Question:
Ok… nevermind about what I asked in terms of edema and water renention. I read some more and figured it out. I still always thought, though, that water helped electrolyte balance. This is amazing to me. Maybe this is the problem. I’ve been drinking like, 5 liters of water a day for quite some time now. I always thought it would help my headaches because I know that dehydration can cause headaches. The worse my headache would get, the more i’d make myself drink. I just figured i had been dehydrated for so long from the bulimia, that it was taking my body a really long time to become fully hydrated again. Now that I think of it, I remember when I went to the emergency room awhile back for a bad headache (similar to the one i’ve had the past couple days). I remmeber describing the pain as being all over my head, as though there was a lot of pressure on my skull. And I remember telling the doctor that it felt like there was water in my head (no smart comments people 
….and I remember that the pain medication did not help at all. This seemed surprising to me because i was hooked up to an IV and i always thought that those kind of pain killers were pretty strong. But they did take a cat scan and wouldn’t something like brain swelling show up on a catscan??? I’ve had the other symptoms those articles mentioned as well. The past couple days I’ve had nasea, periods of dizziness, and I couldn’t remember what day it was yesterday (is this disorientation?) Also when I woke up in the morning yesterday and today, my hands were swollen the way they always used to get when I was dehydrated from purging. I thought this was weird seeing as I had taken in so much water because I didn’t think i should be retaining it if I was drinking a lot of it. Gosh, now I’m really worried. I thought all these symptoms were related to the zoloft I’ve been taking, because I’ve also been experiencing a lot of anxiety. The only thing that doesn’t make sense to me, though, is that i take in a lot of vitamins. I take a supplement, plus i take protein shakes which have a lot of vitamins, plus i eat tons of fruit and fortified cereal. So i thought that I would be getting plenty of potassium and sodium from those things. God… why is there always something wrong with me. Koosh
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you’ve inspired me. I’ve been almost a week without.
That is great to hear! I"m so happy for you!!! thanks for the encouragement too. Can you feel the difference in terms of how your body feels, or not really? I ask because I always tend to feel better when i go for even a few days without binging and purging. I never really feel better that first or 2nd day, but usually at about 3 or 4 days I start to notice a difference. Anyways, congrats and keep it up! koosh
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the last time I binged and purged was May 13th.
I’ve been meaning to congratulate you on this, Koosh. You should feel wonderful about yourself! I’ll admit, you’ve inspired me. I’ve been almost a week without. Anyway, a simple affirmation that you are doing well. Take care, Meg
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thanks to whoever posted this, but I’m kind of confused about these articles. Maybe someone who understands can try and explain it to me. See, in being bulimic, I’ve known about electrolyte imbalance and how water follows salt and all that. When you are dehydrated, it leads to edema because your body is fighting to hold onto all the water it can get. My understanding of this is that the water moves into the tissues, which is what causes the puffiness and water retention of edema. So how is it that if you drink too much water, it causes the water to move into tissue and produce swelling as well? Also, I always thought that dehydrationo (such as occurs when you purge through vomiting), causes electrolyte imbalance and that by drinking lots of water you can restore it. I’m so surprised by this information. I knew that there was such a thing as water toxification, but I always thought you had to drink like, an extremely large amount of water. Maybe i’ve just gotten used to drinking water constantly throughout the day and don’t notice that 5 liters is a lot? I don’t know. Koosh
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drinking a lot of water (like, over 5 liters a day!) for quite some time now,
It’s actually dangerous for the body to drink too much water. Especially unfiltered water, with all the chlorine in it. http://www.google.com/search?as_q=drinking+too+much+water+sodium Eating right won’t automatically mean your body is getting the nutrients it needs. The food is often deficient itself.
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Is there anyone else here who gets really bad headaches frequently? For as long as I can remember, I’ve gotten headaches very frequently. Right now I’m getting one every day. I always thought that maybe they were induced by dehydration or malnourishment. But I’ve been eating very healthy, and drinking a lot of water (like, over 5 liters a day!) for quite some time now, and the last time I binged and purged was May 13th. I can’t seem to link these headaches to any particular "triggers", and I get them on a daily basis. Sometimes they last for days. Other times they come and go. But it never fails… I usually end up with one at some point in the day, and no medication ever helps. My mom thinks they are migraines, but they really don’t fit the description of migraines. They aren’t located in just one spot. Rather, if hurts mostly in the back of my head, but also in my sinuses and on the top of my head. I had one so bad a year or so ago, that I actually had to go to the emergency room because I was afraid I had a tumor or something. Luckily they did a cat scan and everything was fine. But even when they put me on painkillers, I could stil feel a dull ache in the back of my head. It’s so weird.
they sound like tension type headaches, which can be caused by depression, anxiety, and PTSD, among many other things. if i recall correctly, you recently started a new medication, right? headaches like this can be caused by medication, and if this is the case they often go away. i got terrible headaches almost daily for a long time. they finally went away when i got on the right dose of antidepressants and my depression lifted somewhat. i find that taking two "aleve" tablets each morning before work helps prevent them from being so bad, though they’re still there somewhat. good luck, headaches suck. -kc
Response:
Is there anyone else here who gets really bad headaches frequently? For as long as I can remember, I’ve gotten headaches very frequently. Right now I’m getting one every day. I always thought that maybe they were induced by dehydration or malnourishment. But I’ve been eating very healthy, and drinking a lot of water (like, over 5 liters a day!) for quite some time now, and the last time I binged and purged was May 13th. I can’t seem to link these headaches to any particular "triggers", and I get them on a daily basis. Sometimes they last for days. Other times they come and go. But it never fails… I usually end up with one at some point in the day, and no medication ever helps. My mom thinks they are migraines, but they really don’t fit the description of migraines. They aren’t located in just one spot. Rather, if hurts mostly in the back of my head, but also in my sinuses and on the top of my head. I had one so bad a year or so ago, that I actually had to go to the emergency room because I was afraid I had a tumor or something. Luckily they did a cat scan and everything was fine. But even when they put me on painkillers, I could stil feel a dull ache in the back of my head. It’s so weird. Sorry this was so long for such a simple question. I’ve just had the worst headache all day long and I can’t make it stop. Koosh
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – thanks to whoever posted this, but I’m kind of confused about these articles. Maybe someone who understands can try and explain it to me. See, in being bulimic, I’ve known about electrolyte imbalance and how water follows salt and all that. When you are dehydrated, it leads to edema because your body is fighting to hold onto all the water it can get. My understanding of this is that the water moves into the tissues, which is what causes the puffiness and water retention of edema. So how is it that if you drink too much water, it causes the water to move into tissue and produce swelling as well? Also, I always thought that dehydrationo (such as occurs when you purge through vomiting), causes electrolyte imbalance and that by drinking lots of water you can restore it. I’m so surprised by this information. I knew that there was such a thing as water toxification, but I always thought you had to drink like, an extremely large amount of water. Maybe i’ve just gotten used to drinking water constantly throughout the day and don’t notice that 5 liters is a lot? I don’t know. Koosh
Koosh, You can drink all the water you like, and it still will not fix the electrolyte and pH imbalances that come from purging. When your body loses fluid from purging, diuretic use, laxative use, or strenuous exercise with excessive sweating, but this fluid is not water, it is an isotonic solution, filled with chemical salts (electrolytes). When you replace lost isotonic fluid with water you dilute the electrolytes remaining in your body and may risk dilutional hyponatremia. Due to cellular osmolarity stuff that is too complicated to explain here, swelling and edema can oocur as a result of this, not to mention lethargy, headache, confusion, apprehension, and this risk of seizure and coma. The only way to replace these salts it to drink a sports drink like Gatorade, or one of the preparations you can buy over the counter at a pharmacy (Hydrolyte is one sold here in Australia) that is used to rehydrate after diarrhoea. The other concern that comes from purging is the increased body pH that comes from a loss of stomach acid. This causes metabolic alkalosis, which can in some cases lead to weakness and muscle cramps and an increased risk of serious heart rhythm irregularities (dysrythmias). The chemical changes in the body that result from metabolic alkalosis can also cause a further decrease in electrolytes levels. So my recommendation to anyone purging, or using another of the other methods above, is to carefully consider the electrolyte issue, and purchase a product that will help return the body to an isotonic equilibrium after losing fluid. Some of the pharmacy products do not contain glucose, or not very much glucose and should be ok to use without worrying about calories. BTW: Congrats on the no purging – I am glad to hear you are looking after your self! Peace and Light, Jessica. (who is in exam study mode – if you can’t tell!)
Response:
A headache in the back of your head could be vision-related. Even something as simple as having your glasses not sitting correctly on your face can do this…believe me, I know only too well!!! signman
I know a guy who had headaches for years. He also wore glasses for years. He got Lasik surgery and the headaches almost completely disappeared. Musta had bad glasses. TNR
Response:
My mom thinks they are migraines, but they really don’t fit the
description of migraines. They aren’t located in just one spot. Rather, if hurts mostly in the back of my head, but also in my sinuses and on the top of my head. A headache in the back of your head could be vision-related. Even something as simple as having your glasses not sitting correctly on your face can do this…believe me, I know only too well!!! signman
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For as long as I can remember, I’ve gotten headaches very frequently. Right now I’m getting one every day.
Maybe they are hypoglycemic headaches. I know you said you were eating right, but often I get a headache for no reason. If I eat just one bite of something (besides lettuce!), I feel better right away. Congratulations on all those days of no b-p. I’m on day 6. Starwhite
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i know that when i was bingeing and purging, my headaches seemed to be a lot worse. i get migraines, anyway, and a migraine could last a whole week. i think it is important to consult a medical doctor, even though i hate visiting the doctor. i’m wondering if even though it has been a few days since you binged and purged, perhaps all of the body fluids can still be imbalanced somehow? i don’t know, but it always seemed to be like that for me. i do know that drinking hydration drinks like gatorade really and truly did help my headaches a lot. i don’t know if this helps or not, because the main thing i really wanted to say was that i feel for you and i hope you feel better and headache free real soon! diana – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Is there anyone else here who gets really bad headaches frequently? For as long as I can remember, I’ve gotten headaches very frequently. Right now I’m getting one every day. I always thought that maybe they were induced by dehydration or malnourishment. But I’ve been eating very healthy, and drinking a lot of water (like, over 5 liters a day!) for quite some time now, and the last time I binged and purged was May 13th. I can’t seem to link these headaches to any particular "triggers", and I get them on a daily basis. Sometimes they last for days. Other times they come and go. But it never fails… I usually end up with one at some point in the day, and no medication ever helps. My mom thinks they are migraines, but they really don’t fit the description of migraines. They aren’t located in just one spot. Rather, if hurts mostly in the back of my head, but also in my sinuses and on the top of my head. I had one so bad a year or so ago, that I actually had to go to the emergency room because I was afraid I had a tumor or something. Luckily they did a cat scan and everything was fine. But even when they put me on painkillers, I could stil feel a dull ache in the back of my head. It’s so weird. Sorry this was so long for such a simple question. I’ve just had the worst headache all day long and I can’t make it stop. Koosh
Response:
Is there anyone else here who gets really bad headaches frequently?
You really need to consult a doctor, Koosh….perhaps go to a clinic which deals specifically with headaches. People on here can give you input on their own experience or make guesses as to what is causing your headaches, but that is not the same as having a medical professional in real life examine you and discuss your headaches with you. Go to a doctor or a headache clinic about this. We cannot practice medicine nor can we practice therapeutic interventions on here; we can only offer suggestions and support for the various situations you bring up. This newsgroup at best can only be an adjunct to real-life therapy and real-life medical attention. –Connie "Starving the flesh wastes the spirit." –Kandis Elliot
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… and they said that probably 99% of the patients they first treat there have their major problem being "addiction" to painkillers,
CLARIFICATION-I meant to say chronic use (near daily) of painkillers, any kind, advil, aleve, narcotics, etc. Addiction is a much different problem, sorry to confuse…
Response:
A headache in the back of your head could be vision-related. Even something as simple as having your glasses not sitting correctly on your face can do this…believe me, I know only too well!!! signman I know a guy who had headaches for years. He also wore glasses for years. He got Lasik surgery and the headaches almost completely disappeared. Musta had bad glasses. TNR
Hey Koosh- Congrats on the no purging since May 13th. That is a great accomplishment and I am proud of you. Regarding the headaches, I get bad ones too, at this point I know they are related to being dehydrated, hypoglycemic, etc from the ED, but I go to a special clinic for headache patients, and they said that probably 99% of the patients they first treat there have their major problem being "addiction" to painkillers, which can cause rebound pain, even if they are only taken as little as two days per week. But, I had horribly worse headaches when I was on Zoloft and I was eventually taken off of it for that reason. Since you can’t say your headaches are ED related at this point, I might check in with your doc, or do some research about the frequency of headaches in people taking Zoloft, or modify your use of pain meds. Hopefully this helps, headaches suck, as someone else said. I hope you feel better soon. -Jen
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Kushkee wrote Can you feel the difference in terms of how your body feels, or not really? I ask because I always tend to feel better when i go for even a few days without binging and purging. I never really feel better that first or 2nd day, but usually at about 3 or 4 days I start to notice a difference.
Thanks for the response, Koosh. Yes, I feel much better. I am not bloated and my face is hardly swollen anymore. It does take a few days to get back on track wich can be frustrating when you’re on a bp roll. It does take me three or four days to begin to notice a difference. A solid week is necessary to fully see the benefits. So… you must be looking and feeling good, huh? Keep it up, please. Meg
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Jessica But how come, despite purging at least XX times a day, my electrolytes never become unbalanced? Whenever my bloods are done, everything is A OK. Beth
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some people cause massive headaches that need anti-depressants like zoloft
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Anti-depressants cause massive headaches in some people, especially Zoloft.
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Hi Koosh, Shanna It’s so frustrating how when you want something, you don’t get it, but the moment you don’t want something anymore, it falls right in to your lap – I’ll bet that G-d gets such a kick out of doing that.
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