Suggest Treatment For Persistent Vomiting In An Elderly Person

Posted on Mon, 10 Apr 2017

Question: I am a 70 year old Floridian who flew to XXXXXXX on 3/15 to visit 5 year-old and 17 month old grandsons. Had a piece of fish, fries and slaw for lunch yesterday and three small pieces of sausage/mushroom pizza for supper. I woke up about 3am and vomited just about everything I had in my stomach. I vomited again at 4 am and 5:10am. Vomited mostly water and mucous at 11am. I have had a very dry mouth and am very thirsty. PX medicines are 200 mg of synthroid, 2.5 mg of lisiniporil, 100 mg of sertraline, 20 mg of simvastatin, and (3) 500 mg of metformin. No history of cancer, gerd, or heart disease. A1C is controlled by metformin and diet. I vomited again at noon today. Vomit was jiquid and bright orange-yellow. I would say bile-like. I had my appendix out when I was 11 years old. I had a complete hysterectomy, bladder, urethra, and bowel repair in August 2016. At that time Uro-gynecologist told me that all my organs looked healthy. Gallbladder included. I also have a low-grade fever and headache. Is there an urgency that I see a doctor? I go back to Florida on 3/21. Are there any foods or Med's you might suggest? Thank you, XXXXXXX DeSutter

Answered by Dr. Dr. Happykumar Kagathara (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
yes, it is advisable to consult the physician

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I can understand your concern for your symptoms. Also, I appreciate the way you mentioned your history.

1) Your symptoms are suggestive of gastroenteritis i.e. inflammation (redness and edema) of stomach and initial part of small intestine. This might be due to irritation or allergy to any particular food or also secondary to non-specific infection to GI tract after ingesting uncooked or partially cooked food.

2) You must avoid oily, spicy, any form of raw food, overcooked food for few days

3) You can take anti-acidity medication (eg. Pantoprazole), for vomiting you can take medication (Ondansetron), ant-spasmodic medication (eg.Dicycloverine i.e. Spasmo-proxyvon) to control episodes of abdominal pain. If you have loose stool also, then you can take anti-motility group of medication (Loperamide) if stool frequency is >5-6 times and if there's no blood in the stool.

4) Yes, you should consult the physician for these symptoms as wrongly or partially managed condition might lead to dehydration secondary to persistent vomiting and loose stool.

Hope I answered your query. If you have any further doubts, I would be happy to help you.
Have a nice day!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Happykumar Kagathara (17 minutes later)

If I go to anurgent care shall I show the doctor there my question and your response?

What is the Norvirus.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Happykumar Kagathara (27 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
yes you can show this conversation

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Yes, you can show this conversation to your physician as a reference.

Norovirus is a contagious virus that can infect anyone. A person can get it from an infected person, contaminated food or water. Noroviruses are sometimes called food poisoning because they can be transmitted through food that's been contaminated with the virus.

No antiviral drug can treat this viral infection, but in healthy people, the illness should go away on its own within a couple of days provided a person is taking proper treatment/prevention for dehydration.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee