DANGEROUS SYMPTOMS
CAUSED BY EATING DISORDERS
Liver – white nail beds – nausea – itchy skin – swollen abdomen – yellowing skin/eyes – fatigue – confusion – pale / clay-like / bloody / tar-like stool – vomiting – pain in the upper, righthand abdomen – joint pain – spider angiomas (coloured skin spots that resemble spiders, due to clotting issues) – dark urine – swollen legs / ankles – bruising easily
Heart
– tachycardia (fast resting heart rate, over 100 beats per minute) – bradycardia (slow resting heart rate, under 60 beats per minute) * note that a very high fitness level can cause a lower heart rate – irregular heart rate – if your heart rate is under 40, you could be in immediate danger, and remember that your heart rate will drop even further in sleep – shortness of breath / shallow breathing – chest pains – fatigue – dizziness – swelling in ankles / feet / legs – swollen abdomen – choking sensation – coughing up pink liquid / goop – unable to concentrate – sudden weight gain – fainting – palpitations – feeling your own heart – hearing your own heart – chest / arm / sternum pain – anxiety – sweating – vomiting – lack of energy – coughing up white
Kidneys
– vomiting / general nausea
– changed sleeping patterns / problems sleeping
– fatigue
– swelling of ankles / legs / feet / just general swelling
– hypertension (high blood pressure)
– shortness of breath
– itchiness
– chest pain
– metallic taste in mouth
– muscle cramps
– hyperkalemia (high levels of potassium)
– stiff joints
– less urinating than usual
– bloody / dark / foam-like urine
– confusion / mental fuzziness
– rashes
– leg pains
Osteoporosis (severe bone weakness)
– back pain
– bad posture
– weak bones (weak grip / bones fracture easily)
– receding gums and bone loss in jaw
– general pains in muscles or even bone
– dropping fitness levels
Cathartic colon (from laxative use)
– bloating
– abdominal pain
– chronic constipation
– intense feelings of fullness
– incomplete bowl movement / ‘fecal evacuation’
Hypokalemia (low potassium levels)
– weakness in limbs, especially the sort that causes numbness or cramping
– nausea
– vomiting
– bloating
– abdominal pain
– low blood pressure
– fainting
– physical numbness
– emotional changes
– palpitations
– excessive urination
– constant thirst
Other common side-effects of EDs
– muscle spasms, weakness or twitching (electrolyte imbalance– very common in bulimia, and can be very dangerous)
– anemia
– irregular menstrual cycles / infertility in women
– low blood sugar
– depression and other mood disorders may develop / worsen
– insomnia
– eye damage and diminishing vision
STAY SAFE. A COUPLE OF SYMPTOMS MAY NOT BE LIFE-THREATENING, BUT HAVING MULTIPLE FROM THE SAME ORGAN CAN BE.
I am no longer active on this account. I have reached a stage of recovery where it’s better I avoid this type of content.
However, I still get e-mails about the replies on this post in particular.
The #1 response is always “this is goals tho”. Because yeah. Depression and chronic illness is totally worth feeling confident in thigh-highs. Please seek help.
The #2 response scares me. It’s “I have these but I’m not going to tell anyone”. Please. Please, please, please seek help. This isn’t a joke. This will kill you.
The #3 response tells me “you’re just worrying ppl for no reason”. I’m sorry you think someone’s life is a non-reason. As much as I wish these symptoms were 1 in 100, they’re not. Please. Seek. Help.
I don’t mean to sound harsh, but this is serious. This is your life, your ana-buddy’s life, and the lives of everyone around you. Please believe me when I say thing’s can get better, and that you deserve for them to get better.
