I think I'm having a REAL serious stomache problem. (Need opinions)

[SmileyBoy]

The problem is this: I can barely eat anything anymore, and I'm probably consuming less than 1200 calories per day. It got to the point tonight where I went to the cafeteria to eat dinner, and I wasn't hungry (as usual), and by the end of dinner, I could barely eat a bowl of soup and drink two glasses of juice, and I fely VERY queazy and nauseous and felt like I would throw up afterwards. I'm still feeling it a little bit as I type this.

I've vomited about an average of about once every 10-14 days for the past eight weeks or so. Now it's gotten to the point where I'm eating one meager meal and one snack every day, and probably I'm consuming maybe half of the average intake of calories. As a result, I've cancelled my Ramadan fasting due to the possibility of more damage being done to my stomache if I continue.

This problem has gotten worse and worse throughout the past two and a half months, and when it started, I just assumed it was anxiety stemming from going off to college and being away from home, and the anxiety of my schoolwork. But I feel that I've gotten used to my life, and emotionally and psychologically, I don't feel any anxiety. But the eating thing (or lack thereof) has gotten worse.

This has occurred since about the time I started losing weight. Now, don't get me wrong; I LIKE the fact that I've lost weight. I had a peak weight of 242 at the beginning of August, and I'm down to 220 according to my last weigh-in. Like I said, this problem started gradually getting worse about 6-8 weeks ago. I really don't think this is very good for me, because I'm afraid that I'm going to suffer certain vitamin and/or protein deficiencies if this keeps up.

Now, here's my thought: I haven't been able to take my medications on a regular basis for that same period of time. I'm thinking that this is due to medication withdrawl. But I'm not missing doses of my meds on PURPOSE, mind you. I've just had LOTS of other things on my mind, and it tends to be forgotten a lot.

As a result of that, I've decided to make my medication doses a priority in my daily life (even though I already have about a zillion other "priorities", but they'll have to be pushed aside), and I'm going to try to take EVERY SINGLE dose of my meds for two weeks. If the problem persists or gets worse, I'm going to need to get medical attention regardless.

But I want to know what you think it might be. Is this a stomache problem, or could this just be medication withdrawl?? But the thing is that this whole stomach/eating problem started when I was still taking my meds on a regular basis.

Well, what do you think???

[nini]

1. You should see a doctor.

It could be a combination of things.. but you should be checked out just in case.

good luck

[DuctapeFatwa]

2. I think you should go to the doctor

Rather than worrying about it and suffering with it, just go to the doctor and let them take care of it.

Just pretend you're a car, and your stomach is the transmission.

[david_vincent]

3. IBS?

I have a friend with IBS and some of your symptoms sound the same as his.

[SmileyBoy]

5. That's impossible. I'm not farting.

;-)

[DUreader]

4. Depends on the Meds.

[SmileyBoy]

9. Well, I take four different meds.

Clonidine (anxiety reducer), Straterra (for ADHD), Orap (for Tourette's Syndrome) and Celexa (for clinical depression). None of them are MAOi's, and alcohol wouldn't be the problem, cause I've had about three total drinks in the past two months.

[Guaranteed]

26. It's definitely

related to the meds. Go to your doctor, NOW, and tell him what's happening. Do NOT let him tell you it doesn't have anything to do with your medications. Those are all strong meds.
I'm not a doctor (although I do have good experience in this field)- but, you might be overmedicated. Four psychotropic drugs, no matter the diagnosis (and it sounds as if you have several, which just shouldn't be) are almost certainly going to interact with each other.
Go to your doctor and demand a change. This is wrong. With this many medications, you could be having all kinds of health issues.

typosss

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. Could be an ulcer

and if it is, you'd better see your doctor before it does some real damage.

[Zorba607]

7. I think

that would depend on which meds you're taking. I'm not asking, mind you, it's none of anyone's business, but the symptoms of withdrawl vary with the med. Mania, if that's your vice, often causes loss of apetite.
I don't know other circumstances or symptoms but if it were me I'd talk to a doctor.

[bluedeminredstate]

8. Agree with first poster

You obviously have something going on and it could be potentially serious like a partial obstruction or a number of other things. Don't wait on this. Loss of appetite and unexplained vomiting are signals from your body that someting is WRONG. Please call your regular doc if you have one or go to your local ER where they will have to treat you. Money shouldn't be an issue right now if that's a factor in keeping you from seeking medical treatment. Something is wrong and your body is giving you a strong message. Listen to it.

I hope you're feeling better son. :)

[SmileyBoy]

11. Thanks. I might schedule an appointment tomorrow.

It's just that I have my schoolwork (four brutally hard classes) and football (my job) to think about in my life right now, and I'm getting poor grades in two of my classes that I have to bring up IMMEDIATELY. So I've got a lot of shit to juggle around in my life, along with my money situation that has come up, and I tried to not make the stomache thing too much of a concern, but it appears that it's going to have to be.

[areschild]

10. I had eating problems

when I was going thru clinical depression. I would always throw up after eating (not intentionally), plus I wasn't getting much sleep. I also had panic attacks, and felt like I was going to physically crumble like a sand sculpture. I finally went to the dr. and was placed on anti-depressants. They really helped me. I don't know if this could be your problem, so it would be best to get checked out by your dr.

[SmileyBoy]

12. I'm already diagnosed with clinical depression.

I've had it for a LOOONG time. That's what one of my meds are for. Lickily, I'm taking them (or at least TRYING to take them).

[Wickerman]

15. Celexa could upset your stomach

A few years ago I had a major depressive episode and had a real struggle to find the right med. Celexa was new to the market and I was warned that it could be touchy for my stomach, but the other meds I tried were not going to work. Worked fine for me, but always wondered if others have problems with it.

In other words, it could be as simple as a reaction to your meds - GO TO THE DOCTOR. You're in Minnesota and we need you healthy in 2004 - there is a lot to do! Don't wait, make the appt in the morning. Get whatever is wrong corrected and get feeling better now. Its not ok to throw up for several days running and the Doc can straighten it out.

Let us know what happens.

LB

[SmileyBoy]

20. Actually, I'm a North Dakota resident now.

I'm a North Dakota voter, too. Got re-registered. But a LOT of Fargoans are pulling behind Dean. The Democratic candidate just might win Cass County.

But, I digress.:-)

[Wickerman]

21. my bad

sorry, glad you are still rooting for the Vikes, though. Guess the ND snow dogs aren't an option?

Anyway, subtleness aside, get your ass to a doctor.
:D

[Nikia]

13. Could be several things

Regular anxiety can cause stomach problems. Try to remember what you eat and how you feel to see if there might be any trigger foods. For example, I am lactose intolerant and my boss has problems with acidic foods like tomatoes. Do you have any other symptoms? My stomach improved quite a bit after I was treated for a chronic sinus infection. Regardless, go to the doctor and get ulcres and obstructions ruled out. I don't know if you smoke pot or consider it unhealthy, immoral, or are unable to get any, but this has helped me eat before. It helps other people eat too which is why many cancer patients use it as medicine in that way.

[hedda_foil]

14. It could be a reaction to the combo of meds you're on.

I know that I was on several different medications at once and seemed to be doing okay with them. (Well, I wasn't, but I didn't realize it.) Suddenly, though, I stopped being able to sleep at all and became incredibly jittery. It was the combo of meds.

You're not on the same combination, or having the same symptoms, but the point I'm trying to make is that the way you react to medications can change with time.

Get thee to the doctor.

[bicentennial_baby]

16. YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR

It may be something simple, like your med combo or anxiety, but it could also be quite serious. Please see a doctor asap.

[greatauntoftriplets]

17. You need a doctor's opinion, not ours.

We are not qualified to practice medicine.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

18. You May Have A Worm/Parasite

My husband had one a few years ago and they couldn't figure out what it was. Since he hates the doctor, it took him six weeks and not being able to hold down anything or in but a light meal (and this man LOVES to eat).

They give you a broad-spectrum anti-biotic and it usually takes a few weeks to feel well again.

Hope you feel better!

On edit: like others said here, you are on a powerful cocktail of meds-definitely check that route first.

[bicentennial_baby]

19. That was my thought

Good call. Yes, see a doctor.

[TrogL]

22. Sounds like something my mother has

They just put her in the hospital and can't figure out what's wrong. They're wondering about a twist in her bowels.

[Throckmorton]

23. Go see a Doctor and demand an upper GI Series

Mrs Throckmorton had symptoms much like you describe. After 4 months of visits to the quack at the local walk-in clinic she was finally hospitalized. Verdict, esophageal cancer, stage 4, she was 39 at the time.

The gastrointerologist that took on her case was horrified that the quack had never done a single GI series. Said quack just prescribed one drug after another. When one didn't work, he would try something different. This went on for 4 months, one day she was so weak she had to go to the emergency room, and was admited within 2 hours. Thats when we found out about the tumors.

[4323Lopez]

24. See a doctor.

This isn't webmd.com

[Guaranteed]

25. Before you even said it, it sounded like a medication problem.

I remember when I went off a certain medication, I had NO appetite for at least a month. I mean, I hardly ate a damned thing. Lost at least twenty pounds. And, I was only about 5'7".
You definitely need to see a doctor. This is not a "stomach problem" if you don't have an appetite. However, it could be anxiety related, and most likely has a neurochemical and/or endocrinological cause. The medications almost certainly have something to do with it, too.