Perpetual nausea - what can I do?
Discussion
For the last couple of years I have been consistently nauseous and tired. It really does affect my ability to do normal day to day things.
Any ideas what I can do? I've been to see my GP who was pretty sarcastic and showed no interest and just talked about drinking which wasn't relevant. A friend has been to the same GP about an unrelated issue and all he talked about then was drinking so I think it's just a topic he gets stuck on and he's a crap GP.
It also affects my balance and coordination. The main pain is in the front third or so of the head.
I also have a fair bit of random vomiting but usually it's just coughing and retching.
I have almost no appetite ever but I try to eat as normally as I can without vomiting.
Any ideas on things I can try to alleviate it would be appreciated.
I drink plenty of water and I'm quite unfit (little exercise, long hours in front of the computer). I'm not fat though.
Any ideas what I can do? I've been to see my GP who was pretty sarcastic and showed no interest and just talked about drinking which wasn't relevant. A friend has been to the same GP about an unrelated issue and all he talked about then was drinking so I think it's just a topic he gets stuck on and he's a crap GP.
It also affects my balance and coordination. The main pain is in the front third or so of the head.
I also have a fair bit of random vomiting but usually it's just coughing and retching.
I have almost no appetite ever but I try to eat as normally as I can without vomiting.
Any ideas on things I can try to alleviate it would be appreciated.
I drink plenty of water and I'm quite unfit (little exercise, long hours in front of the computer). I'm not fat though.
Steve H said:
Get a better GP!
Unless he has reason to suggest a drinking problem this should be looked into properly.
I hadn't had a drink for several weeks when I saw him.Unless he has reason to suggest a drinking problem this should be looked into properly.
And the friend who went was going in because of wheezing and he just lectured her about alcohol. She barely ever drinks - I've known her around 8 years and seen her have a glass of wine a couple of times.
He was very sarcastic and patronising too.
The only thing I got out of the GP was a blood test to determine liver function was correct. It turned out to be fine.
The conversation was something like this:
"The main problem is constant nausea, but-"
"I notice from your file that you drink. Have you considered quitting?"
"I haven't really thought about it, but can we talk about my nausea and headaches?"
"It could be as a result of alcohol."
"Great, but I'm pretty sure it isn't."
"Well, I will refer you to an alcohol support service. Wait for the nurse to call you and you can have a blood test now."
And that was literally all. He wasn't even interested in listening to all of my symptoms or complaints.
It's interesting that you mention labyrinthitis. I hadn't thought about it before but I have also developed slight vertigo recently (I never had a problem with it before).
I just know that if I turn my head quickly it feels like it's going to split at the temples. And I struggle to stay upright (particularly in the morning).
A lot of the time now I choose not to drive because I don't trust my coordination.
The conversation was something like this:
"The main problem is constant nausea, but-"
"I notice from your file that you drink. Have you considered quitting?"
"I haven't really thought about it, but can we talk about my nausea and headaches?"
"It could be as a result of alcohol."
"Great, but I'm pretty sure it isn't."
"Well, I will refer you to an alcohol support service. Wait for the nurse to call you and you can have a blood test now."
And that was literally all. He wasn't even interested in listening to all of my symptoms or complaints.
It's interesting that you mention labyrinthitis. I hadn't thought about it before but I have also developed slight vertigo recently (I never had a problem with it before).
I just know that if I turn my head quickly it feels like it's going to split at the temples. And I struggle to stay upright (particularly in the morning).
A lot of the time now I choose not to drive because I don't trust my coordination.
I've just read more about labyrinthitis and that's looking like a reasonable possibility. I do get a ringing in my ears occasionally (but only ever in my bedroom). It seems to come more when there's a metal object hear my head (watch or computer for instance, and the other day reaching down the back of the radiator for something).
jontysafe said:
Please get a second opinion and also perhaps consider why your doctor suggested an alcohol support service.
I will get the second opinion if I have time later this week.I did consider it, but it didn't seem relevant to my needs.
I know that self-diagnosis is a dangerous thing and I'm not a hypochondriac, but I've just read about gastroparesis which also carries identical symptoms.
Edited by RobinBanks on Monday 27th April 19:30
If anyone's still interested, I'm being referred to a neurologist but it's non urgent. I'm also having a series of blood tests.
Eta: the GP I saw this morning was NOT concerned about my drinking patterns (she doesn't think it's a problem that I don't drink too much these days) and wasn't sarcastic and unhelpful like the last one. For the first time in many months I feel fairly positive about this.
Eta: the GP I saw this morning was NOT concerned about my drinking patterns (she doesn't think it's a problem that I don't drink too much these days) and wasn't sarcastic and unhelpful like the last one. For the first time in many months I feel fairly positive about this.
Edited by RobinBanks on Tuesday 28th April 15:09
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