chest pains - 26 dulcolax

hi,  i to have been using laxatives for about 2 months .  each time i use them i have to take more to get the desired effect.  a few days ago ( actually that was last night) i took 26 dulcolax.  i know when i take them again i shall have to take more as my body is becoming so tolerant.  i have had alot of chest pain on the left side and centre for about 3 weeks now.  yet i can not stop taking the things.  i feel as though i have to cleanse my body.  i am underweight anyway so feel as though i am on borrowed time.  i was wondering if my chestpains were warnings of a heartattack however i have never heard of anyone getting warning pains. i thought you just dropped down dead or got saved when your heart was started again.  could they be signs of low potasium?
thanks

[krzeaz]

i'm not a doctor, but i do think the large amts of laxatives can cause electrolyte (sodium and potassium ) imbalances.  which can cause heartbeat irregularities.  it's dangerous.

the other thing is, the normal peristalsis of the body is disrupted and i guess that could cause the normal muscle action of the esophagus (throat) to be abnormal too.

  i experienced the same thing when i used to abuse laxatives-- it took larger and larger amts of them to get the same effect. be good to yourself and seek help for eating disorder.  i have quit the bingeing and weigh about the same as i did, but am so much happier.  it took a period of adjustment but normal/slim weight is possible without abusing and starving yourself.

[jdrtwin1]

i took hundreds of laxatives at a time, i wouldn't say they are dangerous the first time you use them but your body does get addicted and it causes problems from there. Severe dehydration and potassium loss are side effects and it happens quickly as you are (pardon my bluntness) crapping nonstop for sometimes hours.

i also abused everything else that you can abuse and i now have heart damage, i wear a heart monitor at all times. not fun stuff.
oh, i'm only 20.

chest pains could be a sign of an irregular heart beat, thats how i noticed mine, do you have any other symptoms?
dizziness, etc?

[jo929]

i have worked with people gen hosp and mental all kinds of people i am not a nurse i am not a dr but i have seen this also i have seen what happens as you get older you will lose control of your bowels you will have many many physical problems if you take these to long and .dulcolax is a strong med i have seen older people almost have heart attact when they were given this before surgeries many years ago you really need to see a dr this is an illness and you are so young just read about what all they can do please go to a dr and get help before it is to late for help    lots luck  jo

[ArielMonique]

I too am having pain in the chest on the left side along with excruiating pain in my abdomen and spinal cord. I can't sleep with the pain and my heart is hurting. I too have to take excessive amounts of durolax to get a result, and I've had anorexia serval times the last time I ended up being 34kgs and in hospital for 4 months against my will with a schedule on me which is still standing to a year and a bit later. I just started taking the amount which I was taking before when I was 34kgs (i.e. double my normal dose) and the pain is like it was before, excruciating. It nearly killed me but I just can't stop taking them because for the 4 months I did in hospital I did not have a bowel movement ONCE unless assisted (the ended up having to give me Metamucil and enemas in the end which still didn't work as well as Durolax). I've been taking this stuff since I was 13 years old, I'm now 26 my body actually NEEDS this drug.

[Zoelula]

What your body NEEDS, ArielMonique is help. Recovery from an eating disorder is possible and necessary if you want to live and be happy. Do get some help as soon as possible. You don't have to live this way.