Extreme Nausea & Vomiting

[starsparkle]

Really hoping some you on here can offer me some advice. I was diagnosed with Crohns with strictures of the ileum 4-5 years ago now - no surgeries as yet but I've been on 175mg of Imuran since June 2013 which has been a miracle drug for me - feel mostly normal again with no obvious side effects.

That was until Feb this year when I started having these episdes of nausea/vomiting. It happens around once a month & lasts for a day (never any more) - I get nauseaus in a way I can't even describe - I feel like my whole body shuts down & it totally dehabilitates me so all I want to do is sleep, but I can't do that coz I feel so ill. I can't even keep water down during these episodes and get severe axhy lower back pain.

My bloods are all fine & the gastro has said she doesn't think it's anything to do with imuran as not consistent enough - she suggested I was picking up stomach bugs due to being immunosupprssed but I really don't think its that, it feels very crohns related if you know what I mean?!

My GP gave me anti-nausea meds but they don't seem to work.

Does this happen to anyone else? What's causing it if so & what can I do? During these days its the most ill I have ever felt (even during bad flares) so really at end of tether. :-(

 

[DJW]

Sound awful. Is there pain and bloating that goes with it?

I'd suggest (if you're not already) keeping a food and symptom journal. Maybe its linked to something your eating or a combination of foods.

Hope you feel better soon.

 

[D Bergy]

I had a stricture once also, and my vomiting became more frequent as it closed down. I would guess the same is happening to you. If the food sits too long in one place, the body has to either make it go down or come up.

To test this, eat only food that can pass through a pencil size hole. No chunks of meat or anything else that might obstruct.

My case was further complicated by an H-Pylori infection in my stomach, but it does not sound like that is a problem for you.

Good luck.

Dan

 

[Malice67]

When you say it happens about once a month... any chance it is hormonally related? I have one horrible day of abdominal pain each month.. not the "normal" cramp type, but completely doubled over, stuck in bed for the day agony. I don't get the vomiting you do, but the pain is horrific. Not sure the solution... have tried Percocet, Vicodin, and Prednisone (different times, not all at once!). Prednisone helped the most.. (I do NOT take it for my Crohns, just had extra from poison ivy and was desperate enough to try it) Anyway, if it hits about the same time each month, maybe check with your gyn?? I know I am headed back ...

good luck!

 

[barbie_ferrari]

This is just awful!! I suffered from debilitating nausea for many months, which I assumed was related to Crohn's. My Gastro doc's were so confused as to why nothing was showing in my bloods, ultrasound, scope etc. After many months of bed rest, wasted money and nausea meds it turns out I have Somatization Disorder - A Neuropsychiatric disorder. This is apparently common in people suffering from chronic illnesses. I'm not saying you have this, as I'm not a doctor. However, I definitely think it's worth looking into. No one should have to suffer with constant nausea!!

All the best!

 

[Daisy123]

I was on cyclizine for years before my last operation. I switched to domperidone recently and find it so much better. Which anti-sickness tablets have you tried?

 

[barbie_ferrari]

I've been on Maxolon and Ondansetron. I find Ondansetron to be the most effective for nausea. It's quite expensive, as it's typically used as a nausea preventative during chemotherapy (and anything related to cancer is always super expensive). I've never experienced side effects, and it works super fast - But like I said, it is super expensive (approx $80AUD for 10).

Hope this helps!

 

[Orchid]

Please note: Ondansetron, like all 5-HT3 antagonists, can cause heart rhythm problems which have the potential to cause sudden death. If you have any kind of heart problem you need to be clear about this with your doctor and if you have anything resembling heart issues after starting the drug DISCONTINUE IMMEDIATELY AND INFORM YOUR DOCTOR. I'm not trying to fear monger, these are simply some of the most heavily advertised drugs right now and there are controversies with methodology in several studies Ondansetron was a subject of. There are may well be more risk to the drug class than we are currently aware of.

 

[socalmomof4]

I too have been experiencing nausea for a few months now(no vomiting). I didn't think anything of it at first, but recently called my GI and he gave me anti-nausea meds which I never took. I didn't want to add yet another med to take. It's not debilitating at all, just an annoyance that comes and goes daily. My GI also mentioned that the nausea is not a side effect of the med im on (Lialda). So, bc it's not horrible I just deal with it.
Sorry your nausea/vomiting is causing disruption in your life

 

[D Bergy]

You doctor is misinformed. Nausea is a possible side effect of Lialda.

I used it unsuccessfully for a time. It never bothered me but I always took it with Ginger. Ginger works quite well for nausea and inflammation.

Dan

 

[socalmomof4]

In my mind, I thought that the nausea would be associated to either Lialda or crohn's or both; since he said otherwise I didn't question it. I haven't really asked a ton of questions at the last 2 visits I've had with my GI, this next visit though, im coming with an arsenal of questions/concerns for him! Thanks for looking out

 

[socalmomof4]

Do any of you work with an internal medicine/primary care MD in addition to your GI? I don't have a regular primary MD so I was thinking I should associate myself with one. My symptoms seem to be primarily related to IBD, but that's just my assumption.....just thought I'd get some input on it

 

[Daisy123]

It is strange as if you look at side effects of lialda, one of the first is nausea and vomiting!

 

[Orchid]

At this point what drug doesn't cause nausea? Besides antiemetics, of course.