Purging
 

Just want to put *could trigger* as it mentions ED behaviours..



1) I struggle with purging and recently it's been pretty often. I do binge beforehand and although the amount feels a lot this time it's not been all that much more than what people eat normally.. but it can last for a while (eat/purge eat/purge, etc).

After I'm done, and even the next day I find that I get this feeling in my throat/upper chest.. it's hard to describe.. really tight and really uncomfortable, almost like there's something stuck there. It even happens after I drink something like juice.

I then have to throw up again or if I can't and I think my stomach is empty, it is painful to eat - like now. Is there anything I can do to ease the pain? Any foods I should eat or avoid?

2) One of my knuckles is sore, slightly red, but it looked fine. This morning I woke up and it has a small green lump on it and hurts if I touch it. Should I just leave this as it is?

Thanks if anyone can help. x

Drinking milk may ease the pain and try to eat things that are soft and make sure you chew them up well. What's happening is that when you purge your oesophagus/ throat comes into contact with stomach acid and unlike your stomach they aren't protected against these so it damages the lining and causes a lot of pain and swelling. This is what you are feeling but if it continues to happen it can cause worse problems. People who purge a lot can also get psychologically in the patten too where eating is automatically followed by purging and so they often feel/ are sick after eating which may also be what is going on with you saying you have to throw up again. I would try not to do this if possible.

Have you injured your knuckle in any way? Have you done this through the way you purge? It may be that this has become exposed to the acid also and so has become irritated. I'd get this checked out because a "small green lump" could be a sign that infection has got in there and this may need further treatment which may mean them seeing if this is pus and draining it or seeing what else it could be. It would also be a good idea to put a plaster/ band-aid over the knuckle just to protect it.

It may be a good idea if you talked to someone about your relationship with food to see if you have an eating disorder or not and to see if you can feel a bit better with yourself. The aim is that hopefully this may enable you to reduce the amount you binge/ purge which would be beneficial as you're feeling health problems with it though it would be even if you weren't starting to feel the effects of it. Talking to your GP may be able to get you this help and (s)he could also take a look at that knuckle. Also, feel free to contact the supporters via Live Help/ support@recoveryourlife.com and they can help you with this though they are not a replacement for professional help.

It may also be worthwhile you reading the First Aid Eating Disorder Article; that has information about binging/ purging in it which may be useful.

Thank you very much for the advice, Animad. (Yes, the knuckle was because of the way I purge). It has gone a bit smaller now.

I have been diagnosed with an eating disorder but due to a crisis and mix up and transfer to adult services, I no longer see the ED team.

I will have a look at the article, thanks.

x