SERIOUS question! Possibly bulimic...?

Skitti
Skitti Posts: 20
edited December 2024 in Motivation and Support
I take MiraLAX stool softener once a day (one capful) to use the bathroom properly. I drink four liters, sometimes five liters, of water a day, so I'm not worried about it sucking too much water out of me. I'm going to switch to Dulcolax stool softeners (daily comfort, two capsules a day) soon because the MiraLAX powder is SO messy sometimes.

If I don't use the bathroom daily, I take laxatives because of fear of constipation.
Yes, I'm absolutely terrified of constipation because there have been countless times where I haven't used the bathroom for like two weeks straight. Please don't laugh at me about this... it's horrifying to me. I feel like if I don't go, I won't lose weight. When I was 210+ pounds, I only went like twice a month.

I asked my doctor about the constipation and she said to start taking a stool softener. She told me that the Dulcolax daily pills or MiraLAX would be good for me to take daily. She said if I take the pills, to take two in the morning and two at night.

I just ate something bad for me and I almost threw up all over. I did throw up some, but stopped myself.

I ask because when I went to school, I struggled with anorexia and didn't eat every day. I wanted to be super skinny. I have lost a lot of weight through this amazing website, doing things the right way and all... and I hope I will continue losing weight. I've been binging and becoming constipated a bit lately, so now I have started using stool softeners. I have also used senna tablets in cases where I don't go for over a week and a half.

This isn't me becoming bulimic in some way, is it?

I'm sorry for being a bother! Thank you so much to everyone who actually took the time to read this!

Replies

  • small_ninja
    small_ninja Posts: 365 Member
    I'm by no means an expert, but it sounds like it'll only count as bulimia if you start taking way too many of those tablets (i.e. if you are going regularly, like everyday or couple of days or so, then you probably don't need to up your intake, whereas if you haven't been in like a week and a half it's probably reasonable to up your intake, or perhaps eat more foods high in fibre).
    As for the throwing up, I'd be very careful not to make that a habit, that's when it probably DOES become bulimia :ohwell:

    Good luck, you've already had major progress so far, so just keep doing what you've been doing, provided it was healthy, and try not to sabotage yourself :flowerforyou:
  • MeliJean78
    MeliJean78 Posts: 249
    Yes, abusing laxatives and purging are the characteristics of Bulimia. You are causing trauma to your body, please seek help.
  • SomeoneSomeplace
    SomeoneSomeplace Posts: 1,094 Member
    I don't think you're quite there yet but you are headed down a dangerous path and should seek medical and psychological help.

    Maybe your doctor can do something more to help with your constipation so you won't be self-medicating. Maybe adding more fiber to your diet? Laxatives aren't something that are meant to be taken every day, and they can get dangerous and out of control.

    Best of luck to you, I hope you get the help you need. Recovery is a life long process
  • small_ninja
    small_ninja Posts: 365 Member
    Yeah, abuse of them IS bulimia - but I'm confused as to whether this is abuse - the doctor said you could take two tablets a day right? If they still don't work and you haven't gone for a week and half, I don't see why you can't take a tiny bit extra? It's not healthy to go that long without movement, I don't think? I dunno, like I said, no expert, but if you're really that worried about it I would conult a doctor or pharmacist if I were you.
  • Skitti
    Skitti Posts: 20
    Thanks, all!

    I'm not abusing the laxatives. I am following doctor's advice by taking the stool softeners. I will only take the senna tablets if I absolutely have to!

    My doctor told me to please take MiraLAX or Dulcolax stool softeners due to chronic constipation.

    I am just becoming worried because I seriously never thought I'd have to do this. Now I worry about everything I eat and such... I worry because I don't want to get sick again. I would get so constipated that I would start throwing up. Not sure if it was my bowels backing up or what, but it was pretty horrible. :(

    Again, thank you all so much. I really appreciate it.
  • starla5881
    starla5881 Posts: 190 Member
    If you're bingeing and then taking laxatives, that definitely sounds like a step in the wrong direction, especially if you have a history of eating disorders. Maybe try to back off on the laxatives and incorporate more fiber into your diet instead? Replace some of the foods that you binge on with something healthy and high-fiber. And remember, it's not unhealthy or unusual to go a day or two without "going". Save the laxatives for when you are uncomfortably constipated, and don't let them become more of a crutch.
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    It is very possible to get your body addicted to laxatives, and if you have to ask if you're bulimic, you already know the answer. I would seek out a second opinion from another doctor about this. I don't think anyone here can give you a useful answer since we don't know all the details of your health or case.
  • kdeaux1959
    kdeaux1959 Posts: 2,675 Member
    Congrats on the weight loss. Now for the problem at hand. If you are going 2 weeks without pooping, something is wrong. Get a second opinion to see WHY you are not pooping regularly. Honestly, I don't poop daily... It is ok to skip a day. However, if you go more than 3, it is probably an issue. Maybe cut back to only use the stool softener if you don't go for at least 3 days... However, like I said... If you are going extended periods without pooping except by using these softeners, something is going on that needs further evaluation. Seek a second opinion! Medications such as stool softeners are meant to deal with OCCASIONAL problems... IT is sort of like Tylenol... If you have headaches daily, you need to find out why. Same way with these... These are NOT meant to be ongoing solutions.
  • Skitti
    Skitti Posts: 20
    Thanks again!

    Many, many doctors have suggested not taking laxatives but instead taking stool softeners.

    They think I have a problem with stress and anxiety.
    Recently, they put me on Zoloft for that.

    They have looked at my colon and it is fine, so they think this is a mental thing...

    I have only been taking Zoloft for a short while. I guess I'll see what happens with that.
    Maybe one day, I won't have to take these stool softeners anymore.

    I don't want to have an eating disorder because I want to be healthy enough to do things I like doing.
    I'm trying to become an automotive technician, so I can't really be sick like this so often!
  • MeliJean78
    MeliJean78 Posts: 249
    Abuse/misuse of laxatives is common with Anorexia Bulimia suffers. Your are binging to the point of almost throwing up and then trying to rid yourself of the extra calories consumed by taking laxatives. Your doc may believe you have chronic constipation, but you said that you binge and then use laxatives ... that is abuse.
    Abusing laxatives will leave you dehydrated and make your bowels super lazy. Lazy bowels = constipation.
  • becoming_a_new_me
    becoming_a_new_me Posts: 1,860 Member
    I'm glad to hear that you are questioning your behaviors. Given your past with an ED, I would like to see you get some counseling to deal with the destructive behavior of purging. It sounds like you've got your feet in the road of bulemia, but haven't quite started walking yet, so it's not too late.

    As to the laxatives...I agree with the prior poster who said that you need to address the root cause of the constipation. If you have a lazy bowel, there are other medical treatments that do not need laxatives. If you take them all the time, your body will become dependent on them and you won't be able to eliminate without them.

    As to the Senna tablets, if you are already taking a laxative...DO NOT take them. Senna is fine for time to time, but they do cause a staining of the colon called melanosis coli. Although it is a benign condition, it does show that you have a chronic use of herbal laxatives and may be of concern to the doctor.

    Chronic constipation can be caused by many things, including several different medical conditions, stress, not absorbing your water, not getting enough fiber, and food allergies. You really should be looked at for the root cause instead of trying to put a bandaid on a broken bone.
  • krisaddress
    krisaddress Posts: 43 Member
    Try 3 prunes a day instead..... :)

    I think its only an eating disorder if you are using it as a way to loose weight... Doesnt seem like you are, but try the prunes as a natural way of helping - I took 6 a day for a few days but it worked too well so I reduced it to 3 a day... Hope you try it and it works :)
  • Debbe2
    Debbe2 Posts: 2,071 Member
    It is very possible to get your body addicted to laxatives, and if you have to ask if you're bulimic, you already know the answer. I would seek out a second opinion from another doctor about this. I don't think anyone here can give you a useful answer since we don't know all the details of your health or case.

    ^^^^THIS^^^^. I think you should consider getting a second opinion from another doctor.
  • Debbe2
    Debbe2 Posts: 2,071 Member
    Just took a look at your food diary. Increasing your fiber each day will certainly help with your constipation. Goal is 20 grams daily. Hope this helps!
  • becoming_a_new_me
    becoming_a_new_me Posts: 1,860 Member
    Also, another reason to consider the root cause of your constipation...while stress is a HUGE culprit, you could have another problem. Food intolerances, unlike food allergies do not always show up on an allergy test. An intolerance, much like an allergy creates an autoimmune response in the body. That autoimmune response is usually inflammation, and most of the time that inflammation is in the colon. What happens then is 1. Improper absorbtion of nutrients and water and 2. Inability to pass fecal matter effectively resulting in constipation.

    Common food intolerances are gluten, dairy, nuts, and fruits. Try an elimination diet along with getting checked out to see if that helps to resolve your problem. It may very well be a simple fix through a modification of your dietary intake. Also be careful, since you are already prone to constipation...one of the side effects of Zoloft is constipation.
  • Skitti
    Skitti Posts: 20
    Thanks, everyone!

    I will definitely try the prunes. I'm going to buy some today if I have time to go to the store.

    I don't think I am bulimic yet. I just don't ever want to end up like that. It's kinda gross!
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