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VOMITING INDUCED BY STRESS

by LJ111, Feb 27, 2007 12:00AM
MY BOYFRIEND HAS JUST CONFESSED THAT HE THROWS UP 2-4 TIMES A WEEK, IN THE MORNINGS, AS PART OF HIS MORNING RITUAL. HE SAYS HE WAKES UP IN THE MORNING VERY DISORIENTED AND VOMITING HELPS CLEARS HIS HEAD. HE'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR MORE THAN A DECADE AND SUFFERS FROM ULCERS, NOSEBLEEDS, TOOTH & ENAMEL DECAY, BLOOD IN HIS VOMIT AND URINE. HE SAYS IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS WEIGHT AND IS NOT AN EATING DISORDER BUT FEELS ITS MORE RELATED TO STRESS & ANXIETY & LOW SELF ESTEEM. HE'S BEEN TO DOCTORS & THEY SUSPECTED AN EATING DISORDER.

HE HAS TERRIBLE EATING HABITS, HAS A VERY NORMAL AND HEALTHY EXERCISE ROUTINE...SO I AM DOING RESEARCH AND NOTHING SEEMS TO DESCRIBE HIS SITUATION. HE DOES NOT HAVE INSURANCE SO THERAPY IS UNLIKELY. HOW CAN I HELP HIM AND HIS SITUATION. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO?
Member Comments (6)

by Carol A, Feb 28, 2007 12:00AM
To: LJ111
Insurance or not, it sounds like your boyfriend needs urgent medical attention! You might try calling around to doctors to gastroenterologists to see if they can offer him a sliding scale of payment.  I suggest you tell them all of the symptoms you've described above.

Carol

by johnasse, Feb 28, 2007 12:00AM
hi, if he has blood in his vomit and urine, he needs to go to doctor PRONTO!!!!! That is not normal..good luck

by Estabel, Feb 28, 2007 12:00AM
Actually my little brother suffered from something just like this. He excersised regularly but threw up almost everyday. Eventually it got so bad that he had to go to a recovery center for people with eating disorders. While he was not really throwing up because of a weight issue the eating disorder clinic seemed to help. My brother would also tell me that he would throw up because it would enable him not to worry about anything, so it seems it is definetly a coping mechanism. I don't want to scare you but my brother's electrolytes were really low when he finally got sent to get treatment and I guess throwing up can cause electrolyte imbalance which is dangerous. I think you should definelty bombard your friend with concern and get help immediately. What he is doind is very dangerous for his health now and in the future. Hope this helps. Best

by leerabbit, Mar 03, 2008 01:09PM
hi.  i have had the same phenomenon, pretty much all my life.  many mornings (more often than not), i vomit during my morning routine, usually when brushing my teeth. usually there is just yellow bile, but the occasional  bit of blood will come up sometimes with it.  i am guessing this is esophogeal erosion...from the acid coming up.  i am a 33yo female.  i've been doing this since my teens.  i feel it is definitely stress related, mainly b/c when it happens more frequently when i am under excess stress.  i do not have an eating disorder.  also, i am a nurse.
i think that since your bf doesn't have insurance, and since he believes it is stress related, he needs to find an alternate stress relieving method.  i've seen many many many doctors in my life.  gastro docs, and psych docs etc for this..  i don't have the tooth decay or the stool in my blood, but i understand completely.
have you considered yoga? maybe as part of his morning routine.  it sounds as though he does not think its a big issue.
i can tell you, i haven't had much luck with the doctors. but if has blood in his stool, he could use a stool sample.  btw-is is dark red or bright red (like fresh blood)?  dark is worse.

by mannie17, Mar 24, 2008 08:37PM
I have been dealing with this since I was in sixth grade and I'm 27 now. I don't have the blood problem though but sometimes I feel i can pass out it gets so bad. Does anyone know what this is? It has gotten to the point that I cringe at the thought of brushing my teeth. I have told my doctors and my shrinks and all they say is for me to meditate and breath. i meditate a lot but it always seems like it is too late or not enough. Sometimes I have to run to the bathroom. Someone, please give me some answers!

by nwill, Mar 24, 2008 08:47PM
To: lj111
I have a counselor friend of mine.  She is in recover from co-dependency and belemia.  She tells me that the belemia was a result of the codependency, stress, and depression.  She suffered through this for years before recovery.  She practices the 12 step program. She is very successful now and is an abuse counselor.  The best advice that i can give is to be there for you boyfriend and listen.  There is probably an underlying problem that is leading to the vomiting.  Maybe something in his past or it could even be somethin happening currently in his life.  I am a recovering alcoholic and addict, and the root of my abuse went so much farther than just the alcohol.  I wish you both the best of luck and if I can help in anyway just give me a shout.
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