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Inevitably, someone comes along with complaints similar to these that come
up suddenly, or over a recent span of time:
"I can't eat normal food"
"Every time I eat something I get sick"
"Nothing I eat agrees with me"
Most teens who pass through the vampire community aren't aware of the many
reasons food may not sit well at any given time, and instead insist that they
must be turning into vampires "because this doesn't happen to anyone ELSE...." without taking into account whether the problem is truly affecting *everything* or simply one or more ingredients (such as MSG) that happen to be in most of the foods/drinks that are part of their diet.
Whether you believe it or not, there's often a totally mundane complaint
that's causing that problem, and it pays to check out *all* possibilities first
- no point in leaving something untreated that could easily be resolved. It's
not really the fault of any of the teens who don't know - it's often not covered
in school physical education or health classes, and they may not know anyone
who has some of the more unusual problems. The stomach bug itself may be common,
but not everyone knows the wide range of things that can cause those kinds of
symptoms.
GENERAL STOMACH ISSUES
Stomach bug / Gastroenteritis
This is a general term for a whole host of viruses, bacteria, and parasites
that can cause symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, chills,
and achiness. Gastroenteritis can temporarily damage the lining of the small
intestine, making it difficult to digest foods with a high sugar content.
Takes up to 48 hours before symptoms are evident, and typically lasts between
2-4 days, but in some cases can last about a week.
 Info
@ the Centers for Disease Control
Poisoning, food-based
Food poisoning happens when food is handled or stored improperly, and bacteria breed on the
surface. When ingested, food poisoning symptoms are often experienced. Typically
they include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, but the exact symptoms
depend on the bacterial culprit.
 Food
Poisoning
Poisoning, environmental, radiation or other toxin
Environmental poisoning can come from such things as lead paint in old homes (common if a home is built before 1960), mercury exposure either through thimerosal-based vaccines or other means, Methyl Mercury (sometimes found in fish, especially predator fish such as Tuna), arsenic from pressure treated wood (used to be used in wooden playgrounds), and many other things you wouldn't normally hear about.
Gentle Healer: Environmental Poisoning and Health
Parents.com: Is Your Home Toxic?
Medications - side effects, interactions
Every medicine in existence has potential side effects. If you read the package insert, you will often find a very large number of possible side effects, many of which can be quite scary. Side effects are not guaranteed to occur. In fact, for most medications, side effects occur in only a small minority, with most side effects going away completely once the medication is finished or discontinued. Many medications can be taken without any side effects at all, depending on your body chemistry.
Drugs.com main page - search for info on any drug(s) you're taking
Radiation treatment / poisoning
Radiation poisoning, also called "radiation sickness", is a form of damage to organic tissue due to excessive exposure to ionizing radiation. The term is generally used to refer to acute problems caused by a large dosage of radiation in a short period. Radiation poisoning can result from accidental exposure to natural or industrial radiation sources. Dosimeters or other film-based "badges" are used by anyone working with radioactive materials to monitor total - and cumulative - exposure to radiation. These devices are more useful than Geiger counters for determining biological effects, as they measure cumulative exposure over time, and are calibrated to change color or otherwise signal the user before exposure reaches unsafe levels.
Wikipedia: Radiation Poisoning
NEGATIVE REACTIONS TO FOOD INGREDIENTS
Food allergies
Allergies can take forms other than sneezing and hives - they can manifest
as stomach upset or indigestion as well. Common foods are dairy products,
eggs, peanuts (often generates severe reactions), tree nuts such as cashews,
fish, shellfish, soy and wheat (gluten). Food allergies vary in severity,
from life threatening to just a nuisance rash. Reactions are sometimes dose-dependent:
trace or small amounts may be fine, but larger amounts may trigger a reaction,
however severe.
Food
Allergies
Aspartame - Equal/Nutrasweet/Canderal/Spoonful -
reactions
Artificial sweeteners can be found in anything labeled "sugar-free" - Aspartame in particular can be picked out by the mandatory "phenyketonuric" or "PKU" warnings.
Aspartame
Safety Network: Articles on Aspartame
Aspartame
Victims Support Group
Mercola:
Aspartame Disease
Mindfully.org:
Effects of Aspartame on patients with depression
Sucralose - Splenda - reactions
Artificial sweeteners can be found in anything labeled "sugar-free". The makers of Splenda claim that it's made from sugar. While they start out with sugar molecules, they don't tell you that they modify it by adding chlorine molecules into the mix...
Food
& Diet: Splenda Symptoms
Holistic
Med: Sucralose Toxicity
Mercola:
Sucralose Experiences
Monosodium Glutamate ("MSG")
On food labels, MSG may be directly labeled as MSG / Monosodium Glutamate, or it may be hidden under
one of the following names: autolyzed yeast extract, hydrolyzed vegetable
protein (HVP), potassium glutamate, sodium caseinate, broth, "spices"
or "natural flavoring". Read the labels on things like cereals and snack foods as well - chips and other snacks aren't immune to being laden with MSG.
Amazon
(Book Link): Excitotoxins - The Taste That Kills
Supplements, Medications and other things - "Inactive ingredients"
Often used in vitamin/medicine tablets either as fillers or stabilizers, generally
these are harmless, except to the few that might be allergic to the specific
ingredient(s) in question. If symptoms still exist after avoiding all known allergens, check any supplements or medications you are taking for inactive ingredients. You might be taking the troublesome food or ingredient without knowing it. If you are taking chewable - sweetened - medications, the risks are especially high for you to unknowingly also be taking an artificial sweetener such as Aspartame or Sucralose.
About.com: Are your medications making you sick?
FAST: Ingredients of Medications
PHYSICAL AILMENTS AND DISEASES
Fecal Impaction (Chronic Constipation)
A fecal impaction is a large mass of dry, hard stool that can develop in the rectum due to chronic constipation. Sudden, watery diarrhea in someone who has chronic constipation is usually an indication of a fecal impaction. If the problem is not taken care of, it can lead to death or ulceration of the affected tissues. This can happen on a diet high in meat products and very lilttle vegetable, fruit or fiber. You can prevent fecal impactions by having plenty of fiber, fruits and vegetables (preferrably raw) on a daily basis.
AllRefer: Fecal Impactions
Discovery Health: Fecal Impactions
WrongDiagnosis: Fecal Impaction
Gallstones
Common symptoms can include sudden pain after eating or drinking either certain foods, or more typically any fatty or greasy foods such as meat, french fries, etc., with the pain lasting up to several hours. Other symptoms can include nausea and bloating, fever, yellowish color to the skin (Jaundice). If the gallbladder is blocked by gallstones for a significant period of time, severe—possibly fatal—damage or infections affecting the gallbladder, liver, or pancreas can occur. Warning signs of a serious problem are fever, jaundice, and persistent pain.
National Institute of Health: Gallstones
Kidney stones
A kidney stone is a hard mass developed from crystals that separate from the urine and build up on the inner surfaces of the kidney. These may be caused by chemicals within the body or as a byproduct of a urinary tract infection. Typically, a person feels a sharp, cramping pain in the back and side in the area of the kidney or in the lower abdomen. Sometimes nausea and vomiting occur. Later, pain may spread to the groin. If fever and chills accompany any of these symptoms, an infection may be present. In this case, you should contact a doctor immediately.
National Institute of Health: Kidney Stones
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder that interferes with the normal functions of the large intestine (colon). It is characterized by a group of symptoms—crampy abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.
Abdominal pain or discomfort in association with bowel dysfunction is the main symptom. Symptoms may vary from person to person. Some people have constipation (hard, difficult-to-pass, or infrequent bowel movements); others have diarrhea (frequent loose stools, often with an urgent need to move the bowels); and still others experience alternating constipation and diarrhea. Some people experience bloating, which is gas building up in the intestines and causing the feeling of pressure inside the abdomen.
Digestive Facts: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
National Institute of Health: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Diverticulitis
Most people with diverticulitis do not have any discomfort or symptoms. However, symptoms may include mild cramps, bloating, and constipation. Other diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and stomach ulcers cause similar problems, so these symptoms do not always mean a person has diverticulitis. You should visit your doctor if you have these troubling symptoms.
The most common symptom of diverticulitis is abdominal pain. The most common sign is tenderness around the left side of the lower abdomen. If infection is the cause, fever, nausea, vomiting, chills, cramping, and constipation may occur as well. The severity of symptoms depends on the extent of the infection and complications.
Digestive Facts: Diverticulitis
National Institute of Health: Diverticulitis
Malabsorption (Various Types) ( Overview)
Malabsorption can result from a broad spectrum of diseases. Typically, malabsorption can be the failure to absorb specific sugars, fats, proteins, or vitamins, or it can be a general malabsorption of food. Diarrhea, bloating or cramping, failure to thrive, frequent bulky stools, muscle wasting, and a distended abdomen may accompany malabsorption.
Malabsorption can affect growth and development, or it can lead to specific illnesses. Some of the causes of malabsorption include (all links here are from the National Institute of Health) but are not limited to:
Chron's Disease
Celiac Syndrome
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
(a/k/a "Acid Reflux")
Lactose Intolerance
Ulcers
Whipple's Disease (Rare)
Sometimes your stomach has just "had enough" of whatever you keep
throwing at it (too much soda can give people a sour/upset stomach, for example)
and wants to be left alone for a couple days. This happens to me sometimes,
and I've found the best way to handle that is to just take my vitamins and drink
liquids for a couple days (essentially, a "liquid fast" for about 48 hours - not eating
any solid foods) until it settles down.
This article is presented as part of an ongoing effort to present other views outside of, as well as within, the online vampire community. Those of us who consider ourselves vampiric don't always look at things from the same viewpoint due to our life experiences. As such, the views and opinions contained in this article are entirely those of the author(s), and may not necessarily be shared by SphynxCatVP. The webmaster is not under obligation to update or otherwise keep current the contents of this article. Most importantly, only you can decide for yourself whether this article or any of the author(s) other views are useful or applicable to you - you are responsible for using your own reasoning and judgement, so judge wisely.
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