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Is My Niece Bulimic? Need Help

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shotgunpass

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jun 2006
Posts: 2
Is My Niece Bulimic? Need Help
Posted: 06-22-06 09:27am

My niece is 24 yrs old, I am having a problem trying to figure out if she has bulimia. Everything I have been reading states that a person with this binges then purges. She doesn't binge. What happens is she chooses which foods she will bring back up again. She will eat normally with us (not eat more than normal). At times she won't go in the bathroom after eating and then at other times she will. This has been going on for over 2 yrs. So I don't know if this is considered bulimia since she doesn't binge? She does have low self-esteem and is constantly worried about her weight, she drinks allot of gin and tonics. So to be bulimic does one always have to be a binge eater I guess is my question...All other signs indicate that she is in fact bulimic. Most times after eating she will immediatly go to the bathroom but she hasn't eaten allot. Our family is desperate to help her and she has admitted that she does this but doesn't think there are any health risks, but she has offered to read about the risks if one of us can find her the info. So any help would be very much appreciated. Thanx
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Whimsy

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jun 2006
Posts: 5
Location: Vast dessert known as AZ

Posted: 06-22-06 10:53am

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shotgunpass

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jun 2006
Posts: 2
Thank You
Posted: 06-22-06 11:07am

Thank you for that website. I did read through it. The reason why I need to pinpoint this is because she will come back on me and say I am not bulimic because I don't binge eat. This is her train of thought right now. How do I get around that? How do I make her realize she does in fact have a very serious problem. She did tell me that she would read any information about the risks of throwing her food back up, but I could show her the risks of being bulimic and she will say she doesn't have that. What do I need to do to open her eyes so to speak. Thank you again for the website and responding to my call for help for someone I love.
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Whimsy

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jun 2006
Posts: 5
Location: Vast dessert known as AZ

Posted: 06-22-06 11:35am

This is also a good info site http ://www.Nationaleatingdisorders.Org/p.Asp?W ebpage_id=291
there are health risks on there and even though they are labeled by disorder, if you engage in any of the disordered behaviors, you are at a risk for serious mental and physical complications. The biggest health concern for bulimics though is electrolyte imbalance which can lead to heart attack. As well as esophogus rupture from the actual act of purging which can lead to internal bleeding and death. But there are also other ones that are almost just as disconcerting like tooth decay, osteoperosis, extreme constipation and bloating etc. Even though she may try to fool you into thinking she isn't "that bad" there is a part of her that knows she needs help and you have to tap into that little voice because her eating disorder is trying its damndest to supress it. Good luck hun :oops:
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