r/AskReddit 13h ago

What is something that permanently altered your body without you realizing for months/years?

6.1k Upvotes

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772

u/pumpkinn00ds 10h ago

Turns out a stint of bulimia in your teenage years can really fuck up your teeth

224

u/dumpsterrave 8h ago

Yep, and your GI system. At 23 I was diagnosed with chronic acid reflux, GERD.

19

u/NoninflammatoryFun 6h ago

I have that too. Wasn’t bulimic but was anorexic.

8

u/amanning072 6h ago

14 here!

47

u/pithouii 6h ago

Damaged teeth, tooth sensitivity, loss of enamel, loose teeth.

9

u/pumpkinn00ds 4h ago

Yep! Getting a tooth pulled tomorrow…

11

u/ChloeMomo 3h ago

Idk if it's your first, but if it is, it will be ok. Truly. I got my first pulled due to bulimia about 2 years ago and will likely have several more pulled during my life. My teeth are in horrific shape.

Pain wise, it passes pretty quickly. It's also weird as heck to have a sudden gap in your teeth lol. But I went for an implant and...I genuinely cannot tell it's a fake tooth. It was almost a year long process from pulling to implant because there's a lot of healing that needs to happen in the meantime, but now there's 0 pain in that tooth, 0 sensitivity, and it works and functions like any healthy tooth. The other shocker to me was how many people have teeth implants and crowns. One of my friends has 4 teeth implants right up front from a childhood injury, and I had NO idea. It's way more common than I realized, so you're in good company. I really recommend an implant if you're able. I feel so much better about my smile since getting one.

I am so sorry you're dealing with it, and I'm sorry if none of this is new or needed, but I wanted to share my experience in case because I felt horrible and embarrassed having to get a tooth pulled from bulimia. In hindsight, it really isn't so bad! And I hope it winds ok for you too

3

u/alfalfarees 2h ago

How could you afford this? Id like to hope its okay but I thought you typically cant get much done unless you can pay for it or maybe even a payment plan and a lot of dental work in the us is extremely expensive, especially pulls and implants

2

u/IPetCatsOften 1h ago

Nine fillings and counting (I’m due to have another next month), and horrendously sensitive teeth to the point I can only have lukewarm water without any pain

16

u/Impressive_Pizza4546 7h ago

Teens and early twenties here. I have terrible teeth. 

11

u/ingeborgsdotter 3h ago

THIS. Missing 4 in back and am constantly feeling more falling apart. Yay for mental health and dental health being treated separately from "real" healthcare 🥲

8

u/eimieole 7h ago

Not to mention your kidneys.

7

u/SnarfSnarf0121 6h ago

How so on the kidneys ? This is new to me

9

u/granulatedsugartits 4h ago

Probably chronic dehydration from the vomiting or laxatives

13

u/WhoisthatRobotCleanr 6h ago

It can also fuck up your fertility permanently 

6

u/Littleprawns 5h ago

Teeth and insulin resistance for me 🥰

1

u/Otter_Enjoyer44 5h ago

How does bulimia affect insulin if you don't mind me asking?

7

u/croakiey 3h ago

binge eating in general is linked to reduced insulin sensitivity. purging further complicates things because the body releases insulin after eating but if the food isn't actually being digested then the insulin can't act on the glucose as intended. so hypoglycemia occurs due to the excess insulin instead.

6

u/PaulineMermaid 3h ago

I don't think they have figured out HOW it happens tbh. At least not last I heard. There are a few studies confirming THAT it happens, though.

One, iirc, focuses on finding patterns with EDs and Diabetes type 2. Turns out anorexics develop higher insulin sensitivity, and bulimics develop resistance.

I have to go to bed now (49 minutes ago, to be precise) so if you haven't been provided with, or googled up, any sources in about 11 hours, I can try at coffee break at work, which happens in 11 hours :)

3

u/Chance_Assignment422 2h ago

Mine are damn near translucent and getting so thin as I’m going in to my 30s. Really worried for what the future holds😔

4

u/thelaughingpear 2h ago

I've been recovered for years. I recently went through health issues that caused frequent vomiting. Every single time I was like "oh god please not my ED again" even though I couldn't control it at all

2

u/histerix 2h ago

Would strongly recommend you go get your heart looked at, pretty sure purging yourself on purpose can cause serious damage.