Chronic nausea after a stomach virus

[wantonwonderer]

        I am a 24 year old female. In early June I had a stomach virus consisting of intense nausea and diarrhea as well as aches and general malaise. Since then (now mid October) I have experienced recurring nausea which is worse at night. It keeps me awake and I can hear and feel my stomach churning. My bad "attacks" occur about once a week, sometimes more or less frequently, lasting about 24 hours. It's as though my stomach goes into this weird "mode" where it just churns and I feel wave upon wave of intense nausea. I have not vomited.  

I have seen two gastroenterologists. The first performed an upper endoscopy (normal accept for mild chronic inflammation in stomach and esophagus) and ordered as HIDA scan. The scan came back "borderline" (33% ef).  I have had a normal abdominal ultrasound and blood work. Negative for h.pylori, mono, and celiac sprue. Food allergy test inconclusive. No definite correlation with food, although I now eat a very bland diet. Gastric emptying study normal. Three day stool tests for para/ova negative. My doctor has ordered a subsequent HIDA scan (last one was 2 months ago), and I have yet to follow through on it.

I have been prescribed a host of PPIs, currently on Aciphex. I have also tried most anti-emetics: phenergan (only thing that helps but knocks me out), Zofran, and Tigan. The longest time I have feltAlso, I have tried Hyomax which didn't seem to help much.

I have been told that I am likely experiencing some kind of postinfectious IBS/dyspepsia which will gradually fade out over six months. I would very much like to believe this. Anyone else with postinfectious digestive problems experienced relief?  It certainly feels like something is very wrong with me. I am uncertain (as are my doctors) whether the gallbladder is the culprit as I have no pain and cannot correlate episodes to eating fatty foods. I do not feel consciously anxious during episodes, although I do become quite depressed as this sickness is ruining my life. Any advice or support would be SO appreciated, as I feel utterly alone in my suffering. Thanks

[franko835]

A nervous stomach, anixety's can cause nausea.Hope this helps?

[doctornee medical]

Hi
Welcome to the forum!
You have been extensively investigated for GI problems including Celiac disease and lactose intolerance. Acidity and gastric reflux can also cause similar symptoms and are often difficult to manage on medications. Try a combination of acid lowering drugs and life style changes.  Avoid heavy meals and eat frequent small meals. Avoid too much of caffeine, tea, fried food and drinks both alcoholic and non alcoholic fuzzy ones. Avoid heavy exercises within 4 hours of a heavy meal. Raise the head end of the bed by pillows to 30 degrees. Go to bet at least 2 hours after food. Maybe these tips will help you.
Get your liver function test and stool test done. Often raised liver enzymes due to infection are the cause of chronic vomiting. It could also be cyclical vomiting syndrome. This is characterized by bouts of unexplained vomiting that stop as they came  with a symptom free period and start again. There is no test to diagnose it yet. Diagnosis is made by a careful history which shows that each vomiting episode was similar to the previous one in terms of pattern, duration and symptoms.
Hope this helps. It is difficult to comment beyond this at this stage. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[wantonwonderer]

    I have had two complete metabolic panels (2 months apart) with no elevated liver enzymes. In fact, nothing was abnormal. Negative stool tests. I eat a very bland diet. No caffeine, no fried food, acidic food, etc. Previously I was able to eat spicy food, pizza, etc, with no problems (those days are gone). I have never had heartburn and prior to my stomach illness in June I had no other symptoms of an acid problems. Currently on Aciphex, and have tried Nexium, Kapidex, Prevacid (minimal if any results).  I have also been sleeping propped up on pillows. Thank you for the tips, but I have unfortunately already adopted these practices with minimal results.

I have read about the cyclical vomiting syndrome, and I am interested. In my case, however, I never actually vomit. I have read this syndrome is most common in children, later progressing to traditional migraines in adulthood. I have never had a migraine and rarely have headaches.Please let me know if you think of anything else.