bulimia

What does it mean if our daughter hasn't been diagnosed with an actual eating disorder but has ALL the symptoms, including getting up in the middle of the night at the same time each and every night.  Why is she doing this?  She isn't coming downstairs.  Do Bulimic's purge in their room, or could they be doing it somewhere/somehow else?

What other late night behaviors are there besides purging and bingeing for people with this problem?

[soehler]

I'm sorry to hear that your daughter is struggling.  Unfortunately, only your daughter can tell you why she is engaging in these behaviors.  However, what I can address is your last two questions.  You asked if individual's with Bulimia purge in their room or other locations and the answer is yes.  Individual's suffering from Bulimia become very good at hiding their behaviors, in part due to guilt and sometimes because they know what they are doing would likely not be understood by loved ones.  Those with Bulimia are typically ashamed of their eating problems and thus attempt to conceal their symptoms.  Binge eating usually occurs in secrecy and episodes may not be planned in advance.  Binge eating often continues until the individual is uncomfortably, or even painfully, full and these episodes are often triggered by dysphoric (i.e., depressed) mood states, interpersonal stressors, intense hunger following strict restriction of caloric intake, or it may be related to body weight, body shape, and food.  Binge eating may temporarily reduce depressed feelings, but disparaging self-criticism and depressed mood often follow.  Often times, episodes of binge eating are accompanied by a sense of lack of control, especially early in the course of the disorder.  The recurrent use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain is another essential feature of Bulimia.  Many individuals with Bulimia employ several methods in their attempt to compensate for binge eating.  The most common compensatory technique is self-induced vomiting after an episode of binge eating.  The immediate effects of vomiting include relief from physical discomfort and reduction of fear of gaining weight.  For some, vomiting becomes a goal in itself, and the person will binge in order to vomit or will vomit after eating a small amount of food.  Individuals with Bulimia may use a variety of methods to induce vomiting, including the use of fingers or instruments to stimulate the gag reflex.  Frequently, individuals become adept at inducing vomiting and are eventually able to vomit at will.  Other types of purging behaviors include excessive use of laxatives and diuretics.  Rarely, individuals with Bulimia will consume syrup of ipecac or misuse enemas following episodes of binge eating.  They may fast for a day or more or exercise excessively in an attempt to compensate for their binge eating.  Exercise may be considered excessive when it significantly interferes with important activities, occurs at inappropriate times or in inappropriate settings, or when the person continues to exercise despite injury or other medical complications.  Rarely, individuals may take thyroid hormone to avoid weight gain.  Those with Bulimia and diabetes mellitus (Type I diabetes) may omit or reduce insulin doses in order to reduce the metabolism of food consumed during eating binges.  Individuals with Bulimia place an excessive emphasis on body shape and weight in their self-evaluation, and these factors are typically the most important in determining self-esteem.  Individuals with Bulimia may closely resemble those with Anorexia in their fear of gaining weight, desire to lose weight, and level of dissatisfaction with their bodies.  There are two different subtypes of Bulimia: Purging Type (the person regularly engages in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas during the current episode) or Nonpurging Type (the person has used other inappropriate compensatory behaviors, such as fasting or excessive exercise, but has not regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas during the current episode).  Symptoms of depression are commonly seen in individuals with Bulimia as well.  I hope this information is helpful and feel free to ask me any additional questions you might have.  Good luck to you, your daughter, and your family!

[blueeyes1961]

Thank you for your response!    
This has been a very long process for us and we've expressed to her that we want to help her and get her healthy again but she doesn't seem interested.   All she tells us is that it's her body and that her body is none of our business.   (True to a point but when her health is involved, we must do something).    
The other night we stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to try and see if she's coming downstairs or to figure out what exactly is going on.  We heard her walking around in her room, but she didn't come out of it at all.  This is a nightly occurrence.  Sometimes she does come out of her room and tells us she had a bad dream.  She uses that one alot.   We're going to take her to a clinic for  all of this but not sure what we will get out of it since there are so many things she's not willling to fix, acknowledge, etc.
We also suspect cocaine usage with her.  Every two weeks or so she is getting what seems to be like a cold.  It lasts for at least a week and is a common occurence.    Ugh!
Thank you for your help and for sharing the above  info, it helps!