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Triceratops
February 16th, 2012, 11:30 AM
As some of the veterans that are left on VT will know, I have had an eating disorder since I was 12 which has basically completely ruined my life. During my whole time living with intense starving, binging and purging episodes I never thought to myself about the dangers it would bring in the future. I was aware of how badly it was affecting me mentally, but it didn't once cross my mind that I would be where I am today.

It did get to a point where my bulimia was so extreme I was surprised I wasn't dead already. For a few years I was purging extremely regularly, and there were even weeks where I would purge at least 20 times in the space of 12 hours for many days. I went to all sorts of lengths to purge - including mixing different kinds of medications in a bid to make myself vomit. I put so much strain on my body and I felt like I didn't care, and that nobody else cared really.

Because I managed to hide being bulimic until I was 17 from most people, I didn't get any medical help whatsoever and only received private help from a therapist (which didn't do me any good if I'm honest). When I was only able to purge blood, could barely move my body, always was dizzy and randomly passing out, I was still too afraid to tell anyone and get the treatment I really needed. Although I was in and out of hospitals and managed to convince my family it was just really bad anemia. The chemical imbalances in my body must of been completely fucked.

When I did finally admit to my eating disorder, that was when it had calmed down for about 8 months. I was still purging and had a major issue with eating, but it was no where near as extreme as it used to be. During this time I was more concentrating on restricting and binging, but not making myself vomit. I had a good feeling that things could get a lot better - which they did. But that was until things in my life where starting to get nasty again so I, obviously, turned back to bulimia. So I figured that at the worst times in my life I always used bulimia to distract myself and help me cope with it all.

Now, 2 weeks ago I found out that I've damaged my heart muscles as they are now very weak. I am now in and out of the hospital and doctor's surgery as I need to have constant attention as I am at big risk of other major heart problems like heart failure, or even a heart attack. That on top of constant trips to the psychiatrist so she can help me deal with my mental state as well as this new information that has pretty much shocked the hell out of me. I pretty much always feel weak, but I am always dizzy and faint and find it hard to concentrate or even move when I go through these episodes. I am no medical expert and tbh I couldn't go into massive detail as to what's wrong with me because I don't know, but the doctor expressed how serious this is for me just by simply saying that if I don't stop the bulimia now, I have a very high chance of dying soon - on top of already having big problems right now. Then when I asked her what she meant by that exactly, she told me to take one of my old days as an example (purging 15-20 times in a day several times within a week) I could die instantly because my organs are that weak and will not cope with the strain I am inflicting on them.

You would probably think "oh so that would stop her from purging now" but the absolute hardest thing is that nothing has sunk in properly for me and I am in the worst starving and binging rut right now and I have weaned off purging for a while but the urge to proceed with it is so intense. I also have an addiction to over-exercising which isn't good for my physical state as it is. I feel like I hate myself that much that I don't care if this literally kills me anymore, because it's already killed me in every other possible way if that makes sense. I have spent most of my days with this and not living with an eating disorder that's dominated my life just doesn't seem real. I want to stop my disorder NOW but I just can't see myself doing it. I am scared for myself because the hardest thing ever is stopping ffs.

I am not coping with anything well currently - school is horrible and I feel alone there and I can never walk in to a single room where I don't feel that people are looking down on me and are saying spiteful fucking things, the stress of exams is getting to me and there's that constant paranoia that I won't get into the university I've wanted to get into for years, I hate who I am and what I am, I get so many nasty and hateful comments from people when I genuinely have no idea what I've done wrong, a few good friends of mine have suddenly decided to turn against me and bitch about me constantly when I don't know what has gone wrong between us, I can't trust people anymore, I feel like I get taken advantage of as people are only interested in me when they want something, then I feel like I'm ignored and nobody wants me around, nobody believes my side of the story for anything and I get called stupid and naive a lot. I only have a few people in my life that I definitely can say genuinely care about me and I feel like I can trust them with my life. I really don't fucking care if people dislike me, but once you can't escape all the shit they give you it takes it's toll on you. IRL I keep myself to myself and I am pretty much nice and friendly to everyone, and I simply ignore the people who I dislike, so it's not like I deserve any of the crap. I'm nothing like I sometimes come across on VT.

When I went through the worst part of my teen years the bulimia was - albeit self-destructive - something I could control, and without it I don't know how I would have actually coped.

If you have actually read all of this, I wanna say thank you a lot for your time. I'm sorry I haven't been making much sense and I've been babbling on for ages, and I have probably made 2345643 spelling and grammar errors while typing this lol. At the end of the day I am terrified of what's happened to me and what could happen in the future. I'm so angry at myself for letting myself get to this stage - almost the final stage if I'm honest. I didn't think this would be the brutal reality, ever. The fact that I am dying is hard to process right now.

xXl0sth0peXx
February 16th, 2012, 04:04 PM
In all honesty, I don't really know what to say. I was shocked when I read this, honestly. I would have never guessed what could happen, all because of this. Never.

My heart breaks for you. I can't even begin to imagine what you're going through right now. I'm obviously no veteran or nothing, but I've seen some old posts from you, and some new ones even, and I can tell you that you're incredibly strong. You may not believe it, but you really are through my eyes. You're gorgeous, and you've overcome so much in the past years. You're really strong. I have total faith in you that you will recover, and you will become stronger.

Keep hanging in there, kay? I know you can get through it. I know how hard it is, but it can only get better from here. You're extremely strong, and an extremely amazing person.

Fiction
February 16th, 2012, 04:35 PM
Marcie this made me genuinely sad to read. I know we haven't talked too much but I care, and i'll always be here if you need someone to talk too.

Eating disorders are one of the most difficult things to overcome, but it can be done. The fact that you're able to not purge shows that you're strong enough to get through this. My advice is to take all the help that you can get, because I know that you're strong enough to beat this Marcie. If you're strong enough to live with an ED for that long, you're more than strong enough to stop it.

Always here if you need me <3

Triceratops
February 17th, 2012, 10:35 AM
In all honesty, I don't really know what to say. I was shocked when I read this, honestly. I would have never guessed what could happen, all because of this. Never.

My heart breaks for you. I can't even begin to imagine what you're going through right now. I'm obviously no veteran or nothing, but I've seen some old posts from you, and some new ones even, and I can tell you that you're incredibly strong. You may not believe it, but you really are through my eyes. You're gorgeous, and you've overcome so much in the past years. You're really strong. I have total faith in you that you will recover, and you will become stronger.

Keep hanging in there, kay? I know you can get through it. I know how hard it is, but it can only get better from here. You're extremely strong, and an extremely amazing person.

Marcie this made me genuinely sad to read. I know we haven't talked too much but I care, and i'll always be here if you need someone to talk too.

Eating disorders are one of the most difficult things to overcome, but it can be done. The fact that you're able to not purge shows that you're strong enough to get through this. My advice is to take all the help that you can get, because I know that you're strong enough to beat this Marcie. If you're strong enough to live with an ED for that long, you're more than strong enough to stop it.

Always here if you need me <3

Thank you to both of you. I know this sounds silly but when I read these replies last night I actually started to cry (not even going to lie) because in the real world nobody understands and would ever be capable of understanding what I'm going through right now, but your posts showed me that there are people who do care and are showing support.

I honestly did find these helpful, because when people do believe in you and have faith that you will get better it encourages you to overcome the ED, whereas I'm always sat thinking that if people don't believe in me then what's the point of trying because it's hard to believe in yourself as it is.

Once again, thank you so much. Any kind of help, advice or support means the world to me right now. :) <3

Amaryllis
February 17th, 2012, 08:17 PM
Hey Marcie, I know we haven't talked all that much but it's horrible what you've had and are going through. I really hope you recover. Eating disorders are horrible things to live with.

I can relate to some extent but I haven't had an eating disorder for as long as you have. In all honesty, I'm not recovered. Jumping back and forth between restricting and binging, actually.

But the permanent... Well, I don't like feeling as if I'm helpless to the consequences. So though many say some of the brain damage left from starvation is permanent, I'm going to tell myself it's reversible. Anyhow, the damage is a saddening thing to have to cope with. And the regrets.

I find self-help helps, so books, CDs, videos, websites, anything. Oh and I adore this lady in these videos, maybe it'll help you, too. Or anyone else who's suffering from compulsive overeating/bulimia.

wPcySDVHMzg

We're here for you. Just leave any one of us a message and we'll do what we can. You've come a long way and the journey's been difficult. It's like running up an escalator that's running down, I suppose. But once you get to the top, you'll be okay.

Eating disorders are harder to overcome than abuse, in my opinion. So once you overcome this eating disorder, you'll be the strongest person alive.

We have tremendous respect for you, I do. So beat the monsters trying to control you, Marcie. Whatever it takes, you -will- get better. Screw the statistics, you're special.

Love,
Z

Triceratops
February 19th, 2012, 02:36 PM
Hey Marcie, I know we haven't talked all that much but it's horrible what you've had and are going through. I really hope you recover. Eating disorders are horrible things to live with.

I can relate to some extent but I haven't had an eating disorder for as long as you have. In all honesty, I'm not recovered. Jumping back and forth between restricting and binging, actually.

But the permanent... Well, I don't like feeling as if I'm helpless to the consequences. So though many say some of the brain damage left from starvation is permanent, I'm going to tell myself it's reversible. Anyhow, the damage is a saddening thing to have to cope with. And the regrets.

I find self-help helps, so books, CDs, videos, websites, anything. Oh and I adore this lady in these videos, maybe it'll help you, too. Or anyone else who's suffering from compulsive overeating/bulimia.

wPcySDVHMzg

We're here for you. Just leave any one of us a message and we'll do what we can. You've come a long way and the journey's been difficult. It's like running up an escalator that's running down, I suppose. But once you get to the top, you'll be okay.

Eating disorders are harder to overcome than abuse, in my opinion. So once you overcome this eating disorder, you'll be the strongest person alive.

We have tremendous respect for you, I do. So beat the monsters trying to control you, Marcie. Whatever it takes, you -will- get better. Screw the statistics, you're special.

Love,
Z

Z <3

Thank you so much, and I know I'm being so repetitive and generic here but I really do mean it when I say this means everything to me. The help, support and understanding from people going through a similar experience. It's something you don't get in the real world but on here you do.

AUS01
February 20th, 2012, 06:13 AM
Hello Marcie,
I Don't know you from a bar of soap, and you don't know me.
I just want to say that I am truly touched by your story. I really feel for you and your situation. It is hard, but I can see that you have the fighting spirit in you. You WILL get through this. I have not had any personal experience with eating disorders, but I seem to be able to put myself in others shoes. This time, I cant imagine what you are going through. You have struggled with this for years, and with the help of your friends and family you can pull through. You CAN be the person you want to be. I wish you best of luck. And if you want to talk to a complete stranger about anything at all. Even just to keep your mind off the fact, Im here.

Best Of Luck <3
Sam

Nevermore
February 22nd, 2012, 10:46 AM
Marcie, I wish I could give you the biggest hug right now. I wish there was some way I could take this from you, or give you a magic pill that would make everything right again. If I could, I would. Eating Disorders are hard. I know what your going through. Don't let Bulimia win. You are strong Marcie, you've helped so many people in your life. You ARE worth fighting for and living. I know it's not an easy fight, but fight your hardest girl, because your worth it. Turn to VT, as your sanctuary for help. Talk to me if you'd like I'm always here for help or just a message. Things will get better, I promise, however you have to fight for it to get better. Be honest and open with the doctors. Slow down with eating, eat with people. Maybe going inpatient so doctors can help you might work. I know a hospital here that does both. This way they'll be in charge of you and your food, and you won't feel so pressured about the whole thing. I'm here for you hun <3