Stomach Spasms- Help

[xxCAB]

I believe that one of my friends is struggling with anorexia nervosa, or some other sort of eating disorder. One thing she mentions often are the spasms she gets every night in her stomach area- and it is her stomach, not her intestines or anything else. She is very touchy about the subject of food, and often refuses dinner invitations to my home or to go out, which she used to love doing. Also, about 6 months ago, she told me that she would make herself throw up her food but was quitting, and she hasn't done it since...or at least that is what she told me. I still find her walking about of bathrooms looking flushed or with tears in her eyes after meals, and it is really scary. Could the spasms she is getting be a result of not eating properly or forcing herself to throw up? I know about IBS and PVS, but it just doesn't seem right.

[xxCAB]

I've talked to her about it, and it was a huge deal for a while, but now I was wondering if the spasms could be correlated to her eating?

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

What you are describing sounds like rather classical bulimia, and yes, she could be injuring her health very significantly by doing this.  I suggest that you risk some of your friendship chits to have a very straight, caring talk with her about just what you have described here and urge her to see a psychiatrist.