Chronic Nausea, anyone?

[emer95]

Hello,
I was hoping someone can help me with this tummy issue I've been having. I have these "episodes" lasting several days, of intense nausea. It is debilitating and exhausting to the point where it is affecting my job, my family, and certainly my health. After days of laying in bed writhing I went to the doctor and begged for help. I've gone through this for years and had tests in the past and they were inconclusive. The doctors always want to peg it as acid reflux, and they put me on medication that doesn't really help, so they try another one, and we go in circles.

Sometimes I feel great, and when I feel good I forget about it. But when I have my episodes I feel really lousy, and this has been a particularly bad stretch. I'm going for a battery of tests on Friday including bloodwork and an upper and lower GI. Then the doctor will make more decisions from there.

I am losing weight rapidly because I just can't eat. I am 5' 3" and at the doctors I weighed 98 lbs. I knew my clothes were loose but I didn't know I had slipped under 100 lbs. I feel fragile and weak and like I'm not fully participating in my life.

Has anyone else been through this? I'd appreciate any advice you can give. Thanks so much.

 

[kirbydog48]

Wow, that sounds really awful and I'm so sorry you have to go through this. I would ask for a referral to a gastroenterologist. Food allergies? Gall bladder?

 

[englishteacha]

That was me last year. It turned out that my gall bladder had stopped working. I didn't have gall stones, or regular gall bladder symptoms. I was nauseated 24/7.

 

[chell]

It started for me this past July. I had 5 months of nausea until we found out what was wrong. In my case it was Celiac Disease. Have you been tested for that? If not, ask your doctor to add that to the blood work on Friday. If it comes back positive they may want to do an Endoscopy to take a biopsy of your small intestines to be certain. That's how I was diagnosed for certain after a positive blood test.

Now I feel SO much better. Sadly I didn't start loosing weight. Now that I have gone gluten-free I have started loosing a little. Unlike you, I need to loose weight.

If you have Celiac Disease it is a huge adjustment but it is worth it to be free from the pain and nausea. Are you having any other symptoms? Do you have bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation?

It is so frustrating while going through the tests and waiting for an answer. Hang in there and try to stay strong. I know how difficult it is.

 

[emer95]

Thank you so much for the replies. englishteacha- did you get your gallbladder out?

chell- my SIL just watched Dr. Oz and he did a show with Elisabeth from The View. Before I went to the doctor she called me and said, "I think you have Celiacs!" So I asked them to test me for it. The only symptom I have is nausea, but I'll rule out anything.
I'm glad you found relief!

 

[chell]

Some people with Celiac have no symptoms at all. They are so lucky! The other day I was contaminated with a very, very tiny bit of gluten and was in pain for days. The stomach and belly issues have finally gone away but I'm still suffering with joint pain now. **sigh**

Thank you.

I'm glad they are going to test you for it. I hope they can find relief for you soon. Like you, I had bouts of the nausea on and off over the years. But I always thought it was some type of a virus or something because it usually lasted about 2 weeks with me. This last time it sure didn't. I can only imagine how you must feel. I know how difficult it is to get out of bed every day feeling like that. There were days at work where I would go stand over the toilet not knowing if I was going to vomit or not. Thankfully I didn't have that problem.

 

[golfgal]

One off the wall suggestion is to have your ears checked. If I were you and not getting satisfactory information from my Dr I would find another one that is willing to look past the reflux.

 

[MAKmom]

I have been ill for a few months & found out we had a carbon monoxide leak in my office. It is a drafty building but I sit about 4 feet from the heater that caused it.

 

[Sleepy]

I like to watch the tv program called Mysterious Diagnosis. On one of the episodes, the young woman had Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. It caused her severe nausea and vomitting, but all tests had come back clean and they had even removed her gallbladder to see if that was the problem. The docs gave up on her and told her she was making herself sick . She finally saw a doc who diagnosed her problem.

 

[chell]

I like to watch the tv program called Mysterious Diagnosis. On one of the episodes, the young woman had Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. It caused her severe nausea and vomitting, but all tests had come back clean and they had even removed her gallbladder to see if that was the problem. The docs gave up on her and told her she was making herself sick . She finally saw a doc who diagnosed her problem.

I can't believe doctors act that way. We know our bodies best. It is so frustrating when they don't listen to us!