John Prescott Battled Bulimia For Ten Years

Ex-Deputy Prime Minister, UK, John Prescott, 69, battled in silence with eating disorder bulimia for ten years. In a BBC interview Prescott says shame of being a high-profile figure with illness kept him in silence. In a Sunday Times article he says he used to consume huge quantities of food - which might include entire menu of a Chinese restaurant, plus a whole tin of condensed milk and trifle, and then he would vomit.

Prescott explained to the BBC that he never admitted to this out of shame and embarrassment. " I found it difficult as a man like me to admit that I suffered from bulimia - doctors told me that it was probably due to stress. I eventually managed to control it and to stop it a few years ago. "

Prescott believes it is important to de-stigmatize bulimia - he hopes his revelation may encourage other sufferers to seek help. He says there are millions of people who suffer in silence - these people should take advice, get help, and get out of misery that they suffer in silence.

Although eating disorders are associated with young women, it also affects men, Prescott wrote in Sunday Times.

What's Bulimia?

Bulimia is generally defined as a psychological disorder, which is usually treated with psychotherapy, with cognitive behavioral therapy being most commonly recommended.

According to the diagnostician's 'bible', the DSM-IV-TR� Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association, for patients to be diagnosed with bulimia ( as opposed to anorexia nervosa ) , they must be showing following 4 symptoms:

-- Binge-eating " repeatedly " - eating much more than most people normally do, together with a feeling that they can not stop or control their eating.

-- Repeatedly and inappropriately compensating for over-eating, such as over-medicating with laxatives, fasting, exercising to exhaustion, or making themselves vomit.

-- Been doing these two things ( binge-eating and inappropriately compensating ) repeatedly at least twice a week for last 3 months.

-- Overly judging themselves in terms of the weight and shape of their bodies.

Unlike anorexia nervosa, bulimia is difficult to recognize. The person who suffers from bulimia is not usually underweight. Because of shame and guilt associated with bulimia, patients are skilled in masking symptoms.

Long-term, a person with bulimia may suffer from malnutrition - a symptom which often brings patient to the attention of doctor.

John Prescott, mini-biography

Name - John Leslie Prescott. Born 31 May 1938 in Prestatyn, Wales.

His father was a railway signalman and also a Labour councillor, his grandfather was a miner. His family moved to Brinsworth, South Yorkshire, England where he attended Brinsworth Primary School. There he failed Eleven Plus Examination ( 1948 ) .

The family then moved to Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, England, where he attended Grange Secondary Modern School.

When he left school he worked in Merchant Navy, for Cunard, as a waiter. He became a popular left-wing union activist. He won several boxing contests while aboard ship. After Anthony Eden resigned following Suez Crisis Prescott met him on a cruise to New Zealand ( 1957 ) . Eden was often present during the boxing award ceremonies.

He attended Rusking College, Oxford. This college had specialized courses for union officials. Here he gained a diploma in politics and economics. Later on he obtained a BSc in Economics from University of Hull, England.

1966 - Stood for Member of Parliament ( MP ) for Southport, but came second.

1970 - Elected MP for Hull East, beating Norman Lamont.

1974-1979 - Concurrently served as MEP ( Member of European Parliament ) and Leader of Labour Group.

His impassioned closing speech in debate at Labour Party Conference in 1993 on introduction of one member one vote secured his career. He held various posts in Shadow Cabinet.

1994 - Became Deputy Leader of Labour Party.

1997- Became Deputy Prime Minister.

June 2007 - Admitted to hospital, later diagnosed with pneumonia. He was moved to a high dependency ward at University College Hospital, London, so that doctors could monitor him more closely due to his age and diabetes. After one week in hospital he continued recovering at home.

Written by - Christian Nordqvist Copyright: Medical News Today Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

Medical advises for your health improvement

Learning Tramadol.

uses of Tramadol Tramadol is used to relieve ongoing, moderate pain in people who need all-day pain relief ( " around clock " dosing ) . It is similar to narcotic pain medications. It works on certain nerves in brain that control how we experience pain.

how to use of Tramadol Take Tramadol by mouth, either always with food or always without food, usually once daily or as directed by your doctor. If nausea occurs, consult your doctor or pharmacist about ways to decrease it ( e. g. , antihistamines, lying down for 1 to 2 hours with as little head movement as possible ) .

Swallow Tramadol whole. Don't crush, chew, or split the tablet. Doing so would release Tramadol into your bloodstream all at once, possibly causing serious ( sometimes fatal ) side effects.

The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. To reduce risk of side effects, your doctor may tell we to gradually increase your dose when starting long-acting Tramadol. The maximum recommended dose is 300 milligrams a day.

If you have severe kidney disease ( e. g. , on dialysis ) or severe liver disease ( e. g. , cirrhosis ) , regular-release Tramadol is recommended instead of the long-acting form.

Pain medications work best if they are used as first signs of pain occur. If we wait until pain has worsened, medication may not work as well.

Follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions for safe use of non-narcotic pain relievers ( e. g. , acetaminophen, ibuprofen ) . Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details regarding your treatment.

Tramadol may cause dependence, especially if it has been used regularly for an extended time or if it has been used in high doses. In such cases, withdrawal reactions ( e. g. , anxiety, sweating, sleeplessness, shaking, diarrhea, rapid breathing ) may occur while use Tramadol if you suddenly stop Tramadol. Also, if we are taking regular doses of narcotic medications for ongoing pain ( e. g. , cancer pain ) , starting Tramadol may cause a withdrawal reaction. To prevent withdrawal reactions when stopping extended, regular treatment with Tramadol, gradually reduce the dosage as directed. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details, and report any withdrawal reactions immediately.

Rarely, abnormal drug-seeking behavior ( addiction ) is possible with Tramadol. Do not increase your dose, take it more frequently, or use it for a longer time than prescribed. Properly stop medication when so directed.

When used for an extended period, Tramadol mayn't work as well and may require different dosing. Talk with your doctor if Tramadol stops working well.

Tell your doctor if your pain does not decrease or if it worsens.

side effects of Tramadol Nausea, vomiting, constipation, lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, or weakness may occur while use Tramadol. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

To prevent constipation, maintain a diet adequate in fiber, drink plenty of water, and exercise. If you're taking Tramadol regularly, it may be useful to start using a laxative right away instead of waiting until we become constipated. Consult your pharmacist for details regarding correct use of laxatives ( e. g. , stimulant-type with stool softener ) .

Remember that your doctor has prescribed Tramadol because he or she has judged that benefit to you is greater than risk of side effects. Many people using Tramadol do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur:

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur:

A very serious allergic reaction to Tramadol ( which may occur while use Tramadol as early as first dose ) is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if we notice any of following symptoms:

This isn't a complete list of possible side effects. If we notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

precautions of Tramadol Before taking long-acting Tramadol, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're allergic to it; or to other narcotics ( e. g. , codeine ) ; or if you have any other allergies.

Tramadol should not be used if we have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have:

Before using Tramadol, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of:

Tramadol may make you dizzy or drowsy. Use caution while driving, using machinery, or doing any activity that requires alertness. Avoid alcoholic beverages because they may increase risk of Tramadol's side effects.

To reduce dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you're using Tramadol.

Caution is advised when using Tramadol in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially slow/shallow breathing and drowsiness.

During pregnancy, Tramadol should be used only when clearly needed. It's not recommended for use for long periods or in high doses late in pregnancy because of possible serious harm to your baby. Discuss risks and benefits with your doctor. Infants born to mothers who have been using Tramadol for an extended time may have seizures or withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, abnormal/persistent crying, or diarrhea. Tell your doctor immediately if we notice any of these symptoms in your newborn.

Tramadol passes into breast milk. While there have been no reports of harm to nursing infants, consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

interactions of Tramadol Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

Tramadol shouldn't be used with following medications because very serious ( possibly fatal ) interactions may occur while use Tramadol:

Avoid taking MAO inhibitors within 2 weeks before, during, and after treatment with Tramadol.

If we are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting Tramadol.

Before using Tramadol, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products we may use, especially of:

Also report use of drugs that might increase seizure risk when combined with Tramadol such as isoniazid ( INH ) , phenothiazines ( e. g. , thioridazine, chlorpromazine, promethazine ) , theophylline, or tricyclic antidepressants ( e. g. , amitriptyline ) , among others. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as certain antihistamines ( e. g. , diphenhydramine ) , anti-anxiety drugs ( e. g. , diazepam ) , anti-seizure drugs ( e. g. , phenytoin ) , medicine for sleep ( e. g. , zolpidem ) , muscle relaxants ( e. g. , cyclobenzaprine ) .

Check the labels on all your medicines ( e. g. , cough-and-cold products ) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using Tramadol, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products we use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Tramadol with US shipping

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