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What Causes Excessive Intestinal Gas, Bloating, Burping, Projectile Vomiting And Diarrhea?
Question: My wife has had excessive gas, bloating, incredible burping with a foul odor and taste with projectile vomiting, diarrhea and taste for 5 weeks. This seemed to start after Afib abatement on Nov. 14 this year. been to Drs. and emergency room several times with no diagnosis.
This does not appear to be gall bladder or liver related. Tests normal. Food can sit in her stomach for several days and ferment.
This does not appear to be gall bladder or liver related. Tests normal. Food can sit in her stomach for several days and ferment.
Brief Answer:
Several causes are considered and tests recommended and advices given
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for asking at HCM.
I carefully read your question and understand your concern.
Vomiting and diarrhea that last for longer than 2-3 weeks is very unlikely to be due to common causes like viral gastroenteritis or food poisoning so investigations are needed.
As you mention she has had normal liver and gall bladder tests so these are already ruled out as the cause.
Other causes that have to be considered is intestinal infection so there is a need to have tests for stools for ova and parasites (needs 3 negative stool tests in differnet days to have an insurance of 90% that she does not have parasites in her stools). Another important test is stool culture to rule out bacterial infection of the bowel.
Some tests that might help are microscopy of the stools for leucocytes, FOBT (fecal occult blood test), and tests of the stools for fat amount.
Another cause of prolonged vomiting and diarrhea is food allergy. Your wife might need to pay attention if the symptoms are worse with certain food. Avoiding milk and food with gluten might be easy first steps at this time and a good idea.
Another reason might be side effects of medications- if your wife is using certain medications regularly she will need to speak with her doctor to rule it out.
Stomach endoscopy might be helpful to see you stomach mucosa and duodenal mucosa is and if there is any abnormalities that might be the cause of the vomiting.
Rarely infarctions of the intestinal arteries might be a cause of the symptoms she is experiencing so she might need to have tests to rule out these as thrombosis of arteries might happen in patients with atrial fibrilation.
Has your wife ever had a colonoscopy? It is recommended every 10 years in people 55 years and older.
I would recommend you to also make sure she is rehydrated as she is in danger of being dehydrated.
Make sure she is having fluid and food in frequent small amounts to sustitute the loss of water and electrolytes. ORS (oral rehydration solutions) are the best ones to use. If unable to keep herself hydrated with oral solutions than she will need intravenous solutions.
I hope this answers to your question and is helpful to you.
I wish your wife will get better soon.
Kind regards,
Dr Antoneta Zotaj
Several causes are considered and tests recommended and advices given
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for asking at HCM.
I carefully read your question and understand your concern.
Vomiting and diarrhea that last for longer than 2-3 weeks is very unlikely to be due to common causes like viral gastroenteritis or food poisoning so investigations are needed.
As you mention she has had normal liver and gall bladder tests so these are already ruled out as the cause.
Other causes that have to be considered is intestinal infection so there is a need to have tests for stools for ova and parasites (needs 3 negative stool tests in differnet days to have an insurance of 90% that she does not have parasites in her stools). Another important test is stool culture to rule out bacterial infection of the bowel.
Some tests that might help are microscopy of the stools for leucocytes, FOBT (fecal occult blood test), and tests of the stools for fat amount.
Another cause of prolonged vomiting and diarrhea is food allergy. Your wife might need to pay attention if the symptoms are worse with certain food. Avoiding milk and food with gluten might be easy first steps at this time and a good idea.
Another reason might be side effects of medications- if your wife is using certain medications regularly she will need to speak with her doctor to rule it out.
Stomach endoscopy might be helpful to see you stomach mucosa and duodenal mucosa is and if there is any abnormalities that might be the cause of the vomiting.
Rarely infarctions of the intestinal arteries might be a cause of the symptoms she is experiencing so she might need to have tests to rule out these as thrombosis of arteries might happen in patients with atrial fibrilation.
Has your wife ever had a colonoscopy? It is recommended every 10 years in people 55 years and older.
I would recommend you to also make sure she is rehydrated as she is in danger of being dehydrated.
Make sure she is having fluid and food in frequent small amounts to sustitute the loss of water and electrolytes. ORS (oral rehydration solutions) are the best ones to use. If unable to keep herself hydrated with oral solutions than she will need intravenous solutions.
I hope this answers to your question and is helpful to you.
I wish your wife will get better soon.
Kind regards,
Dr Antoneta Zotaj
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Answered by
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