constant nausea, diarrhea

[ejrasberry]

I am hoping against hope that someone out there might have the answer to my ailment. I have had GI issues since the spring of 2005 when I had my first spell with what I believe was my gallbladder. At bedtime, a dull, aching pain began under my ribs that got worse and worse over the night, eventually made me nauseous and made me feel the need to go to the bathroom even though nothing would move all night. I finally took a phenergan from an old stomach virus that helped me finally sleep and when I woke the pain was gone and I was so very weak and sore from the muscle contractions throughout the night. These spells have continued to happen once every 6-8 months since then, but now I have much more chronic issues that weren't present at that time.

I now wake up with diarrhea every morning, have it 3-6 times, take one Lomotil and one Immodium to try and control it. With the onset of diarrhea comes a CONSTANT nausea, every day and after every meal. Sometimes I become so anxious, my heart races and further aggrevates the nausea. I have a phobia of vomiting, and I have not yet vomited because I try so very hard to control it with Phenergan and Zofran and focusing on staying calm. I have gotten a HIDA scan on my gallbladder, and the results said I had some sludge but it's functioning at 40%, and therefore not a good candidate for removal. No bacterial infections were found in my blood work, just a slightly elevated white blood cell count (though I had a tooth infection at the time that has since been pulled and could have been the culprit?).  I do not have fever or pain with these spells, just blinding nausea and chronic diarrhea. I have had only one solid stool in the last 2 months. I feel like a lot of this could be stress-related as I am working a full-time day job and operating my own business on the side which constantly worries and stresses me. My mother has suffered from IBS since she was my age and believes this is my problem, though I find that nausea is not a typical symptom of IBS, and it is the most troubling of my problem. I am 5'5", 130 lbs., so obesity is not a factor in my illness.

I am unable to go to work some mornings because of my illness, and I have taken many pregnancy tests that were all negative. If there is anyone out there with some help or advice, I would love to ease my worried mind.

[Matthew007]

friend had your symptoms, turned out he was celiac and had a negative blood test so..with severe IBS-D I'd seriously look at dairy and gluten..fructose..

[Matthew007]

Wow..

first off i'm sorry :S I've been there trust me.  I got sick in October of 2005 and I'm still dealing with IBS issues trying to recover.  I got some UTI, given antibiotics and my system never was the same.  But the worst part was the debilitating nausea..constant nausea that would NOT go away...lost my job, can't fly..stuck.

I also did a HIDA scan (12%) and had it removed and thought that was the answers to everything getting that removed so you're lucky there and i'm glad your doctors haven't suggested removing it.  Without insurance I basically had to put that on a credit card and i'm still paying the price for that.

Now i'm going to mention food intolerance/allergies and I know a few on this site are probably roll my eyes because I tell a lot of people about it but your symptoms match mine so I figured I'd share.  I also had elevated white blood cells but every test was negative (xept white blood cells found in my stool) and I had low potassium blood levels.

SO after 3 1/2 years of total nausea misery I paid the money online this site to ask the gastro specialist what he thought and he basically said it could be just plain old IBS which I didn't believe, or *malabsorbtion*.  I wouldn't pay the money unless your desperate but I was and man he saved me.  Why my doctors never suggested it I don't know :P

So if you wikipedia that, you'll find a list of causes.  Basically it's a food allergy/intolerance causing major problems, I didn't believe it but what I did is I found a few food elimination diets online and just ate straight water, meats (chicken, turkey, beef) with no spices or anything added and white rice..very harsh diet for a good 2-3 weeks.  I heard pears and turkey is also a safe way to go since they're very low risk.  But there's a good chance you're intolerant (which doesn't show up on any test reliably) or full blown allergic/celiac.  I still might be gluten intolerant or celiac.  Usually IBS-D is caused by celiac/fructose/lactose issues but not always.  Ever been tested blood wise for celiac?

My parents were helping me so one day they got some gluten free waffles for me to try and after eating that I nearly ended up in the ER room after.  Turns out it was soy that was causing the nausea and it was the first bite of soy in weeks.  Soon as I went soy free my nausea went away but it took a good week before it did.  I still have IBS and anxiety and i'm still doing the diet trying to figure out my issues (now found out corn is an issue) but this might save you a trip to the allergist because they'll basically say the same thing.  Go 2-3 weeks on rice/meats..and then for 4 days straight add eggs...no problem?  Add corn..add wheat..add soy..ect ect..and just be careful not to go too fast.  It's like playing a detective.

I'm also not working because of this so I know how bad it gets.  There are some anti-nausea meds that helped me get through it (promethazine really helped me..course it totally knocks you out though so you can't drive) but for emergencies I used it but since going soy free I haven't had to use any meds since and hopefully i'll start working soon *crosses fingers*.  Also an antispasmodic is good like..oo..well there's a bunch you can try.  I hated them because they made my mouth dry but they can help you with IBS-D.  But again soon as I went off soy I didn't have to use those anymore (thank goodess! They're not good for you system anyway!)

So that's my take.  It could be ulcer..chron's..something you and your doctors missed, maybe colitis of some kind...did you do a colonoscopy?  But anxiety/insomnia/nausea/IBS issues are all symptoms of food intolerance if you had any of those.  You can google that too.

Anyway good luck! :S