Vomiting

[ArtPepper1]

Good morning all. I'm about 20 months post oesophagus removal, which by all accounts went quite well. But I've noticed I can't vomit any more. I had bad food the other night and spent a long time retching and just expelling thin streams of mucus... Is this common?

[jay2908]

hi,

I’m 16 years post op and used to get the symptoms you’ve mentioned. The mucus is caused by your body getting ready to vomit, however you don’t have any thing bring up as the food/drink is further down your gut beyond your stomach.

The cause for the mucus is not that you’ve eaten anything bad, it’s just that your new anatomy can’t deal with food in the same way as before.

For me, anything sugary, or a combination of eating food close to drinking liquids would always cause me nausea.

The symptoms as sometimes known as ‘dumping syndrome’ and with care adjustments of your diet, they should resolve.

What have you eaten/drink prior to the mucus being created?

[ArtPepper1 in reply to jay2908]

Thanks, Jay. I don't get dumping syndrome. In this instance it was "off" food. The other diners were sick, too. But your mention of the food "being further down" helps me understand.

[jay2908 in reply to ArtPepper1]

Glad I could help

[purplekey in reply to jay2908]

The first time I had a stomach bug I too found it difficult to vomit. A lot of it I think was my fear of vomiting and doing myself an injury by vomiting. The next time I had a vomiting bug I think I was more relaxed also I realised I had to lay on my side to vomit more easily.

I also got infrequent coughing fits that bring up thick mucous and make me gag and can make me reflux stomach contents but I don’t class that as vomiting.

I’m 2 half years post op.

[grandylynda]

I am 6 years past surgery. I can still vomit, in fact sometimes it seems its too easy! Early days for you yet.

[JML62]

i am 12 years post op and have never vomited since .

[Katzekatze]

Sounds familiar. 6 years post. In my case dumping often triggers vomiting. Dry heaving and retching. I very rarely bring up food. My stomach is now my esophagus without the cardiac sphincter. I compare the esophagus to a python(snake). It can move food. Stomach not so much, but it makes mucus & digestive juices. Can you burb?

[ArtPepper1 in reply to Katzekatze]

Thanks for the useful insights, Katze. Yes, I can and do burb; I prefer burb to rural... and yes, I can burp, too. But not as often and heartily as before. My diet hasn't changed at all, but is now smaller and often. Still unclear as to what 'dumping' is. Whatever it is, perhaps I haven't got it.

[Katzekatze in reply to ArtPepper1]

I misspelled burp, do I feel special now. I had to learn how to do it again. I am so sorry ArtPepper. I hope you're not upset with me. Dumping is rapid gastric emptying. I am so happy for you that you can still eat the same food. I had to start from scratch, plus it changes constantly. So leaving for work can be extremely trying and the sad part is, that I can only taste very little. I miss that.