Question:
Could this be an ulcer?

I had surgery in 10/02 and 12/02 unrelated to RNY. Since the 2nd surgery I have been experiencing sudden intense feelings of nausea. There is some pain involved, but it's mostly the nausea feeling. I don't actually throw up but will dry heave. They come out of no where, anywhere from 1-5x per day, and last a few minutes to 20 minutes. Could the pain meds and antibiotics from my surgeries have created an ulcer or irritated my stomach line to cause these bouts of nausea? Blood tests came back fine and whereas we don't have final results from the gall bladder ultrasound, everything was looking ok initially.    — Sheryl B. (posted on January 20, 2003)

January 20, 2003
1. how does water taste? 2. how long after eating/drinnking does nausea occur? 3. have you been scoped?
   — vitalady

January 20, 2003
Sheryl, Perhaps you should contact your doctor. In the meantime, when nausea hits, try eating a food with carbohydrates, such as saltine crackers, just one or two. You may be nauseated due to low blood sugar. Hope this works. Angie
   — Angie R.

January 21, 2003
I have an ulcer and have terrible heartburn and nausea. My surgeon recommended an OTC acid reducer (ie Pepcid) and Metoclopramide for nausea and heartburn. He also put me on a liquid diet until the symptoms subside.
   — jengrz

January 21, 2003
It could very well be an ulcer, but i'm not an expert, either. I recently had emergency surgery for a marginal ulcer 4 weeks ago. I didn't have the nausea or problems eating that most people have in association with ulcers, I just had sudden pain, went to the ER and they discovered there was a hole in my stomach. It's great that you are getting things checked out. I do know that an ultrasound did not find my ulcer, even a CAT scan only showed there was a perforation somehwere b/c toxins and air were leaking into my system, but they did not know exactly where the hole was until they opened me up. They still don't know what caused it, but I was on alot of medicines as well, and that could've been the problem for me. I'm not trying to scare you, but it's better to be safe than sorry! But you're getting things checked out, so you'll be fine! Goodluck to you, if you have any other questions, feel free to e-mail me! ~ Lezlie ([email protected])
   — Lezlie Y.

January 21, 2003
I also had an ulcer. For me it was pain, not intense, beneath my sternum & under my left breast. But, the reason I ended up back in the hospital was because I had been throwing up/dry heaving for three days and could not keep anything down. They did find it with a "scope". I think that it is well worth checking things out with your doc. Best wishes in your process.
   — Heather N.