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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.
If none of these turn out to be the problem, another option is very simple:
Go to your doctor and *insist* on at least two sets of labwork:
- "CBC with differential"
CBC
test Info
Differential
test Info
- "Comprehensive Metabolic" or "Complete
Metabolic" or "Chem20"
Comprehensive
Metabolic test Info
These are very basic rounds of labwork, often included under many insurance
plans, and fairly inexpensive when paying out of pocket - but most doctors
balk at running theses IN FULL if they think the patient's problems are
"all in their head" (unfortunately, this is all too common if
the patient if female.) Quite often doctors in a busy clinic will test
first for iron-based anemia and nothing else if the patient complains
about feeling tired.
YOU ARE YOUR OWN BEST HEALTH ADVOCATE - AT ANY AGE! Don't EVER let anyone
tell you otherwise!
This article is presented as part of an ongoing
effort to present other views outside of, as well as within, the online
vampire community. As such, the views and attitudes 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 - use
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