Severe Nausea

[Kiwiwio]

I have had celiac since i was a child but was only diagnosed last year after 10 years of misdiagnosis. I had severe vomiting and constant nausea for as long as I can remember. Since i have been gluten-free (almost 1 year), it has improved dramatically but i still get nauseous a few times a week. As my guts heal, will this improve or should i expect to deal with this forever? Is there any medicine anyone is taking to encourage this healing process? I am willing to try almost anything.

Also, now that i am gluten-free, if i am exposed to wheat, the reaction is MUCH more severe. I accidentally ate something the other day (pepperoni) and seriously considered going to the hospital for morphine, due to the intestinal inflammation/intense stabbing pain. Has anyone else found this. is there some way to calm down the immune system without being on steroids?

Thanks guy!

[Adalaide]

Nausea has also been one of my most severe symptoms. I find that it is far worse when I don't sleep enough or sleep well, which sucks since I have intermittent insomnia. After 8 months, like you I find that it has dramatically improved but not gone away.

There are a few things I do for it that help. The first is to always keep diet ginger ale on hand. Diet for me because sugary drinks make me vomit, I'll sip at it slowly and it seems to help a bit. If I don't have any, something I do always have on hand is cola syrup which is a "home remedy" my mom always used to use. I also use this if it's bad enough that I'm on the verge of actually vomiting. I pour a spoonful over crushed ice and sip slowly and it's like magic. Lastly, I have a prescription for promethazine. I use this only as a last resort. I hate taking medication, especially one that messes me up as badly as this one. After I take it I'll sleep for about 14-30 hours. An alternative is the less drowsy formula of Dramamine, which will only knock me out for around 10-20 hours. Both will leave me feeling groggy, foggy and "hungover" for a day or two afterward which is why I try to avoid them. Of everyone I know I do have the worst and strongest reactions to medications, always having the strange and rare side effects so maybe you won't have problems with these medications and could take them with no issues.

I made it several months without a CC incident but when I finally did something stupid the retribution by my body was swift and severe. I did consider several times calling my doctor or going in and asking for steroids and I probably will if it happens again. I'm still suffering the aches and pains and if I can suppress that immune response in the future I'm going to take it. Side effects of steroids be damned. I understand this isn't the right choice for everyone, but I think it may be the right one for me.

[kittty]

Ditto what Adalaide said, except I keep Meclizine on hand instead of Promethazine. It's supposed to have fewer side effects, but it still knocks me out for several hours.

[veronika]

Nausea is probably my worst symptom. While most everything else has gone away by going gluten-free (headaches, body aches, fatigue, brain fog) and being mindful of my other food intolerances, the nausea is sticking around. I will say it has gotten better, I can see an improvement over time, so I hope you will too. Like Adalaide, if I get poor sleep I feel more nauseous. When I push myself too much physically it gets worse as well. I'm hoping the nausea will eventually go away as it makes going to work/school really difficult.

If you can't tolerate or don't want to take drugs, ginger is your friend! Ginger ale is amazing, I used to keep a can of it in my purse for when I would feel bad at work or around town. Ginger tea is really soothing too (steep about 1 tsp of grated ginger in a cup of hot water) or crystallized ginger is also good to chew/suck on when you are feeling off. Also if you are feeling hungry but too sick to eat much, I found eating papaya really helps to calm my stomach down. It is a natural anti-nauseant, and you are getting some calories and vitamins in the process as well.