Husband wont keep throwing up????

Question

This may sound wierd but for some reason, my husband wakes up everymorning and throws up. And i mean every morning. It's nothing but stomach acid, and he has bad heartburn all the time. I figured it would stop after a few days, but its been 2 months! He takes prilosec OTC, and sometimes Zantac, but nothing seems to help the heartburn. What could this be caused by, and would that be causing him to throw up every morning?

Answer 1

My sister has it so bad that it has backed up into her ears and went into her lungs. She swears by taking vinegar everyday will help, if you can get past the taste. You have to take it straight. Does your husband wait a few hours after he eats before he lies down? What foods cause his to act up? Usually acidic foods like spaghetti sauce, spicy foods, etc... can cause this. I get heartburn with strong spices in the spaghetti sauces. Some people have to lie at a 30 degree angle at night to keep it from coming back up.

Here is a website that gives you more information as to what causes it. I would see the doctor and tell him what you have done and that nothing is helping.

What Causes Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Mild temporary heartburn caused by overeating acidic foods can happen to anyone, particularly when bending over, taking a nap, or engaging in lifting after a large meal high in fatty acidic foods. Persistent gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), however, may be due to one or more pathological factors, which include malfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter muscles (LES), defects in the mucous membrane, peristalsis problems, over-acidic stomach contents, and other problems. Some people may be sensitive to digestive factors other than acid; such substances can cause GERD symptoms but are likely to be missed as causal agents.

Malfunction of the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) Muscles.
The band of muscle tissue called lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which is responsible for closing and opening the lower end of the esophagus, is essential for maintaining a pressure barrier against contents from the stomach. If it loses tone, the LES will not constrict completely after food is emptied into the stomach; in such cases, acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus. The LES is a complex area of smooth muscles and its function can be impaired by various hormones, dietary substances, drugs, and nervous system factors.

Impaired Stomach Function.
In one study, over half of GERD patients showed abnormal nerve or muscle function in the stomach, which caused impaired motility, an inability of the muscles to contract normally. This causes delays in stomach emptying, increasing the risk for acid back-up.

Hiatal Hernia.
Until recent years, it was commonly believed that most cases of persistent heartburn were caused by hiatal, or hiatus hernia - a protrusion of the stomach from the abdomen up into the chest. Although hiatal hernia may impair LES function, studies have failed to find a close causal association between gastroesophageal reflux and hiatal hernia. Some studies indicate that people with both GERD and hiatal hernia do have more severe gastroesophageal reflux.

Medical Conditions that Contribute to GERD.
About half of asthmatic patients also have GERD. Some experts speculate that the coughing and sneezing accompanying asthmatic attacks cause changes in pressure in the chest that can trigger reflux. Certain asthmatic drugs including theophylline and other medications that dilate the airways may relax the LES and contribute to GERD. It is not entirely clear, however, whether asthma is a cause or effect of GERD [see also, How Serious is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease?, below] . Other conditions, such as Crohn’s disease, can cause inflammation in the esophagus. Other disorders that may affect areas that can contribute to GERD include diabetes, peptic ulcers, lymphomas, and cancer.

Hypersensitive Esophagus.
When the esophagus appears normal but GERD symptoms are present, the cause may be an exaggerated, or hyperactive, response to irritants that causes the immune system to produce factors that produce inflammation in the esophagus.

Other Causes of GERD.
Weakened peristaltic movement in the esophagus may contribute to GERD. If the mucous membrane is impaired, even a normal amount of acid can harm the esophagus. Pressure on the abdomen caused by factors such as obesity or tight clothing can contribute to acid back-up into the esophagus. A recent study suggested that food allergies may be responsible for gastroesophageal reflux disease in children.

Who Gets Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is very common. Studies have shown that 36% to 44% of adults experience heartburn at least one a month, 14% every week and 7% once a day. One study reported that 20% of people had frequent symptoms of GERD but that very few of them sought help for the condition. People of all ages are susceptible to GERD. Elderly people with GERD tend to have a more serious condition than younger people with the problem.

Foods and Eating-Pattern Risk Factors.
Anyone who eats a heavy meal, particularly if one subsequently lies on the back or bends over from the waist, is at risk for an attack of heartburn. Anyone who snacks at bedtime is at high risk for GERD. Foods that can weaken LES tone include garlic, onions, chocolate, fat, alcohol, peppermint, spearmint, and coffee. Caffeinated drinks and decaffeinated coffee increase acid contents in the stomach. Other carbonated beverages increase the risk for symptoms of GERD by bloating the stomach and causing pressure that forces acid to back up into the esophagus.

Smoking and Alcohol.
Alcohol can irritate the mucous membrane of the esophagus and relax the LES. In concentrations of 40% (80 proof), alcohol has been shown to cause erosion and bleeding of the stomach lining in both animals and humans. On the other hand, some studies have shown that small amounts of alcohol may actually protect the mucosal layer. Smoking can also reduce muscle function, increase acid secretion, reduce prostaglandins and bicarbonate production, and decrease mucosal blood flow.

Drugs that Increase the Risk for GERD.
A number of drugs and foods can cause the LES to relax and function poorly. Drugs that have this effect include calcium channel blockers, anti-cholinergics, beta- and alpha-adrenergic agonists, dopamine, sedative, and common pain relievers. Calcium channel blockers and anti-cholinergics also weaken the peristaltic action of the esophagus and slow stomach emptying. The anti-osteoporosis drug alendronate (Fosamax) can cause damage to the esophagus. Patients should take this drug with six to eight ounce of water (not juice or carbonated or mineral water) on an empty stomach in the morning and should remain upright for 30 minutes afterward.

Genetic Factors.
Genetic factors may play a role in susceptibility to Barrett’s esophagus, a precancerous condition caused by very severe gastroesophageal reflux. One expert believes that an inherited risk exists in most cases of GERD.

Typical Symptoms.
The primary symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux are heartburn, a burning sensation that radiates up from the stomach to the chest and throat, and regurgitation, in which the patient can feel the acid backing up. Sometimes it regurgitates as far as the mouth and may come out forcefully as vomit or experienced as a "wet burp". Up to half of GERD patients have dyspepsia, which is a combination of heartburn, fullness in the stomach, and nausea after eating. The symptoms are most likely to occur after a heavy meal while bending over, lifting, or lying down -- particularly on one’s back. It should be noted that the severity of symptoms does not necessarily reflect actual injury in the esophagus. For example, Barrett’s esophagus, which causes precancerous changes in the esophagus, may cause few symptoms, particularly in elderly people. On the other hand, people can suffer severe heartburn without actual damage to the esophagus.

There is so much more to read about on this website: http://www.drmarkyjohnson.com/GERD.html

Please make sure he sees a doctor to help him and tell him what has been happening. I had chest pains and they determined it was acid reflux even though I didn't have the heartburn at the time. I do get it now. Best wishes to you and prayers that your husband gets better.

Answer 2

wow! You have a real issue here. The truth is when you married him you took vows...for richer or poorer. 10 years is a long time, however have you tried talking to someone else a marriage counselor or church pastor about this. Sometimes we take things or hear things more clearer when they come from a neutral person/stranger. He is putting a strain on the relationship and it's not fair to you. Yes he's a good father and i get that you don't want to hurt your children, but what about you? Pray about it, and try to get some help. Talk to him if you haven't tell him how your feeling. COMMUNICATE! Tell him your contemplating seperating from him because it's too stressful at this point, it's gone on long enough. Enough is enough! He needs to get a job and stay there. he needs to SACRAFICE! That's what you've been doing all these years for him and the children.

Answer 3

Sounds like a hiatal hernia to me.
He is eating too late and is going to bed too soon after eating. Food is not going all the way down to his stomach and the food that is going down could be coming back up because of this hernia.
Try eating earlier and eating lighter. Try waiting 2hrs after eating before going to bed.
Raise the head of the bed. Place the head of the bed on cinder blocks,raising the head of the bed atleast 30-45 degrees.
Keep in mind that smoking and drinking can aggravate this situation.
Also,what kind of medicines is your husband on? Sometimes some medications can slow down the stomach emptying process and this too can cause what you describe.
If these suggestions do not help,consult a Gastroentrologist.


Good Luck

Answer 4

I had a similar problem...i had acid reflux and i would throw up every night....body produces too much acid and the acid goes to the esaphogus and iritates it and makes us throw up...have him see a speciallist and do an endoscopy...that should determine for sure if it is...its treateble with pills like nexium...he'll have to take it for as long as 6 monts every day but it took mine away...have him go asap though too long and the acid might damage the esaphagus which could lead to cancer...i learned a lot from that....good luck...

Answer 5

Is your husband under a lot of stress?? When I was under alot of stress from work and my son being sick I would get up every morning and do the exact same thing. It lasted for a couple of months until the doctors diagnosed my son with epilsepy and he got on meds. When the stress went away so did it.

Answer 6

My dad had a similar problem. It is usually due to the way he lies in bed at night, where the acid in his stomach is able to come up easier. He needs to stay off some foods that are causing his heartburn. Ask him what foods he has been eating and see if there are any connections with the food and the heartburn.

Answer 7

Could be alot of things, so he should go to his MD and get some testing done- whatever it is it can't be good, and even so chronic throwing up destroys the esophagus and rots teeth out.

Answer 8

I think he should see a doctor and get prescription medications to heal his escophogus and stomach.

Answer 9

has he gone to the doctor?

may be a food allergy

Answer 10

Has he been to the emergency room yet?