Question:
"Foamy" Vomit- What is it?

I am 11 weeks post op and am still having issues with most foods. I am never hungry which makes it easy for me to just not eat. I know this is very bad for me. I try to get in protein and almost every time I eat meats (no matter how it is prepared), it comes back up. Sometimes I can eat a bite and then wait about 10 minutes and eat another and on and on and be fine. I know that we are supposed to eat slow, but does that seem too slow? Funny thing- I can eat junk food (chips, sweets) with no problem, though I don't want it. ( get in more than ebough water.) Anyways, my main question is this- Every few days I will "vomit" what seems to be saliva, but frothy. Whats the deal with that? There's nothing in it, just foamy spit and its usually alot.....By the way, I had lap RNY on 09/20/02 and am down 77 pounds!    — karmiausnic (posted on December 7, 2002)

December 6, 2002
Could this be sinus drainage that builds up in your pouch?
   — Delores S.

December 6, 2002
Hi, I get that too. In fact since the very beginning, if I had eaten too large of a bite or too much, that is what would eventually happen. I felt like I was spitting, not throwing up. It is strange, but I think perhaps we just don't have as much acid as we used to, so it is lighter or foamy. Sorry, I didn't really answer your question, but I guess this means it works this way on both VBGers and RNYers! Congratulations on your great weight loss. Mine is slower, but I will get there!
   — Helenjean P.

December 7, 2002
I have this same symptoms when something is stuck. I do not know the mechanics of it, but that frothy stuff is what tells me that something is stuck. I gotta get it out of there. I had a very small stoma and had to be dilated early out. Talk to your surgeon about your symptoms.
   — Vicki L.

December 7, 2002
I had the same thing in the beginning and probably up to 6 months or so and I am now 18 months post-op almost and I don't recall having it in a long time. I don't understand the cause exactly, but many people have discussed it and asked questions about it. Sometimes all that came up was the foam,but sometimes some food as well. I think it was related to eating too much or the wrong items or too fast or in other words, I really have no clue. I can just emphasize with you and tell you I do think it gets better over time.
   — Molly S.

December 7, 2002
Congrats on the 77 llbs.! My dietitian told me it is called frothing and we get it because we don't produce acid in our pouch like we did in our stomach. The doc can give you something for it if you do it a lot or it is bothersome.
   — Tammy .

October 20, 2005
This only happens to me if I overeat...
   — Sandy G.