Morning Sickness

[Bub]

For the last two years I have had morning sickness, much worse lately.  I wake up in the morning very nauseated and often throw up.  I vaguely assumed it was related to kidney failure, and I mentioned it to my new personal care doctor.  She suggested it was gastroparesis which I had never even heard of. Now I am taking medicine for it and I didn't eat anything after 6 pm.  Seems to help.  Has anyone had any experience with this issue and do you have any advice?

[willowtreewren]

Not familiar with that, Bub. I hope it continues to improve.

 

No fun.

Aleta

[Pam]

I've had type 1 diabetes for 26 yrs. Do not have gastroparesis. Do you have a glucometer? Vomiting can be caused by high blood sugar.
Pam

[Bub]

I watch my blood sugar carefully and it has been really good.  My last four A1C's have been 6 percent so I have that well under control.  I have had diabetes for over 25 years and it was out of control for much of that time.

[aharris2]

Morning sickness? Bub? a little bubby bun in the oven???
  Sorry Mr. Bub, I just can't help it.

Dude you are not alone. My brother has had type 1 diabetes for over 30 years and gastroparesis for well over a decade.

It is a mobility issue for the stomach caused by nerve damage from diabetes. It is not a steady decline, though. Sometimes it will be better, sometimes worse. My brother takes reglan 4 times a day for improved mobility.

Gastroparesis has put my brother in the hospital more times than any other aspect of this illness due to uncontrolled vomiting and the resultant upper gi bleeds. Over the years we have gotten much better at managing it - eating normally when its a good time, eating a lot of small meals when it is a bad time along with religious attention to timing of the reglan dosing. Most importantly, we hammer persistent vomiting with phenergan and a very gentle diet until it stops.

Bub, there has actually been a lot written on IHD about gastroparesis - do a search on it. We're here for you, so just ask away if you have questions. Whenever we are out, we carry a plastic bag. It can come in handy!

Alene

[jbeany]

Reglan is a must.  Never, never overstuff yourself.  The more you put in the stomach, the less likely it can deal with the food.  Don't eat late at night or before laying down - staying upright helps.  You throw up in the morning because the food from dinner has been sitting in your stomach all night.  The stomach keeps trying to produce acid to digest the food, but the signal that is supposed to make the stomach muscles contract and move the food into the rest of the digestive system isn't getting thru the damaged nerves.  I get acid burns in my throat from throwing up - so NOT fun! The reglan is actually a muscle contractor.  (It's actually very similar to Viagra - how's that for a thought?)  Greasy foods can make it worse.  If you are craving something greasy, try to eat it for lunch so there's more time for it to digest before you lay down for the night.  High fiber foods are also harder to digest.  High protein things like steak are best in small portions too.  Learn to chew really well - it helps the food move easier.  Unfortunately, lots of fluid helps move things thru, too - but that ceases to be an option with dialysis.

Losing weight has helped me, too.  Less fat compressing the organs, I guess.

On bad days - think soft baby foods like applesauce.  Pasta is always a good choice, but no high acid tomato sauces, or overly creamy alfredos.  Think tossed in olive oil or seasoned with a little broth.

[aharris2]

On bad days - think soft baby foods like applesauce.

Sweet peas baby food with a little chicken broth mixed in makes for a tasty pea soup. As the bad day subsides, a little dry toast broken into chunks and added to it turns it into "pea soup with dumplings". Tasty and good for what ails ya!

[Bub]

Thanks guys, I have been takijng a small dose of reglan before bed time and it does seem to help, and I eat small light suppers and eat before 6 pm. (three or four hours before bed).  This usually controls the problem except for the worst days, and then throwing up seems to make me feel much better.