gagging attacks, starts to dry heave

[cs13]

My husband suffers from gagging attacks, and then he starts to dry heave and/or choke and cough.   It's not accompinied by nause however he will gag so hard that he will vomit up some phlem.  This happens every day, some times several times a day, every time he takes a shower, once in a while while he is sleeping, some times in the morning, some times in the evening, some times outside, some times inside, while he is driving.  In other words I happens just about any time.  Does not weem to be related to eating, what he eats, what time he eats, or how much he eats.

He has been doing this for 5 years.  He has had an upper GI, X-rays, blood work, been on Prilosec, gargles salt water.  And still he does this every day.  It last for any where from 1 minute to 3 minutes.  The ear, nose and mouth specielist say there is no anotomical reason for this to be happening.  The Prilosec have no effect on the severity or the frequency of the gagging and dry heaving.

Any ideas where to go or what to do?

[Stomachpain111]

I also have had these same problems since 2012. And eating was very painful for me. I lost 30 pounds in three and a half months. The doctors have all told me it stress. This was hard for me to accept because I don't feel stressed. I have a stressful job, but I love it. I've been through the tests - EGD, ultrasound, colonoscopy, stool sample, and they found nothing. They gave me 25 mg Ativan to take before bed. My dry heaving and gagging and throwing up foamy stuff was happening every single morning for hours. The Ativan did help a bit I think, but not all the time. The doctors think I somehow stress myself out in my sleep overnight so I would wake up at 3-4 am and dry heave and throw up bile.
I hate to provide this as "advice", but my boyfriend gave me some marijuana after almost a year of stomach hell, and that actually helped a great deal... I could actually function in the mornings.  I was afraid of the impact on my respiratory system, so I began to vaporize it. I told my doctor, and she did not say anything negative or tell me to stop. She just asked about my symptoms and how it was helping. I pray that they legalize marijuana for medical purposes in my state. It has been the only thing that allows me to lead a normal life.

[mrnoodle]

so what can we do about it?

[Rice174]

I ran into this topic some time back while looking for answers to the same condition. My symptoms developed back when I was in high school. I would wake up in the mornings and feel nauseous and dry heave for 5-10 minutes and would end up throwing up yellow bile. The nauseous feeling would disappear after throwing up, but I would sometimes experience gagging attacks or slight nausea throughout the day. I’ve gone to various doctors for the past 8 years and none had an answer to what was causing it. I’ve had two EGDs done and have taken various GERD medication, none which helped relieve the symptoms.

I believe this issue is caused by stress/anxiety. During stressful situations and when my anxiety was higher than usually, these symptoms would get exponentially worse. I was prescribed Xanax about a year ago to get through the days where I would feel extremely anxious and as a result end up gagging all day. Unfortunately, it did not provide any relief.

It wasn’t until recently that my symptoms have all but disappeared. What helped me was that I was prescribed Zoloft about two months ago. Since then my gagging, dry heaving, nausea and need to vomit in the mornings have gone away.

I endured this for over 8 years and I can relate how difficult life can get feeling this way. I hope this information can help some of you who continue to experience similar symptoms.

[DGreen4Life]

I wasn't looking for this, but maybe I can help some of you. 1. I know someone who would wake up with panic attacks, frequently. Turns out she had asthma. Not being able to breathe made her wake up in a panic. The doctor gave her and inhaler. Each case is different, so see your doctor or a good allergist to get checked for asthma. By the way, this was caused by one of the drugs she was taking. She stopped that drug. 2. For anxiety, research magnesium. I understand that 70% of all Americans are deficient in magnesium and magnesium works in many functions of the body and can even affect anxiety and muscle tension. I also heard, but don't know if this is true that the drug Atarax can deplete the body of magnesium. 3. For those of you who are new here, like me, and want the answer to the original poster's question, she kindly later posted that because her husband had to be treated for a terrible accident the medical people were able to give diagnosis of "tertiary" something which causes the esophagus not to let fluids go down properly. (Sorry I'm too sick to go back to look. I never get sick, but I let myself get run down and dehydrated and haven't been taking my special supplements like I should. Reminder: take care of yourselves.) 3. For the poster "ugghhhh," it's great that your bloodwork is normal. You can still get low blood sugar, though. It sounds like it happens when it's almost meal time or when you've exercised or when you wake up. Perhaps, you should eat try to eat the same food, but don't eat it all at your meals. Split your meals a bit, so you have some left for snacks. Skip the dried fruit. The best thing is to snack on almonds before you get to the point where it's almost meal time and you're hungry. That's too late. Have a small snack, including protein, before bed. Try a graham cracker covered with peanut butter and a glass of milk. Don't work out on an empty stomach. Maybe you could have an apple and some peanut butter or a banana and peanut butter a little while before you start. Then make sure you have some protein right afterwards. That will probably build muscle, too. 4. Every one, please remember I am not a doctor, so double check what I've said.

[ugghhhh]

I have a similar problem!  Maybe different though...  Im 27yo male. Been gagging/dry heaving for years. I get the gags first thing in the morning.  It seems like if I eat something they go away immediately. But then they return at seemingly random times throughout the day. Mainly just before my midmorning snack, before lunch, after work when im headed home or on an errand just before dinner.  Also after hitting the gym or sports. Sometimes my mouth gets dry or my siliva is still there but I feel cottonmouth at the same time. It comes on VERY suddenly, almost out of nowhere.   I start deserpately trying to get some saliva flowing in my mouth, but it turns to gags/dry heaves/phlegm. My heart starts racing, maybe because Im in a panic state.  When I feel it comeing on, I am not able to talk or even get food. It paralizes me in my tracks. Water helps wet my whistle but sometimes I end up puking it up.

I can link it to when I'm hungry, or soon to be hungry.  I thought it may actually be due to low blood sugar. But I had all the bloodwork and urine done a few years back. all was normal.  The Dr gave me a glucose meter to track my sugar and it was never high and actually averaged fairly low.

My current diet is clean as a whistle.  I eat primarily Paleo diet which is supposed to keep blood sugar on an even keel, but I still have attacks a few times a week.  I take probiotics, raw vinegar, gave up soy, peanuts, all grains, dairy, and alcohol. I focus on anti-inflammatory foods.

I just make sure I have some dried fruit or nuts or something in my car, at work, and usually in my pocket or backpack.  I work out regularly and take care good of myself, but this condition forces me into eating even when im not truely hungry.  

As a result of between meal snacking, I am about 30lbs heavier than id like to be. With the amount of exercise and quality of food I eat, I should have a body like a God. It affects my spontaneity... like I cant just pickup and go somewhere without first preparing a meal or wait 20 mins for lunch break.  It turns into an emergency!  And I know better than to go anywhere unfed.  

I have another theory too.  It seems to occur when I drink coffee in the morning as well.  When its mealtime, the attack comes on much faster.   I think my stomach is either sensitive or creates too much acid.  I was a heavy drinker in mu earlier years.  I also have severe chronic back pain for which I used to take NSAIDS.  I also had a quack doctor putvme on strong antibiotics for acne and let me take them for years.  I also used to smoke and chew. I was getting severe heartburn and ulcers so I gave it all up.

But here I am am years later, still having the issue.  I think the low sugar sparks an increases in stomach acid which makes me sick!  Maybe I did some permament damage to my GI tract? Type I and II diabetes run in my family...

[litlhero]

been researching my problem all day and this is the best advice so far.  thanks Dawn!!!!!