Question:
Bulimia?? Or not?
This is a disgusting one so feel free to not read it heheh. Do any of y'all make yourselves vomit? I do it every so often, only when I feel like I've eaten one too many bites and my stomach hurts badly. It won't come up on its own, and I do it to make myself more comfortable. I see it only as a way to make myself stop hurting when I've taken one too many bites or too big of a bite. I don't see it as an emotional issue, and I do it maybe once or twice a week. So my question is this: is this considered a cause for concern in regards to bulimia, or is it only when it is a psychological issue and you do it all the time? — mars.renee (posted on August 30, 2004)
August 30, 2004
I am almost 5 months out and I often do the same thing. ONLY when I ate too
fast or something didn't set well on my stomach. I never thought of it the
way you have but it is a good question. I feel that as long as you do it
for the right reason and not just over-eat then do it to eliminate your
calories then you are safe. But is only something you should do until you
get used to your pouch or as I said before just on an emergency basis. I
hope this helps some!!!
— Angel E.
August 30, 2004
Slwly raises her hand yes I am guilty of that also but its only been a few
times when I have ate the 1 or 2 bites to many or if something I ate is
makng me sick to my stomach and I know I will feel better with it off my
stomach
Take Care Huggs
Beth
— wildbrat
August 30, 2004
When my stomacb is too full, my nose starts to run and I am very
uncomfortable. I can sit there and be totally miserable for a long time, or
I can go into the bathroom and "spit up" and it is done. It
doesn't take much - usually all I have to do is cough and it's up and out.
I think it's all part of relearning to listen to body signals, to
understand what being full means - and to eat slowly, slowly, slowly.
— mriley
August 31, 2004
If you are looking for approval for doing this you WILL NOT get it from
me. I think you need to look very hard at your eating habits. How much
food are you putting on your plate? Not knowing how long you have had this
surgery the max of food per sitting is 1/2 cup. When you toss your cookies
you can be damaging your stomach. The uncomfortable feeling will pass in
about 20 mins or so. What are you learning of this experience. Hey.. I
can overeat and then put my finger in my month and feel better. These are
issues that need to be addressed. What doctors don't explain that after
this surgery we the eaters need to learn to deal with emotions that we have
covered for years with our eating. I really would try to stop this
practice and get a handle on the amount of food you are putting in your
mouth. Go back to small bits and putting the fork down with every bite.
I'm 14 months post-op have lost 190 lbs and still eat with a baby fork,
small plate, do not drink liquids 30 min. before and 1 hour after. I'm
currently working out some food issues that have popped up which they will
from time to time.
— Linda R.
August 31, 2004
Let me just say that I was NOT LOOKING to be attacked like I was by the
last poster. Yes, I do it sometimes to make me feel more comfortable, but I
do chew slowly and still eat very little. Sometimes certain foods
(especially meats) agree with me and sometimes they don't, and I don't look
at it as, "Oh, I can eat as much as I want and throw it up." NO!
That is NOT me. And I'm offended. I eat the way I am supposed to, slowly,
not too much, but sometimes it happens. It's not a way out. Thanks.
— mars.renee
August 31, 2004
Marci,
I am almost 2 years post op and I also went through a period where I
occasionally had to force the upchuck in order to relieve the very
uncomfortable feelings of the "One too many bites". It was NOT a
case of over-eating. I measured my foods all the time the first 6 months
after surgery but sometimes it didn't sit well and others it did, also some
foods fill you up faster than others. The first 6 months is a real
learning experience. In the past year I have only had to "force"
the issue once but in the beginning it was probably once a week. YOU know
better than anybody if you are headed for trouble. Follow your instincts.
Ask your doc if you feel the need. You are going through many changes
right now and should feel comfortable coming here to post your questions
without feelings of being judged. Sometimes feelings and meanings are not
as intended when using this form of correspondence. Good Luck
Debbie D
11/9/02
243/130
— debbie11092002
August 31, 2004
Hi Marci-- I don't know if this qualifies as bulemia (and bulemia IS a
psychological issue)but I do think you have to be really honest with
yourself about this: wouldn't it be easier to stop before you get the
"one too many" feeling? That's something we all have to learn
post-op. Even if this means that you have to eat slower than you already
are. Making yourself throw up (even once or twice a week) is not a good
habit to be developing. It can damage your pouch and the enamel on your
teeth, not to mention defeating the purpose of having the surgery in the
first place. I'm not attacking you and I'm not trying to offend you, but
you might want to re-think your approach to eating and what you're eating.
— lizinPA
August 31, 2004
None of us here is qualified to diagnose bulimia. You and you alone know
if you are headed for trouble and if you are, I trust that you will talk to
your doctor. Just be very good to yourself and extra good to your pouch.
Can you determine what foods might set off the uncomfortable feeling? If
so avoid them. We all take one too many bites while we are learning and
everyone learns not to go that far in time. Cut yourself a break and just
learn from those times and go forward. A true bulimic would be forcing
food an then purging and you, yourself said you're not doing that.
— Cathy S.
August 31, 2004
I wouldn't recommend sticking your finger down your throat, it's one of the
harshest ways to vomit and that can be really painful. I did it once in my
life when I suspected someone slipped a drug into my Pepsi.
<p>
When I am nauseated (And I have the money to pay for it) I ask my doctor
for Reglan.
<p>
I understand that overful feeling, I have experienced it a few times. When
that happens, and I don't vomit, I lay down and meditate until it passes.
<p>
Just be careful and take care of yourself. Because I have retching
problems, I asked about taking Ipecac for vomiting, I won't jam a finger
down my throat...Hurts too much.
<p>
Hopefully, you will find a solution that works for you!!!
<p>
Hugs,<br>
Tracy
— Tracydarlin
August 31, 2004
Tracy's post reminded me of a trick they showed me right after my surgery
that I had almost forgotten about. When you have that terrible full
feeling, if you will lay down on your left side, it will help it pass
faster.
— Cathy S.
August 31, 2004
I wouldn't consider it bulimia. I always thought bulimics overate on
purpose and then purged. You say that you do eat slowly, however sometime
meats just don't sit right. I'm 2 1/2 years post op now but I can remember
well as a fairly new post-op having a few harrowing experiences with meat
and 1 very uncomfortable session with salmon! I did not make myself vomit
though and instead spent a couple of very uncomfortable hours in pain. I
should have tried to vomit. However, that said, try not to get into a
habit of doing so. Try to wait out the hurt for a reasonable period of
time before turning to vomiting. Hopefully the furthr out you get, the
less you will have pain after eating.
— Cindy R.
August 31, 2004
I have done this myself and it wasn't that I ate too much or too fast. I
took ONE bite of something and it was making me sooo nauseaous that I
thought I would vomit at the table. I would go to the ladies room, put
finger down throat and get rid of the offending piece of food. I would not
blame anyone for doing this. It was not once or twice that this has
happened. No, I am not bulimic, nor have I ever had an eating disorder. It
was just food making me sick at one, two or three bites and me getting rid
of it.
— cindirella
August 31, 2004
Since I've had RNY, I have not had this problem, but when I had my VBG,
sometimes meats would get stuck or just not sit right and you bet I was in
the bathroom taking care of the problem. No way was I going to be miserable
and in pain for HOURS when I could feel better immediately. This is not
bulimia.
Here is an overview of Bulimia from Web MD:
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http://my.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/hw49747.asp?lastselectedguid={5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348}
— Ali M
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