Going crazy with nausea!

[hola_lola]

In may 2004 I ate at a family restaurant and got what I thought was food poisoning.  After a week of queasiness, I went to the doctor, was told I had an ear infection, and sent home with antibiotics.  After the course of antibiotics was finished, the nausea returned.  I went back to the doctor, was told that I had an "iffy" uti, and given different, stronger antibiotics.  I finished those pills, improved slightly, but it took 3 more weeks for the nausea to stop.  I had about one nausea-free month.  Three weeks ago, I was having throat problems, mainly trouble swallowing and neck pain (NOT your typical sore throat)...so back to the doctor I went.  I was diagnosed with a throat infeciton of some kind, given more antibiotics, and off I went.  The antibiotics made me feeel better within a day or two, and I had a hard time remembering to finish them...but I did.  Now, guess what...my old friend queasiness is back, in full force.  I've read so many questions on this forum regarding nausea lasing years and years..I don't think I can live this way.  I've had some blood tests, which the doctors have indicated to me were normal, 5 pregnancy tests, and now, I'm waiting for a return call from my doctor.  Does anyone have a direction they can point me?  I've never vomited, but came very close a few times.  Ear problems?  I have endometriosis but it has been a very low-level problem after I was on Lupron a few years ago.  Please help with any advice you can give me!

[Pearl1]

Please try and take a probiotic.  I have most of the syptoms that you are talking about and take a probiotic and aloe vera pills daily and I am recovering from the nausea and stomach pains.

[hola_lola]

When I ate lunch today, I was sure that I was going to be fine...typically potatoes and turkey do not cause me go have diarrhea.  I think the cheese in the sandwich was the culprit.  My nausea stays steady throughout the day, and what I eat doesn't seem to have any effect on it.  I am really trying hard to remain positive about it.  But, having been seriously clinically depressed in the past (about 8 years ago) I can tell when I am headed down that road and I know to get help.  I have had the feeling several times in the past few weeks that I don't want to get out of bed in the morning because I know I'll just be nauseaous and queasy all day.  I have started taking my Prozac again after being off of for about a year and a half.  Sigh.  Now that I've lost about 10 pounds (which I needed to lose anyway) I am a little more concerned about getting enough nutrients into me.  Pasta, plain potatos, and bread for every meal can't be good.  I thought I'd try to sample some liquid meals (like Slimfast, maybe some yogurt smoothies) this week to see if they do not upset my stomach.  Can a person really be nauseous for years and years?  It seems umimaginable!

[planetmars]

I have read into Prevacid and other Pump Inhibitors, and a side effect for all of them is diarreah...it was suggested for me to try them, but i won't!!!
I won't take anything that could casue me amy more discomfort.

I went to Cancun this spring, and i was so worried that I was going to have a problem.  Everytime i go out of the country, I limit myself to nothing but starches...bread, pasta, potatoes...sounds yummy, eh?  But I get so worried I will ruin my vacation from bad meat, or too much grease.

When I was in cancun, I did have a day with extreme gas, a little diarreah...and my friend say's "you THINK yourself into feeling like that, you worry so much about it, you bring it on yourself"...Could that be true?

I have also read & have been told that anxiety can & will cause IBS, which I suppose makes sense since when you worry, it can cause ulcers, diarreah, nervous stomach.  It just stinks, because the minute I have one bad episode, I will now worry about it happening again, and then it turns into a daily constant  annoyance.

I do know greasy food will physically cause me to feel poopy, so I try to avoid it, but like you...I can eat the blandest food and still start to gurgle!!

I want to go to a therapist, to see if they have any insight into this!!  I just do the xanax thing, maybe a .5 ml twice a week, or if I am going to eat out, or for my social anxiety...it does help!!!  I will also take a half immodium if I am going to a wedding function (alway's get diarreah after wedding food), or out to eat at a restraunt, and that ALWAY'S helps!!!

[planetmars]

I have to say I feel the same way about the "all bieng in my head" thing...I have had stomach problems all my life, and I too get pressure in my left ear that feels like I need to pop it (like after a plane ride).  SOmetimes it just pops itself.  I have been to the doctor for that and he say's just sinusus...but it is not like I experience sinisitus all the time, and this ear thing happens during specific times, such as at the end of my work day.  As far as the stomach thing goes, I have had 2 upper GI, and a gallbladder Ultrasound, and still All normal, yet I have constant upset stomach after I eat anything, as well as bloating, gas, constipation.  I also  have anxiety, and take xanax 1-2 times a week...this does seem to help, but I am sure there is still something physically wrong, and it is almost as if I want a doctor to confirm this to only satisfy "it is NOT all in my head"

Hope you feel better soon!!!  I would definatley go to the ENT Doc, and a Gastro Doc...My personal Phys has never taken any of my stomach issues seriousley, and it is something that controls every day of my life!!!

[planetmars]

I am sorry, I spelled your name wrong on the last post... I also wanted to mention two other things...My parents went to mexico last year, and when she got back, she had chronic diarreah & nausea for 2 months...she had gotten every single test done, and they found nothing wrong.  I was wondering if it was a parasite from food, but she was diagnosed with IBS and told to take fiber, and it had worked.  

Maybe you might want to look into the parasite thing though...it is a thought.  I never like to go out to eat anymore, because EVERYTIME I do I will get diarreah, or a gurgly stomach.  The way people handle food is extremely frightening!

Also, I saw someone mention vertigo.  My dad got that a couple weeks ago.  He woke up in the middle of the night and almost fell over.  he felt as if he was drunk.  He said he was nausous (spelling?)...because ear infections will mess up your equilibrioum which will definatley cause nausea.  He was given antibiotics, and it has gone away.  i think if you did have an ear infection, you would experience major dizzinous, but maybe not?

I will say, it is a viscious circle...when you start to feel like ****, you start to worry, which brings on anxiety, which makes you feel worse, now you feel bad all the time because you have something wrong physically and it intensifies mentally... all because you felt like **** in the first place!!!  
It is annoying!

[hola_lola]

planetmars---I agree!  I went out to eat today, ate a salad with ranch, plain baked potato, and turkey sandwich,,,had major diarrhea afterwards and that's a pretty bland lunch.  I've been taking the Prevacid but I think it's actually making me feel worse!  I am just discouraged and am going to go back to counseling because not feeling well all the time is making me feel depressed!  I just hate that it's easy to pass off people who have a psychiatric history instead of trying to see what's wrong with them!

[hola_lola]

Thanks mbbebb.  I am going to call on Monday and request a referral to a GI and also to an ENT.  I thought  the doctor was being really ridiculous when he said it HAD to be a stomach problem.  He listed foods that cause acid reflux --tomatos, onions, garlic, etc...none of which I am eating now because all I ever eat is bread, crackers, etc.  I even asked the pharmacist when I picked up the meds and she said that if I don't eat spicy acidic foods I shouldn't have much problem at all with reflux...and since I have never had heartburn once in my life, I can't imagine that I have reflux.  But I will do as he says and try again.  I have a minor psychiatric history --depression, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder---and I feel that whenever I go to the doctor for anything, it's "in my head".    I just don't feel like people are listening to me, and they are just seeing my psychiatric history.

[mbbebb]

Hi its me again on the Meniere's. Here is some further info; my upset stomach started off mild and occasional. Dizziness seemed to come on when I would spend a moderate amount of time on the computer or doing any task that required intense concentration (it took me a while to make the connection). My ENT explained to me that people with meniere's have difficulty tracking objects. Such as moving the eyes back and forth across a computer screen. Or as developed later, only when riding in a passenger seat of a vehicle.

Try the stomach medicine, if it doesn't work then maybe your doctor would be willing to give you a sample of med's for vertigo. The usual is either ativan or valium and you notice the difference right away. Both medications relax the balance nerve. A word of warning though, if it turns out to be menieres, it can worsen over time. The medication worked for me for about a year and then grew progressively worse, culminating in my decision to have an endolymphatic shunt put in place.

[hola_lola]

The doctor was useless.  He wants me on Prilosec for 6 weeks before he goes further...he is not my personal physicial (he is out due to a baby) and I'm so discouraged and frustrated.  He said NO to the idea of H pylori (said that I would have other symptoms too) and NO to the ear issue (I didn't have enough dizziness) blah blah blah.  I will keep trying to get an appointment with my regular doctor..what should I do now?  Is the "stomach inflammation" a possibility?

[hola_lola]

Thanks everyone!  I've gotten some really useful information and I"m going to the doc on Friday.  I do have some occasional ear pressure and the feeling of liquid in my right ear, the one the doctor thought was infected.  I have also had some occasional dizziness, so I was really interested in the post regarding Meniere's.  I really feel happy with this board...was wondering if there any any other message boards/forums for people with chronic nausea.  It's been a great help and given me the feeling of not being alone. --Lola

[mbbebb]

Here is a possible theory. See an ENT and get checked for Meniere's or any balance nerve problems. I had the same problem ten years ago. Back and back and back I went to the doctor who ran every test imaginable, all to no avail. He finally recommended a psychiatrist (thank you very much). Luckily after two years of this I awoke one morning and when I got out of bed fell on the floor unable to determine which way was up. My husband phoned the doctor, who did not want to see me and angrily said, take her to an ENT. After thorough exam, hearing test etc. He said, "you have classic meniere's".

[yoshi]

with all those antibiotics,you may have a fungal/yeast infection .
take some good yogurt with live culture and see if it helps.
and go test for h pylori presence from restaurant food,this bacteria is hard to cure,the medication for treatment is a 14 days regimen.
good luck.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

A GI consult would be reasonable.  Things like the various causes of dyspepsia (i.e. ulcer or inflammation of the upper GI tract), gastroparesis, a mass, or esophageal stricture can all cause chronic nausea.  Gallbladder disease can also present with these symptoms as well.

I would consider an upper GI series or upper endoscopy for further evaluation.  I would also consider blood tests looking for H Pylori (a bacteria associated with ulcers or inflammation).

You may want to discuss these options with your personal physician.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b

[hola_lola]

The reason I thought I had food poisoning was because my husband and I both were sick with nausea, and the other people in our party had eaten different food and were fine.  I think that "ear infection" was diagnosed because my ear was a little red inside, and the doctor couldn't find anything else wrong with me.  My husband improved after about 2 days, and hasn't had any problems since.  Also, I forgot to include that I am only on birth control pills, no other medicine, except occasional Promethazine (which doesn't seem to work) and Compazine (which makes me sleepy, so I can't take it during the day).  I don't think I've had that test that you mentioned...until now I've been going to my HMO's Urgent Care, because it's easier to get an appointment.  The doctors and nurses I've spoken to seem BAFFLED by this, and yesterday I left a detailed message for my doctor to check.  The nurse said he will read it and then decide how to fit me in...he's booked through September and then after, he's on vacation for a while.  Thanks for your help...I will mention that test when I return to the doctor. --Lola

[yoshi]

how did food poisoning end up with ear infection treatment??
did you test for h pylori infection??

[Biskie2]

Sometimes ear candling can help if you have a build-up of wax - you can get nauseous from too much wax, it affects your hearing, gives you an ear ache and can affect your throat.  The antibiotics seemed to do nothing for you, except lessen your good bacteria in your stomach/intestines. Also try some probiotics or active cultured yogurt for a week or two. Good luck!