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Chronic Nausea a Life's Sentence?
Has anyone had any experience with "electrical disorders of the stomach"? They are being studied a Wake Forest University Medical Center. They talk about the stomach as a muscle that is either not funtioning at all, or functioning too slowly or too quickly, (neuromuscular disorders of the stomach) resulting in chronic nausea.
This discussion is related to Chronic Nausea.
This discussion is related to Chronic Nausea.
Hi Joanne! My story is really the story of my 24 year old son. When he was 13 he had severe stomach cramps. We rushed him to a gastroenterologist and had an endoscopy and colonoscopy right away. He was diagnosed with Crohns Disease. The docter tried 11 different meds on him and settled on Asacol. He missed 6 months of high school and became almost agorophobic. After 'we' crossed that hurdle he remained on Asacol for ten years. (Dr. was not concerned). One day he was preparing for school and he felt flu like symptoms. Nausea, headache, lightheadedness, weakness and upset stomach. When they persisted we went straight to our GP. He sent us to the original gastro. He did another endoscopy, and declared my son, cured of Crohns Disease, but he didn't know what the nausea was due to now.
The real story goes like this; Back to the GP - referred to anothe gastroenterologist -
gastro # 2 - tests - MRI, CT, another endoscopy, blood tests etc. diagnoses unknown but definately not gall stones. Weeks and weeks go by between test results and drs. appt. Son getting worse and worse. Cannot attend college classes, cannot grocery shop, cannot keep his job at school, thinks he may be dieing. Back to GP. Son and Mother beg for help. Back to gastro #2. Long wait for an appointment. Meantime make an appointment with gastro #3 at Johns Hopkins. Number 3 says endocronology test, gastric emptying test, another kind of MRI, blood tests - no clue whats wrong but -
definately not gallstones. Back to #2, HELP, HELP we cry. Refers us to a surgeon.
We show up at surgons office with throw up cup in hand he says 'classic gallstone symptoms' and removes sons gallbladder. The surgeaon said the gallbladder was 'diseased, and contained ten stones' took pictures of it because it was so diseased. However, son still not free of nausea. (Of course, surgery envolved several other unpleasant adventures like, an inability to urinate and removing a fully enflated catheter, but lets keep going.) Surgeon sends us back to gastro #3. We wait and wait and wait for appointments and lab results. Son tries to go back to school in Richmond. Sees a GP there. Much niecer people. Sends son to neurologist for what has become migraines. Dr. gives meds does tests; x-rays, MRI with contrast etc. Meds work on headache but make nausea worse. Son gets referred to top gastro surgeon at MCV. Tests. No Gallstone in bile duct - say the tests. Son and Mother say, "Wait a Minute! Your tests don't work, said Son "Did have GALLSTONES!". Doctor says 'I don't care, won't do ERCP because its too dangerous and I might get sued'.
So, here we are a year and a half later, no better than we were before. Except, now we know how to talk to the medical profession. We are shopping for a gastroenterologist /surgeon who will perform an ERCP. We are convinced he has a stone or sludge, clogging his bile duct or sphinter of Oddi. Since no doctor has even suggested a diagnosies, let alone a cure, we (desperate family) are taking matters in our own hands and shopping for a procedure.
This is the story in a very, very tiny nutshell. The suffering at the hands of med science is another story we could write. They seem to think that suffering won't kill you so why inconvience the office or hospital routine, not to mention the insurence co's. My son was on the dean's list and had one semester of college left before graduation. He was large and strong and had plans. He has lost over 50lbs. is weak and frightened and trusts no one. His Dad and I are paying for everything, in hopes of not turning him into a complete invalid - our plans for retirement, out-the-window. Apparently, the Asecol that we paid $400 a month for, above, student medical insurance, was unesscessary. Hopefully, it is not the cause of all of our sons health problems. We have even had the pressure in his eyes and ears tested! When I say every test and I really do mean every, expensive, test. He even maxed out his insurance for pharmacy last year. He has been put on anti-depressives - made ausea worse and had drs. suggest he just 'needs to get over it". Like he was imagining the whole thing. I've been with him on bad days - this is not in his head.
Well, Joanne, hope this helps in some small way. Just telling someone else sure helped me. Thank-you for your concern and blessings. I am sending mine in return. Start asking the hard questions and stubbornly demanding a real answer. If they don't have one, ask them what you are suppose to do now? How do I live my life? and Go to someone else - you really don't need a referral. Much luck, Kay192
The real story goes like this; Back to the GP - referred to anothe gastroenterologist -
gastro # 2 - tests - MRI, CT, another endoscopy, blood tests etc. diagnoses unknown but definately not gall stones. Weeks and weeks go by between test results and drs. appt. Son getting worse and worse. Cannot attend college classes, cannot grocery shop, cannot keep his job at school, thinks he may be dieing. Back to GP. Son and Mother beg for help. Back to gastro #2. Long wait for an appointment. Meantime make an appointment with gastro #3 at Johns Hopkins. Number 3 says endocronology test, gastric emptying test, another kind of MRI, blood tests - no clue whats wrong but -
definately not gallstones. Back to #2, HELP, HELP we cry. Refers us to a surgeon.
We show up at surgons office with throw up cup in hand he says 'classic gallstone symptoms' and removes sons gallbladder. The surgeaon said the gallbladder was 'diseased, and contained ten stones' took pictures of it because it was so diseased. However, son still not free of nausea. (Of course, surgery envolved several other unpleasant adventures like, an inability to urinate and removing a fully enflated catheter, but lets keep going.) Surgeon sends us back to gastro #3. We wait and wait and wait for appointments and lab results. Son tries to go back to school in Richmond. Sees a GP there. Much niecer people. Sends son to neurologist for what has become migraines. Dr. gives meds does tests; x-rays, MRI with contrast etc. Meds work on headache but make nausea worse. Son gets referred to top gastro surgeon at MCV. Tests. No Gallstone in bile duct - say the tests. Son and Mother say, "Wait a Minute! Your tests don't work, said Son "Did have GALLSTONES!". Doctor says 'I don't care, won't do ERCP because its too dangerous and I might get sued'.
So, here we are a year and a half later, no better than we were before. Except, now we know how to talk to the medical profession. We are shopping for a gastroenterologist /surgeon who will perform an ERCP. We are convinced he has a stone or sludge, clogging his bile duct or sphinter of Oddi. Since no doctor has even suggested a diagnosies, let alone a cure, we (desperate family) are taking matters in our own hands and shopping for a procedure.
This is the story in a very, very tiny nutshell. The suffering at the hands of med science is another story we could write. They seem to think that suffering won't kill you so why inconvience the office or hospital routine, not to mention the insurence co's. My son was on the dean's list and had one semester of college left before graduation. He was large and strong and had plans. He has lost over 50lbs. is weak and frightened and trusts no one. His Dad and I are paying for everything, in hopes of not turning him into a complete invalid - our plans for retirement, out-the-window. Apparently, the Asecol that we paid $400 a month for, above, student medical insurance, was unesscessary. Hopefully, it is not the cause of all of our sons health problems. We have even had the pressure in his eyes and ears tested! When I say every test and I really do mean every, expensive, test. He even maxed out his insurance for pharmacy last year. He has been put on anti-depressives - made ausea worse and had drs. suggest he just 'needs to get over it". Like he was imagining the whole thing. I've been with him on bad days - this is not in his head.
Well, Joanne, hope this helps in some small way. Just telling someone else sure helped me. Thank-you for your concern and blessings. I am sending mine in return. Start asking the hard questions and stubbornly demanding a real answer. If they don't have one, ask them what you are suppose to do now? How do I live my life? and Go to someone else - you really don't need a referral. Much luck, Kay192
Kay, I have the exact same thing, and I've had nausea and vomiting for 56 years. It began when I was 5 days old in the hospital nursery and they moved me to the pediatric ward. and I STILL suffer from it. I am right now having all the tests and it's what they told me--my electrical system is not function--and it has now caused all kinds of problems with my liver, pancreas, stomach, gallbladder, etc., because they let it go so long. Read the pieces about me to better understand--I've had wonderful help from 2 ladies.
I see the doctor on 4/30 for the big report and hopefully he'll put it all together. I'll be back to you to let you know what needs to be done to resolve it--and hopefully that will help you.
Blessings and be well,
Joanne
I see the doctor on 4/30 for the big report and hopefully he'll put it all together. I'll be back to you to let you know what needs to be done to resolve it--and hopefully that will help you.
Blessings and be well,
Joanne
Thank you for the info. Why haven't my many doctors mentioned these conditions, by name? Have you heard something about eating a Brae Burn apple to control nausea?
What you describe, with the muscle of the stomach not functioning well or at all, is called gastroparesis. Unfortunately, gastroparesis has no cure, however depending on the reason for its onset (in half of all cases this is unknown), the condition may improve. As far as I know, most cases do not. There are drugs and supplements which help with the nausea (one of the supplements is Nux Vomica), but how well one reacts to these is a very individual matter.
Note that bradygastria (as mentioned by girlwithnausea) and gastroparesis are related conditions.
Note that bradygastria (as mentioned by girlwithnausea) and gastroparesis are related conditions.
Hi Kay,
I don't know very much about it, but I suffer from chronic nausea too, and I have the same question. I do know the stomach has something like a pacemaker, which makes the stomach contract 1 time every 20 sec. When the pacemaker is too slow, the stomach doesn't contract properly and often enough, so the food stays in your stomach. This can cause the nausea. It is called bradygastria.
I don't know very much about it, but I suffer from chronic nausea too, and I have the same question. I do know the stomach has something like a pacemaker, which makes the stomach contract 1 time every 20 sec. When the pacemaker is too slow, the stomach doesn't contract properly and often enough, so the food stays in your stomach. This can cause the nausea. It is called bradygastria.
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