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What Causes Constant Nausea?

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Posted on Wed, 30 Jul 2014
Question: Hello! My name is XXXX, I'm 21 years old and 115lbs.
For at least 4 years now, I have always had constant nausea as weekly, sometimes daily thing. It used to just be after eating occasionally (and normal, healthy meals, such as a salad or pasta), or motion sickness when driving in the car in the mountains or hour long car rides. However, over the last year it has progressed to a lot more frequent and bothersome, especially the last few months I'd say.

It's a rare occurrence now when I have a normal appetite, as I basically have to force myself to eat something because I know I will feel worse if I don't. I wake up with a feeling of mild nausea, not to the point where I feel as if I will vomit, but just a queasy uncomfortable feeling where nothing sounds good. Typically (as in the last month or two), the only things that sound remotely appetizing in the morning are microwaved baked potatoes with butter, bananas, frozen blueberries, and white toast. Within 5 min to a half hour after eating (daily, almost after any meal/snack), I feel nauseous. Sometimes it's just the uncomfortable queasy feeling, other times (especially when I have to do a lot of walking around after I'm done eating, like at work), it's that gross hot sweat that washes over you when you feel like your going to vomit. It usually fades to the queasy feeling though within 10-45 minutes I'd say. Later in the day I gain more of an appetite, but not normal like how used to be maybe 6 or so months ago? It's really hard for me to drink water too almost always, even just after the first sip I feel nauseous.

I also have extremely bad motion sickness now. I can be on the bus or in the car for less than 2 minutes, and I feel sick. Typically more than 20 minutes, and I get really close to vomiting. If I brush my teeth, or eat anything heavier than a banana or toast before walking to the bus stop (8 blocks), I feel really sick, to the point where I want to turn around and go home.

Also, it's been occurring randomly where it feels like there is vomit coming up my throat, right at the base.

I apologize if this is far too long winded, but I figured details might help. From what I've looked up, it sounds like I just have acid reflux? If so, can you recommend any over the counter medicines for that and motion sickness?

I also feel that I should mention that I've been vegan for about 3 years now. I haven't been eating the most nutritious lately, just because of my lack of appetite and nausea. I do take vitamins though, a multi vitamin and a b12.

Thank you for all your help, this has really started taking a toll on my life where I chose not to start school this fall because of being in an almost constant state of nausea makes it far too hard to focus on anything. I spend most of my time napping and laying down, because I feel too nauseous to do anything else. Oh, and I took a pregnancy test, not pregnant.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
need a little work up

Detailed Answer:
thank you for asking
chronic nausea and vomiting has multifactorial etiologies and yes GERD aka reflux of acid is one most common amongst them.a careful history and examination are required to eliminate common medical causes easily.Small bowel bacterial overgrowth, gastric bile reflux or acid reflux are frequent benign causes of nausea, vomiting and retching. Metabolic causes such as hyperglycaemia, hypercalcaemia, renal impairment, and Addison's disease need to be excluded. Gastroparesis and slow upper GI transit can exacerbate symptoms. Oesophageal motility disorders such as diffuse oesophageal spasm or ineffective motility and esophageal strictures are some other causes.
as you have vertigo and motionsickness and dizziness too so that itself induces vomiting so vestibular functions assessmnet is mandatory for ruling out any otorhinolaryngological cause. i suggest you seek an otorhinolaryngologist and let them take care of your this complaint.
right now take some vestibular suppressants like proclorperazine which will work both for nausea and motion sickness. betahistines and steroids for short use are also good option.
for reflux start with diet and and lifestyle modification.80 percent resolve by simple modifications i am going to mention and rest 18 out of 20 percent respond to conservative measures like medicines and modifications. Only 2 % need intervention.
the only thing you need to start with is modifying diet and lifestyle and adapt gut friendly measures to help this issue.
Lose your weight. If your BMI is 25 or above you need to lose weight. Calculate you BMI Here http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/BMI/bmi-m.htm
Alcohol ? say no to it. Now is the time. Get sign up to Alcohol Anonymous and seek help to gradually resolve this addiction. Booze will ooze the health out of you.
Coffee,Chocolates, citrus juices, tomato based products like ketchups, sauces, pastes etc, Peppermints, all the onion family, beans are some of the diet you need to avoid to relieve symptoms.
If you are fond of eating, time to stop it. reduce diet intake, instead of increasing the quantity, increase the frequency, 5 times short meals instead of 3 bigger ones will be better.
If you sleep just after or with in 3 hours of meal intake, this habit needs to be stopped. Increase the interval.
When you sleep, elevating the head side of the bed at least 8 inches would be a good addition to the plan to combat GERD.
Bending and stooping and upside down hangings with all other unnatural postures need to be avoided.
If the above mentioned precautions are not enough to get you out of the trouble then you need to opt for medicines. Never try to self medicate yourself. Remember every drug is a poison and every poison is a drug. SO seek the gastroenterologist or primary care provider for this and let it be there business. Proton Pump Inhibitors, Histamine receptors type 2 blockers, Pro kinetic agents like aluminium hydroxide and ant acids would be the list of medicines to opt from.
If the medicines are not good enough? If the age is too young to be that resilient for response then there might be a possibility of some correction able anatomy the place where surgeon’s role comes in to play.
Different surgical options like fundoplication are used. Young age, compliance issues with intake of medicines and postmenopausal age with osteoporosis, Heart diseases and any other gusto intestinal issue like Barret’s oesophagus or hiatal hernia makes the odds for surgical intervention more likely.
i hope it helps. do as directed and you wont have any thing to worry about. continue vitamin supplements it is good for young lady of your age. add some folates and iron supplements to it as you are vegan, have a cosntant look at your blood work up so that you don't get deficient of any ingredient. a constant touch to a dietitian is advised in this regard for further guidance.
i hope it helps. take care and dont forget to close the discussion please.
may the odds be ever in your favor.
take care
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2012

Answered : 3613 Questions

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What Causes Constant Nausea?

Brief Answer: need a little work up Detailed Answer: thank you for asking chronic nausea and vomiting has multifactorial etiologies and yes GERD aka reflux of acid is one most common amongst them.a careful history and examination are required to eliminate common medical causes easily.Small bowel bacterial overgrowth, gastric bile reflux or acid reflux are frequent benign causes of nausea, vomiting and retching. Metabolic causes such as hyperglycaemia, hypercalcaemia, renal impairment, and Addison's disease need to be excluded. Gastroparesis and slow upper GI transit can exacerbate symptoms. Oesophageal motility disorders such as diffuse oesophageal spasm or ineffective motility and esophageal strictures are some other causes. as you have vertigo and motionsickness and dizziness too so that itself induces vomiting so vestibular functions assessmnet is mandatory for ruling out any otorhinolaryngological cause. i suggest you seek an otorhinolaryngologist and let them take care of your this complaint. right now take some vestibular suppressants like proclorperazine which will work both for nausea and motion sickness. betahistines and steroids for short use are also good option. for reflux start with diet and and lifestyle modification.80 percent resolve by simple modifications i am going to mention and rest 18 out of 20 percent respond to conservative measures like medicines and modifications. Only 2 % need intervention. the only thing you need to start with is modifying diet and lifestyle and adapt gut friendly measures to help this issue. Lose your weight. If your BMI is 25 or above you need to lose weight. Calculate you BMI Here http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/BMI/bmi-m.htm Alcohol ? say no to it. Now is the time. Get sign up to Alcohol Anonymous and seek help to gradually resolve this addiction. Booze will ooze the health out of you. Coffee,Chocolates, citrus juices, tomato based products like ketchups, sauces, pastes etc, Peppermints, all the onion family, beans are some of the diet you need to avoid to relieve symptoms. If you are fond of eating, time to stop it. reduce diet intake, instead of increasing the quantity, increase the frequency, 5 times short meals instead of 3 bigger ones will be better. If you sleep just after or with in 3 hours of meal intake, this habit needs to be stopped. Increase the interval. When you sleep, elevating the head side of the bed at least 8 inches would be a good addition to the plan to combat GERD. Bending and stooping and upside down hangings with all other unnatural postures need to be avoided. If the above mentioned precautions are not enough to get you out of the trouble then you need to opt for medicines. Never try to self medicate yourself. Remember every drug is a poison and every poison is a drug. SO seek the gastroenterologist or primary care provider for this and let it be there business. Proton Pump Inhibitors, Histamine receptors type 2 blockers, Pro kinetic agents like aluminium hydroxide and ant acids would be the list of medicines to opt from. If the medicines are not good enough? If the age is too young to be that resilient for response then there might be a possibility of some correction able anatomy the place where surgeon’s role comes in to play. Different surgical options like fundoplication are used. Young age, compliance issues with intake of medicines and postmenopausal age with osteoporosis, Heart diseases and any other gusto intestinal issue like Barret’s oesophagus or hiatal hernia makes the odds for surgical intervention more likely. i hope it helps. do as directed and you wont have any thing to worry about. continue vitamin supplements it is good for young lady of your age. add some folates and iron supplements to it as you are vegan, have a cosntant look at your blood work up so that you don't get deficient of any ingredient. a constant touch to a dietitian is advised in this regard for further guidance. i hope it helps. take care and dont forget to close the discussion please. may the odds be ever in your favor. take care