Anyone deal with nausea a lot?
 

Lately I have had so many headaches with nausea and vertigo that it seams like I'm queasy almost all the time now. I take dramamine when I just can't handle it any more but it makes me a little drowsy so I try not to take it. Is there anything else that really helps?

There's also Meclizine, but it can make you drowsy too.

Dramamine does make a non-drowsy version, just ask the pharmacist which one is which.

Vertigo was probably one of my first symptoms of MS. First time I had vertigo was in early 1997 (about a year after I had mononucleosis) and I and my doctor both thought that it was an ear infection. It could have been an ear infection at the time, but I'm still not too sure about that, since I had vertigo hit me anywhere from 2 - 6 times a year since then...and I never had a clue it could have been MS until after I'd gotten diagnosed with MS last year.

My vertigo was the worst it had ever been about this time last year, and it took till probably mid-august for my doctor to finally try steroids on me to make it go away. (2wks of oral prednisone)

We tried treatments for BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positioning Vertigo, which is where little calcifications called Otoconia break loose in your inner ear...the Otoconia's are sometimes called "ear rocks")

My doctor and also my neuro think that my vertigo was from some sort of irritation or inflammation on my 8th Cranial Nerve tho.

I have prescription Meclizine and a bunch of little travel bottles of Dramamine leftover from last year. I think I prefer the Meclizine because the Dramamine gives me a little headache when it starts to wear off.

I havent had much of a problem with vertigo since the steroids last summer. I seem to only get the vertigo back now if I've got really bad insomnia, or when I'm sick.

When the vertigo was bugging me last year, it was really weird. Different than what it was when I first started to get it in the late 90's. It felt like it would come up one side of my body, usually the left. It would come up my left side, I could feel it go from the left, and then it would swirl around my head and I'd usually fall backwards or slide sideways. I was lucky last year that most of the episodes happened when I was sitting down (usually on my bed) and it would feel like gravity was sucking me down to the point where I couldnt move because the vertigo was so horrible.

I actually had two episodes of vertigo hit me while at my regular doctor's office while he was trying to help me figure out what was going on. The first time I was there for something else, but was sitting on the exam bed when it hit. Right in front of the doctor. He said he was watching me, and all of a sudden I was slumping backwards. He was freaked. That's when he gave me the Rx for the Meclizine.

The next time it happened, he had left the room for a few minutes, I got off the exam bed because I dont like sitting on them, and I'd sat down on the chair in the room, and opened up the book I'd brought to read. (Harry Potter) I was reading a page, and the eye movements from reading triggered that vertigo. I was on the floor leaning against the wall when the doctor came back in. Told him what happened, and I think that's when he gave me the Rx for the prednisone then.

I should mention that Dramamine and Meclizine are anti-emetics...they're an anti-dizzy/nausea medication and both are sold over the counter, but can also be sold by Rx.

The only non-medicinal thing that ever helped me with nausea was peppermint. I'd put a piece of peppermint candy in my mouth and let it slowly dissolve and that helped quite a bit. My Grandmother told me about that when I was pregnant with my first child. It worked!! Plus, it tasted good, too!

Now, with what you are describing your nausea seems to be caused by your headache so I'm not sure that peppermint would help you. I've taken Phenergan for nausea before but it tended to make me drowsy, too.

Have you tried the OTC meds like Emitrol? It's a syrup but it really helps. I can't remember if it makes you sleepy because I took it years (and I mean YEARS) ago for a hangover!! :o

Maybe your doctor or pharmacist can suggest something. Hope you feel better soon. :hug:

Yes, I have tried Emetrol but it's SO sweet that it makes me sick, LOL. I had an RX for Phenergan and it helped some but I toke it all (got it from the ER after my LP when I got those awful stomach bugs).

Ask about Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. It's easily treated if that's what it is. It's treated with physical therapy.

BPPV is probably one of the more common causes of vertigo. I'd get checked out for that before looking for a neurological cause like inflammation of the 8th cranial nerve.

I've had nausea lately related to acid reflux (I think). I have to take Nexium each morning to control it. If I overeat, I get nausea. I feel as though I've had lapband surgery or something. :confused:

Ginger is supposed to help.

I asked this question because I was nauseated again.

Well I toke a Benadryl with a Mountain Dew about 45 minutes ago and I'm feeling OK now. Well I still have a headache but I have them 24/7 to some degree.

I wish I why I get nausea so easily lately.
Also maybe it's more of a dizziness than vertigo, I don't know. I feel like I'm spinning but the room don't seam like it's spinning. :confused: It's like if you spin around a lot real fast than you stop, than feeling right than. And it's hard to walk right (when this happens), not like I'm tipping over but I go to lift one foot and it doesn't lift up and I lean to the side and have to "find my balance" before I can get my foot to take a step.

This page describes vertigo and dizziness rather well.


Mx7,

if this vertigo/dizziness is causing you problems in doing normal every day activities, go to your doctor and have them check you out. Vertigo is not fun, and it's probably the thing about my MS that I hate the most at this point.

There are so many different things that can cause vertigo. I still dont know exactly what was causing mine. Just because mine responded to the steroids doesnt mean that it was caused by my MS. You should go get checked out, there are probably other anti-emetic drugs they could probably give you that might not cause you too much drowsiness. Plus, if there's a treatment for it, it'll probably go away faster for you than waiting for it to go on it's own.

Thanks, I guess it is vertigo than because I have tinnitus with it, thanks for the link. I did tell my neuro about it, he didn't care so I need to get in and see my new PCP.

I thought I was feeling "dizzy" when I went to see my doc, but it turned out to be vertigo.

Vertigo:

- is "a type of dizziness, resembles the feeling produced by the childhood game of spinning round and round, then suddenly stopping and watching the surroundings spin."

http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec06/ch080/ch080c.html

"the perception that surrounding objects are moving or spinning "(objective vertigo).

http://www.neurologychannel.com/vertigo/symptoms.shtml

That wasn't the main complaint that finally got labeled me with vertigo though, it was the sensation I get when I lay down. That is when my vertigo gets worse, and that type is "positional vertigo" (contingent on the placement/movement of my neck).

If it is vertigo (the doc should decipher the difference between vertigo, dizziness, motion sickness, even morning sickness...:eek:;)), there is a good med that is readily available in Canada, but hard (not impossible) to get in the US, called "Serc".

If it's motion sickness (my daughter has that), or even morning sickness, there are these wrist straps you can buy from the pharmacy which work wonders! :)

If it's dizziness, combined with all the other symptoms you mentioned, you should see the doc to be thoroughly checked over!

Cherie

OK, I got dizzy reading this, LOL.
Thanks for the links.
I do feel worst if I lay down. The nausea seams better if I'm up moving around.
But doesn't it seam odd that Benadryl helps? I found this out the other day when my allergies were acting up and I was nauseated and dizzy, to toke 2 benadryls for the allergies and was feeling better with-in the hour. So I toke benadryl today just to see if it would help again and it did. :confused:

I know it's not a low sugar level because I have checked it many times before when I felt like this and my levels have always been over 90.

My neuro didnt seem to care either when I complained about my vertigo...my regular doctor seemed to be a bit obsessed to help me figure out what was causing it and making it go away.

I'm glad that my regular doctor is so willing to help me figure stuff out.

OK, I just when to Drugs.com and found this.

Diphenhydramine (benadryl) is also used to suppress coughs, to treat motion sickness, to induce sleep, and to treat mild forms of Parkinson's disease.

I have to tease, cause ppl tease me when I say I am nausea and dizzy..and queazy....MOMOFSEVEN are you preggo..??? come on you can tell us..hehehehehehe

just trying to make you laugh...did it work??

I get dizziness, off and on not too bad..but the past few months I have new stuff..going on...when lightly dizzy also nausea like you mention..feel awful...

I havent taken much..still nursing the baby..good luck, sarah

LOL, I guess you missed my post last week, I miscarried 2 weeks ago, didn't even know I was 7 weeks along. NO, we were not trying.

Sorry, Julie.

When my doc asked "what does the dizziness feel like?", I thought that was the oddest question. I mean who really thinks about what their dizziness "feels" like . . . I figured the word defined itself. :p

I described that when my car comes to a stop, and I am sitting there in it, I swear it is still moving and jam on the brakes. (Vertigo, apparently)

I also said that when I get up to walk around sometimes, it seems like the the floor is moving from under my feet. I will stumble a lot then as I lose my sense of footing. (Vertigo, apparently)

I also experience that when I am laying on right side, I feel like my heart is palpitating, I can't get my breath sometimes, I'm dizzy, nauseated, and it seems like I will pass out in that position (any moment!). (Positional vertigo, apparently)

He said the fact that the "other" things seem like they are moving, NOT that I seem like I am still moving, is the way to differentiate whether it is vertigo or other sensations (like morning sickness, motion sickness, dizziness, etc.) causing the problem.

Hope that makes more sense.

Cherie

Good one Kelly....I used this in the past too (peppermint)...like at Disney Land ;)

Julie, the pharm drugs I've taken all make me sleepy....down right knocked out. I don't blame you for wanting to avoid them....come to think of it....a good hot tub helps me too....but if you over heat that may not be a good idea....:eek:

:eek::eek::hug:

Oh Julie, I missed that! I hope you are doing okay with that. I've never had this happen, but I do understand that many have a sense of loss-The could have beens.....I do hope you feel better soon!!!

Oh, and if you want to try a cheap alternative therapy, this type of wrist bands apparently work very well:

http://www.biobands.com/howworks.htm

Cherie

I'm OK, this was at lest my 4th loss. LOL, I even PMed you to not miss my post on this.

OMG...Where was my head? I recalled seeing something, but I didn't make the connection I guess. Maybe I thought you were talking past tense :confused: OR I got bent out of shape on something :rolleyes: LOL!!!

:Bang-Head: I'll be more alert in the future! :Doh: That required lots of hugs for you!! I suppose it takes the body a while to recover and get the hormones all back to normal after such an event. I wonder if that is why you are feeling the way you do? Where IS that nanny when you need her so you can nap? :D

LOL, That's OK.
I have NEVER been like this after a loss, and this dizziness/nausea stuff has been going on 3-4 months I guess, it's just been getting worst.
LOL, The nanny is here but still it's REALLY hard to nap when you have 7 kids in the house. :D

OK, I've felt this way. :confused:
When I have had "dizziness" before it would be like the room is moving and I start to tip over but what I have been having is not like that. This is more of a "I feel disoriented and uncoordinated" and my head is spinning. Like I said like I was spinning around and that feeling you get just as you stop spinning.
I have also had motion sickness a lot before and this still seams different.

Julie I did see this, but I also read where you said you didn't want any-one to comment, so I didn't. I do know what it's like losing babies having lost 4, and delivering only one live child. For me I found that words from other people who knew, only increased my pain by reminding me of what I'd lost. That's just the way I felt, anyway.

I'm sorry that you're having this vertigo. It's one symptom I haven't had, thank goodness, but I have friends who have suffered terribly because of it.

I do hope you feel better soon.

Hugs coming your way :hug:

Thank you for not saying anything before, I was just picking on GJ because I knew she didn't see the post. ;)
I am sorry for your losses, I know what it's like when you have a loss when you do want the baby, DH and I had 3 losses one right after another when we were trying for number 7.

This was going to be my suggestion. I had a prescription for Phenergan when I was having lots of migraines.

Immitrex didn't work anymore, and I couldn't drop everything and go get a shot of demerol everyday for 20 or 30 days...

So I took Phenergan to get rid of the nausea. I could deal with the pain, so long as the nausea was gone.

Call your doctor and see if you can get a new prescription.

Do you know if what you experience is a vestibular migraine, Julie?

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diz...435/DSECTION=3

Cherie

Thank you.
I had never heard of this but that DOES sound like me, LOL, I can't stand and watch my boys play there Wii Skate game, I can't stand up straight and I dizzy and nauseated. And I do get this way is crowed places and when I get hot.

Thank you. Sorry to hear you got so sick.
I don't take any RX's, I do take some herbs that I have been taking over 2 years and I even stop them when I get sick.

Julie
I feel for you. I deal with nausea alot, especially recently being on pain med for my ankle.

When my sis-in-law was pregnant 13 yrs ago she could only eat baby carrots. That is what I do when I have nothing else to take. I don't know why it works, but it does for me too. HTH

:hug:

I had naueas so badly for the past 9 mobths. Only thing that helped was zofran...cancer patients use it. I have the ones that disolve on your tongue. carrie