and within a month of relapsing, I was experiencing more health problems than I ever had in the 8 or so years prior. I am currently severely anaemic, my teeth have begun to rot, I have been passing out/collapsing fairly regularly, my electrolytes are way off, skipping periods and I have heart palpitations and arrhythmia. That was the last medical a couple of months back, had another one last week which I'm still waiting for results from and I am worried about it because I'm feeling a whole lot worse than I was last time

[icanseenow]

I have an autoimmune disease (Hashimoto's) and with everything that is wrong with my health and my body I dont know whether to attribute it to the decade of having an eating disorder or to the other stuff, or how they all intervine.
Except for bad teeth, I guess. :(

[starrynight]

Aw, I'm really sorry. I don't have an autoimmune disease, but I have fibro and early onset arthritis from loose joints.

I hope you're in a better place at least, and if not, I hope you get there.

[stacey1981]

Like it was said above the mental consequences can be quite more severe. The human body is resilient and can with stand a lot but the human mind at some point will break. I believe most anorexics die by suicide and we will likely never know how high the rate actually is because many people hide their eating disorders.

I had physical damage from my eating disorder but by far the mental damage is still ongoing four years into recovery. My body was very close to giving out on me and through medical intervention and such I was saved but the mental scars outlast anything physical (which for me will be lifelong so I will always live knowing I caused it)..

[yasdnil723]

I was bulimic for less than three years, only severe for less than 1 and I was just recently diagnosed with a paraesophageal hiatus hernia which they believe is related to when I had an ED. It hurts...a lot. And I may need surgery.I never had any other health problems besides that though. And I know people that have had symptoms 25 years and never got a thing. Basically it's the health lottery, like with anything else.

[irikidzai]

I'm not sure how old you are but I'm 21 and have had an eating disorder for about ten years with no medical complications (at least not the ones you mentioned). It was explained to me that young bodies are especially resilient and that's why some people can go a really long time without those issues.
Have you had a bone density test done?

[starrynight]

I'm 28, had an ED for about five years. Didn't get a DEXA scan. I had blood work and included was calcium and that's fine. Although I do have arthritis and am prone to bone fractures and breaks, so it might not be a bad idea.