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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by babs on October 8, 2002, at 7:22:43
I'm wondering if anyone else has this. Whenever I am anxious, I gag uncontrollably or throw up.It's been this way ever since I was a little girl and I'm going through a particularly bad time with it right now due to a medication switch and life stress. Wondering if anyone has any suggestions for me! Thanks in advance, babs
Posted by Roman on October 8, 2002, at 11:08:37
In reply to vomiting as anxiety symptom, posted by babs on October 8, 2002, at 7:22:43
How about ginger (especially ginger candy) or OTC motion sickness medication (Dramamine)?
Posted by babs on October 8, 2002, at 12:18:23
In reply to Re: vomiting as anxiety symptom » babs, posted by Roman on October 8, 2002, at 11:08:37
Thanks Roman- I've tried ginger tea in the past with some luck. Never tried dramamine but I have these little accupressure wristbands that work graet on nausea but make me look like a tennis pro! oh well.... i suppose desperate measures may be required!
Posted by FredPotter on October 8, 2002, at 14:32:27
In reply to vomiting as anxiety symptom, posted by babs on October 8, 2002, at 7:22:43
Hi Babs - I've always felt atypical in that my anxiety attacks when severe enough always involve vomitting. Right from the very first one. Once I spent 3 days being sick every few minutes, just empty retching most of the time of course. It almost seems to be a temporary relief from the anxiety, stimulating as it does a para-sympathetic surge. I don't know what the answer is, but I don't think for me that taking away the vomitting would help, as the raw anxiety would still be there, although taking pills would then be possible (I've always found taking pills for vomitting faintly amusing, although I suppose there's always the sub-lingual route)
Posted by babs on October 8, 2002, at 21:52:42
In reply to Re: vomiting as anxiety symptom » babs, posted by FredPotter on October 8, 2002, at 14:32:27
Thanks Fred- several doctors I've had have tried to convince me that it's not a symptom of anxiety but something physical (i do have reflux which makes it more likely that I'll vomit if I retch or gag) but for me it has always been an indicator of the level of anxiety I'm feeling. I actually read something that said vomiting/nausea was finally going to be considered a symptom of depression. For me it is particularly bad in the morning- I feel this way for about an hour or so then it goes away. just wanted to put it out there and see what people had to say.
Posted by FredPotter on October 8, 2002, at 22:05:47
In reply to Re: vomiting as anxiety symptom, posted by babs on October 8, 2002, at 21:52:42
I think there are plenty of schoolchildren and adults who have morning anxiety that shows itself as nausea, stomach-ache and even vomiting. I've always felt anxiety primarily in my stomach. In fact my viscera generally act like a barometer of my mental well-being. I read somewhere once that we vomit if we're running away to rid ourselves of the need to digest, so all the activity can go somewhere else, like the muscles and brain. But this has never made sense to me. There's the slight complication of feeling so awful you can't even move. Nice to hear from you
Posted by linkadge on October 9, 2002, at 14:41:31
In reply to vomiting as anxiety symptom, posted by babs on October 8, 2002, at 7:22:43
You could try an over the counter acid reducer like Zantac 75, or perhaps Kava on a short
term basis.The Zantac helps me with the upset stomach.
Posted by fierc on October 11, 2002, at 1:21:41
In reply to vomiting as anxiety symptom, posted by babs on October 8, 2002, at 7:22:43
> I'm wondering if anyone else has this. Whenever I am anxious, I gag uncontrollably or throw up.It's been this way ever since I was a little girl and I'm going through a particularly bad time with it right now due to a medication switch and life stress. Wondering if anyone has any suggestions for me! Thanks in advance, babs
When I was suffering really bad with my anxiety I was throwing up numerous times a day. This went on for about 2 months then off then returned at xmas for about 3 months and then now and again when I get worked up or upset. My doc thought it was no big deal until I snapped at him. I spent half my day at work in the bathroom, was worried what is was doing to my teeth and the rest of me. He prescribed some anit-nausea meds which did nothing cause it was nerves. I think part of it had to do with was my doc switching meds every 2-3 weeks. Best of luck......
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