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Unexplained Chronic Nausea

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sue303
sue303

Hi all

I am writing in the hope that someone can relate to what I am going though and maybe offer some support or advice.

Seven weeks ago I woke up feeling extremely nauseous. I also had bad muscle pains, joint pains, a headache every day (now gone), and felt extremely fatigued; so fatigued that some days I find it hard to walk around as my legs feel like paper on bad days. I have been like this every single day for weeks. I have actually had similar symptoms on other occasions in the past. On those occasions, it has usually lasted about six weeks and then disappeared. This time it is showing no signs of abating. I lay on my bed most days feeling too sick to move around.

Because this has happened before, my GP thinks it might be M.E and I am waiting to go to a clinic to see someone about it. Meanwhile, each day is like torture to me.

I wake up very nauseous as soon as I open my eyes. I can not bear to eat until around midday but usually feel slightly better for eating something....if it does not give me bad wind and I end up burping for hours. I am just eating tiny amounts often. I have acid reflux but my throat isn't sore with acid. I also have a hiatus hernia though it's very small. I am on PPIs for this.

I can not take anti sickness meds as I react badly to them. No doctor will give me them so I have to brave this without any help. I cut out caffiene, I don't drink alcohol, and I eat a healthy diet...I have to because I have chronic kidney disease, my cholesterol has suddenly gone up, and I am high end of normal for blood sugar. In fact, I am on so many restrictions it seems sometimes like there is only veg left!

I am waiting to see a gastroenterologist as my GP is hoping he will do a colonoscopy to rule out bowel disease. I don't want it. I have to have CT scans every six months because I had kidney cancer two years ago, and I get so anxious beforehand and go to pieces. I have one due in two weeks that is causing me a huge amount of stress. I have to have the dye this time too and I am scared of it. I have claustrophobia.

I have been to the doctor about five times in seven weeks. It has been deduced that I am depressed to boot...who wouldn't be? Otherwise all blood tests have been fine and physical exam doesn't point to anything. I have just done a stool test and awaiting results. My GP really doesn't know what's wrong with me. I ended up in casualty one day as I collapsed on my stairs. I had been in a bad way for about five weeks. My sats were okay, blood test fine, chest x-ray fine..sent home.

I am starting to go out of my mind methinks! I am worried and sometimes it feels like I can't breathe through such stress. I get light headed, feel almost depersonalized, and sweat with fear at times.

Has anyone suffered in this way and for so long without diagnosis? I would welcome any kind of response.

Thanks smile

4 likes, 111 replies

111 Replies

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  • LEP
    LEP sue303

    Posted

    I know someone with chronic nausea...the Drs recently ran her through every imaginable test..and found out that she has EOE....sometimes mistaken to be GERD.

    Ask your Dr. to test you for these....

  • 1Tia1A
    1Tia1A sue303

    Posted

    Hola Sue!

    Let me start by letting you know that I can DEFINITELY identify with what you are going through. Please understand that two things are MOST important. As a lady, issues in the reproductive system can cause major gastrointestinal issues in addition to weakness and other things that may not appear to be connected. Some simple issues could cause you to feel like the world es coming to an end. Second, please have the colonoscopy. I have had three (3) so far and, believe it or not, I would rather have a colonoscopy than a simple blood test. Lol!!!It happens like this: You must wear a patient gown, you expose your butt a little bit, the doctor gives you anesthesia via IV to put you completely to sleep ( not hardly a "Twilight State") and you wake up. That es it.

    I am not a doctor but, since I have the very same symptoms I started my own research. I read up on the Vagus Nerve and was surprised to learn that it can cause stomach issues and other strange symptoms.

    I hope that this helps a little. I wish for you the very best. You are in my prayers my friend.

  • xavierawu
    xavierawu sue303

    Posted

    I have been nauseous off and on for 2 weeks, thought I had a bladder infection, was blood in the urine, was on macrobid for 4 days, urine tested negative before and after macrobid, positive for infection by the first strip...leg cramps..any ideas anyone? 
  • michael03033
    michael03033 sue303

    Posted

    Hello Sue. The problem ended up being incorrect signals, which were sent from my stomach to my brain, causing chronic nausea. In addition, the fear of nausea also contributed to the chronic nausea. I had very similar symptoms to you & was also searching Google non-stop for an answer.

    After 5 months of chronic nausea & 4+ doctors, an endoscopy found nothing (a small camera into the stomach). Make sure to ask them to do a biopsy (analysis of the tissue under a microscope to confirm nothing strange is found). This "nothing found" was a good thing, as it ruled out a lot of fatal things.

    The doctor ended up diagnosing me with "unexplained chronic nausea" (forget the exact medical name). I now take a very small tablet "endep" (a drug previously used for minor depression), which blocks signals from my stomach to my brain on a daily basis. Chronic nausea is 95% gone.

    The root cause points to a case of food poisoning, causing the incorrect signals from my stomach to my brain. Best wishes to anyone out there - the fastest way to find out what's wrong is to get an endoscopy (expensive for me, but was worth the cost).

    In the meantime, the things that helped my chronic nausea were (1) cheap ginger lollies (2) non-alcoholic ginger beer (3) staying away from foods that make you nausea, also known as "trigger foods", which differ between people (4) sleeping in a recliner, instead of a matress (5) lying down on either your left or right side.... i forget which side (6) remembering all the things that happened on the very first day of the chronic nausea, which may be food poisoning etc, then presenting this description to doctors to speed up the discovery of the root cause.

    Best wishes to all & have hope!

    • emily56456
      emily56456 michael03033

      Posted

      Michael I have had the same basic symptoms for three months. Constant nausea ranging from all out feel like I want to vomit to the best being absolutely no appetite. I do have pain at the stomach area ranging from touch it it feels sore to pain without touching it. I have all the tests scans and blood work possible and all are normal. I have been reading about chronic idiopathic nausea that is helped with sub clinical doses of tryclic anti-depressants such as the one you are on. Has it helped. 
  • susanrad
    susanrad sue303

    Posted

    I'm replying to a year old post, I hope to get s reply though. I have been sick for 3.5 years. Long story short. They are saying its Fibromyalgia. I have Kaiser and not real impressed. I have had to ask for every test to try to rule things out. I've have upper and lower GI, CT Scans ( head, chest& ab). The only thing that showed was a "small" Chiari (sp?) Malformation, but my GP said it shouldn't be causing my issues. I'm beginning to think I need a 2nd opinion from a non Kaiser Neurologist? All I know is, I have lived like this for 3.5 years in hell, can't work ( was a dental assistant for 24 years, loved my work), plus, I am denied social security disability and have hired someone to help me get it. I'd love to feel well enough to work, but I can barely eat, do things around the house and function. It's been horrible not having health professionals look at you like your a hypochondriac. I'm Not, I'm SICK! So Sue303, what is currently going on with you?
    • susan15198
      susan15198 susanrad

      Posted

      I'm no doctor by any means - I am also a Kaiser member. I went to a GI specialist who performed a endoscopy and sigmoidoscopy. To prepare, I had to clean out my system - clear liquids for 3 days followed by enoma. Once my system was empty I started feeling better. Started taking a mixture of a tablespoon each 2 times a day - now I am down to 1 time a day (all liquids and needs to be refrigerated):

      Aloe Vera juice

      Lemon juice

      Acidophilus

      Did wonders for me. But needed to empty my system first

    • mark91131
      mark91131 susanrad

      Posted

      How awful - how are things now, I have similar symptoms so appreciate your situation
  • susanrad
    susanrad sue303

    Posted

    If you are still linked to this feed, I'd love to talk to you Sue303. I've been battling nausea for 3.5 years. Just curious what you have learned in one year. Thank you
    • susan15198
      susan15198 susanrad

      Posted

      Hi Susanrad, I have not suffered like you have. I was sick for 7 weeks - you are at 3.5 years! I AM SO SORRY!!! My illness was triggered by surgery. I broke my leg (tibia is 3 places and compressed my knee). The anesthesia and the massive amounts of pain meds they gave me in the hospital, totally set off my system. As soon as I got out of the hospital, I took NO pain meds. I could not eat - my system would not digest any foods. When I went to the GI Specialist, I could not handle the stuff to empty my system, so I drank clear liquids for days followed by an enema to empty my system. I believe that triggered my system back into action. From there, by suggestion of my acupuncturist, I started taking the mixture mentioned in my previous post. I felt a little better every day and I would say after a little more than 1 week, was almost back to normal. Now, 7 weeks from starting the probiotic, except for the healing leg, I am back to normal.

      Be sure you are eating bland food and chew it very well so it is easier to digest. I stuck with chicken, rice, and veggies.

      So, I had a lot going on all at once - my system was in shock. Exercise would have helped me, but I couldn't put any pressure on my leg for 10 weeks, i could do little to no exercise. All of the specialists I went to: primary care, emergency room, cardiologist, neurologist, and GI, it was my acupuncturist who found the solution.

      Don't give up - keep trying different things. You know your body, listen to it. Obviously what you are doing is not working - keep looking for solutions. Since you've been dealing with it for 3.5 years, you have to give things a chance - I'm thinking after 3.5 years, it won't be an over night success - but any relief will be welcome I'm sure.

      Keep us posted and I'm sending positive thoughts and prayers.

    • susanrad
      susanrad susan15198

      Posted

      Bless your heart. Thank you for sharing your story, your info and last but not least your encouragement. It is greatly appreciated. I hope you continue to be well.

      Thank you!

      susan

  • Kawolfe123
    Kawolfe123 sue303

    Posted

    Hi Sue303. I have chronic pancreatitis that causes severe nausea. There are a whole host of possible symptoms. I have found that CREON helps control the enzymes for my blood glucose. And also promotes digestion. Aloe juice is also very helpful. Try looking up pancreatitis and see if you feeling like this may be your problem. Good luck to you.
    • susanrad
      susanrad Kawolfe123

      Posted

      I will read up on that. I have had many blood panels of every kinds. I am always low on mist everything, but still fall just inside normal range, so far nothing has been a red flag. Wouldn't that show in blood work? I will read up now. The nausea doesn't wake me, but as soon as I wake up, I get sweaty and the wave comes.

      One thing I haven't shared, because I'm not sure how significant it is. I have 11 yr. old breast implants. I never liked them, he botched the job. Made bigger than I wanted... Recently had them deflated, I have surgery on 12/2 to remove silicone shell (saline filled). It's time anyways, but my daughter had a friend that blamed them on her autoimmune disease. I'm hopeful, but not putting all of my eggs in that basket.

    • Kawolfe123
      Kawolfe123 susanrad

      Posted

      Susanrad you need to find a doc who is willing to think outside the box. Just because you are in the normal range doesn't mean it's normal for YOU. They may need to slide you around in the normal range to see what works for you. I spent 9mo. In a hospital and don't even remember the first 3. What you are describing sounds like how mine started. It's been since 2009 and I still puke daily. I wish you luck. Keep me posted on how you are.

  • sharada39668
    sharada39668 sue303

    Posted

    Kidney disease causes chronic nausea which gets worse as the disease progresses.
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