Teen experiences persistent pain and vomiting

January 1, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have been ill for quite some time, and no one seems able to help me. It’s frustrating that I go to all these specialists and they will give me answers like “I couldn’t find anything, therefore you’re fine and should go to school.” I am 18 now, but when I was 13, I had my gallbladder removed because it was functioning at 13 percent. I have been ill ever since. Also, when I was 5, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. I have a chromic problem of vomiting almost daily and, on bad days, several times a day. As of last spring, I have had a terrible pain that accompanies the illness and is enough to cripple me.

My doctors are at a loss and are now guessing at what it is. One doctor diagnosed me with GERD, another with IBS, and a third told me there was nothing wrong me with. I have been put on all sorts of medications, and nothing works or even helps with the symptoms.
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Child’s public vomiting worries parents

December 5, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: My healthy and smart 8-year-old daughter vomits in restaurants. When she was 3, she had a spell of vomiting over the course of a couple of weeks that we could not explain. Her pediatrician suggested keeping track of what she ate to see if there was a pattern with certain foods, because there was no abdominal pain and it was not consistent with motion sickness. We discovered that the vomiting often occurred after she consumed dairy products, so after another doctor visit, we limited dairy and used Lactaid tablets. The vomiting did not occur as often; however, we noticed it was still a problem in restaurants. Then our daughter revealed something: She got nervous in restaurants. She was afraid she would vomit and be embarrassed and got herself so worked up she got sick. Back to the doctor we went. The doctor said kids usually grow out of lactose intolerance as she probably had but “some kids just barf a lot.” He said she would grow out of that, too.
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Post-op symptoms unpleasant

October 8, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I just had surgery on my right shoulder, and the day following, I began vomiting and having gas every time I ate. My doctor blames these events on the anesthesia during my four-hour surgery. Is there anything I can do?

DEAR READER: General anesthesia takes a person from a conscious to an unconscious state so an invasive surgical procedure can be performed. Anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists and other trained professionals determine the amount of anesthesia to be administered, depending on the procedure to be performed. Some people remain anesthetized for a short time during a relatively simple process and are released the same day. Others, such as yours, take substantially longer and require hospitalization for several days following. While you didn’t mention what surgery was performed, four hours is extensive and could certainly be responsible for the unwanted results.
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Pain persists after gallbladder removal

January 30, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Since I had my non-functioning gallbladder removed six months ago, I continue to have occasional discomfort where it used to be. It can be random sharp pains to a dull ache and does not seem to be affected by food. It is always in the same spot (right upper quadrant, beneath the rib cage) and sometimes the pain will radiate to my back. Some of my co-workers also have similar symptoms that have continued since their gallbladder removals. I am a nurse and we often talk about our various symptoms.

Can you give me any insight into this phenomenon?

DEAR READER: Your experience appears to be common among individuals who have had gallbladder removal surgery. In fact is it so common it has been titled postcholecystectomy syndrome. It occurs in 5-40% of all patients following gallbladder removal.

Symptoms may include persistent upper right abdomen pain, gas, bloating, nausea, upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea. Diarrhea from this disorder can be eased by taking the medication cholestyramine.

Pain that persists should be followed up with your gastroenterologist to ensure that another condition, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, pancreatitis, peptic ulcers, or sludge in the bile duct are not to blame.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Gallbladder Disease”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed 4 ¼” X 9 ½” letter-sized stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

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