I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: donnia on April 04, 2007, 09:46:22 AM

Title: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: donnia on April 04, 2007, 09:46:22 AM
My stomach has been so upset lately.... my doctor said it is probably from the failure.... anyone have tips on how to settle the stomach???  I'm getting desperate!
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: jbeany on April 04, 2007, 10:32:43 AM
The good news is, once you get thru the first few months of dialysis, the stomach problems will probably go away.  Mine did.  I've got diabetic gastroparesis, and the higher my toxin levels got, the worse it got.  I was taking reglan on a regular basis for a while there, trying not to throw up whatever I was eating.  I haven't needed them much at all in the last few weeks - I think I've only taken one or two the whole time.

In the meantime, try and keep track of what you're eating, and see what makes things the worst.  You can avoid some things temporarily, until you start to feel better.  I ate a lot of saltines and drank broth - two things that always helped settle my stomach. 

Hang in there!
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: MyssAnne on April 04, 2007, 11:09:13 AM
For me, driving/riding in a car upset my stomach tremendously. Not eating before getting in the car, then having saltines/pretzels helped. Warm coke (I know, phosphates, but sometimes you gotta!), hot tea helped too.
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: donnia on April 04, 2007, 11:12:01 AM
The good news is, once you get thru the first few months of dialysis, the stomach problems will probably go away.  Mine did.  I've got diabetic gastroparesis, and the higher my toxin levels got, the worse it got.  I was taking reglan on a regular basis for a while there, trying not to throw up whatever I was eating.  I haven't needed them much at all in the last few weeks - I think I've only taken one or two the whole time.

In the meantime, try and keep track of what you're eating, and see what makes things the worst.  You can avoid some things temporarily, until you start to feel better.  I ate a lot of saltines and drank broth - two things that always helped settle my stomach. 

Hang in there!

The problem is, I haven't even started dialysis yet.  I will soon tho. ugh!  I just feel awful.

Thanks for the advice tho... I will go eat some saltines, maybe it will help.
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: MyssAnne on April 04, 2007, 11:13:59 AM
Oh man. Definitely saltines/pretzels. I would suck on them, serious! I remember that feeling of nausea very well.
Be careful of foods, you'll notice some will affect you more than others. But do try the warm coke, it does work.
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: donnia on April 04, 2007, 11:37:21 AM
Do you think warm Dr. Pepper would work??
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: jbeany on April 04, 2007, 11:45:19 AM
Do you like ginger ale?  Ginger in any form helps settle the stomach.  Peppermints are supposed to do this as well - which is why restaurants frequently offer mints after meals. (It's not just about the breath!)
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: MyssAnne on April 04, 2007, 11:55:23 AM
Yes, warm dr. pepper will work! It just has to be a cola, it's something in there that settles it. Even now, if
I have an upset stomach, I take a coke/dr. pepper to settle it.  Ginger ale, as jbeany noted is good too!
Peppermints, as well as ginger, either in candy form or tea form would work as well.
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: donnia on April 04, 2007, 01:12:47 PM
Thanks so much for the help.  I didn't have any cola so I got in my car to drive to the store to get a dr. pepper.  I noticed I had some mint gum so I started to chew it.  Wow, it really helped... this was BEFORE yall told me than mint would help.... now I come home to read your post and had to chuckle  ;D

Again, thanks for the help!  I know I will be using your hints alot!!!
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: Stacy Without An E on April 04, 2007, 03:24:25 PM
Go to any health food store and pick up "Powerdophilis"  It's a more concentrated version of Acidophilis.  I wake up nausoue on dialysis days and take one in the afernoon and the evening.  I haven't thrown up in months and it keeps good bacteria in your intestinal system.  You can get a huge bottle for about $20 to $30 dollars but it's well worth the investment.
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: brenda on April 04, 2007, 06:43:28 PM
I always used and still use peppermint tea for nausea. I even used it on my kids when they were little. I grow my own but you can buy it fresh in the Health food section in most grocery stores. Just don't make it very strong, sip it and remember fluid restrictions.
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: PMP on April 04, 2007, 06:50:26 PM
Yes, warm dr. pepper will work! It just has to be a cola, it's something in there that settles it. Even now, if
I have an upset stomach, I take a coke/dr. pepper to settle it.  Ginger ale, as jbeany noted is good too!
Peppermints, as well as ginger, either in candy form or tea form would work as well.

I've looked for ginger candy and have never able to find it.  Any suggestions?  I love ginger tea!!  Just can't find the candy.

Thanks.

Pat
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: mymoonring on April 04, 2007, 07:23:04 PM
When ever i get an upset tummy I drink Pepperment teatakes of the nausea and also taste yummie ;D
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: MyssAnne on April 05, 2007, 08:07:12 AM
PMP, I wish I did have suggestions on how to get ginger candy! I don't know, I had heard this, and knew from
experience that ginger does work for nausea. I'll do some searching and see what I can find out for you!
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: MyssAnne on April 05, 2007, 01:37:54 PM
http://www.morningsicknesshelp.com/ginger.html

PMP, I did find this, and apparently Reed's makes candy as well. If you google it, you will find a lot more!
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: goofynina on April 05, 2007, 03:07:50 PM
These are some fantastic tips, i am definetly going to stock up on some of these items cuz sometimes my stomach is just not "upset" but PISSED OFF!!! :p   Thanks again friends  :grouphug;
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: MyssAnne on April 05, 2007, 04:38:40 PM
shhhh. Don't tell anyone in the medical field...but when I have been sick, one of my
foods I eat to feel better is....McDonalds fries. It has to be McDonalds.  I swear! It
works!
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: goofynina on April 05, 2007, 04:49:56 PM
shhhh. Don't tell anyone in the medical field...but when I have been sick, one of my
foods I eat to feel better is....McDonalds fries. It has to be McDonalds.  I swear! It
works!

I hear ya,  McDonalds fries can make anyone or anything feel better ;)  i know that for a fact  :thumbup;
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: Bajanne on April 05, 2007, 04:56:53 PM
Ginger is the #1 in my region for stomach upsets.  My daughter says that my father prescribed ginger for everything.  This is how she put it - "You have upset stomach - have some ginger tea!  You have a headache - have some ginger tea!  You have AIDS - have some ginger tea!"
Ginger exists in every form in the Caribbean and is readily obtained - fresh ginger, ginger ale, ginger soda, ginger tea, ginger beer (really just gingerade), ginger mints (with no mint in them, just ginger), powdered ginger, sugared ginger, dried ginger.
But it does settle nausea well.
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: goofynina on April 05, 2007, 04:59:05 PM
Ginger, Ginger, Ginger, no one ever mentions MaryAnn or Mrs. Howell, :P :P

(just some Gilligan's Island humor) i know, i know, my bad  ::)
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: kitkatz on April 05, 2007, 06:30:47 PM
Chamomile tea, warm with a little sugar or sweetener.  Cures an upset tummy.  I throw 7up back up as well as Sprite.  Nasty stuff! My tummy gets upset according to what I eat. Potato chips upset it, but not french fries.  Also it comes and goes according to blood pressure and stress in my life.
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: meadowlandsnj on April 06, 2007, 01:49:42 PM
PMP, I wish I did have suggestions on how to get ginger candy! I don't know, I had heard this, and knew from
experience that ginger does work for nausea. I'll do some searching and see what I can find out for you!

Vermont Country Store sells ginger candy that's pretty good.  Their catalog is very entertaining as well if you're into that.

http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/jump.jsp?itemID=0&itemType=HOME_PAGE
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: goofynina on April 06, 2007, 02:55:25 PM
I went to WalGreens last night looking for GingerAle and they didnt have it,  do i have to go to a liquor store to get it?  cuz i will along with a bottle of tequila to chase it down :P ;)
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: anja on April 06, 2007, 11:01:09 PM
  About the ginger candy, it has been my experience that the Asian grocers keep this on their shelves.  You might want to check them out.
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: MyssAnne on April 07, 2007, 07:11:14 AM
STARBUCKS!!! They have hard ginger candy! I just saw it yesterday, also, an international store, such as Pier! might have it, I found some in
the World Import store (or whatever it's called.)  I also got some ginger cookies for myself, I love that stuff!
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: Hawkeye on April 07, 2007, 09:30:40 AM
I have acid reflux and when it gets bad to the point that I need to take something other than my meds for it I use Gaviscon.  It works really well for that and for easing my upset stomachs.
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: Chicken Little on April 07, 2007, 10:27:12 AM
We consume a lot of ginger, as my hubby is out on scuba boats a couple times a week.  The best source, by far, is The Ginger People.  http://www.gingerpeople.com/products.html  They sell it in health food and gourmet grocers in my area, but I've ordered online from them too.  I like the Gin-Gin hard candies and my hubby likes the chews.  We also get the juice and make a drink with diet 7up and a splash of both ginger and pineapple juice.  I would have thought the acid from the juice would be terrible, but it's killed my nausea every time.   :2thumbsup;

Before I started dialysis my stomach was so messed up.  Alien material came out of my body regularly.   I hope your tummy problems get better soon donnia. 
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: goofynina on April 07, 2007, 12:13:10 PM
Wow, so i guess Ginger it is, i am really going to have to go hunting for the stuff and stock up cuz my stomach has been getting "Pissed Off" more and more lately ;)  Thank you all for the suggestions..  :2thumbsup;
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: kitkatz on April 07, 2007, 05:52:42 PM
Vernon's Ginger Ale or root beer. Yummy!
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: MyssAnne on April 08, 2007, 06:46:08 AM
MMMMMMM Rooooot beer. (Think Homer Simpson!). I looove that stuff. We're trying some
this weekend, with real vanilla and real cane sugar. Oh my gosh. Oh. It is so good.
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: JerseyGirl on April 08, 2007, 07:41:31 AM
McDonald's french fries - yum yum!  They cure all that ails you...tee hee!
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: goofynina on April 13, 2007, 08:46:21 PM
OK, so my stomach has been "pissed off" all day today, i think it is gas but not too sure,  i have already drank me a whole liter of Ginger Ale (not too bad tasting by the way) :P  and got no relief.  I have taken Gas-X to no relief and now, hubby has just went to buy me an honest to goodness can of coke, my last resort,  the pain is so excruciating it has me doubled over,  Please help, 

Signed,
Full of Hot Air (literally)  :-\
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: anja on April 13, 2007, 09:25:26 PM
Too bad your tummy is causing you so much grief~ have you stopped the Tums since your lab report?  Did you ever get any candied ginger to try?  Sure hope something helps soon, Goofynina.  If it is gas, laying on your left side will help the natural movement of things.  My doctor gave me permission to use Pepto-Bismol, but only 2 or 3 days at most when I was sick a week ago.  Maybe you will need to check with your neph. if it continues to be so painful.
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: goofynina on April 13, 2007, 09:29:17 PM
Thank you Anja, i hope i have found the cure, what is it you ask? lol,  a 12oz. can of Coca Cola, ohhhh man,   ;musicalnote; ;musicalnote; oh what a relief it is  ;musicalnote; ;musicalnote; (i know, wrong slogan, but such a relief it is)  I am going to go to bed now and sleep on my left side and hopefully that will help eliminate any extra air bubbles i might have.  Thanks for the tip Anja, and i dont think i would be able to tolerate Pepto Bismol, bad experience when i was a kid :P ;)    XOXOXO Goofynina  :-*
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: goofynina on April 15, 2007, 05:28:13 PM
Here it is Sunday and i am STILL suffering from abdominal pains, now i am beginning to worry that it isnt gas at all, i have put in calls to my PD nurse and havent gotten any calls in return, i do not know whether i should go to the hospital, wait a little longer and see if it passes (it's already been a freaken week)  wait to see my neph, but then i am changing nephs so which one do i see?  oh hell, i am lost in limbo and full of hot air. ugh  :(

oh, and Anja, girlfriend, you are so right about sleeping on your left side, that helped alot, ALOT, i am so accustomed to sleeping on my right and the pain was worse but i found a little comfort by sleeping on my left, thank you so much  :2thumbsup;
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: livecam on April 15, 2007, 06:46:37 PM
I rarely have any stomach problems but when I do they are usually acid related.  A rich pasta sauce sometimes causes problems and most of the time it is about six or seven hours after the food was consumed so usually it is in the middle of the night.  I start out with tums which usually helps, if that doesn't work Opremazole (prescription Pepcid) is the next step.  Usually that will completely cure the problem.  Another thing that always seems to help me is a nice glass of cold milk.  It is a good substitute for either or both of the meds I just mentioned.
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: goofynina on April 15, 2007, 06:52:59 PM
I have been doing the "drum" test,  you put 3 fingers on your belly and press down and then with your other hand, tap on your three fingers, and if it sounds like a drum then you got air in there, sheeeit, my stomach sounds like the drum scene in King Kong,  ::)
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: Zach on April 15, 2007, 08:46:21 PM
I have been doing the "drum" test,  you put 3 fingers on your belly and press down and then with your other hand, tap on your three fingers, and if it sounds like a drum then you got air in there, sheeeit, my stomach sounds like the drum scene in King Kong,  ::)

Maybe you need to avoid certain foods that now give you gas, even though they may not have in the past.

Also, have you ever tried Beano?  You take it with meals and helps prevent gas.
http://www.beanogas.com/

Remember to check with you PD Nurse to make sure using Beano is OK.
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: anja on April 15, 2007, 10:16:17 PM
Goofynina, do you take anything with your meals for your tummy? (besides your binders)  I take a generic Zantac (acid reducer0 with  EVERY meal and have no more trouble.  I think I remember them trying you on Prilosec or Prevacid and I know they are more costly.  I think I pay a little over $3 for 30 pills.  Might run this by the nephrologist...  Hope you get over the pain quickly.
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: Kathleen on April 16, 2007, 10:07:42 AM
Susie

When hubby first started on dialysis he was so sick to his tummy, the neph suggested coke syrupy. Which is kept behind the counter at the pharmacy. Don't have to have a script for it. It's a very old time remedy. Hubby never gave it a try, so don't know if it works. Might ask your pd nurse about it.

Kat
Title: Re: How to settle the upset stomach
Post by: goofynina on April 16, 2007, 12:48:03 PM
Thank you Anja and Kathleen, i see my "new" neph on Wednesday and i am going to ask her about these for if (and/or) when this ever happens again (God please let it be never)  Boy, do i have a list for her, lol, I told my PD nurse not to warn her about me cuz she may not want to accept me :P  lol, thank goodness she remember me for when i was in clinic and she was glad she was going to see me again  :clap;