Laxative abuse

I know it's dangerous but just can't stop. Every day no matter how much I have eaten. It's like an addiction. I have told T who wants me to see dr. But I have been to dr in the past & he wasn't interested so I think I am just wasting everyone's time, esp as it is self-induced. I am afraid as I have horrible symptoms resulting from this & don't know where this will end. Any advice much appreciated. Thanks.

aloneandafraid
please do see a doctor. laxative abuse is very dangerous. my sister abused laxatives and is now suffering the consequences of it. her system got to where it could not digest food on its own. she has had multiple operations removing parts of her intestines from blockages because he intestines no longer worked from the laxative abuse. she has to use a pump to suck the food from her stomach because her intestines no longer work. she cannot eat solid food any longer because she cannot digest it. she is dying from all the abuse to her body. please don't go down this road. she is always in the hospital. take better care of yourself.

OMG... best wishes to your sister. So sorry for you both.

I am so very sorry to read about your sister. Thankyou so much for taking the time to reply and to advise me. I really appreciate this. Again, I am so very sorry to read about your sister. I wish you both all the very best. I will try to talk to my dr. I will think of your post. Thank you.

Anyone have any complications from years of self induced vomitting? So far after a decade I have had no ill effects.

What I suggest is that if your Doctor doesnt want to hear it see about finding a new Doctor. I finally after about 10 years of looking found a Doctor that cares and actually takes the time to listen to me. ALthough I dont like what she has to say always, I kno deep inside she is looking out in my best interest. Ive been in ur shoes still kinda there. Its one of the hardest things to get out of.

Ps. Kal.. Sorry to hear about ur sister. Its a eye opening to read this though. Ive been abusing Laxatives for many years as of right now I dont talk about my eating issues or anything else with anyone becuz they are on the road of me doing good. And I want it to stay that way for now. But reading ur post as opened my eyes. I honestly do not even know what life would be like without some of my coping techinques.

I have personal experience with laxative abuse, and i'm TELLING you that it will spiral out of control. I thought I would never get out of the cycle. It was addicting. But you have to stop taking them. i stopped when i went to the doctor and they checked my metabolism and it was completely messed up. That's when I really opened my eyes to the damage i'm causing myself. It's not worth it. Just eat extremely healthy foods. I started by only eating my safe foods. Like chicken and vegetables were 2 of mine, and begin to implement those types of things into your diet. I wish the best for you

My friend died from using laxatives, she depleted her body of potassium and other vitamins and minerals.
Please stop and get some help.

I just cant stop - but I have reduced the number of pills each day/night. I went to Dr but he didn't seem bothered as I look "healthy". Just keep getting really bad headaches and worry that it might be connected? I don't know what it is that keeps me returning to the pills. My T has told me many times they do not result in weight loss and that is what I really want although I know this wont happen. Its as if I need to be empty - does that make sense? It's as if I am punishing my body for something. I feel such a mess. I reached out to T but haven't had a reply. I really need to talk to her. xx

Bad headaches may be from dehydration….that always happened to me. And that feeling of emptiness makes sense, but you have to break out of that cycle Thats what kept me going back. But it's not worth it. Stopping was the best thing i did.

Have made apt to see nurse later this week for blood tests & she said she wants to weigh me (full health check)? I am so scared. I will go as I am feeling terrible and need to tell someone medical (I think) what I have been doing to myself for so many years. I am at breaking point today. Texted T but didn't get a reply - just see you on (date/time). I was reaching out for support but got nothing.

Hey Aloneandafraid- So sorry to hear! Have you ever tried a 12-step progam for your addiction? Best of luck and hang in there!

You need to find a dr that is very familiar with ED. No one else will understand and just brushing things off because you "look like you don't have an ED" will 100% get you no where and feeling defeated (and possibly agree with them that nothing is wrong).

I know what you're going though, though. I have been through it. I know the feeling of wanting to be "empty." Its a temporary illusion because food (calories!) gets absorbed in the small intestine and anything that is undigestible moves to the colon. The colon is where the laxatives take effect and moves everything out like a freight train. You will never lose weight using laxatives, just "mass."

It sounds cheesy but the first step in healing is the smallest thing...even throwing around the possibility this could be a problem and causing dysfunction. Trust me when I say this will get you no where.

Thank you so much for your reply. I am taking more pills now to get the desired effect. I know it is not doing me any good and I kind of understand about the calories but I just cant stop. I think it has maybe become an addiction like someone else mentioned here I think. I am in pain now as well which is scary. I went for a health check (NHS) routine thing and the nurse commented that mine was the healthiest she had seen in years! It just doesn't show and I am in so much pain mentally with this. But there is no way I want this to appear on my records in my surgery. I have told my T but she doesn't seem bothered either (probably as I look completely "healthy"). Thank you so much for your reply. I am feeling very down. It means a lot that someone bothered to reply.

I'm still doing it and I'm scared. I really want to stop but I can't. I have so much stress at the moment. My dr knows and said now isn't a good time to stop. I feel she doesn't believe me. I want to talk to my T but I'm so ashamed. I'm really scared.

hi I was first anorexic and than bulimic..i have abuse laxatives for many years.. I can not go to the bathroom at all without them because I have mess up my system my hair is severly thin and I have bald spots my skin has aged so much.. the constant dehydration will age you. you might not see it right now. but believe me it will your body can only take so much.. I have been in the icu several times. I have neroupathy on my left side. I have lost three friends to bulimia. all took laxatives. I am not trying to scare you. I want you to be afraid.. its your life.. what you do now will affect what your future.. I am on medication now for my bulimia. it has slowed the laxative abuse down a lot.. I know the feeling of being empty.. it can be overwhelming , I do something after I eat now.. go out. walk . call a friend, I put my laxatives someplace my family will see me taking them.. very hard for me to take them than.. I get on the computer. I write the feeling down on paper the feeling of feeling full and how angry and overwhemiing.. and sometimes I cry.. emotional release, helps.. you need to see your medical dr and therapist and a psychiatrist to help you maybe even go inpt for a little bit let them take control. so you can work on yourself.. good luck

I told my Dr. It was so hard. But she said it isn't the priority at the moment?! She says I have so much going in at the moment that by trying to stop now wouldn't be good. She took blood and all the results came back fine. I am so confused. I wasn't completely honest about the length of time I have been taking laxatives (20 years). But if my dr doesn't think it's a problem... She said it is something I need to address in the future but not right now. I have talked to my T who agrees but I think they don't believe that I am doing this as I look overweight in spite of taking the laxatives. I wish I could just stop and eat healthily.