I read a few eating disorder posts and Since I had a 'medical procedure' regarding my eating disorder two days ago I thought I should share it with you all, if it helps stop anyone taking laxatives with an eating disorder.

I stopped taking laxatives last year when I had a breakdown, my anti-depressants weren't working due to the laxatives passing them through and I was at my lowest weight (70lbs) and I admitted myself into a mental health ward for two weeks to stop myself taking them and it worked.

I was taking one a day, and then it got up to about 5 or 6 PLUS a time every day.

Besides that I was running to the toilet at times, in public places and bearly able to walk through the pain and stinking out my home toilet.

A year later I still got cramping when I go to the toilet, diarrhoea , constipation which causes me to bleed etc, so I saw my GP to see if I have IBS.

I had a flexible Endoscopy (camera looking in my intestines).

I was giving a liquid laxative to take, and had to water-fast for the day before the procedure.

The day of the procedure I was offered a sedative but refused as I'd still feel pain etc but just not remember and it'd take two hours before I could leave, I just wanted it over with and go home.

It was very painful, It felt like cramps of trapped wind (they put air into your intestines so they can get a better look) it was so painful I had to have oxygen because I felt faint) They were surprised to see I wasn't entirely 'cleared' of poop (I did ring up and explain I was an ex laxative abuser so no wonder they didn’t work since your threshold of laxatives need to increase as your body becomes used to them)

The DR told me there and then I have IBS.

I don’t know if it is association to the laxative abuse, or just stress but the endoscopy was VERY painful and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone and this is a YEAR after I STOPPED taking them.

I know you don’t think about the long-term effects of it but they do exist!

I'm now on the road to recovery but its been very hard to gain with the IBS, if I have three meals a day I end up going to the toilet and getting rid of it all anyway.

here in the States we're a bit more humane. we use sedation for said procedure.

I never realized Im leading myself into something that can get so scary.
That made me think differently.
Thank you. You dont even know.

you were taking six laxatives a day? honey, that's like kindergarten for someone with an eating disorder. and ending up with IBS is hardly anything -- plenty of people have that regardless. write us when you get a colostomy.

i'm not saying to abuse laxatives, but when you're taking five or six BOXES a day is when you start to get into danger.

she said they offered her a sedative but she refused