Vomiting after drinking beer

Hi there.

Look, I fully intend to head back to my doctor for a more thorough evaluation—but having already dropped a small fortune on private specialists covering everything from head to toe, I’d rather poll this group before I shell out more $133 for an ultrasound if it turns out to be nothing.

A few months ago, I started dealing with intense bloating and constipation, and since then, my digestion has been a mess. The bloating happens even when I stick strictly to a perfect meal plan—which is strange, because I'm naturally quite thin and never had these issues before. Along with the bloating, there's a certain heaviness, though no actual pain. On top of that, I get this sharp, stinging sensation on the right side of my stomach—just below the ribs—that seems to radiate downward along my right side...
Then there's the bladder issue. I feel the urge to go constantly, but once I'm actually on the toilet, I just sit there waiting... and waiting... for what feels like forever.

About ten days ago, I was hit with massive nausea after having about half a beer. Thank God I was home and could just lie down, because it was brutal. I had to induce vomiting immediately just to get some instant relief. I had eaten a full meal right before the beer, too.
The same thing happened yesterday. I took maybe three sips of beer, lay down, and the nausea kicked in—followed by that stinging on my right side. When I pressed on the spot where it stings, the nausea intensified even further. I had to throw up, and that was that. Once it was over, I felt fine.

Additionally, my appetite is through the roof lately... yet I feel pretty terrible after meals unless they consist almost entirely of healthy foods.

I also struggle with anxiety and tension—could there be a connection there?
Does anyone have suggestions on which specific blood markers I should ask for? Seeing an internist at my local community clinic feels like a total waste of time—that place is a circus.

P.S. I used to drink beer regularly without any issues, so it’s unlikely I've developed an allergy or sensitivity to the ingredients.

This might sound trivial or overly general, but I have a nagging feeling that something isn't right.
Any ideas?

Thanks so much!

Hannah Lee10 said:Hey everyone!

Okay, look, I’m definitely going back to my doctor for a full checkup, but since I’ve already dropped a small fortune on private specialists checking me out from head to toe, I wanted to ask here first before I dump more $133 on an ultrasound if it turns out to be nothing..

A few months back, I started getting this really intense bloating and constipation, and honestly, my digestion hasn't been right since. The bloating happens even when I stick perfectly to my meal plan and eat on schedule.. which is weird because I'm naturally pretty thin and never dealt with this before. Along with the bloat, there's this heavy feeling, though it doesn't exactly hurt. On top of that, I get this sharp, stinging sensation on the right side of my stomach—just under the ribs—that seems to radiate down my right side...
Also, my bladder is acting up. I feel like I have to run to the bathroom constantly, and then I just sit there forever waiting for anything to happen.

About ten days ago, I felt incredibly nauseous after having about half a beer. Thank God I was home to just lie down, because it was brutal. I had to force myself to throw up just to get some instant relief. I’d eaten a full meal right before the beer, too..
The same thing happened yesterday. I took maybe three sips of beer, laid down, and the nausea hit... plus that stinging on my right side, and then the nausea got even worse when I pressed on the spot that hurts. I had to vomit, and that was that. I felt totally fine afterward, though.

On top of all that, I’m feeling ravenous all the time.. but I feel pretty terrible after eating if the meal isn't mostly healthy stuff..

I also struggle with anxiety, so I wonder if that could be playing a role here?
Any advice on which blood work markers I should ask for? Going to the local clinic feels like a total waste of time because that place is a complete circus.

P.S. I used to drink beer regularly without any issues, so I doubt I'm allergic or sensitive to the ingredients.

Maybe this sounds a bit trivial or vague, but I just have a gut feeling that something is off.
Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks so much!

It's probably not the beer. Go see your primary care doctor and get a referral to test for H. pylori, because that causes nausea, pain, extreme hunger, and digestive issues.
Fix your diet—cut out the carbs since they basically feed the bacteria + try a strict FODMAP diet.

Laura Cox27 said:The beer isn't the culprit here. Head over to your primary care physician and get a referral for a H. pylori test—that bacteria is notorious for causing nausea, pain, intense hunger, and general digestive issues.
Clean up your diet—cut out the carbs entirely since they basically act as fuel for the bacteria, and stick to a strict low-FODMAP plan.

Thanks for the input!

Do you know if I can just book a private appointment without waiting for a referral from my doctor? I have some coverage through a local clinic, so that might be the smarter move.
What specific test should I ask for?

Like this:

Hannah Lee10 said:...considering I've already blown a small fortune on private checkups from head to toe...

What does that leave us with?

Hannah Lee10 said:Do you know if I can just go privately without getting a referral from my doctor first? I have some sort of discount at a local clinic, so I figure that might be the smarter move.

I'd say, yeah, a "discount." You really want to throw money down the drain?

Aside from the anxiety, those symptoms also sound like they could be gallbladder issues.

Hannah Lee10 said:Thanks for getting back to me!

Do you know if I can just go private for an exam without waiting on a referral from my doctor? I have a discount at this one clinic, so it feels like the smarter move.
What specific test should I ask for?

You can just take a stool sample to a private lab like Quest Diagnostics $50 to check for H. pylori.
As for $117, you can also skip the referral and head to a place like Labcorp to get tested for SIBO, which could be what's causing that bloating and constipation. They usually prescribe a specific antibiotic for that too.
Plus, you’ll get a sugar-free diet plan, similar to the one for Candida.
Just don't expect your doctor to know much about SIBO—most GPs and even GI specialists will try to refer you to a psychiatrist before they actually give you any real advice on nutrition.

steelwalker26 said:how does this:

lead to this?

I mean, sure, a "discount." Do you really want to just throw money away?

Aside from the anxiety, those symptoms also sound like they could be a gallbladder issue.

That’s more for another thread, but since time is money—so to speak—it feels like the same thing to me. Only I still have a 50% discount left.

Thanks for the tip about the gallbladder; I actually had the same thought given the pain is right in that area.

Yeah, unfortunately, my primary care physician never offers much insight... and frequently sends me down the wrong path. All while I sit there waiting three hours just to be seen.

Laura Cox27 said:You can simply take a stool sample to a private lab for $50 testing for H. pylori.
Regarding $117, you don't even need a referral to get tested for SIBO at a clinic like Quest Diagnostics—it could very well be the culprit behind that constipation and bloating. That requires its own specific antibiotic protocol.
Plus, you'll get a sugar-free diet plan, similar to what they recommend for Candida.
Don't expect much from your doctor regarding SIBO; most GPs and gastroenterologists will probably refer you to a psychiatrist before they give you any actual dietary advice.

Thanks for the heads-up! 👍

Hannah Lee10 said:This belongs in a different thread, I guess, but since time is money... it’s all the same to me. Especially since I’m still sitting on a 50% discount.
..

But what good is a discount when they couldn't even help you after a mountain of tests?

steelwalker26 said:But what good is a discount if they didn't even help you after a mountain of tests?

The tests I had done weren't at this clinic where I get the discount—and frankly, they had nothing to do with my current issues. Those were just scans for sinus problems and my cervical spine. That's not really the point here... the crux of the matter is that I don't want to waste time seeing a doctor who’s just going to refer me to some specialist where I'll end up waiting months—or paying out-of-pocket for a gastroenterologist who will simply listen to my symptoms and hand me the exact same referrals I could have obtained in the first place without paying them $133 just to be heard.
That's the bottom line.

That’s probably just bile issues

Hannah Lee10 said:...the main thing is I don't want to waste my time dragging myself to the doctor...

She could always try sticking to a "gallbladder-friendly" diet for a while to see if things improve significantly—think of it as a DIY diagnostic test. http://www.mayoclinic.org/gallbladder-diet-instructions

It could be an allergy, or maybe just a really nasty food intolerance.

I dealt with H. pylori, got it cleared up, and honestly? Still feels exactly the same. Same bloating, killer pains, vomiting... I feel like I’ve been poisoned.
For me, it's definitely an intolerance. If I eat even one thing I'm supposed to avoid—like yeast, wheat, or dairy—I'm basically dying from the pain.
As long as I stick strictly to my diet, I'm okay...
Look into getting actual food intolerance blood tests. Not those weird bio-resonance things, those are total garbage.
I went through some private clinic after seeing my doctor.

I headed in this past Friday to get my urine and stool samples tested.
The H. pylori came back negative.
Along with everything else, I requested an amylase test because of potential issues with my pancreas—specifically because back in February 2017, my levels were sitting right at the top end of the normal range. It was exactly 90 in my bloodwork, while the reference limit was 91. That stuck in my mind, and since the pain feels remarkably similar to what I dealt with eighteen months ago, I decided to check my amylase again. Back then, I also had high cholesterol despite being at a healthy weight and eating relatively clean—much like I am now. I cut back on certain foods and retested, which brought the cholesterol back into the normal range.
Now, having submitted both stool and urine samples, my amylase level came back at 643, whereas the reference range is 0-400. So, it is definitely elevated...
From what I’m reading, this could be gallbladder-related again. While the pain on my right side has eased up slightly over the last few days, I’m still feeling aches in my lower abdomen and the right side of my upper back. I’ve also been dealing with some pressure in the center of my stomach and a general sense of discomfort.
I’ve started following a gallbladder-friendly diet—thanks for the recommendations!
Does anyone have advice on what my next move should be?
I was thinking about scheduling an abdominal ultrasound and getting follow-up bloodwork for amylase, lipase, and perhaps a few other markers.

Getting a gastroscopy and a colonoscopy done.
MRI

Hannah Lee10 said:The main thing is I’m just not willing to waste my time seeing a doctor who’s going to put me on a waiting list for months... or paying out of pocket for a specialist who’ll just listen to my symptoms and hand me the same referrals I could have gotten myself without the massive bill$133 just to be heard.
That's really the bottom line.

But you still have to see a professional. Getting an actual diagnosis isn't that simple. We can guess all we want, but we aren't doctors and our bodies don't work the same way. Just remember that certain illnesses can hide behind some pretty vague symptoms.
What you're feeling could be anything from gallbladder or pancreas issues to gut problems... basically a whole laundry list of stuff.
You need to find the common thread in all those tests, and honestly, there's always a chance you'll end up wasting money on tests you don't actually need.
Your best bet is to find a seasoned internist and bring them the results you already have.

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