Vomiting from brushing teeth!

I have been on soft/pureed foods for 1.5 weeks now. It has really be a struggle. I can barely eat 3-5 oz of food and drinking 16-20 oz water. I feel nauseatied most of the time.

I just got a tip from a friend on Ginger tea which is helping me feel better.

It seems that every morning when I try to brush my teeth I get a terrible gag, then, shortly, I vomit. Mostly dry heaves but still tiring and hurtful and all that.

Anyone else ever had this? Any ideas or tips?
Thanks,
Brenda

Brenda, I also had this experience.  I don't remember what if anything I did to combat it, but it did go away. 

Hope you find a remedy quickly, I remember how uncomfortable that was. 

Happy thoughts!

You could be dehydrated.  How about sugar-free popsicles for liquid?  Others find that crystal light works.  In addition to ginger tea, perhaps peppermint tea would be a bit easier.  Something that worked for me was to drink just plain water, hot.  It went down easier than cold or even room temp.
I had a hair-trigger gag reflex early out, and it was, in part, because I was dehydrated.  I allowed myself to eat less than I should have, because it wasn't comfortable to eat, also to drink less than I should have, because it wasn't comfortable to drink, and I developed quite a few problems stemming from being malnourished and dehydrated.  I am so fortunate that I've been able to recover from the condition I was in, but it was a lot more work (and grief) than if I'd just have forced myself to eat and drink when I knew darned well that I should have been (eating and drinking).
The gagging thing does get better, but you'll have a better recovery if you MAKE YOURSELF DRINK!  (capitalized for emphasis, not yelling)
Take care of yourself.

Brenda

It does get better.  I didn't vomit but still gag when I brush even at 4 months out.  Have you tried a new toothpaste that is milder than the current one? Maybe a brush that is shaped differently? 

I mostly gag when brushing my very back teeth.  Since I know what is going to happen, I eat before brushing.  Foods or supplements taste more natural that way, too. 


Don't try eating too much; 2 or 3 ounces as early as you are is plenty.  Get in your fluids no matter what.  Keep trying till you find something.  Just realize that many of us had to fight our way through and you will be feeling SO much better in a week or two.

Hope this helps somewhat and let us know how you are doing, ok?

Yes, I had it.  I also had mild nausea every morning for about 4 months post op and maybe during the first 2 to 2 1/2 mos I would have bouts of nausea in the day as well. Dry heaves too. I Was eating meals frequently but still had it.  I had a hard time brushing my teeth as well.
I don't have the nausea anymore but it took me a long time.
I think most people DO experience some nausea but it varies on how long it lasts. 

UGH! I've had this same problem and boy does it suck! I've switched to a kids Colgate strawberry toothpaste. It doesn't foam as much as mint adult toothpaste. Also, I brush my teeth bent over the sink the whole time so that the toothpaste doesn't go to the back of my throat as much. It's not perfect and sometimes I still gag (especially if I think about it gagging me) but, it has helped some. Hopefully this is temporary and I can eventually go back to grown up toothpaste! Good Luck and let us know if you figure out anything else that helps.

U ARE NOT ALONE!
I as well had the same problem but it went away about after a month or so. I had to just use a dab of toothpaste instead of my normal glob...lol... Also I cleaned my tongue with no paste so I woulnd't gag. I also suggest peppermint tea, it help so much. If you like I can mail u a couple of my favorite pepermint tea so u can see if u like it before purchasing it. I use a European blend that I love, it took a few brands b4 I actually enjoyed the tea. Also, I am now addicted to Earl Grey's Green tea but that is now that I can enjoy it. Good Luck.

If I were you I would a)add an acid reducer like Prilosec and b) back wayyyy off on the diet advancement until the nausea calms down.

I'll second EN's suggestion.  I had the same issue early out with nausea and dry heaves in the morning - turned out all I needed to do was up my acid reducer.  Make sure you're drinking enough, even if your protein intake suffers for it.  Liquid is more important than food right now.  Hope things improve soon!

Happened to me.

I did this.

First of all if at any point your feel like you are going to be sick, leave the bathroom and start singing a song to yourself.  Distraction can prevent vomiting, focusing on the sensation only makes it worse.

First rinse mouth out with warm water and then wait a few mins.

Then drink a small amount of warm water.  Keep drinking slowly till have had a mouth full or two. Wait a few more mins.

Rinse mouth out with a solution of mouthwash and water. (at least your mouth is starting to feel cleaner at this point)

Go eat something slowly.   Wait a few mins.
Come back and brush teeth.

Morning were always hard for me.  The other thing that helped was having a protien dense snack right before bed(cheese works well, even if it is only a mouthful)  A couple of times I even had tsp or 2  of peanut butter in the middle of the night so that my stomach never got really empty.

I learned that if my stomach never got empty for a long long time, I felt better.

Good luck catnip