Bulimia Recovery : Regain a Normal Life Again

Ipecac is an 'Emetic' (something that causes vomiting) and is often used by bulimia nervosa sufferers to control their weight loss.

Ipecac contains major alkaloids - 'emetine' and 'cephalin' - which act by irritating the gastric mucosa, and by stimulating the medullary chemoreceptor trigger zone.

This combined action induces vomiting. The abuse, if repeated regularly, can cause damage to the heart.

These are some of the side-effects from using Emetics. Sufferes of chronic eating disorders often have to endure these dangerous and undesirable side-effects :

- Irregular heart beat
- Rapid Heart Beat
- Cardiac Arrest
- If Ipecac is inadvertently released into the blood stream by some damage to the stomach lining, this could cause immediate death.

To read a complete list of all the physical reactions and dangers to life caused by bulimia and anorexia click on the big arrow link below . . .

What does it take to make you want to regain your life? A recovering anorexia and bulimia sufferer decides to ask for help.

"My physical self and my mental self had slipped so far down into the depths that it seemed I could never recover. For five years I had been utterly controlled by my eating disorders.

Anorexia and bulimia had such a grip on my waking hours there seemed little room for any sane thought to materialize.

But I managed to take a look at myself one day and the news was pretty desperate. I realized I was only a very short space away from dying. My health had deteriorated to such a desperate state that I was bones and skin with little flesh. In a vain attempt to try and keep me warm, my body was growing hair on my lower back. My heartbeat was irregular and my energy levels had dropped to nothing and the enamel on my teeth was wearing thin.

My clothes hung from my body like I was an inmate of a concentration camp and as my death was clearly weeks away - I decided to ask for help."

A recovered anorexic with bulimic tendencies remembers her life-saving turning point.

"Eventually, I passed out and was taken to hospital. I had suffered a minor heart attack while on a bike ride. They kept me on a heart monitor for a couple of days and then they sent home with a diet plan and an instruction to 'Eat!'

It was my doctor who realised I needed help and I ended up back in hospital again. This time I was in a psychiatric unit. They kept me there for nine months.

I had bed rest for 5 months and there was a program of cognitive therapy sessions every week. Slowly but surely, I started to take small amounts of food again. My progress was agonizingly slow - but it was progress.

During my many months of recovery, two things kept me going. One was being able to write and the other one was the constant love and support of my wonderful family."

A girl now recovered from eating disorders offers her advice.

"I am better these days but I still feel depressed now and then. I'm eating regular food now and exercise for pleasure - not for pain.

I'm starting at university soon. It feels real good because not long ago that would have been out of the question.

If you're going through what I've been through - firstly I'm real sorry - but try talking about your feelings with your parents or friends or anyone you trust.

The point is you HAVE to express your depressive feelings or they can give you health problems if you bottle them up.

Try to live every day like it was your last and NEVER submit to anorexia or bulimia.

Always remember there are people who care and will help you."

Maybe you are someone suffering from bulimia or anorexia. Or perhaps you are a family member or close friend of someone suffering from these conditions.

Before you do anything elae - take a look at this page to learn the best first steps to recovery from bulimia and anorexia > > > First Steps to Bulimia Recovery