This question is about vomit. I apologize in advance.
August 15, 2013 10:40 AM Subscribe
Why does a person vomit on a schedule when they are sick? Like every 2 hours or something until it just stops? Or is this just me?
Last December I came down with the lovely norovirus. I was vomitting (etc.) every 60 minutes, +/- no more than 5 minutes, for about 16 hours. I forgot to ask at the hospital because I was a little focused on the whole vomiting every hour and general horrible, everything-on-the-inside-wants-to-be-on-the-outside feeling.
About 1.5 years before that I had some sort of something and I was vomiting every 2 hours. In both these circumstances it was like clockwork until it just stopped and I didn't vomit again.
A friend said, "yeah that has to be a virus since it is on a schedule." I'd love to believe this friend but I had never heard this before and my degree is actually related to infectious diseases and immunity so did I just miss that day in class? If it is true I'd like some sort of fact that backs that up, like why it happens.
Last December I came down with the lovely norovirus. I was vomitting (etc.) every 60 minutes, +/- no more than 5 minutes, for about 16 hours. I forgot to ask at the hospital because I was a little focused on the whole vomiting every hour and general horrible, everything-on-the-inside-wants-to-be-on-the-outside feeling.
About 1.5 years before that I had some sort of something and I was vomiting every 2 hours. In both these circumstances it was like clockwork until it just stopped and I didn't vomit again.
A friend said, "yeah that has to be a virus since it is on a schedule." I'd love to believe this friend but I had never heard this before and my degree is actually related to infectious diseases and immunity so did I just miss that day in class? If it is true I'd like some sort of fact that backs that up, like why it happens.
I've noticed this myself, and wondered whether the periodicity related to the length of time the stomach needed to re-secrete acid/bile in the stomach--sort of like the cistern on a tank toilet refilling. But I am not a vomitologist.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 10:52 AM on August 15, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by Admiral Haddock at 10:52 AM on August 15, 2013 [6 favorites]
I don't really do this. In fact, I'm pretty sure that once I had food poisoning, Even though everyone said it would only have been food poisoning if it was all vomiting all the time, I threw up once and then literally thought I would die for 24 hours and then was fine. Everything lined up with food poisoning except the constant vomiting.
posted by sweetkid at 11:33 AM on August 15, 2013
posted by sweetkid at 11:33 AM on August 15, 2013
Best answer: One thing that could contribute to this is viral sickness symptoms have inherently wave-like behavior due to the gestation/incubation period of the virus. When the virus hijacks one of your cells, it takes it over and starts creating more viruses, which after a certain period of time ruptures the cell and sends the newly created copies out - those all infest new cells at roughly the same time, then incubate for roughly the same time. I believe the rupturing stage is what causes those stereotypically 'sick' feelings.
posted by spatula at 11:55 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by spatula at 11:55 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I actually asked my doctor a similar question and the answer, in brief, was nobody knows.
My actual question was "what is the body detecting that makes you eventually vomit? Gas, acid, what?" The actual mechanism is unknown.
But here's a reasonable guess:
the body detects something that tells it purging is necessary. We don't know what it is, but lets assume it is build up of a specific byproduct caused by the invasive biologic activity. This triggers the immune response plus vomiting. After you vomit, the level of that byproduct is reduced but the biologic activity continues. The immune system is fighting the invasion. Eventually the byproduct level rises to vomit-inducing levels and you throw up again. This cycle continues until the immune system (and vomiting) reduce the level of the invasion and associated byproduct.
Gnossos
posted by gnossos at 11:58 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
My actual question was "what is the body detecting that makes you eventually vomit? Gas, acid, what?" The actual mechanism is unknown.
But here's a reasonable guess:
the body detects something that tells it purging is necessary. We don't know what it is, but lets assume it is build up of a specific byproduct caused by the invasive biologic activity. This triggers the immune response plus vomiting. After you vomit, the level of that byproduct is reduced but the biologic activity continues. The immune system is fighting the invasion. Eventually the byproduct level rises to vomit-inducing levels and you throw up again. This cycle continues until the immune system (and vomiting) reduce the level of the invasion and associated byproduct.
Gnossos
posted by gnossos at 11:58 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
I think you should read Gulp, Mary Roach's book about eating and all the systems that go with that. It's pretty fascinating (and disgusting) what happens in our guts. It's a lot!
I've not noticed that with vomiting (I have a fairly iron stomach and don't throw up often) but I have noticed that with stomach growling. Though never timed it, it seems to have a regular pattern sometimes.
posted by amanda at 12:49 PM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
I've not noticed that with vomiting (I have a fairly iron stomach and don't throw up often) but I have noticed that with stomach growling. Though never timed it, it seems to have a regular pattern sometimes.
posted by amanda at 12:49 PM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Well it is nice to know that I just wasn't asleep and/of fail at googling :)
posted by magnetsphere at 1:10 PM on August 15, 2013
posted by magnetsphere at 1:10 PM on August 15, 2013
I've noticed this in two very different illnesses (one food poisoning from undercooked sausage, lasting 24 hours; one chronic kidney failure with the associated buildup of toxins), and also in different kinds of intoxication.
I always understood it as the time period necessary to build up the urge to vomit again, probably related to the levels of opposing neurotransmitters or hormones, like the male refractory period.
posted by WasabiFlux at 1:50 PM on August 15, 2013
I always understood it as the time period necessary to build up the urge to vomit again, probably related to the levels of opposing neurotransmitters or hormones, like the male refractory period.
posted by WasabiFlux at 1:50 PM on August 15, 2013
Peristalsis, the biological process of the intestines massaging food further down the GI tract, occurs in conjunction with a biological rhythm. Frequently when people have a blockage (not virus) the pain comes in waves with predictable synchronicity. It's possible the pressure of gas hitting inflamed tissue triggers vomiting. The rhythm varies from every 15 minutes in the small intestine to every two hours in the colon.
posted by hobo gitano de queretaro at 2:55 PM on August 15, 2013
posted by hobo gitano de queretaro at 2:55 PM on August 15, 2013
I've had this happen when it definitely wasn't a virus. I got a severe sunburn/sun poisoning once on vacation. The next day after feeling like shit since the sunburn, I started vomiting every half hour, all night long. It seems like this was obviously a reaction to the stress on my body, but I still don't have any idea why it was so regular, although the idea that fluids/bile build back up is interesting.
posted by catatethebird at 3:44 PM on August 15, 2013
posted by catatethebird at 3:44 PM on August 15, 2013
In my case, part of the reason may be that I was once told dehydration was to be avoided at all costs and so keep up with half-water, half Gatorade; ginger ale, and dry crackers as much as possible - somewhat hydrating but also providing my evil belly more to spew.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 5:27 PM on August 15, 2013
posted by Lesser Shrew at 5:27 PM on August 15, 2013
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posted by yoink at 10:48 AM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]