Axel Makaroff writes:

>for four months back in 1994, i took a broad spectrum antibiotic to
>treat acne, and in the summer of 1994, was very constipated and did not know
>what to do. i started to feel week all the time.
>so i read fit for life and adopted the program overnight. my digestion
>healed, at least everything seemed normal again. shortly afterwards, for a
>few months, i did simultaneously bulimia eating all sorts of crap and raw
>foods.
>..........
>this mad bulimia has been going on till now...........

Sheila Shea responded:

>I had bulimia, anorexia and the mixture of the 2 for over 25 years and it
>has taken a serious toll on my body. Edema is one of the classic symptoms
>of electrolyte imbalance and heart damage.

Axel, I am no expert on bulimia or eating disorders, but what Sheila
mentions above is something you should take seriously. It was not clear
from your post how continual your bulimic behavior has or hasn't been, but
if you are saying it actually has been going on, more or less, for 4-5
years now (1994 to 1998/99??), that is enough time to do considerable harm.
To an outsider such as myself, one statement in your post...

>people simply think i have eating disorders, specially whenever i go back to
>raw, even for a day.

...makes it sound as if you may be in denial regarding the bulimic behavior
(common among those who have it). It's possible those close to you who are
making such comments might have more insight into your behavior than you
think, notwithstanding the raw food question. I.e., it could be that
something is getting their attention besides just the raw foods--how you
look, act, the way in which you talk about your problem, etc. "Healthy
foods" aside (raw or whatever), any benefits you may receive are going to
be a drop in the bucket compared to the cumulative detrimental impact
chronic bulimia has on health and on one's organs.

Side note: Those not aware of the serious, long-term damage (sometimes
permanent, if carried on long enough) that bulimia and/or anorexia can do
to one's health might want to pick up a copy of "Wasted: A Memoir of
Anorexia and Bulimia," (c) by Marya Hornbacher, to get an idea of just how
extensive the damage can be from long-term eating disorders. (Last time I
was at the local bookstore I saw it had just come out in paperback.) It's a
gripping, very harrowing, educational, and sobering story. Despite
recovering (or perhaps more accurately, being "in recovery"), reading
between the lines, she apparently does not expect to live very long given
the extensive organ damage she sustained, and will probably die at a
relatively young age. It is also gives an idea of how self-reinforcing
bulimic behavior can become, and how difficult it can be to break the
cycle. (As a possible bonus from the psychological angle, there are also a
few interesting parallels and insights to be had regarding the types of
behaviors and rationalizations with bulimia/anorexia that it appears might
be echoed in somewhat different fashion in those who go to extremes with
raw diets.)

Don't dismiss concerns about bulimia lightly, Axel. Have you considered
seeing a specialist in eating disorders? It might well be a prudent step at
this point.

Ward Nicholson
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