New onset of Retching: What might be causing it? Gastric pull-up?

Posted by jlmcclure @jlmcclure, Feb 16 2:44pm

I had my esophagectomy seven years ago and then a recurrence three years ago and underwent chemo, proton radiation, and Keytruda. Two months ago I suddenly started retching and had a night of no sleep but woke up the next day feeling good. Still I took it easy for day before resuming my normal diet and activities (including a 2-mi walk) and the retching returned for another couple of days. I went to the emergency room and they ran a series of tests -- blood draw, EKG, Xray, CT scan -- but found nothing. They did give an anti-nausea drug intervenously and that must have helped as I left feeling better until this week when I went through much the same thing -- same tests, same drugs, and no finding. I'm wondering if it might have something to do with my pulled-up stomach being out of place and exasperated (very occasionally) by my walking? I'm meeting Mon. morning with a GI and if there are others who've encountered this problem I'd like to take their experiences in with me.

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@jlmcclure, it's disconcerting to have a rather sudden onset of a new symptom. I'm tagging @socalkelly @socalkelly @zzonner @puprluvr @tomhayes54 and others to share their experiences and thoughts.

What did you learn at you appointment with GI? Did you ask about whether you irritated the gastric pull-up in some way to initiate the retching?

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@colleenyoung

@jlmcclure, it's disconcerting to have a rather sudden onset of a new symptom. I'm tagging @socalkelly @socalkelly @zzonner @puprluvr @tomhayes54 and others to share their experiences and thoughts.

What did you learn at you appointment with GI? Did you ask about whether you irritated the gastric pull-up in some way to initiate the retching?

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My husband had an esophagectomy in June 2022. He still has and uses his feeding tube but can eat orally - although only small amounts. He still has waves of nausea and wretching of sputum (not food or bile). He’s had some other issues in the last 6 months and has not undergone any cancer treatment so we’re not sure if the wretching is cancer, esophagectomy related. He takes nausea meds daily which helps the nausea but still has frequent discomfort in his stomach. I wish I had more/better answers for you.

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@colleenyoung

@jlmcclure, it's disconcerting to have a rather sudden onset of a new symptom. I'm tagging @socalkelly @socalkelly @zzonner @puprluvr @tomhayes54 and others to share their experiences and thoughts.

What did you learn at you appointment with GI? Did you ask about whether you irritated the gastric pull-up in some way to initiate the retching?

Jump to this post

I met with my GI yesterday morning and she couldn't come up with any ideas about this problem. She did mention the possibility of a hiatal hernia being a cause but a distant possibility. A major question is why there was six weeks between the episodes (and I'm still feeling fine after last week's episode). She wants to have an endoscopy done, but since that can't be done here (IA) until April, she's referred me to Mayo for that procedure.

REPLY
@colleenyoung

@jlmcclure, it's disconcerting to have a rather sudden onset of a new symptom. I'm tagging @socalkelly @socalkelly @zzonner @puprluvr @tomhayes54 and others to share their experiences and thoughts.

What did you learn at you appointment with GI? Did you ask about whether you irritated the gastric pull-up in some way to initiate the retching?

Jump to this post

Hi,
I have had abdominal pain since surgery November 2020. I cannot sleep on my left side or I will wake up barfing, acid goes downhill. I have found nothing that resolves the constant throbbing pain completely. Over the counter meds; Advil, Tylenol and aspirin take the pain from a 7 to a 3-4. Cannabis prescription helps, mostly CBD with a touch of THC. This is as effective as the OTC meds but no silver bullet.
Visceral Massage is not working, but it sure feels good everywhere else. My theory was to break up abdominal scare tissue. No Go.
M-Fairview pain clinic in Minneapolis tried a lot of things; acupuncture, opioids, tens, injection in my back with no success. They wanted to install a pain med pump but I am not there yet.
I am to the point of understanding I may be living with the pain forever. Hey, I am alive!
Going on FOLFOX chemo now, 2nd infusion, so it will be a new ballgame for me.
Cheers,
Tom

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I had my esophagectomy at St Mary's in Rochester, MN April of 2019 and prior to that I had 25 rounds of proton radiation plus 1 chemo per week for 5 weeks. I did have a feeding tube just over a month and have been on normal food since then. It's not been a cake walk figuring out how much to eat, what to eat, chew how much, eat how often, how much water to drink, how often but I am still plugging away every day!
The only time I feel nauseous is if I eat too much food, or too much processed sugary treats, like ice cream but it likes me only if I keep it to a teaspoon or two. Dumping syndrome, I believe, is the term used for this.
I'm also an avid walker daily with my dog plus I join an online zoom Silver Sneakers class for mild cardio, strength and flexibility classes 3-4 days per week.
I'm sorry I can't offer you any helpful advice for your situation but hopefully you find the answers you need to move forward. Hank in there-hugs!!

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