Bulimia Nervosa
When To Call a Doctor
Call your health professional immediately if you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with bulimia and now:
- Is not able to pass urine.
- Notices that his or her heart skips beats or beats slower than normal.
- Has severe abdominal pain, is vomiting up blood, or has black, sticky stools that look like tar. These signs may mean that there is bleeding in the digestive tract
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Call your health professional to discuss bulimia if you or someone you care about:
- Binges and then purges to get rid of food.
- Is concerned about weight and embarrassed by eating behaviours.
- Shows signs of an eating disorder, such as secretive eating habits, a preoccupation with body image, or an unhealthy appearance.
Watchful Waiting
Taking a wait-and-see approach (called watchful waiting) is not appropriate if you think you or someone you know may have an eating disorder. Call a doctor or an eating disorder hotline to discuss your concerns and learn what you can do to help.
Who To See
Your family doctor or general practitioner can diagnose and treat bulimia. You may be referred to a specialist, such as a:
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment
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| Author: | Jeannette Curtis Douglas Dana | Last Updated: November 28, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine W. Stewart Agras, MD - Psychiatry Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine | |
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