Nausea and bloating

[dhntau]

Hi,
My name is Dianne a 35yo woman.
I have suffered problems with my stomach for many years, had all the relevent tests and nothing found.

My symptoms which occur daily feels like a sudden hollow kind of hungry feeling in my stomach which develops into quite severe nausea and bloating within usually 30 minutes of my first sign of feeling unwell. I don't suffer a lot of pain, but uncomfortable pressure over my abdomen with frequent belching that eases the nausea. If I am able to eat at the first signs, which is not always possible, the nausea symptoms are only mild and will subside. when I am unable to eat early enough, I feel so sick and cannot face food until the nausea goes away. I take Metoclopramide an anti nausea drug which works wonders when I feel really sick, but my concerns are that my stomach problems control my life and is so unpleasant and depressing.

I often wake in the morning feeling terrible nausea which is with me for most of the day on and off, and some days feel fine
until about 3 hours after my lunch and the bloating and belching begins as if my food hasn't digested properly along with the nausea. It feels like I am about to vomit my lunch, but it is 3 hours since I have eaten. Again the Metoclopramide is the only medicine that helps me feel better.

I have been prescribed ulcer healing medication over the years, but often makes me feel worse and very heavy in the stomach with mild nausea all day and the feeling every thing I eat or drink is not passing through my stomach as it should and bloats me.

Anyone else suffer this?????

[dog house]

Some of your symptoms sound like mine.  Have you had a gastric emptying study done?  That was the last test I was willing to go through after a bunch of others and it turned out I had severe delayed gastric emptying.  I start medication for it today.


dog house

[4gpact]

I agree with the previous comment; have the gastric emptying test done, it is an easy test. you just eat a small meal and they take pictures of your stomach as it empties (or not), while you lay flat on a table. Non invasive. Do some searching on the internet on gastroparesis, the name for this disorder. You have all the classic symptoms. Watch what you eat! Avoid high fat, high fiber foods, including those healthy things for the normal person, such as fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, anything with a skin or seeds, red meats; in short, anything that makes the stomach work harder. Most of us end up eating a lot of carbs, as they are easy to digest. pasta, cereals, rice, potatoes, toast. (see my comments to the previous writer's question above from another post). Sleep with your head in an elevated position, it will help the stomach to empty better by gravity. Get some exercise; don't eat before bed. I have been living with it for a long time, didn't get a diagnosis until fairly recently. Never heard of it before until they told me, then it all made sense. Get the test and educate yourself, most doctors are clueless about this. One of the most widely used meds is called domperidone, and you have to get it from out of the country (don't worry, it's safe and legal, made by a reputable drug manufacturer, they just don't sell it here in the US). I take it every day to avoid getting sick. Some are better than others. good luck.

[dhntau]

Thank you so much for your replies. I am so sick and tired of Doctors with vacant expressions on their face who simply don't understand my symptoms and prescribe me more antacids and ulcer healing medications that seem to make me feel worse. I am a weight conscious person and try to eat healthily, and the strange thing is, I DO suffer more with high fibre foods, obviously making my stomach work harder and upsetting me. I have researched delayed gastric emptying and spoke with my doctor who told me it was mainly diabetics which I am not, who develop this. It all begins to make sense now, because Metoclopramide and Domperidone are the main treatment drugs used for this complaint and does work for me, but my Doctor tries hard not to prescribe Metoclopramide and insists on Zantac. I haven't taken Metoclopramide properly for gastroparesis and use it as a last resort when I am really nauseous which is about twice a week, due to the drama's I have convincing my Doctor to prescribe it. Only 25 tablets and no repeats. They are my security blanket to prevent me vomiting when I feel really sick, so I safe guard them. I will most definitely insist on a gastric emptying test, as I do feel this is my problem too.

I have suffered this condition on and off since I was about 13 years old, (22 years)and thought to myself if it was a serious complaint I would be long gone, and considering none of the usual tests I have had show anything abnormal. It is far worse when I am stressed and drives me nuts for a few days, like my food takes so long to digest.

I remember as a teenager a few times having this same horrible nauseous feeling a few hours after my lunch, eating nothing more and eventually vomiting undigested food 12 hours later, and put down to a tummy bug. I have two Metoclopramide tablets left I have been guarding, and will make an appointment with my Doctor tomorrow.

I am sorry to go on a bit here, but it is wonderful that someone elses understands what I am talking about. It gets to the point sometimes, I keep thinking I hope I don't start feeling sick, which makes life so unpleasant. If I am going out or making plans to, it ruins the excitement and pleasure continually thinking, I hope I am feeling well that day. Oh, the other one was taking an antidepressant which I absolutely refused, because I am not depressed and is not my head, it is my stomach. I am the happiest person in the world when I feel well.

Thanks for listening
Love Dianne.

[4gpact]

Diane,
I totally understand how you feel. If you would like, please email me at
***@****
Your doctor is doing a terrible job of treating you for this disease. What about nausea meds? You should be given Zofran, which is very effective, and non sedating. But antacids will do nothing for stomach motility. And if you need reglan, and can tolerate it, then you should have it. Some can take it. Also, diabetics only make up 30% of all gastroparesis patients! Many of us are idiopathic, meaning of unknown origin (something caused it, they just aren't able to trace it) or as a secondary symptom of another disease. I have educated myself on this, and have found a lot of good information, and the doctors don't seem to understand it at all (most of them). Do not give up, and do not allow your doctor to treat you poorly. Find another one. Treat yourself if you have to, the options are pretty limited anyway, and you can guess just as well as they can as to what would work. It's all trial and error anyway. Write me anytime you like.

[dhntau]

I visited my Doctor today and explained my situation to him and, he FINALLY agreed to prescribe me Domperidone which is named Motilium. he told me to take 1 tablet 10mg 30 minutes before meals and before I go to bed. I took the first tablet before dinner, and it is now 11.30pm and I feel great and ready for my second before bed. Although I had only toasted sandwiches for dinner, nothing heavy, I have suffered no bloating, belching or nausea yet. I will see how I feel tomorrow. I feel much more relaxed too, which is a bonus.

Thanks everyone
Love Dianne.

[4gpact]

That is great news! Especially that you got results from such a low dose. I have to take 30 mg. for it to work, but thankfully it does help considerably. I really try to encourage people to try it, the benefits are tremendous. Don't be afraid to take a higher dose if you need it, my doctor is the one that recommended I take the 30 mg. dose, and I have been fine with it. Good for you!!

[fuggie]

I was wondering if someone could tell me if there having these systems & what it could be.I have been having nausia alot on & off for 2 or 3 months.Also i sometimes get a burning sensation in my chest coming up from my throat.But mostly i get nausia's alot.Mostly in the morning about 3 or 5am.I have seen a doctor & he prescibed me ranitidine tablets. 150mg.i got that from the county hospital in chicago.Then i had an ultra sound doen & that showed up normal.They think it could be acid reflux but could it be something else?I also get from time to time more the once aweek dark colored stools.Almost black but not black.Just very dark brown.I also get very loose stools alot.My stomach feels bad as if its emty but also after i eat snacks or a big meal i get really nausias.My doctor told me to take zantac now.I have been on meds since oct.16.I am somewhat better but still get nausias & don't feel well.I have lost 10 lbs to in a two month period.From less eating.Hope someone has feedback on this.You can e-mail me at ***@**** if anybody has any suggestions or has what i have.
                        Thank you.