scared...help

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
scared...help
6
Fri, 01-30-2004 - 9:14am
Hi I have not been here in a long long time.

I guess I sort of gave up on finding any kind of way to get better and chose to just live with it...but I am scared again.

I am 32 bulimic-anorexic for 15 years...bulimic for the past 4 years. I have four children a loving husband..who is very aware of my problems and stands by me trying to help. I decided to try therapy again to try and tackle the control issues etc. I think I might have found a good therapist on the negative side I have only been to see her once...she is so booked I am on a waiting list. We live in a small military town (husband is in the navy)and I see an ok dr. on base, well I think she thinks I should just change the behavior on my own???but I know it is beyond that she did run some blood tests and my electrolytes were good, I have been maintaing a good weight (well of course to me I need to loose) but I think the years of starvation are taking a toll...

my liver function was not good..it was elevated..I am scared...anybody else ever have this..I do not drink alchohol at all so it is not that...

are gallstones comon in e.d.

thanks, for listening,

Paula

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 01-30-2004 - 11:25am

Hi Paula,


I don't know if ED can cause gallstones, but I do know EDs can cause many health issues. I am glad you want to get better and you can. Try to keep seeing the therapist even if you can't go as often as you want to. Have you checked on any group meetings in your area? I used to live around military bases in Germany and they had OA meetings on base even. To find locations you can go to www.overeatersanonymous.org (not just for overeaters), www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org, and www.celebraterecovery.com (go to Global Locations on the left). And you may want to check out www.somethingfishy.org.


Please keep posting here, too, as often as you need to. It's best to get as much support as possible.

Love & hugs, Kristina


The opinions I have expressed here are from my own experience and are not intended as medical advice or to take the place of your own physician's advice.

Love & hugs, Kristina

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2003
Fri, 01-30-2004 - 11:27am
Paula,

I too had gall baldder stones at the age of 22.. I dont know if there is something related though.

I had an eating disorder for about 5 years and I am (thank god) in recovery. It must be difficult to deal with this on base because you dont have access to a lot of things that would really help you. There are some websights that might help you out.. I dont know what they are off hand but if you look through some of the posts, they are listed. I also had a therapist tell me tp "juts quit" to be honest, that made me even more mad and preobably less likley to quit..because you feel so out of control already how could you tackle something like that? I have learned that you can though.. with a lot of support and the desire to do so. I hope that you can tackle this and this board will be there for you if you need anything.. a lot of us have been through recovery so we know how difficult it can be. Have you ever discussed recovery with your husband? Since he knws you are activly bulimic maybe it would be nice to have to in a way report to someone who knows. Good luck Paula, I hope you get on the road to recovery soon.

Sarah
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 01-30-2004 - 9:41pm

Hi Paula - I've been lurking on this board for a short time - this is my first post here.


I'm 42 had was bulimic in my early 20's (for about 5 years). Since then I've had a love/hate relationship with food that can become an issue when I'm under stress.


I was diagnosed with gallstones in 08/03 and will be having my gall bladder out at the end of Feb. I'm not in any great pain - but the GB is diseased and not functioning properly. After much consideration I have finally decided to get it removed.


Gall stones don't happen over night - looking back at odd symptoms I've had over the years - it was at least 10 years ago when I frist started to show symptoms. When I'd mention the symptoms to the doctors they'd want to 'wait & see' because it was never anything major.


One of the things that can contribute to GB problems is fasting for periods of time and then eating. ie. not eating all day then having dinner (or binging) . . .or

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 01-31-2004 - 1:31pm
Thank you jo,

Was your liver function up too???

what information can you give me it would be greatly appreciated

I am having an ultrasound on wed. will that tell alot?

I was always unstopable.... No food, little food, I was always ok now it is changing.

thanks

Paula

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 01-31-2004 - 2:36pm

Hi Paula - The ultrasounds were not painful or uncomfortable for me. Okay -maybe once when they applied a bit much preasure on their thingey in a certain spot - but that was more anoying than painful. The first time I had one they didn't require a certain amt of water to be consumed - but for the second one I had to drink an 8 oz glass of water during the hour before the test & was told not to pee.


They had a 'TV' mounted on the wall so I was able to view my insides. The tech was very nice and pointed out the different organs (I sure wouldn't have recognized anything). They measure the gallbladder itself (mine is enlarged quite a bit - it's pear shaped and I was told that it should be no larger than 7cm x 5 cm (3" x 2"). Mine is 11cm x 5 cm (4.4" x 2").


They checked my liver and pancreas - I think they measured them and they were both normal. They would likely be looking for signs of inflamation.


They will measure the thickness of the GB walls. I can't remember what my measurements were - but they were quite

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 01-31-2004 - 4:38pm
Thank you

jo!!

I am going to pop in over there!

Paula