Can Anxiety Cause Nausea, Lightheadedness And Fatigue?

Posted on Thu, 5 Oct 2017

Question: Hi I'm a 41 year old female and for the past few years I have been having bout of exhaustion nausea and being lightheaded along with an empty stoamch feeling. I have been to the dr numerous times during these bouts and had blood tests along with a cardiac check up everything always ends of being ok. I have been having one of these episodes for the past seven weeks and am scheduled for an endoscopy next month due to frequent nausea. The GI doctor believes it could be gastritis can gastritis come and go I have also been diagnosed as havine anxiety my GP believes all symptoms are anxiety. Can anxiety cause such pysical symptoms

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hormonal problems could be a factor. GERD could be simultaneously present

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concerns. Going by the mentioned symptoms it is possible that you are suffering from hormone deprivation. Such a thing is commonly encountered in perimenopausal or post-menopausal women. If that is the case, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) could provide relief. You need to visit a gynecologist to get evaluated and tested. He would be able to set up the right regimen for you.

In order to relieve yourself with respect to the possible GERD, you need to do the following:
* Avoid spicy food. Take small but frequent meals. Avoid long gaps between meals.
* Avoid alcohol intake (if it a part of your habit).
* Take Prilosec (omeprazole) once daily before breakfast.
* Take plenty of green leafy vegetables as well as other sources of dietary fibers. Take fiber supplements like isabgol/psyllium husk or senna. I would insist you to increase your dietary fiber intake.
* Regular morning walk and exercise to keep the bowel movements proper.
* If I had a patient like you I would perhaps have suggested Prodep (fluoxetine) 20 mg tablet (long term anxiolytic and a prescription drug) once daily for at least 2 months (it may take time for the action to set in). Discuss about this with your treating physician.
* Take curd or yogurt on daily basis. It contains beneficial bacteria and should help.
* Stress reduction has a very important role to play. Yoga and meditation should help.

Let me know if I could help further.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (22 minutes later)

Thanks for your timely response will the endoscopy pick up Gerd also can gerd cause frequent nausea Also is perimenopause normal at age 41

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (28 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Lifestyle modification and stress reduction are essential

Detailed Answer:
GERD is usually picked up by upper GI endoscopy but it is not always picked up. Lifestyle modification and stress reduction is the main mode of treatment.

41 can be perimenopausal. You never know when the cycles are finally going to stop.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (19 hours later)

Thanks one last question can gerd cause a weired empty stomach feeling my stomach feels constantly empty even after eating sometimes feels like low blood sugar (a bit lughtheaded hungry) but have had my sugar measured often and is always within normal limits

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
They are directly associated.

Detailed Answer:
On the contrary, the weird empty stomach symptom is the cause and not the effect of the GERD. They are associated. You need to take small feeds from time to time. A long gap between meals is not allowable for you.

You need not bother about the blood sugar levels.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar