Vomiting Bile

As we all know, bile is a digestive juice manufactured by the liver. Situated in the upper abdomen, the liver lies just above the stomach. Once the food is ingested, the bile moves from the liver to the gallbladder. The gallbladder then pours the bile into the stomach, where it mixes with food to promote digestion. However, when this bile is detected in the vomit, it is a cause for worry. Vomiting bile is a serious issue and requires an urgent appointment with a doctor.

Vomiting Bile

How can a person know whether there is bile in the vomit. Presence of bile, drastically changes the color of the vomit. The vomit is usually faint brown colored matter but due to presence of bile, it turns greenish-yellow. This is the most common vomiting bile symptoms. Episodes of vomiting bile are typically accompanied by persistent stomach pain. Keep in mind that bile in the matter thrown out during vomiting, makes it green, otherwise color of the vomitus does not change.

Causes

Intestinal Blockage
When a person is vomiting bile, it is pointing towards the fact that the intestine is blocked. There is some kind of obstruction in the intestine that is not allowing the food to enter through it. So the food, instead of moving from the stomach to the intestine, travels in the opposite direction and is finally vomited, along with the bile. The obstruction may be the result of twisting of the intestine. In other words, the structure of the intestine is distorted with too many turns and bends. This irregularity in the structure of the intestine could also be a birth defect. As a result, babies and children may frequently vomit bile due to inborn structural deformity of the intestine.

Intestinal Obstruction Symptoms: Intestinal obstruction is typically marked by severe abdominal pain. Unlike, other inflammatory bowel diseases, where the pain is tolerable, in this case the discomfort is torturing that may subside, but is likely to come back. Abdominal pain is typically accompanied by frequent bouts of green vomiting. Most importantly, the person feels constipated and there is the absence of bowel movement.

GallBladder Surgery
A person who has recently undergone a surgery involving gallbladder removal, ends up vomiting bile. There are reports of vomiting green bile in patients whose gallbladder has been removed. To be honest, vomiting bile is one of the side effects of gallbladder surgery that may last for 4-5 months post operation. However, if the vomiting persists, it suggests that the surgery hasn't been performed properly and hence some complications have occurred. This should be immediately reported to the doctor for further diagnosis.

Alcohol Intolerance
Vomiting bile after drinking? Well, one can say that body is unable to tolerate too much of alcohol intake. It is observed that heavy drinkers are prone to this type of vomiting. It indicates the body's inability to absorb too much alcohol consumption and thus the toxic matter is thrown out of the body along with the bile.

Gastroenteritis
Frequent episodes of vomiting bile have also been linked to gastroenteritis. Also, referred to as stomach flu, this is a viral infection of the stomach resulting from consuming contaminated food and water. A person diagnosed with gastroenteritis also suffers from diarrhea, dehydration and complains about abdominal cramps. Stools in blood is an indication of a bacterial infection. However, in most cases it is viral gastroenteritis that triggers non-bloody diarrhea. In gastroenteritis, the body is unable to digest solid food for the first 2-3 days. Hence, the patient tends to vomit after taking a normal meal.

Food Poisoning
Food that is cooked in unsanitary conditions is bound to get contaminated with various harmful microbes such as bacteria and viruses. Eating such unhygienic food can cause a number of health problems including diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever. People affected with food poisoning not only vomit the contaminated food but are also seen puking yellowish bile.

Food Allergies
Food allergies can be yet another reason behind vomiting bile. Eating certain foods that the person is allergic to, triggers an unexpected immune response forcing him to vomit the ingested food. This may be accompanied by stomach cramps, runny nose and breathing problems.

Bowel obstruction is a serious medical emergency and treating the patient at the earliest is a must to avert any complications. In most cases, a surgery is performed to unblock the bowel and correct the structural abnormality. The doctor may cut some portion of the intestine, in order to remove the structural deformity, which will help to stop episodes of vomiting bile.