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Bulimia Nervosa - When To Call a Doctor

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Wednesday, 28 November 2007

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 (tarry) stools. These signs may mean that there is bleeding in the digestive tract.

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 behaviors.
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 approached (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

Bulimia may be diagnosed and treated by the following health professionals:

Family medicine physician
Psychiatrist
Psychologist
Physician assistant
Nurse practitioner
Licensed mental health counselor
Registered dietitian

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment

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VitaDocs Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: October 26, 2005

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.

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