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Puking while pooping!

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Posted 6/12/2008 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry, this isn't going to be a very nice post, so if you're queasy you might not want to read it.

Do any of you do this?  I never, ever puked because of the crohn's until about 7 years ago (dx'd 19 years ago). Now I puke quite regularly. I don't know what causes it, but when I have to go #2, sometimes I have abdominal spasms that I can't control. The muscles push pretty hard and somehow it triggers a response at the top of my stomach instead of down in my intestines.  I end up puking my guts out while on the toilet. So not fun.  This is going to sound silly, but is there something wrong with my sphincters? Is this worth asking my doctor about or will he just tell me there is nothing I can do about it?  I get so frustrated because when I'm flaring and my appetite sucks, it's like a monumental effort to eat. I'm so proud that I actually got down about 150 calories and then bam! - it sets of my guts, I have to "go" and then I end up puking. And then I have to figure out what to eat because I'm empty again.  Sick of the cycle.

Any insight? Or do any of you go through this as well?

Posted 6/12/2008 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
Aw stef, so sorry you are going thru a nightmare!  You had better see a doc right away, it sounds familiar and it turned out my intestines were narrowing, even tho I was on Entocort.  Go have a CT scan just to be sure.  It could be a virus too, how long has this been going on?  Dont wait, make an appt, you'll be glad you did, let us know!
Posted 6/12/2008 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
This happens to me when I am really sick.  It is usually with extremely painful bms.  No nausea involved just, like you said, a spasm and it's both at once.  I always do let my doc know when I'm at that point...  Hope you feel better soon!

Posted 6/12/2008 4:45 PM (GMT 0)

You just described me to a tee before Imuran,I do have a stricture,that was able to be ballooned,thanks to the Humira.

Good luck :-)

Posted 6/12/2008 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
That was my first symptom which led to testing and being diagnosed with Crohn's. I would occasionally throw up with bowel movement. No nausea before or after. They found a stricture in the sigmoid colon. I just recently saw a colorectal surgeon and I have appointment with GI in August. Thought was that I  will go on Imuran or some medication to try reduce inflammation and then possibly balloon dilation.

Posted 6/12/2008 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hmmmm.... this is all interesting. See, sometimes I DO have nausea before hand, but sometimes I don't - it just comes on with the bowel movement. I saw my GI and complained about a certain tender area that I have above my belly button (have had it for years). He said that maybe it was due to a "narrowing", but he let it go at that. Maybe because I'm 11 weeks pregnant and he can't do a colonoscopy? I've never had a narrowing, but doesn't that lead to a problem? Most of my trouble has been in the colon and higher up.
Posted 6/12/2008 6:09 PM (GMT 0)

 

I had the same problem (doing both at the same time) sometimes with nausea and sometimes not.  Actually, I had nausea a lot back then.  I was diagnosed with Crohn's in June 1978, surgery due to severe narrowing (Ileocolectomy/resection) in December 2002, which progressed into Crohn's / Colitis a few years after surgery.

 

Earlier this year I had test results that showed "narrowing" and my GI was concerned about strictures.  I was concerned that I was headed for another surgery.  I was in pretty bad shape but in March 2008 I went on Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) and I am so much better now.  I don't know if it has helped the narrowing or not, but I will find out in July or August when I am scheduled for testing.  All I can say is that I feel so much better now that my pain is gone (feels like the inflammation is gone too).

 

Best of luck to you!  Try not to get stressed...we all know that stress "triggers" symptoms!

Patti

Posted 6/12/2008 7:24 PM (GMT 0)

Stef17 said...
Hmmmm.... this is all interesting. See, sometimes I DO have nausea before hand, but sometimes I don't - it just comes on with the bowel movement. I saw my GI and complained about a certain tender area that I have above my belly button (have had it for years). He said that maybe it was due to a "narrowing", but he let it go at that. Maybe because I'm 11 weeks pregnant and he can't do a colonoscopy? I've never had a narrowing, but doesn't that lead to a problem? Most of my trouble has been in the colon and higher up.

congrats on getting pregnant!  That could change things, but I think you better go see your doc, asap.  Wonderful surprise!

Posted 6/12/2008 7:24 PM (GMT 0)
yes, I used to call this the "sh^#s and the spits." It may mean a narrowing or stricture, so please see doc. Hopefully, it's just spasms--but so important since you are actually vomitting. If you vomit stool, get to the ER!!!!
Posted 6/12/2008 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
Yep, sure sounds painfully familiar to me. Actually it first started happening to me when I was expecting my second child in 1977, before I was diagnosed. Later on in the course of my disease it was always associated with partial obstruction. the food can't go through so its gotta come up.

You need to be evaluated if this is happening frequently.
Posted 6/12/2008 9:07 PM (GMT 0)
I did the poop/vomit scenario a lot this year during a very bad flare. Every time I pooped for a good 3-4 weeks.  I'd just started on an Iron supplement and my BM's had become much ROUGHER than normal.  My BM's were also waking me up in the middle of the night.

But whether it was in the middle of the night or middle of the day that a BM came along, the flare got so bad that I began throwing up while I was pooping.  AWFUL!  I never felt nauseous until I starting the poop...to me it almost felt like the BM was somehow connected to the top of my stomach!  Which of course, makes NO sense.  But somehow the BM was causing a physical reaction in my stomach and I'd throw up the last thing I ate.  Actually, I knew when I was getting ready to throw up...my body would start to shake, get chills and my mouth would fill with saliva.  But once I threw up, I always felt FINE (with the exception of just being tired from the BM/vomit ordeal).

I was VERY anxious during this period of time...it's ONE thing having to deal with the awful BM's of Crohn's but to THEN have to deal with vomit???  If I'm at home, no big deal.  Trash can is right there.  But at work????  YIKES.  The good Lord watched over me and I never had the vomit at work.  But I worry about it every time I have to poop at work because the vomit thing comes on so suddenly!  There's no "warning" - no nausea feeling.  And there are NO trash cans in the bathrooms at my work.  If I throw up there, it HAS to go on the floor...

When I FINALLY got an appointment with my GI, there was no explanation of the BM/vomit connection EXCEPT to say that it was all a part of the flare.  They put me on Flagyl and Prednisone...a week later there were no more vomitting spells.  I had a SBFT test and there were no problems.  I don't have narrowing or strictures.  I was worried that I had a blockage and that was what was causing the vommiting.  Didn't have that either.  The BM's were just so rough, they were causinig a reaction all the way in my stomach.

Its very exhausting dealing with that.  I would definitely talk to your GI, though, to find out his thoughts on it.

Posted 6/12/2008 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
Concur with the possibility that it may be related to a stricture (narrowing) but as Kittkatt just related they didn't every find a stricture so maybe not.

Couple of suggestions (sorry if this is getting old for those of you who have read my other posts):
- Absorb Plus - powdered meal replacement that's elemental in form meaning it's in the smallest molecular structure possible already so it's much easier and faster for the body to digest. Theory here is if it is a stricture and it's further down then most if not all of the nutrients will have been absorbed by the time the liquid reaches that point. The good here is that even if you do toss up what's left your body will have already absorbed much more of the nutrients than if it were still breaking down solids. Additionally, the elemental diet is also referred to a "bowel rest" diet. Again meaning that since it's absorbed easier/faster and higher up in the digestive tract there is less or minimal amount to pass as a BM. I still have solid/formed BMs while using Absorb Plus but they are just less frequent and much smaller in volume because there isn't a bunch of waste product to get rid of.

- Since several have used the term muscle spasms (abdominal) the thought comes to mind of practicing yoga where you would learn more control over the specific muscles and perhaps even be able to counter or prevent such spasms. I just started practicing about 2 months ago and am learning from an instructor that teaches Swasthya Yoga. As there are many types/styles of Yoga I can't attest to others but this one definitely emphasizes becoming more aware or in tune with your body and specific muscles. One techinique called a kriya is specific to the abdominal muscles and our instructor has mastered control of his abdominal muscles to the point where he is able to literally roll his abs from side to side and in and out. It's the weirdest thing I've ever seen and I'm waiting for the Alien to pop out of his chest. The intermediate step for learning this has helped me as I more often than not suffer from constipation. While C may not at all be a part of your problem having better control over those muscles can only help. Sorry, but this obviously won't bring you immediate relief as it takes time to learn & strengthen the muscles but I believe it to be worth it in the long run when you can put time/energy toward this.
Posted 6/13/2008 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hi ~ I'm new to this forum, but wanted to let you know that I have this same problem.  I've had Crohns for 17 yrs, and when the pain is severe, I will throw up while having Crohns.  It does not happen all the time, but when it does ~ yikes. I always get the chills, joint pain and am exhausted after its done.  I try to remember that tomorrow is another day, and although I have crohns, it does not define who I am. :-)    Take care!
Posted 6/13/2008 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
KittiKatt, you described it exactly as it would happen to me. I once was at work... I grabbed a trash bag out of the "monthly pad trash box" (whatever you call it) in the women's restroom. Thank goodness it was there. And, once I was at a garden nursery... That was the worst. I had been in line to pay when the urgency hit... I ran to the bathroom and left right after. The shaking/exhaustion after all that violent spasming plus I was horrified even though nobody saw/knew!

They've never found any activity of inflammation in my small intestine, so it was unlikely to be a narrowing/stricture for me. It was just as if my entire body was in on the spasm! Horrible!
Posted 6/13/2008 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
I've had to puke in a pad-trash bag before too. It was a total life saver because I would have had nowhere to go but the floor and I was also at work! I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS carry a plastic grocery bag with me. I save a stash that I know for sure doesn't have any holes. These days I leave one hanging on the door knob of each bathroom in my house. I'm hoping the super pukes are due to morning sickness and not totally the Crohn's these days, but I'm not so sure. I guess I'll know in a few more weeks.
Posted 6/13/2008 4:13 AM (GMT 0)
If so Stef congrats. Is this pregnancy number 3!!! I might be confusing you with someone else that said something about Mormons loving to have babies. If its not you I totally apologize.
Posted 6/13/2008 1:15 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, Fitzy - it's me - one of those baby-loving Mormons! (Don't tell the church, but I secretly love the crohn's remissions, so it's incentive to have more! Ha ha! J/K!) Unfortunately this is pregnancy #6, but Baby #3. I seem to be able to get pregnant, but not necessarily STAY pregnant. So, my fingers are crossed and I'm just irked that I seem to be flaring on top of this. ARG! HOWEVER, I flared like this with my first baby and it all resolved itself by about 15 weeks so... my fingers are crossed. Thanks for the congrats!
Posted 6/13/2008 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
I will do this when I am going into a really bad flare
I have the bathroom garbage can there in front of me while filling the toilet

I feel so drained from this of course and I do call my doc as soon as I am able to have a few minutes where I know I am going to be okay


Congrats as well ................
LYN
Posted 6/13/2008 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
I like Lyn always keep trash cans in the BR. Because I have alot of nausea all the time. Take Zofran everymorning and Phenergan at bedtime. Mine nausea is now caused from mechanical problems due to my resections. But before my surgeries it was always caused by a stricture or narrowing. Maybe your pregnancy hormones are throwing things off. Feel better.
Posted 6/13/2008 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
happens to me a lot...
Posted 6/16/2008 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
This is interesting, particularly that many of you experience no nausea. I get awful nausea right after pretty much all BMs, but have only thrown up once or twice when I was at my worst. Hmm...wonder what the difference is
Posted 6/16/2008 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
This happened to me when I was obstructed. Don't let it go too long.

And Stef..... congratulations on this new pregnancy.....

love and prayers to you both!

Mary
Posted 6/16/2008 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
I called my GI this morning and begged for an ASAP appt. They can see me Thurs. SO... hopefully, he'll call me before then. I hope I'm not obstructed. What do they do if you're obstructed? Do I want to know?
Posted 7/4/2010 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
Stef17 - I know this post is a couple of years old now but I am wondering if you (or anyone else) found a solution to this problem as I am suffering from the same thing?
Posted 7/5/2010 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
No solution. I just take a lot of deep breaths and try to relax so that I don't tense up and end up vomitting. Sounds really weird, but cool air on my face or sniffing minty toothpaste helps. I know that's not too scientific, but it's the only thing that helps a little.
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