Suggest Treatment For Stomach Aches And Nausea

Posted on Tue, 14 Feb 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 14 Feb 2017 Answered on

Wed, 8 Mar 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : I'm a v. healthy 73 yr old woman, never have stomach aches!, who woke at 5 am to upper abdominal pain (and it has continued to this time) and felt sure I would vomit. Didn't vomit then, but right now I can. all the swallowing, etc. I am taking seltzer, 7 up, not interested in eating. I exercise, maybe 20# overweight, no diabetes. (I'm thinking it's food poisoning: I had a pickle from the glass jar of a local pickle producer
yesterday about 7 pm. It's the only unusual thing I ate. But that seems too stupid.) Any ideas?

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

It could well be food contamination from that pickle, or it could be a viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu) that may be going around in your community.

Seltzer and 7 up are fine. Pepto Bismol may help too.

If you begin throwing up and it is recurrent, you are at risk for dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, for which coconut water can be helpful (for rehydration and replenishing electrolytes). If vomiting persists, then go in to an urgent care clinic or ER where they can give you an IV and antiemetic which can help shut it down.

But most likely this will pass without complications.

Please let me know if I can provide further information.

I hope you are feeling better soon!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar