Bile is the digestive liquid created by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. During digestion, bile is secreted to help promote digestion. When bile builds up in the digestive season you can wind up vomiting up the liquid. You can tell you are vomiting bile because your vomit will begin to take on a faint brown color. If you continue to vomit bile it will turn a green-ish yellow due to the saturation of the liquid, and there may be pieces of undigested food alongside the liquid. Those who are excessively secreting bile will often experience stomach pain, and may not experience nausea before they begin to vomit. The likelihood of vomiting bile is more common approximately 20-40 minutes after consuming a meal.
Causes of Vomiting Bile
Surgery. Those who have just recently undergone gallbladder surgery may be more susceptible to vomiting up bile. Patients are at risk for throwing up bile for up to 4-5 months after their gallbladder surgery. If vomiting is excessive or lasts for a long period of time then you may have developed an infection after your surgery, or there may have been complications during your surgery. Your doctor should go over this risk and what you can do to help prevent discomfort during your recovery.
Food allergies can cause the person to vomit excessively. In order to rid the body of the item which is causing the irritation, the body will trigger an immune response. This will cause quick and forceful vomiting. Since the food is still being digested when this vomiting begins, you will likely have bile in the stomach which will be excreted along with the food. Those suffering from a food allergy may also experience runny nose, stomach cramps or breathing difficulties.
Food poisoning will similarly cause the body to experience sudden, forceful vomiting. Food poisoning can be triggered when the body comes into contact with bacteria or a virus from food that was not prepared properly. If the body is in the process of digesting the food, bile will usually be thrown up with the contaminated food. The bile will usually take on a yellowish color.
Gastroenteritis, commonly known as the stomach flu, can cause the body to vomit bile as the body is irritated by the virus. Frequent vomiting caused by a stomach virus can cause the body to become dehydrated, which increases the risk that bile will be included in the vomit. Patients suffering from gastroenteritis may also suffer from diarrhea, and may have trouble digesting solid food for 2-3 days.
Alcohol intolerance. If you frequently vomit bile after consuming alcohol you may suffer from alcohol intolerance. This means your body cannot handle heavy drinking where you consume several alcoholic beverages in one sitting. When your body becomes overwhelmed by the toxic nature of the beverages, it will induce vomiting to rid itself of the poison. If the body is in the process of digesting the sugars in the beverage, there may be bile in the vomit.
An intestinal blockage preventing food from properly entering the intestinal tract can cause irritation that may lead to vomiting. The intestines will become twisted and can become sore as they attempt to project the food causing the blockage. Vomiting will become progressively forceful as the body attempts to relieve this condition. As food intake becomes limited, the body may begin to expel bile until the blockage is relieved. Those suffering from an intestinal blockage will experience severe abdominal pain in between sessions of vomiting.
Treatments for Vomiting Bile
Take bile acid sequestrants - To remove bile from the system, bile acid sequestrants can be taken. These will disrupt the bile circulation so the amount of bile in the system is lessened. Those who frequently suffer from bile reflux or are in the midst of dealing with a digestive disorder can take these medications to limit their symptoms. Ursodeoxycholic acid, prokinetic agents or proton pump inhibitors can also be used to limit the amount of bile in the system. These are often given to those with frequent digestive distress to help protect the esophagus from the corrosive properties of the bile.
Keep body hydrated - If you are suffering from food poisoning or the flu it is important to work to keep the body hydrated to prevent an excessive loss of bile. Consume electrolyte solutions slowly to keep your condition stable without introducing more liquid than your body can manage until your symptoms pass.
Limit diet - Restrict your diet to broths or bland foods that will limit the stress on your system until the vomiting and nausea pass.
Make notes -Those who are suffering from food allergies or alcohol intolerance should make note of what substances cause this reaction. Alcohol intolerance cannot be treated, so you will need to limit your alcohol intake to avoid becoming sick. If you consume more alcohol than your body can manage, antihistamines may be able to alleviate your symptoms. Talk with your doctor about what type of medication would be appropriate. When suffering from a food allergy, it is important to avoid the ingredients which cause your reaction. Allergic reactions can become progressively more dangerous over time.
See a doctor - If you are suffering from an intestinal blockage you will need to seek medical attention. Medication can be given to help break down the blockage so it can be digested properly. If this is ineffective it may take surgery to remove the blockage from your system. Those who frequently suffer from intestinal blockages may have a birth defect that causes their intestines to dip in an irregular way. Consult with your doctor about what can be done to prevent these symptoms.