Why am I vomiting green or yellow bile? Throwing up bile, a yellow or greenish liquid, can happen for many reasons, such as a high alcohol intake, pregnancy, bile reflux, or an intestinal blockage. Some of these may need urgent medical attention.
Alcohol irritates the esophagus and relaxes the esophageal sphincter, which causes reflux and vomiting of bile. Vomiting is also caused by alcohol intolerance. Vomiting bile after alcohol consumption is also very common.
Yellow bile is usually a result of changes in the body due to the underlying condition. In most cases, it's no cause for concern, especially if you vomit while your stomach is empty.
Yellow-colored vomit can happen for several reasons. If you have an empty stomach and the only content of the vomit is bile, you will notice yellow-colored bile in your vomit. It can also happen when you have morning sickness or dehydration, and lack of fluids is affecting the color of the bile content in the vomit.
Hydrate with clear liquids
Make hydration your main focus after a bout of vomiting, states Dr. Goldman. Start by drinking small sips of water every 15 minutes for the first three to four hours. You can even suck on ice chips.
White or Foamy Vomit
The vomit appears white or foamy due to acid buildup in the stomach. Therefore, a person should consult the doctor if the condition lasts more than one or two days.
Take a break from solid food, even if you feel like eating. Stay hydrated by sucking on ice chips or frozen fruit pops. Try drinking sips of water, weak tea, clear soft drinks without carbonation, noncaffeinated sports drinks, or broth.
Speak to your GP if: you've been vomiting repeatedly for more than a day or two. you're unable to keep down any fluids because you're vomiting repeatedly. you have signs of severe dehydration, such as confusion, a rapid heartbeat, sunken eyes and passing little or no urine.
Bile is not acid. It's an alkaline fluid consisting of bile salts, bile pigments, cholesterol and lecithin. It is produced by the liver, stored in the gallbladder and released intermittently into the duodenum, the upper part of the small intestine, when needed to digest fat.
Bile reflux is most commonly caused by a problem with the pyloric valve that's supposed to keep bile from escaping into your stomach. This might be a result of: Surgery, especially stomach surgery and gallbladder removal surgery. Obstruction of the pyloric valve by a duodenal ulcer or scar tissue.
Allow yourself to rest. Resting propped up in a seated position with the head elevated at least twelve inches above the feet is ideal. Remain in this seated rested position for a minimum of an hour, or until you are no longer experiencing nausea. Do not lie down all the way.
While it might seem tempting to brush your teeth immediately after vomiting, we don't recommend it. That's because throwing up leaves stomach acid in your mouth, and when you brush immediately after, you are actually rubbing that highly destructive acid into your teeth.
Strange colors: Vomit may look bright red or dark (like coffee grounds) if it contains blood. Meanwhile, bile -- a fluid made by your liver that helps with digestion -- can make vomit look bright green. Both are cause for concern. Blood could be a sign of an ulcer or an irritation in your GI tract.
Try foods such as bananas, rice, applesauce, dry toast, soda crackers (these foods are called BRAT diet). For 24-48 hours after the last episode of vomiting, avoid foods that can irritate or may be difficult to digest such alcohol, caffeine, fats/oils, spicy food, milk or cheese.
Vomit can appear to be: Unchanged milk or undigested food. Curdled milk or partly digested food. Other stomach contents, such as stomach acid and mucous.
You might have an electrolyte imbalance: Electrolyte imbalances are one of the most common reasons you might feel dehydrated even after drinking tons of water: “Sometimes if we drink a lot of water but we don't take in enough fruits and vegetables, our electrolytes—sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride, etc.
According to a recent study from the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, your body can alleviate mild dehydration in 45 minutes with 20.3 oz (600ml) of water.