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What Causes Severe Nausea Postpartum?

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Posted on Thu, 5 Jan 2017
Question: HI, My wife is having severe nausea issues. She has been complaining about it right after her vaginal delivery 13 months ago (third child), she developed pelvic pains which resulted in treatment and it was resolved. Her primary care physician eventually referred her to a neurologist since he couldn't find anything wrong with her. Well needless to say finding a neurologist appointment is like looking for a needle in a hay stack. She went to the ER feeling light headed but left the ER on a wheelchair after taking Zofran inj and compazine 10mg from the PA on duty. She was told she will feel better. Now she cant even open her eyes for 2 secs without closing it back up cos her eyes are moving back and forth very quickly. We are scared out of our minds about going back to the same hospital ER for a follow up since they gave her more zofran prescription to take once every 6hrs ( which we haven't bought from the pharmacy). What could be wrong with her. she is 32yrs old.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Read below.

Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.

Medication like Compazine can have their share of side effects. I am not so sure I agree with using both Zofran and Compazine for what seems more of a chronic issue and the condition was stable judging from their description. Seems a somewhat aggressive approach. Zofran is more benign, however would wait a little with the situation being such as you describe it.

As for what it can be, nausea can have several different causes. Your primary care physician has recommended a neurological consult since neurological conditions can manifest with nausea. If no other cause is found brain imaging may be considered as well. However I do not think a neurological cause to be that likely. That is because in neurological conditions like, tumor, stroke, infections etc, usually nausea would be accompanied by other symptoms, at least with some headache. Since nausea has been present for 13 months it should be enough time for symptoms to progress, it's not a question of being in early stages. So you shouldn't be overworried about a brain lesion being the cause.

What should be considered before neurological conditions in my opinion is gastrointestinal issues. Issues such as gastroparesis, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, irritable bowel syndrome, adhesions etc may manifest with nausea. For that reason imaging of digestive tract, usually done after ingestion of contrast may be considered, a gastroenterologist consult may be done as well.

Inner ear issues are another common cause of nausea. Usually they are accompanied by vertigo though, a sensation of spinning movement, so if that is not present it is unlikely.

One other possible factor I see on that report you have uploaded is high blood pressure. All the values measured are pretty high. High blood pressure may manifest with nausea, but usually there is some headache as well. Perhaps those values may be somewhat due to stress in that situation, but however they require more attention and some measurements in the following days are needed. If repeatedly high that should be evaluated and treated.

Metabolic alterations can cause nausea as well. However I see that you have had a metabolic panel in the ER, the results are not mentioned in the report but I suppose they would've been if any abnormality was noted. The only test I would add would be thyroid function tests as low thyroid function may lead to nausea.

One other possibility to be considered is also that of psychological factors, anxiety may manifest with all sorts of symptoms, nausea and light-headedness included. However that possibility should be considered only when other possibilities mentioned above have been excluded.

So for the moment I would give the given medication some time to be eliminated, at least 24 hours, do not get scared as it is not a threatening issue. Zofran may be tried carefully afterwards. In the meanwhile would speak to your doctor about the tests I mentioned, in particular gastrointestinal ones. The report says also that you are to return if there is no improvement in 2-3 days. I would do that, perhaps it can be a quicker way to be admitted and evaluated, since the prescribed medication didn't work. You can always refuse hasty injections if you feel that the tendency of the ER doctors is again of sending you off after applying a shot.

I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Olsi Taka (43 minutes later)
How do we fix the vision issue (eyes Ball involuntary movements). it's causing her to loose Balance and can't focus, plus she has developed a headache. She has been throwing up since the ER visit, not even water stays down. could this be something else other than the drug side effects? its been 14hrs since she recieved the medications.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (8 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Read below

Detailed Answer:
Sorry for answering a little late when I am sure you must’ve been really anguished, but due to different time zones your follow-up question has happened to come just as I’ve gone to sleep.

Those eyeball movements you describe are called nystagmus. Among the possibilities I listed earlier such movements, with nausea and lightheadedness would indicate a vestibular issue, inner ear problem. In that case the most appropriate medication to alleviate them would be an antihistamine like dimenhydrinate or meclizine (over the counter medications also used for motion sickness). The trouble is that if she is unable to swallow anything she would need something by injection in the ER.

The other possibility would be that of a brain lesion in the brainstem, the abrupt aggravation would indicate stroke. I do not think it as likely though, usually there are other signs (headache, weakness or numbness of the face or limbs, slurred speech, trouble swallowing, movement coordination issues etc), so coupled with the young age it is not likely. However again if one wanted to probe further would have to go to ER as imaging would be the next diagnostic step when in doubt.

So if she still hasn’t improved in these hours since you’ve asked the follow-up question I would head back to the ER in order to get hydrated with iv fluids, and be re-evaluated for these movements and other neurological signs which might indicate a brain lesion. I know you do not like that but I think they will be more careful this time.

Let me know if I can further assist you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Olsi Taka (2 hours later)
Thank you very much for the detailed response. More tests and imaging (Head CT Scan) has been done and the ER doctor said they all looks normal. He said he thinks that it is Central Vertigo. I looked it up and it does sound like an ear problem. There doesn't seem to be a cure for that but we will have to follow up with an ENT specialist for further diagnosis. I would love to hear your take on the this Vertigo.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Read below.

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the update!

It is good to know CT was normal, most brain issues have been excluded by that.

Vertigo is just a symptom, meaning sensation of spinning movement, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Inner ear issues are the most common cause, usually due to movement of free crystals in the inner ear labyrinths, called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), other causes like neuritis, infections etc being less common.
In terms of medication the antihistaminics which I mentioned (dimenhydrinate, meclizine) are the most used to alleviate the symptoms. As I said they are over the counter medications. In the case of BPPV there is also a sequence of movements called the Epley maneuver which can lead to major improvement. However in order to say whether that (BPPV) is the case and the affected side an ENT evaluation is necessary as observation of the nystagmus on certain head movements is key.

I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Olsi Taka (3 minutes later)
yes you have been tremendously helpful.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (10 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Good luck!

Detailed Answer:
I hope she'll feel better soon. I have had many patients with inner ear issues as well as having suffered a bout myself for the first month of this year, so I know how awful it is.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Olsi Taka

Neurologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 3673 Questions

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What Causes Severe Nausea Postpartum?

Brief Answer: Read below. Detailed Answer: I read your question carefully and I understand your concern. Medication like Compazine can have their share of side effects. I am not so sure I agree with using both Zofran and Compazine for what seems more of a chronic issue and the condition was stable judging from their description. Seems a somewhat aggressive approach. Zofran is more benign, however would wait a little with the situation being such as you describe it. As for what it can be, nausea can have several different causes. Your primary care physician has recommended a neurological consult since neurological conditions can manifest with nausea. If no other cause is found brain imaging may be considered as well. However I do not think a neurological cause to be that likely. That is because in neurological conditions like, tumor, stroke, infections etc, usually nausea would be accompanied by other symptoms, at least with some headache. Since nausea has been present for 13 months it should be enough time for symptoms to progress, it's not a question of being in early stages. So you shouldn't be overworried about a brain lesion being the cause. What should be considered before neurological conditions in my opinion is gastrointestinal issues. Issues such as gastroparesis, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, irritable bowel syndrome, adhesions etc may manifest with nausea. For that reason imaging of digestive tract, usually done after ingestion of contrast may be considered, a gastroenterologist consult may be done as well. Inner ear issues are another common cause of nausea. Usually they are accompanied by vertigo though, a sensation of spinning movement, so if that is not present it is unlikely. One other possible factor I see on that report you have uploaded is high blood pressure. All the values measured are pretty high. High blood pressure may manifest with nausea, but usually there is some headache as well. Perhaps those values may be somewhat due to stress in that situation, but however they require more attention and some measurements in the following days are needed. If repeatedly high that should be evaluated and treated. Metabolic alterations can cause nausea as well. However I see that you have had a metabolic panel in the ER, the results are not mentioned in the report but I suppose they would've been if any abnormality was noted. The only test I would add would be thyroid function tests as low thyroid function may lead to nausea. One other possibility to be considered is also that of psychological factors, anxiety may manifest with all sorts of symptoms, nausea and light-headedness included. However that possibility should be considered only when other possibilities mentioned above have been excluded. So for the moment I would give the given medication some time to be eliminated, at least 24 hours, do not get scared as it is not a threatening issue. Zofran may be tried carefully afterwards. In the meanwhile would speak to your doctor about the tests I mentioned, in particular gastrointestinal ones. The report says also that you are to return if there is no improvement in 2-3 days. I would do that, perhaps it can be a quicker way to be admitted and evaluated, since the prescribed medication didn't work. You can always refuse hasty injections if you feel that the tendency of the ER doctors is again of sending you off after applying a shot. I remain at your disposal for other questions.