Re: Effects on your long term health

Immunity. That’s what people with eating disorders usually think they have. Immunity from the consequences of that they’re ultimately doing to themselves. Some people know right from the get-go what those consequences are but they don’t think it’ll apply to them. I was very much this way. In fact, I still am, but that little voice called my conscience tells me the truth. In my own experience I suffered from the following...
*Emaciation
*Amenorrhea (The loss of 3 consecutive periods as a result of malnourish and low estrogen levels.)
*Cachexia (Medical term for Malnutrition)
*Dizziness
*Constipation
*Grey/Discolored Skin
*Hypotension (Abnormally Low Blood Pressure)
*Hair Thinning/Falling Out
*Low Body Temperature (The reason why you’re always cold even with layers of clothing)
*Depression
*Insomnia
*Tightness in Chest (Caused by stress put on by the heart)
*Blurred Vision/Seeing Dark Spots
*Limbs ‘Falling Asleep’ (Caused by poor circulation)
*Back Pain (Caused by stress on kidney’s and dehydration)
*Dehydration

Other Symptoms Include:
*Bone Loss/Shrunken Bones (Osteoprosis)
*Shrunken Breasts (In Women)
*Dry/Yellowish Skin
*Lanugo (Growth of fine downy hair all over the body)
*Abdomen Discomfort
*Bloating/Water Retention (Caused my dehydration)
*Edema/Swelling in Limbs (Caused my electrolyte imbalance)
*Electrolyte Imbalance
*Potassium Deficiency in the Blood
*Organ Failure
*Heart Attack
*Stroke
*Seizures
*Slow/Irregular Heart Beat
*Fainting
*Muscle Loss and Weakness
*Fatigue/General Weakness
*Scars on hands/knuckles (Caused by teeth hitting hands during self-induced vomiting)
*Tooth Decay/Erosion of Tooth Enamel (Caused by the acid coming up during self-induced vomiting)
*Sensitivity to Hot and Cold Drinks
*Swelling of the Mouth/Cheek area
*Calluses on the hands/knuckles from vomiting
*Discoloration of teeth (yellowing or browning)
*Gastric rupture (Caused by self-induced vomiting)
*Inflammation/Rupture of the Esophagus (Caused by self-induced vomiting)
*Chronic Irregular Bowel Movements (Caused as a result of laxative abuse)
*Peptic/Stomach ulcers
*Pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas)
*Death


SCARY!! It's so hard to think of that last one...Death. But it happens, it happens a LOT. I doubt any of us are DYING TO BE THIN. All I can say is, I refuse to let this kill me, and it can, if not physically, it can emotionally, which is just as bad.

-Carlie