Question:
Is it okay to purposely vomit to feel better?
I think I ate too fast (or too much) again tonight. I started feeling miserable and DID NOT want to go through what I did the night before Thanksgiving (after eating 1/2 of a french dip). This time I said heck with it and made myself vomit. I immediately felt 100% better! And I still feel fine now. Was this okay? I didn't hurt anything did I? I am 7 weeks out on Monday and DO NOT plan to make a habit of this. It wasn't unpleasant (like being sick) and didn't hurt my tum, but since I've never done anything like before I want to make sure I haven't harmed anything. Thanks for any input anyone has. Sometimes I feel so dumb about this new eating procedure..... Pam Nicholson — pjnick (posted on November 30, 2002)
November 30, 2002
Pam , I would be very careful, because we say things are not going to be a
habit. But if it made you feel better immediately more then likely you
will do it again and we all know that is not safe. I am not trying to
sound rude, I just would not like to see you get into a really bad and
dangerous situation.
— Schatzie1
November 30, 2002
I actually do this often. I am 10 weeks post-op and this began around 5
weeks. I used to do it almost every time I ate meat. Now I only do it like
once every other day. It definitely gets better with time. My husband
freaks out when I do it for fear that I will become bulimic (spelling). I
don't know for sure if it is hurting anything. I mentioned to my surgeon
and all he said was try not to do it. He didn't seem concerned. My case may
be a little different because I am not feeling full and then bringing it
back up, but more of something just sitting wrong. I try to wait for at
least 30 minutes to make sure it goes down. After that, I just can't stand
it anymore......I'm curious to hear the other responses....Good luck to
you!!!.......Karen (lap rny 9/20/02- down 76 pounds)
— karmiausnic
November 30, 2002
Well, as horrible as it is, I do it quite frequently. If I eat too much or
something that is making me sick as heck (like high fat foods or
sweets)...then I hit the bathroom and stick my finger down my throat. I
know it's bad for you, but every now and then you pass your
"full" limit or eat something that doesn't agree with you and
personally, I'd rather retch for a minute and get it out than be miserable
for 30 minutes. This can lead to bulimia, so I would watch it and make sure
it does not become a habit or that you're doing it as an excuse to eat lots
of food all the time...but I don't think here or there will hurt or kill
you. I'm 10 months out and I think I've puked more times this year than I
have in my whole life...lot of trial and error with foods (raw veggies,
beef, sugar, etc).
— Paula Prichard
November 30, 2002
I have to do it "occassionally". I certainly don't make a habit
of it, but sometimes you do what you have to do. Hopefully we learn NOT to
get into those spots where it is neccesary to do it often. ;)
— Danmark
November 30, 2002
Pam girl.....I puke whenever I get that I swallowed gravel feeling it is a
lot easier then dealing with the rocks going thru down and around. I think
it is fine as long as it is to eleviate pain
have a good one Peggy open rny 9/20 -58#'s
— Peggy A.
November 30, 2002
Hi:
After a few episodes of those horrible pains in the chest and stomach after
overeating (two bites, lol), I have had to do the same thing when things
feel like they are stuck. My only concern is: how in the world do you
count your protein after that? It seems sometimes we have no other choice
than to consciously throw up. If not, I am in pain for hours afterwards.
Love Grace
— Grace H.
November 30, 2002
There is a big difference between making yourself throw up because
something is stuck and your are experiencing that pain in the area of your
stomach; and, making yourself throw up because of too many sweets and you
are just not feeling well.
The first is an occasional happening when you fail to chew well enough.
The second is bulimia so you can have the taste of sweets and fats and then
give it up. No matter how anyone tries to prove otherwise, this is
bulimia.
This form of denial is dangerous to our health.
— faybay
November 30, 2002
I just want to agree with Fay, you are falling into a dangerous habit that
could lead to bulimia. One of main reasons for a pysch consult prior to
surgery is to see if you have a tendency to be bulimic after surgery.
Eating 1/2 of french dip after 7 weeks sounds like alot to eat. Be careful
and you will be fine.
— barbara A.
November 30, 2002
While I don't recommend this particular action, I myself have been in that
very same pair of shoes...ate too fast or too much (just one more bite,
please) and the pain and discomfort was almost unbearable. I actually a
couple of times puked up just that one or two bites that had overstuffed
the pouch and went about my business. Has it been done? Sure....is it
really good for you? Probably not. Don't make a habit of it. Take care
and Have a Sparkling Day!! ~CAE~
— Mustang
November 30, 2002
I haven't had surgery yet and may be speaking out of turn, but I would not
think this is a habit you want to get into. Among other things, vomiting
is not good for your esophagus.
— Pat B.
November 30, 2002
Pam.. I have to admit I do this at times.. I am relieved that I am not the
only one. I figure that the difference in the mentality of the bullemic is
they binge and puke because they are freaked that they have eaten.. I only
do this if my piggy eyes cause me to eat more than I should have and I am
REALLY suffering. I don't do this because I have eaten the wrong thing
(which happens).. I just live with the consequences of that. Gail
— Gail S.
December 1, 2002
Me too Gail.
— Danmark
December 1, 2002
Only YOU know why it happened and why you had to do it. Like most people
seem to agree, you don't want to get in the habit if this, but it's
ridiculous to point a finger and say "oh my gosh, this is bulemia no
matter what anyone says"......my surgery was about 2 years and 3
months ago. I've eaten one bite too much about 3 times since then and did
make myself throw up to relieve the pain. Bulemia is more of a conscious
binging and then needing to throw up. Mine was a simple
out-to-eat-and-enjoying-the-company-and-didn't-realize-how-much-I'd-eaten-until-it-was-too-late.
Is this bulemia? No way! Don't tell me that anytime in your life you
didn't get the piggy eyes on Thanksgiving and eat too much and it actually
hurt and made you miserable. But like I said, only YOU know what the
circumstances were and why you had to throw up. I do have to agree though,
that at 7 weeks post-op, a 1/2 french dip sounds like a lot. I can barely
eat that much now, and I'm over 2 years out. Good luck to you.
— Lynette B.
December 1, 2002
This isn't totally related but I have thrown up twice after eating to help
relieve the pain. In my case it is related to gall bladder issues, I had
an attack during a meal and my stupid stomach starts producing mucus and it
fills me up to the point of pain. I won't go into all the gory details but
it is definately related to that because I have all the back pain and right
side pain. I wonder how many other people who get full to the point of
pain prematurely have the same problem but just don't realize it. Coffee
will do it to me too (the mucus factory thing except I haven't had to throw
up from that). Anyhow I don't consider myself a bulemic nor a masochist,
just a wimp HAHA.
— Sherrie V.
December 1, 2002
Sounds like an eating disorder (bulimia) to me. You should DEFINATELY be
following your doctor's and nutritionist's guidelines. Overeating at this
stage is dangerous.
— Marianne K.
December 2, 2002
Pam--I am almost 6 months post op and I have thrown up quite a bit thus far
in my journey. Basically it is trial and error and its a learning
experience. Some people are being a bit harsh with talk of bulemia.
That's not it whatsoever. Certain foods do not sit well with some--for me
chicken and I do not get along--I have learned this and I am careful
regarding it. I'm sure many post ops can tell you that one day they can
have it and its fine but the next..no go. My personal opinion with my own
body is that if it is sitting wrong in my stomach, its not a matter of
sticking a finger down my throat--that horrible feeling makes me sick and I
vomit--then the pressure and pain is relieved and I go about my business.
Again this is not something anyone should make habit of but through this
trial and error period be aware that this can happen and make adjustments
as you go along. good luck & God Bless.
bambi :o)
— Bambi C.
December 2, 2002
I'm 8 weeks out and yes..I've been known to do this too. Again, like the
previous poster--I don't think I'm bulemia-prone--I just sometimes make a
mistake of overeating. The strangest thing I've done it with is a salad.
And I didn't eat too much--I guess I'm just not ready for raw roughage
yet.
— Karen K.
December 2, 2002
Vomiting once does not make you a bulimic. That's just silly. You're
fine, I think everybody does this once in a while. I think it's better to
make yourself throw up a few times while you're learning what your new
stomach can take than to overeat and just let it go through, and then make
the mistake again later.
— Monica H.
December 2, 2002
I am so glad to see this question; it's one I don't think I have seen
before, but obviously many of us can relate. I agree with those who say
this is WAY different from bullemia, which is dealing with emotional issues
by binging on food and eating enormous amounts, then intentionally vomiting
the food. It sounds like most of us are in the same boat. I do
vomit...occasionally. It varies, some times more frequently than others. It
seems to run in patches, too. I will do quite well for a while, several
weeks maybe, then have a period in which it seems I have trouble almost
every day. For me, it is sometimes an issue of eating too quickly or not
chewing well enough (especially if I am very hungry), very, very rarely
from eating too much. Sometimes, tho, I find that after only 3 or 4 small
bites of food, I can tell, it's not going down. It feels like it's just
sitting there in a lump, stuck. It hurts and if left alone, it will just
sit there & hurt for hours! And I can't eat another gram til it moves.
So, I stick my finger down my throat, get it up, and the problem is
(literally) gone. I find that most times, within even five minutes, I can
go ahead & eat normally again. Also, I find that a food I ate just fine
a week ago might be damn near impossible to eat THIS week. Sometimes I can
eat chicken just fine, other times it seems like 3 bites is one too much
& I can't tolerate it. I never really know til I try it. Another thing:
it doesn't seem like real vomiting, either. A family member was recently
sick and vomiting. It had been a long time since I was around REAL
vomiting. It stunk!!! And it looks different, too. Anyone else notice this?
When I "vomit," the food looks almost identical to how it looked
originally & there is no smell at all. I wonder if what I do is more
"spitting up" than real "vomiting." It's obviously not
digested. I wonder, too, if this is still bad for your teeth. That is one
thing I DO worry about. Also, I have found that I cannot "make"
myself vomit unless I have this "blockage" thing going on. I did
eat more "bad" stuff than I should have once & tried to vomit
it up. It wasn't hurting & I didn't have that "stuck" feeling
& it would NOT come back up. So I have found that really was a
different situation. Overall, I just look at my occasional vomiting as a
price I pay for my new way of life. It's a very small price to pay for all
that I have gained, but it is still a pain in the butt sometimes & I
wish I didn't do it at all. Sounds as if it's a LOT more common than many
of us knew. I am glad to hear I'm not the only one. As far as counting
protein, I figure any time I vomit my food, I have lost that nutrition
& I don't count it at all. It has to be made up...somehow. I will be
curious to see other responses to this question....thanks for asking it!
— Kathy W.
December 3, 2002
I do believe that Pukey Pete and I are on friendlier terms than my husband
and I. I have a VERY small pouch, and at almost 9 months out I still puke
a lot. I could eat the same thing, three times a day for a week and then
suddenly get sick on it. My pouch is like 1 oz so I never know what is
going to happen. One thing I want to point out is that when we puke no
gastric juice (I know ewwww) comes up so you do not get that burning from
that. Also, at least when I vomit, it is either that or lay there in pain
for 2 or 3 hours. Many times I do not have a choice. I am one of the few
that puke ALOT, and tho there are several warnings about the damage it will
cause I have none. Some people just can not help it, it just pops back out
of there. Don't worry so much :)
— smedley200
December 3, 2002
I haven't had to do it too often, but it is quite a relief (although I
usually don't feel 100% until the next day after). What's even better, is
how easy it is to make myself do it now compared to before surgery. My few
times have involved rice and noodle type foods (oh, yeah, there was that
2nd piece of pizza that time that I HAD to HAVE and RIGHT NOW.......smile).
— Nell C.
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