Recurrent Stomach Pain/Vomiting

Strange.

Where exactly is the sharp pain? Gut (stomach), upper/lower left/right abdominal quadrant. Obviously, he should get it checked out by a dr, but that's easy for me to say.

In order of increasing concern: food allergies, ulcers, stomach cancer.

Stress related?

Can trigger lots of hidden troubles.

I go with what Chumly said. The sooner he visits the doctor the better.

Actually, I was thinking of something else entirely.

Symptoms gall bladder disease

* Abdominal fullness or gas
* Abdominal pain that is:
o Severe
o Located on the right side (right upper quadrant) or in the upper middle of the abdomen (epigastric)
o Decreased over 12 to 18 hours in uncomplicated cases
o Recurrent or similar to pain in past
o Occurring after meals
o Worse during deep intake of breath
o Radiating to back or below the right shoulder blade
o Worse after eating or drinking fatty foods or fluids
* Fever
* Nausea and vomiting
* Heartburn
* Chills and shaking
* Chest pain under the breastbone

And there are dozens of other things it could be depending on where the pain is located. He needs to be seen by an MD during one of the episodes for a proper diagnosis, c-cat.

Those are some of the same symptoms I had as a teenager when I had an acute case of appendicitis.

Later in life, I had those very same symptoms as an unknown ovarian cyst was growing and got large enough to put pressure on my intestines and other organs, causing blockages and vomiting.

Has your husband changed his eating habits to avoid the pains and vomiting? Has his weight changed?

In both cases above, emergency surgery was needed to finally relieve the pains and vomiting.

yeah -- appendicitis makes sense when it's acute, but not so much recurrent the way this is. could be any number of things....

cypher, what were the green onions in the previous two times? I once told a doc I had a problem with salty foods and thought I was becoming sensitive to salt. He asked what I was salting... french fries, fried shrimp, and a list of other things I was cooking in my new Fry Baby

My first thought is ulcer.

Untreated, it can get much more, even leading to stomach cancer.

No, it's not normal to vomit 4 times a year. In the last 20, I've vomited twice, maybe 3 times.

This is surely a symptom of something else, and I'd say something more serious. Ignoring it will only make it worse.

I thought of ulcer first too. Many cases of ulcer have been found to be caused by a certain bacterium, (H. pylorus?), treatable, if I remember, by an antibiotic. That wasn't discovered until fairly recently. I also thought about gall bladder as a possibility. In any case, obviously he should see an internist.

Hmm, I even know an office I like in your neck of the woods. But one person's satisfaction with a med group ain't always transferrable.

Nope, it's not normal to throw up that much.

And even if it is "just" stress, stress has its own dangers.

Despite his aversion, he needs to go to a GP.

Yay, thanks everyone! I appreciate the responses so much...even just a simple "go to the doctor" is helpful, because I'll show this to him and it'll carry more weight than just me trying to convince him, hopefully.. Edgar, Chumly, Rockhead, thank you so much for putting your two cents in.

I'm sorry if this is long, but everyone had thoughts I want to respond to, though...



It's in the upper middle of his abdomen, right under his breastbone. Those last four symptoms sure fit perfectly. Pain during deep intake of breath--that's actually something he mentions fairly often, come to think of it.



Oh, duh--you know, it sounds so obvious, but I actually hadn't thought of trying to get him to go during an episode...thanks!





Hasn't changed his eating habits, he pretty much forgets about it as soon as it's over--*sigh*
Come to think of it, he did just mention that he's lost quite a bit of weight--maybe ten, fifteen pounds?--for no apparent reason.



Oh, man, I'm so sorry to hear about all that, Butrfly! You've had more than your fair share of health problems, for sure... And I do take your point, that abdominal pain is nothing to ignore...


Heh!

The onions were in fried rice--homemade, and I don't use much oil, so not *too* bad, but definitely fatty... I could go for fatty foods being a culprit--it's also been after burritos and pizza that I can remember. Although then I think of just how often we have pizza--the boy can handle fatty foods *most* of the time, that's for sure!







Thank you! That's what I keep saying, but I honestly didn't know if maybe I'm just lucky or something--although I have reminded him of that Seinfeld episode where Jerry's trying to keep from breaking his ten year no-vomiting streak...I thought for sure a Seinfeld reference would convince him!






You know, a recommendation really might be persuasive to him, I dunno. He hears about my a2k ex-North Coast friend all the time, might make him a little more comfortable with it

Cypher, many years back I went through testing for very similar symptoms. I came away with a peptic ulcer, and it was able to be dealt with.

I hate docs, but sometimes ya gotta go.

RH

So, ulcers keep coming up--I thought of that, but really, when I read about it, it didn't sound much like his symptoms. I don't know....

And you know the problem I run into when I try to tell him it could be stress related, and that stress can be a big health problem? He says he's not stressed.

Arggggh!

And then I say, not stressed huh? Then why are ya such a booger to be around so much of the time?!

Oh, hi, Rockhead! I thought I was alone in here while I was having a rant


So, may I pick yer brains about ulcers? (doesn't that sound unpleasant?!) ...this does sound similar to your symptoms? Did you go for quite a while between episodes? I'm trying to remember what I was reading on WebMD about peptic ulcers that made me think it didn't sound like it...

a link heading out from my favourite reference medlineplus.org

Nausea and Vomiting

a very basic keying chart

My peptic one was at the top of the stomach, and was only violently brought into play when my stomach was relatively full. (Soda or beer on a hot stressful day could make me spew)

He needs a scan and testing to see, I was hit and miss for years.

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/cvs/index.htm

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome

Thanks, Beth--I ended up at "Go see your doctor" very quickly

I'll definitely show it to him.

Oh, you know, I just heard about this for the first time a couple weeks ago--right before he had another episode--and was telling him it sounded like that... I'm gonna check that link out right now...