Why can't I vomit?

[Jcfresh 3]

I keep having the horrible " episodes" . My upper stomach hurts so bad I can't stand up. So very painful. It peaks with me needing to violently throw up, but nothing ever comes up. Even times where I had just eaten 20 minutes ago. There is no rhyme or reason to these attacks. One while driving where I hadn't eaten in three hours, one at night after eating two hours prior. One mid day after doing laundry, had just eaten.....I went to the emergency room last night cause the latest attack lasted two hours. By the time the doc came to see me, I was feeling a better. They ruled out that i wasn't dying and sent me on my way. . I am still fighting to see my surgeon. What would be some reasons that I can't vomit? Has anyone else had these bouts? The pain is worse than child birth!! Yes, I have my gallbladder out. Thanks!

[James Marusek 5,244]

It sounds a little like dumping syndrome. Sometimes when I get dumping syndrome because I ate too much, I want to vomit. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. If I vomit, the condition eases up and goes away quicker. Otherwise it lasts for hours and hours. So generally I try and induce the vomiting by standing over the sink or stool, and bending over, with my head almost level with my stomach. Just trying to vomit generally is enough to cause vomiting.

Yes, it is painful. Sometimes I think maybe I am having a heart attack. That is why I try and induce vomiting.

In this condition trying to sleep is impossible. I cannot lay horizontally. It does not relieve the condition. I must sit up or stand up and be vertical. So generally if its bedtime, I sit and watch a couple more hours of television. Also I make it a point never, never eat before bedtime.

But if it is dumping syndrome, generally there isn't a 3 hour delay. So you might be experiencing something else.