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Edema-recovering from bulimia
I have been bulimic for the last 6 years (vomiting/purging but no laxatives) and following ongoing hypnotherapy have been able to eat for the past 7 days with no vomiting. I am keeping my daily intake to approx 1200calories and am feeling quite. I am very concerned however, because i've got edema/fluid retention, which comes and goes, but my weight is fluctuating up and down some days by up to 5 pounds. When i have it, it feels like my legs are going to burst, when I go to the gym, I'm sure i can feel the fluid moving, if i put my legs up its like the fluid drains down my legs, i'm also going to the toilet a lot. I went to the doctor after the first few days and explained, but he said my legs didn't seem swollen (but they were to me!) He did send me for blood tests but these came back normal.
Am I ok? How long does edema/refeeding syndrome last? I am determined to not go back to being bulimic but am so scared that there is something really wrong.
Am I ok? How long does edema/refeeding syndrome last? I am determined to not go back to being bulimic but am so scared that there is something really wrong.
hey diamond291,
i think i may suffer from a similar condition. i have swollen hands, feet and legs every day and it's at its worst in the morning. really cold showers and herbal tea (e.g. birch leaf, nettle) help a bit but i'm quite frustrated. i stopped binging/purging gradually and i was quite often dehydrated in the last years. for 3 weeks now i've been "clean" and since then i've had this problem with edema.
today i found a website which reassured me that there is nothing really dangerous going on with me. maybe it helps you, too.
"When you repeatedly take laxatives, diuretics or vomit, your body will adapt to being constantly dehydrated by learning to retain more fluid than usual. When you stop these behaviors and start to take a normal diet, your body may continue to retain fluids until it learns that adequate fluid will be available, then it will release the extra fluid. People who abuse laxatives or vomit regularly are at the greatest risk for alternating between dehydration and edema."
i hope it will eventually go away and not bother you and me anymore.
good luck with recovering!
i think i may suffer from a similar condition. i have swollen hands, feet and legs every day and it's at its worst in the morning. really cold showers and herbal tea (e.g. birch leaf, nettle) help a bit but i'm quite frustrated. i stopped binging/purging gradually and i was quite often dehydrated in the last years. for 3 weeks now i've been "clean" and since then i've had this problem with edema.
today i found a website which reassured me that there is nothing really dangerous going on with me. maybe it helps you, too.
"When you repeatedly take laxatives, diuretics or vomit, your body will adapt to being constantly dehydrated by learning to retain more fluid than usual. When you stop these behaviors and start to take a normal diet, your body may continue to retain fluids until it learns that adequate fluid will be available, then it will release the extra fluid. People who abuse laxatives or vomit regularly are at the greatest risk for alternating between dehydration and edema."
i hope it will eventually go away and not bother you and me anymore.
good luck with recovering!
Many thanks for your post.
I have gone just over a month now without bulimia which I'm so excited about. The edema still occurs but has definately reduced in comparison to how it was before, I am hoping that in time my body will learn to accept normality again in time (as it stated on the website you found). I've noticed an improvement already so i'm just sticking at it, hope yours improves with time too. Good luck!
I have gone just over a month now without bulimia which I'm so excited about. The edema still occurs but has definately reduced in comparison to how it was before, I am hoping that in time my body will learn to accept normality again in time (as it stated on the website you found). I've noticed an improvement already so i'm just sticking at it, hope yours improves with time too. Good luck!
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