Eating Disorders and Terry Schiavo

M

midnight

Cathlete
I thought I'd separate this from the "Live or Die" topic because I would really like to have this discussed. Lost in all the legal wrangling has been the fact that Terry Schiavo is where she is because of an eating disorder. If anything good comes out of this case, I would want people to realize the damage eating disorders can cause. Do you think this will happen? Do you think it will cause more people to seek treatment? Do you think public awareness of eating disorders will increase or has this issue just gotten lost because of everything else?


"Don't forget to breathe!"
 
I hope that this would be a positive from this case. I mentioned this to my daughter (13) who was unaware that eating disorders could lead to heart attacks, which is what I think Terry suffered, although my DD said she read somewhere that is was a stroke. but whichever, at least in my family, my DD is more aware than she was before.
 
Good point.

They have been mentioning the eating disorder more in recent days. For example, listening to NPR this morning they mentioned that her heart attack was triggered by a chemical imbalance (a decrease in potassium) due to purging (bulemia). Evidentely, she had been suffering from this condition for awhile.

Maybe there will be more press about this but I think it kind of gets lost in the life or death situtation.
 
I thought she was in a car accident or something. Wow, I'm shocked. What were the circumstances? Did she seem fine and then have a heart attack or stroke, or was she really sick and people knew something was going to happen?
 
I'm not a doctor but I'm thinking when you binge and purge you can throw your body chemicals out of whack...especially potassium.

Maybe someone more knowledgeable on the subject will chime in.
 
Let us also not forget that the late singer Karen Carpenter, who struggled with eating disorders (primarily severe anorexia) on and off throughout her adult life, died of heart failure at the age of 32 - AFTER she had come through treatment for anorexia and presumably was on the mend.

I struggled with bulimia as a teen in the late '70's, at a time when it really was not addressed as an eating disorder in its own right. Although I did not purge with vomiting, I did purge through severe laxative abuse, and when I got off them (how I did that I'll never know), my elimination system was screwed up for years. I've had several physicals since that time with no indication of any heart problems, but sometimes I wonder if there isn't some latent vulnerability there.

A-Jock
 
It does seem that the effects from eating disorders are either permanent or at least long lasting. But given the political nature of this particular case, I'm pretty sure eating disorders will be overshadowed by Supreme Court decisions.
 
Isn't it kind of sadly ironic that an eating disorder lead to a situation where people are arguing about whether or not to keep her on a feeding tube?
 
Good point Kathryn. Hopefully, whatever the outcome, we can only hope that once it all ends some focus is made on the events. Unfortunately, in our present political climate, I fear it will be swept under the rug in favor of the more polemical "rights" discussions. It certainly should be something that is discussed.
 
Yes definitely! I read that her potassium levels fell so low from the bulimia that her heart stopped. I used to be bulimic myself and this scares the heck out of me.
 
another person here who didn't realize until just recently that terri suffered a heart attack due to bulima. i'd heard about this case off and on over the years and never realized what the cause of her coma was... then i started reading more and was quite surprised to see bulima as the cause!

i wish it would get more press (where did i read that people were saying she got beat up by her husband as the reason.. maybe the other thread here? i've read so much discussin and wrong info lately!)

anyways.. i think the main "good" thing that is going to come of this whole mess is the awareness and need for living wills/DNR orders, etc if that is truly what you want.. put it in writing. sadly.. it think the bulima aspect is going to be overshadowed by everything else (congress involvement, the in-laws fighting)



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cute work out clothes are good for AT LEAST an additional 10-15 calories burned!
 
I, too, am stunned to learn the basis of this mess is bulimia! I am irritated and frustrated that this fact is not being mentioned more when the media blurbs are popping up every 30 minutes! I think it is something that needs to be well known since lack of self esteem is almost a given with so many (young) women.
 
A-Jock
What do you mean you struggled w/laxatives? My friend takes them everyday, I think. I know she takes them. I am not sure how often. What will they do? I would love to tell her, so if she has a problem maybe I can help.
Thanks.
 
Concerning low potassium levels.

There is a condition called "water intoxification" that can create the same effect. If a person drinks to much water, exercises a lot (ie marathon, triathalon) without replacing electrolytes and minerals they can get seriously sick.

It really gives me the shivers when I read people telling how much water they drink, they need to slip some other liquids in there to replace the other nutrients they are losing.

Dave
 
This is the first I've heard of it too. Our daily paper has never mentioned this at all. I was under the impression that it was an accident.

Trish
 
I heard about this a while ago, and while I don't want to detract from the severity of her condition, I don't think the bulimia issue is being addressed enough. Certainly there is enough going on that the media tends to glide right by this topic, but it is so important. I could be way off base, but if Terri could speak, I imagine one of the most important things she would speak about is the danger of bulimia and eating disorders.
 
I did not know that either. I had assumed an accident and then heard heart attack and it seems to me a story on the radio had said it's not uncommon for the young and healthy to linger in such a way when they are stricken which begs the question, how healthy was she? Wow. I struggled with anorexia too. Anorexia has none of the trappings of a political issue that right to live or die do, so it's not pertinent to the current situation. It's definitely a lost chance to educate people
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? - Mary Oliver
 
I can't believe I didn't know that, Midnight. Of all the people who should be following this case, I, as a trusts & estates attorney, should be. Yet, somehow I can't bring myself to focus on it. Thanks for pointing out such an important fact.

As someone who was anorexic for a few years, I know I'm at an increased risk for osteoporosis, which is one of the reasons I do so much weight training now. I'm grateful that my anorexia didn't last too long. Eating disorders wreak havoc with the human body. I do wish the media would focus a bit more on this aspect of the case.
 
I'm wondering what amount it is that gives you shivers? I have continued to up my daily water intake over the last couple months (a gallon/day, sometimes more if I work out twice), but it leaves very little time for me to consume anything else. I do usually get a little gatorade down, along with my morning coffee, but how much is too much?
 
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