Body chills and stomach pain after I eat

[Carebear]

Dear Friends,

Most of us are no strangers to GI issues but this one is a puzzler to me.  For weeks now I have been experiencing chills with nausea, stomach pain and sometimes vomiting immediately after or while I eat food or even when I take my medications.  Hot food, cold food, pills with food...you get the idea.  The symptoms come and go, but when they hit me they can be fierce.  It's the accompanying body chills that I can't understand.

I do not have a stomach flu or cold.

I am also constipated, again.

No recent weigh loss.  In fact I've gained a couple of pounds.

I take Pantoprazole (40 mg 2 times daily) and Domperidone (10 mg 4 times daily) and magnesium (1000 mg daily).

Synthroid dosage was reduced ever so slightly, possibly 6 weeks ago, and I am due for a recheck in two weeks.  TSH result in August was 0.14 which is a comfortable number for me.  Anyway this is probably a red herring and completely unrelated.

Suggestions anyone?  I likely should call my Gastroenterologist in the morning for an appointment.  Sigh! 

[warmwaters]

I sometimes get cold after eating. Icy cold, go put on warm socks and warm sweater cold.

My partner's theory is that blood rushes to the digestive tract to work on the digestive process, drawing blood away from the extremities.  Which makes me feel cold.

I don't know if he's right, but it's at least plausible. I also have autonomic issues, so not all of my "normal" functions work right all the time.

[zopdeep]

The chills make me think it's an autonomic neuropathy issue. You're on domperidone, which is good, if it's helping (didn't help me). Anecdotally, I removed dairy and bananas and that got rid of my nausea last winter.

I'd see if changing your synthroid dose back to previous levels helps first, then see Gastro.

Feel better!

[Carebear]

Thank you for your replies.  Both of you have raised good points, giving me something to ponder.

For now I am being vigilant about my meds, food intake and all the other good lifestyle choices I may or may not have been making consistently this last six months.

My "gut" tells me my gastritis is back in a big way, and perhaps my pain medication (codeine) is the initial cause.  The last attack resulted from my Advil use.  The chills seem to happen largely when I consume an irritant like something acidic.  I can't help but wonder "now what?" because I can't have quality of life without pain relief.

So on it goes, right?  Thanks for being there for me, friends.

[Carolina]

Hi Carebear,

I can't imagine your misery.......have you seen your gastroenterologist yet?

We do manage to develop things far out of the ordinary.

Is it possible that you have a gall bladder problem?

Just wondering.

PLEASE keep us posted.

Hugs, Elaine

[jazzlover]

Chills, vomiting, Advil connection ...

Look at a list of foods high in salicylates. See if there's a connection to your diet.

[Carebear]

Gosh, Elaine.  I feel silly complaining about my little stomach upset when you are in the midst of dealing with so much.

I hadn't thought of the gallbladder at all.  In fact, I really hadn't been aware of the exact possible symptoms, so I checked out Dr. Google.  Seems to fit.  All except for "fatty stools", which I would welcome these days.

No appointment yet because...well, I just didn't make one.  Soon.  I will complain (I mean, let you know) how things progress.

Jazzlover, thanks for your advice.  I've taken a quick look at foods to avoid and it seems that I consume very few listed, except for the fruits.  It's worth an experiment.

[irish]

Just out of general information, my hubby had celiac disease and one of the big issues with that diet is the lack of fiber which contributes to constipation. Add to that the neuropathy that one can have in the gut due to autoimmune and constipation can become bigtime.

Plenty of fluids, fiber as from fruits and vegetables are the thing that works the best. Be aware that in nursing homes they will mix their own "laxative/stool softeners" out of bran powder, dates, prunes, apricots, etc whatever works the best for you. Run the fruit thru the food processer and add water or juice if needed to thin it down a little and mix with the bran, You can roll it into little balls and chill them. Store in refrigerator and eat them a couple of times a day until things get moving again. Also, if one is having trouble propelling the bowel movement along you can ask your doc if milk of magnesia taken every other night or whatever works would help. The bran balls soften the stool and the ilk of mag stimulates the bowel walls muscles to propel the stool along. The two things needed to have bowel movements. If the bowel muscles are don't respond well to stimulation it can get more involved and the docs need to be figuring things out. And don't forget to drink fluids. Good luck all. Irish

[irish]

Carebear, I am wondering if you have discussed this with the doctor and asked him about the possibility of vagus nerve involvement. This can cause some issues and shivering and chills can be involved also. Just a thought. Also, I am assuming that you have slow emptying of your stomach? Or do you have a dumping syndrome where the stomach empties rapidly which can cause a lot of symptoms also. More thoughts to ponder. Good luck. Irish

[JoanElizabeth]

Definitely sounds like autonomic neuropathy/gastroparesis to me. Have you ever had a gastric emptying study?