Symptom 3: Severe Retching
Picture this: an intense bout of retching that feels like it’s turning your insides out. Not a pleasant image, is it? Severe retching is more than just an uncomfortable experience. For those at risk of Mallory Weiss Syndrome, it’s a potential precursor to a tear in the gastro-esophageal junction.
Retching, for those unfamiliar with the term, is a vigorous movement of the stomach and esophagus resembling vomiting but without expelling anything. It’s like the body’s desperate attempt to vomit, even when there’s nothing to throw up. Now, one might ask, “How can something like retching cause a tear?”
The answer lies in the sheer force exerted during these episodes. Retching involves violent contractions, and when they’re forceful enough, they can lead to a tear, especially if the mucosal lining is already weak or compromised. Common culprits that set the stage for such severe retching include binge drinking, overeating, or even certain medications that upset the stomach.
The critical aspect here isn’t just identifying the retching but understanding its implications in the larger context of Mallory Weiss Syndrome. If someone already has risk factors or previous episodes of the syndrome, recurrent severe retching should be a cause for concern. It’s not about brushing it off as “just a bad bout of nausea”; it’s about recognizing its potential to cause harm. (3)
