jkapache Posted July 30, 2006 Report Share Posted July 30, 2006 I have had POTS for a year now, but in april I started to throw a few things up, it has progressicly gotten worse, I now throw up all dairy, fruits, veggies, pizza ect up after i eat it. The only thing I have kept down is bread and some 'heavy' junk food. Why is this? Is there anything I can do/ should do? What foods are good to eat for pots patients? Thanks, and sorry if this has already been discussed. I was on Neuronton, but my dr switched my meds to LYrica in hopes it would help my stomach, hasnt yet... thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MightyMouse Posted July 30, 2006 Report Share Posted July 30, 2006 I've been told by a local feeding clinic (I am in contact with them b/c of my job w/ disabled children) that bread is harder to throw up than most other things. They use it at the clinic to feed kids who are chronic vomiters. Also, nut butters are heavy and difficult to throw up.All that being said, there could be a myriad of reasons why you're vomitting--from infection to neurological issues that are causing your stomach not to work right. You and your doctors are going to have to work this one out. Do you have a gastroenterologist working with you? If not, you may want to talk to your general practicioner/family doctor about getting a referral. Vomitting daily has drawbacks aside from the discomfort:it can permanently cause damage to your teeth b/c of the acids coming up, and also can cause problems with the esophagus, which is not supposed to push food and acids upward so often.Nina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkapache Posted July 31, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2006 thanks mm- I dont have a gast. was hoping to avoid one... but this has been going on for a bit now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MightyMouse Posted July 31, 2006 Report Share Posted July 31, 2006 tummy woes should be looked at by a gastro if you're problems haven't resolved on their own in a week or so--Nina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ariella Posted July 31, 2006 Report Share Posted July 31, 2006 hiI don't know why you're tolerating bread and junk food, but it often helps me to take a walk after eating. Gets the blood circulating I guess.Ariella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkapache Posted July 31, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2006 the funny thing is I usually continue riding horses, or walk after eating and the whole time I am doing something I am 'spitting' up food that I have just eaten- if i do nothing afterwards, i still throw up! but ya, the bread will stay down as will alot of junk food. but things like eggs, ice cream, chocolate, pasta, fruits and veggies- that wont stay down! Thanks for the advice!! I appreciate it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted July 31, 2006 Report Share Posted July 31, 2006 I had this problem too. I thought it was pots, but decided to go to a gastro to rule out anything else. I found out I have gastroparesis (stomach is paralized) and that my stomach could not digest the food so it came back up. One thing you can watch out for is if your food is digested when it comes up or if it is fully recognizable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunfish Posted July 31, 2006 Report Share Posted July 31, 2006 hi jess - welcome to the forum. sorry that you have reason to be here, but glad you found us.i can definitely empathize with frequent vomiting and agree with nina that you really must see a GI doc. chances are they will need to do some testing to rule some things out. there are many possible "causes" of getting sick so much...some better understood than others. if it's not suggested you may want to ask about a gastric emptying study (GES) which is the main test to diagnose gastroparesis. i know it's a pain to have to see another doc, but since this has been an increasing problem for you for months now you really need to get things checked out.like chrissy & many others on the board, i too have gastroparesis. unfortunately mine is so severe that i am on IV nutrition now, but that's not the norm. gastroparesis can be caused by autonomic neuropathy, as can POTS (as well as other autonomic dysfunctions...) so while it's not "just" POTS it can definitely accompany it.hope this helps, melissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkapache Posted August 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 Thanks again for all of the advice! I too am very glad to have found this site! Its great to talk with other about these problems.... as I dont care for people thinking I am bulimic or 'faking' it! This is gross but usually the food is recognizable Chrissy. (like the scrambled eggs look like they did when I had them on my plate). What kinds of test do the GI do? Are they painful? Melissa is it common for those with stomachparalis to have to have an IV? Thanks for all the support guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunfish Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 hi jess -NO, it is definitely NOT common to have to be on IV feedings with gastroparesis. and in fact if someone "only" has gastroparesis it's almost unheard of. i also have dysmotility in my intestines which means that at this point tube feedings aren't a viable option. so please don't worry yourself about that. dietary changes & medications help many, though often don't eliminate all discomfort. VERY few have to be on tube &/or IV feedings.re: testing at the GI doctor, here's info specifically on testing for gastroparesis, copied & pasted from my reply to another post yesterday: the most common & widely available testing for gastroparesis is called a gastric emptying study, or GES. it's non-invasive but a bit time-consuming. 4-hr tests give more info but most locations only do 2-hr testing because of expense/manpower. essentially the test consists of eating a small amount of food that has a radioactive tracer in it. it's usually a scrambled egg, though some places use other things, i.e. an egg sandwich, some type of stew, etc. you can't tell that there's anything "extra" in it (the tracer).they then take pictures of your belly periodically. some places do every 15 minutes, some every 30 to track the food's movement through your stomach (hopefully). this happens until the 2 hr mark (or 4 hr mark) and results (percentages) are tabulated & compared to the norm. as with anything, no test is perfect, particularly for those who may be borderline in terms of what is considered normal emptying time, but it does give you some info about how your stomach is working, as least at that point in time. as with any test you would have to make sure you clarify which meds you should or shouldn't take in advance, etc. an EGD will only show fairly severe gastroparesis and thus generally isn't used to diagnose for most people. the way it can show GP in some instances is if there is food seen in the stomach, as one is always supposed to have been fasting for a decent amount of time. thus....if food is still there (unless the person didn't follow the rules), it's been there longer than it should be. other possible tests (to rule other things in or out) would include an endoscopy (the EGD i mention above) which is a scope/tube down your throat to actually look at your stomach & the very upper part of your small intestine, a GI series (you drink barium & they x-ray you to follow how it through your GI tract), x-rays, CT scans, etc. and blood work, esp to look at your nutritional status. perhaps gallbladder testing which is an ultrasound and/or something else called a hydascan.but PLEASE realize that going to the GI doc does not mean that you will get all or even any of these tests done. some are annoying, time-consuming, and/or a bit unpleasant, but none are intolerable or even what i would call painful. i realize you may not know what any/all of them are and if the time comes many have been discussed at length on the board but don't jump ahead of yourself at this point. most important is to get yourself to a GI doc as soon as you're able.hope this helps... melissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkapache Posted August 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 Melissa- Thanks !! I know I should jump ahead... but I am very upfront with my health- and want to be prepared for the 'worst'- jsut me I guess. Thanks for all the test info... I go see the dr that diagnosed pots o n tuesday- so maybe she will refer me to a GI. Do you go to a GI dr that 'gets' pots- or anyone? Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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