Nausea and Vomiting Evaluation in Cypress and Katy, TX

When Nausea or Vomiting May Be an Emergency

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department when vomiting occurs with:

• Difficulty breathing
• Severe chest pain
• Fainting or loss of consciousness
• New confusion
• Possible poisoning or overdose
• Sudden weakness, difficulty speaking, or another possible stroke symptom
• A severe allergic reaction
• A seizure
• A severe head injury
• Life-threatening symptoms of any kind

Seek emergency medical care promptly when you have:

• Bright red blood in the vomit
• Vomit that resembles coffee grounds
• Black, tarry stool
• Severe or constant abdominal pain
• A rigid or rapidly swollen abdomen
• Inability to pass stool or gas with vomiting and abdominal swelling
• Severe upper abdominal pain that spreads to the back
• Right-upper abdominal pain with fever, jaundice, or repeated vomiting
• Severe headache with a stiff neck
• Vomiting with severe dizziness or fainting
• Repeated vomiting with signs of serious dehydration
• Inability to swallow fluids or saliva
• Persistent green or bile-colored vomiting
• Vomiting after a recent abdominal procedure with worsening pain or fever

Blood or coffee-ground material in vomit may indicate upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Severe abdominal swelling, inability to pass gas, constipation, nausea, and vomiting can be signs of an intestinal obstruction. Severe upper abdominal pain extending to the back with nausea or vomiting may occur with acute pancreatitis.

Do not use an online appointment form for an emergency.

Signs of Dehydration From Vomiting

Vomiting can cause the body to lose water and important electrolytes.

Possible signs of dehydration include:

• Extreme thirst
• Dry mouth
• Dark yellow urine
• Urinating much less than usual
• Going many hours without urinating
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness when standing
• Fainting
• Sunken-looking eyes
• Rapid heartbeat
• Confusion
• Inability to keep liquids down

Seek medical care when you cannot keep fluids down, urination becomes significantly reduced, or you develop dizziness, weakness, or confusion.

MedlinePlus advises prompt medical evaluation when an adult has been unable to keep fluids down for 12 hours or more, has not urinated for eight or more hours, has severe abdominal pain, or has been vomiting for longer than 24 hours. Individual circumstances can require earlier care.

What Is the Difference Between Nausea, Vomiting, Retching, and Regurgitation?

These terms describe different symptoms.

Nausea

Nausea is the sensation that you may vomit. It may occur with:

• Sweating
• Increased saliva
• Dizziness
• Loss of appetite
• Upper abdominal discomfort
• A feeling of warmth or flushing
• Early fullness
• Sensitivity to smells

Vomiting

Vomiting is the forceful movement of stomach or upper intestinal contents through the mouth.

Retching

Retching, sometimes called dry heaving, involves the muscular movements of vomiting without bringing up stomach contents.

Regurgitation

Regurgitation is the relatively passive return of food, liquid, or acid into the mouth. It generally does not involve the forceful abdominal contractions associated with vomiting.

Regurgitation may occur with:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Esophageal swallowing disorders
• Rumination syndrome
• Other upper digestive conditions

Accurately describing what happens can help the gastroenterologist select the appropriate evaluation.

Advanced Care for Swallowing Disorders.

Acute, Persistent, and Recurrent Vomiting

The timing and pattern of symptoms can provide useful clues.

Acute nausea and vomiting

Acute symptoms begin suddenly and may last hours or several days.

Possible causes include:

• Viral gastroenteritis
• Foodborne illness
• Medication side effects
• Migraine
• Motion sickness
• Pregnancy
• Gallbladder inflammation
• Pancreatitis
• Intestinal obstruction
• Another infection or inflammatory condition

Persistent or chronic nausea and vomiting

Symptoms that continue for weeks may be related to:

• Gastroparesis
• Chronic gastritis
• Peptic ulcer disease
• Functional dyspepsia
• Medication effects
• Metabolic or hormonal conditions
• Chronic pancreatobiliary disease
• A disorder of gut-brain interaction
• An eating disorder
• Another digestive or non-digestive condition

Recurrent episodes with normal periods between them

Separate attacks of severe vomiting with relatively normal periods between episodes may suggest:

• Cyclic vomiting syndrome
• Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome
• Migraine-associated vomiting
• Another recurrent condition

Cyclic vomiting syndrome causes sudden, repeated episodes that may last from hours to days and are separated by periods without vomiting. Episodes often follow a similar pattern from one attack to another.

Common Symptoms That May Accompany Nausea and Vomiting

Tell your healthcare provider about other symptoms, including:

• Abdominal pain
• Abdominal swelling
• Upper abdominal burning
• Heartburn
• Acid regurgitation
• Feeling full after a few bites
• Feeling full for hours after eating
• Bloating
• Excessive belching
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Inability to pass gas
• Fever or chills
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Trouble swallowing
• Painful swallowing
• Chest pain
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Yellowing of the eyes or skin
• Dark urine
• Pale stool
• Blood in the vomit
• Black stool
• Vomiting undigested food
• Symptoms occurring at the same time of day
• Symptoms beginning after meals
• Symptoms associated with medicines or cannabis use

The combination of symptoms is often more informative than nausea or vomiting alone.

When Should You See a Gastroenterologist for Nausea or Vomiting?

Schedule a gastroenterology evaluation when nausea or vomiting:

• Persists beyond a short-term illness
• Keeps returning
• Has no clear explanation
• Occurs regularly after eating
• Causes you to avoid food
• Causes early fullness
• Causes unintentional weight loss
• Causes repeated dehydration
• Interferes with work, sleep, or daily activities
• Occurs with chronic abdominal pain
• Occurs with frequent heartburn or reflux
• Occurs with bloating and prolonged fullness
• Includes undigested food several hours after eating
• Occurs in similar repeated episodes
• Began after stomach, esophageal, chest, or abdominal surgery
• Occurs with diabetes
• Occurs after starting a new medicine
• Occurs with regular cannabis use
• Has not improved with initial treatment
• Has required repeated emergency-department visits

A gastroenterologist may help determine whether symptoms arise from the esophagus, stomach, intestines, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, medication effects, or a disorder of gastrointestinal movement.

Some causes are not primarily gastrointestinal. Depending on the history, evaluation may also require a primary-care clinician, obstetric clinician, neurologist, endocrinologist, ear-nose-and-throat specialist, or another healthcare professional.

What Causes Nausea and Vomiting?

Nausea and vomiting are symptoms rather than a single disease. Many different conditions can cause them.

Viral gastroenteritis and foodborne illness

A short-term infection may cause:

• Sudden nausea
• Vomiting
• Watery diarrhea
• Abdominal cramping
• Fever
• Loss of appetite

Viral gastroenteritis commonly causes watery diarrhea, abdominal pain or cramping, nausea or vomiting, and sometimes fever. Although many cases improve without specific treatment, dehydration or severe symptoms require medical attention.

Do not assume that every episode is a “stomach virus,” particularly when vomiting is severe, recurring, or associated with significant pain, bleeding, jaundice, neurologic symptoms, or inability to pass gas.

Gastritis and gastropathy

Inflammation or injury affecting the stomach lining may cause:

• Upper abdominal pain or discomfort
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Early fullness
• Excessive fullness after meals
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss

Gastritis and gastropathy do not always cause symptoms, but when symptoms occur they may include upper abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, early fullness, prolonged fullness, reduced appetite, and weight loss.

Peptic ulcer disease

A stomach or duodenal ulcer may cause:

• Burning or aching upper abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Bloating
• Belching
• Early fullness
• Reduced appetite

Complicated ulcers may cause:

• Bloody vomit
• Coffee-ground vomit
• Black stool
• Severe abdominal pain
• Dizziness or fainting

Common causes of peptic ulcers include Helicobacter pylori infection and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin.

Acid reflux and indigestion

GERD, reflux-related inflammation, and functional dyspepsia may cause:

• Nausea
• Upper abdominal discomfort
• Heartburn
• Acid regurgitation
• Early fullness
• Bloating
• Belching
• Reduced appetite

Frequent vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, painful swallowing, unexplained weight loss, or symptoms that do not improve require medical evaluation rather than indefinite self-treatment.

Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis is delayed movement of food from the stomach into the small intestine without a mechanical blockage.

Possible symptoms include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Vomiting undigested food
• Feeling full after a small amount
• Feeling full long after a meal
• Bloating
• Belching
• Upper abdominal discomfort
• Heartburn
• Poor appetite
• Weight loss

Diabetes is an important cause of gastroparesis. Other possible contributors include previous stomach or esophageal surgery, certain neurologic or connective-tissue conditions, infections, and medicines that slow stomach emptying. In many cases, a definite cause is not found.

Symptoms alone cannot confirm gastroparesis. A diagnosis generally requires objective evidence of delayed stomach emptying and exclusion of a blockage.

Gallbladder and bile-duct disorders

Gallstones or gallbladder inflammation may cause:

• Right-upper abdominal pain
• Pain after meals
• Pain lasting several hours
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever or chills
• Jaundice
• Dark urine
• Pale stool

Seek prompt medical care when right-upper abdominal pain occurs with persistent vomiting, fever, chills, jaundice, dark urine, or light-colored stool.

Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis commonly causes upper abdominal pain that may spread to the back.

Other symptoms may include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Rapid heartbeat
• Abdominal swelling
• Abdominal tenderness

People with suspected acute pancreatitis may appear and feel seriously ill and require prompt medical care.

Intestinal obstruction

A blockage in the stomach or intestines may cause:

• Abdominal pain
• Abdominal swelling
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Inability to pass gas
• Rapid worsening
• Fever or fast heart rate in complicated cases

An intestinal obstruction can become life-threatening and requires urgent evaluation.

Cyclic vomiting syndrome

Cyclic vomiting syndrome causes repeated episodes of severe nausea, vomiting, and retching.

The episodes often:

• Begin suddenly
• Follow a similar pattern
• Start around the same time of day
• Last hours or days
• Occur with abdominal pain, sweating, paleness, headache, dizziness, or sensitivity to light
• Are separated by relatively well periods

Patients may experience delays in diagnosis because the condition can resemble infection, migraine, gastroparesis, or other disorders.

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome

Long-term, frequent cannabis use can cause recurrent episodes of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain in some people.

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is associated most often with chronic, heavy cannabis exposure. Patients should discuss cannabis use honestly with the clinician because it can affect diagnosis, testing, and treatment.

This discussion should be confidential and nonjudgmental. Cannabis use does not automatically prove that it is the cause.

Medicine-related nausea and vomiting

Medicines and supplements may contribute to nausea, vomiting, or delayed stomach emptying.

Possible examples include:

• Opioid pain medicines
• Certain diabetes or weight-management medicines
• Some antibiotics
• Iron supplements
• Some antidepressants
• Chemotherapy medicines
• Medicines used after surgery
• Other prescription or over-the-counter products

Do not stop a prescribed medicine without consulting the prescriber.

Bring a complete medicine and supplement list to your appointment, including injections, vitamins, herbal products, cannabis products, and nonprescription medicines.

Pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting

Pregnancy is a common cause of nausea and vomiting.

Patients who are pregnant or could be pregnant should inform their healthcare provider. Severe vomiting, dehydration, abdominal pain, bleeding, dizziness, or inability to tolerate fluids may require prompt obstetric or emergency evaluation.

A gastroenterologist may participate in care when another digestive condition is suspected, but pregnancy-related treatment should be coordinated with the obstetric clinician.

Migraine, neurologic, and inner-ear causes

Nausea and vomiting may accompany:

• Migraine
• Vertigo
• Motion sickness
• Head injury
• Meningitis
• Increased pressure inside the skull
• Other neurologic conditions

A severe headache, stiff neck, confusion, weakness, speech difficulty, loss of balance, or symptoms after head injury require urgent evaluation.

Metabolic and hormonal causes

Possible non-digestive contributors include:

• Diabetes
• Severe blood-glucose abnormalities
• Kidney disease
• Adrenal or thyroid disorders
• Electrolyte disturbances
• Pregnancy
• Other metabolic conditions

The history and laboratory results help determine whether another specialty should be involved.

Disorders of gut-brain interaction

Some patients have chronic nausea or vomiting without a structural blockage, visible inflammation, or another abnormality that fully explains the symptoms.

These symptoms are real and may involve altered communication between the digestive tract and nervous system. This diagnosis should be made after appropriate evaluation rather than used as an assumption before concerning causes have been considered.

Better Swallowing Begins Here.

Nausea and Vomiting Care in Cypress, Katy, and Greater Houston

United Gastroenterology Associates provides adult gastroenterology consultations at offices in Cypress and Katy.

Cypress gastroenterology office

21216 Northwest Freeway, Suite 640
Cypress, TX 77429

View the Cypress gastroenterology office.

Katy gastroenterology office

23920 Katy Freeway, Suite 555
Katy, TX 77494

View the Katy gastroenterology office.

Appointments

Telephone: (346) 340-4414

Request a non-emergency appointment.

Review insurance information.

Excellence in Esophageal Care.

Why Choose United Gastroenterology Associates?

United Gastroenterology Associates offers:

• Evaluation by a gastroenterologist
• Adult digestive and liver care
• Cypress and Katy consultation locations
• Evaluation of acute, persistent, and recurrent symptoms
• Assessment of medicines, diabetes, surgery, diet, and symptom timing
• Upper endoscopy when clinically appropriate
• Coordination of laboratory and imaging testing
• Evaluation for gastroparesis when appropriate
• Care for associated reflux, gastritis, biliary, pancreatic, and liver conditions
• Referral or coordination with other specialists when symptoms are not primarily gastrointestinal
• Treatment recommendations based on the identified or suspected cause

Meet Muhammad Ali Khan, MD.

Request an Evaluation for Persistent Nausea or Vomiting

Recurring nausea and vomiting should not be managed indefinitely with repeated over-the-counter products without understanding why the symptoms are occurring.

A gastroenterology evaluation may help determine whether symptoms are related to:

• Gastritis
• Peptic ulcer disease
• Acid reflux
• Gastroparesis
• Gallbladder disease
• Pancreatic disease
• Intestinal obstruction
• Cyclic vomiting syndrome
• Cannabis-related vomiting
• Medication effects
• A disorder of gut-brain interaction
• Another digestive or non-digestive condition

Call (346) 340-4414 or request a non-emergency appointment at the Cypress or Katy office.

Your Questions, Answered

Frequently Asked Questions