Chronic nausea and/or anxiety. Anyone have something similar?
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi! I’ve been dealing with chronic nausea, occasional constipation, and most recently (last 2 months), GERD. I’ve had every lab, test, procedure and two surgeries (gallbladder removal-thought to be the cause, and diagnostic laparoscopy-to look for endometriosis). A teeny bit of endo was found but it was barely anything to even report or mention. I’ve seen every specialist and even went to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. The nausea is almost always around. It will come and go during the day, sometimes stay all day, or some days; it’ll rarely come around. It’s so inconsistent. I’ve been bed ridden many times, and have lost a lot of weight.
After my last surgery looking for endo (3 months ago), I decided I’m done searching for what is causing my illness since nothing major has been found. I believe it’s gotta be anxiety. While sick, I took 10mg amitriptyline and it didn’t do much but make me tired and extremely constipated. I eventually got off of that and have been going to therapy and doing things naturally- with the occasional Ativan (supplementing with valerian root, digestive enzymes and other supplements for when my stomach acts up). I do yoga, exercise, eat well, try to stay busy.
I must also mention I have Emetophobia. The fear of vomiting/others vomiting and have been doing CBT for it. The sickness started when I had the flu a year and a half ago and vomited. So with that said, I believe this illness must be because of my phobia and anxiety. My problem is, I don’t know what to do to now. I’ve stopped trying to stop the symptoms and float through them and accept them. This hasn’t really helped much and I’ve developed heart palpitations again during this “healing journey”. Whatever is going on, it has been destructive. I just want my life back. I have an almost 3 year old and a wonderful husband. I want my job back and to live life again.
I’m willing to try medications again but want to know if anyone else has been through something similar and have gotten better. Anyone have suggestions or advice? I really appreciate it!
0 likes, 12 replies
fernando90225 ren56472
Posted
hello there. I'm so Sorry for your suffering with nausea and you other issues. I was very nauseous for about 2 years. my gallbladder was the issue. after surgery though I ran into some complications. Nausea and vomiting every day. I was sent back to hospital just a couple months after surgery. Had a Ct scan of stomach and bile ducts. well found out that my common bile duct was dilated with a stone stuck there. Causing me more NAUSEA and stomach issues. I was rushed to surgery again to remove stone. WAS in hospital for a couple of weeks recovering. After that it took me about a year to fully recover. Just my story hope you will get better. Good Luck hope you can help the doctors find some relief soon. Anxiety goes along 28th stomach issues. I wish I had ativan or valium to help me but no doc would dispense it. oh well life is what we make of it. I will pray for you.bye
ren56472 fernando90225
Posted
oh gosh, that sounds terrible. i didnt have any stones with my gallbladder removal. they removed it simply guessing it could be the culprit. i can bring that up to the doctor though. i just hope youre feeling back to normal now. take care!
fernando90225 ren56472
Posted
Thank you. Bless you.
pippa58442 ren56472
Posted
Has gastritis and h pylori been ruled out.
ren56472 pippa58442
Posted
both, unfortunately. been tested for h pylori multiple times in different ways too.
pippa58442 ren56472
Posted
Maybe try different doctors. Have you tried a food diary to see if a particular food(s) are the culprit?
ren56472 pippa58442
Posted
i have. the only foods that make it worse (consistently) are caffeine and sugary foods. but the nausea is there almost all the time regardless of what i eat.
pippa58442 ren56472
Posted
Sometimes after gallbladder removal, IBS is triggered.It can also happen after an infection such stomach bugs, food poisoning and stress. Do you have any abdominal pain that moves about? Bowel habit changes such as constipation/ diarrhoea go along with IBS as well as nausea, anxiety and GERD.Food intolerances like you describe are also part of IBS. Coffee and sugary foods are common culprits. Has your doctor ever mentioned IBS to you? When all your tests are negative, IBS can be diagnosed. It is functional, so it doesn't show on scans. Ask your doctor for an antispasmodic if you have abdominal pain. IBS can be constant or come and go in flare ups. My IBS started off as constant and then changed to come and go pain triggered by stress. I got nausea, abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhoea with it. Avoiding stress and taking painkillers/antispasmodics help me. Keeping busy is one of the strategies that help with IBS because it takes your mind off your symptoms.
ren56472 pippa58442
Posted
i could very well have ibs (although its an umbrella term and i believe its a diagnosis when doctors are unsure of the cause). i have constipation and recently acid reflux which is getting a little better. i chalky it all up yo anxiety because ive never dealt with any of this before. im underweight (107 lbs), i eat healthy, exercise when i can, meditate, etc. but my anxiety levels are so high at all times and i have obsessive thoughts of my anxiety and phobia so im sure it creates these issues. im just ready to see progress and wish someone had answers 😕 its cruddy feeling sick all the time
pippa58442 ren56472
Posted
Doctors don't just diagnose IBS when they don't know the cause. They do vigorous testing to eliminate all other possible causes before settling on IBS. IBS is not diagnosed lightly. My doctor diagnosed my IBS because he had identified severe stress as the culprit. He knew the cause which my other doctors had missed. There was a link between my high stress levels over a six month period and the onset of my abdominal pain and other symptoms. It sounds like your anxiety and symptoms are linked too just the way mine were.
Go back to your doctor and ask about IBS. Emphasize how anxious you are. You will get answers by seeing your doctor again. It may take time, but it will happen. It took three and a half months for me to get a diagnosis and I gave up hope of ever getting answers. I was amazed when my pain was finally identified; help came when I least expected it.
Chebel ren56472
Posted
I have similar symptoms and think it is parasites. Do a stool test.
ren56472 Chebel
Posted
ive done 2 parasite screenings and a blood test for h pylori. but thank you!