Expert: Leigh-Anne Persing, PA-C - 11/25/2006

Question
Hi.......over the last 2 weeks my wife has not been able to keep most foods down.
Even toast, mashed potatoes, cereal do not stay.
She does not feel sick at all.
She says she feels fine, just when she eats about 1/2 hour later she is riding the bus..........
any ideas?
she doesn't drink or smoke or take any prescription meds.

Answer
Without knowing the whole history and not being able to examine her I can not give an accurate diagnosis, but I can give you a list of differentials that maybe you could look into and see if this sounds anything like what she is experiencing:

Gastroenteritis - this is usually self-limiting, but would also cause nausea, vomiting, fever

Irritable Bowel Syndrome - most likely suspect i would say. Can be diarrhea predominate, constipation predominate, or a mixture of the 2. It can be exacerbated during times of stress. May cause abdominal cramping as well

Celiac Disease (celiac Sprue) - a gluten enteropathy... meaning her gut has an allergy to gluten containing products (wheats, barley, and many other refined and processed foods). This is usually, but not always, diagnosed in early to mid adulthood.

Has she done any recent traveling? Any chance of pregnancy? Any past surgeries? Any abdominal pain? These are questions that you need to be considering.