Sudden nausea followed by bowel movement

I just got done reading a thread on another forum about magnesium deficiency and how it can mimic a lot of symptoms of these other diseases (loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and weakness).  The poster and quite a few of the folks who started taking magnesium suppliments, stopped taking their PPI's (/antacids), and then said they were doing much better.  Nobody said it was a cureall and they still had to avoid some foods that caused them issues in the past, but, most seemed to be doing better. 

Help - my husband has been experiencing some of the above symtoms - extreme cold sweats after his morning bowel movements, followed by nausea and sometimes vomiting. He also had extreme burping and a bloated stomach although no abdominal pain. It starts slowly, maybe once every other day, then every day, followed by constant vomiting and dry heaving. Last time this occurred he was admitted to the hospital. They tested for gall bladder both ultrasound and hydra (it came back fine), they did an endoscopy, and ruled out all the obvious. All that is left is a colonoscopy which we are doing this week. When this is occurring he is unfunctionable. A friend told me to also have him checked for Celiac. He has been on Reglan and Nexim since his last hospital stay but it has started back up. Any suggestions or anyone else have the same and had it diagnosed? I am at wits end - no life!

Wow. Finaly somebody has my exact same problems. I get that sudden nausea and then have a bowel movement but it's not diareah. I have Acid Reflux and IBS. I have had an upper GI and a ultra sound and hydascan on my gallbladder and my doctor says I'm fine. Perscribed me Nexium. But I KNOW it's my gallbladder. And the pain gets so bad that it radiates throughout my the whole right side of my body. From head to toe. Not kidding. I makes my neck and back hurt bad and my chest. It aggrivates me so much that they cant find anything. I want to demand more tests but I don't want them to say nothings wrong with me when I know it is. What can I do? I feel hopelss and helpless. I have anxiety and depression too which makes these pains even worse. I think that the pain actualy set off my anxiety and depression because I had it under control without meds until this pain started. Any ideas how I can get my MD to take me seriously?

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"There is hope for every man, a solid place where we can stand, in this dry in weary land, there is hope for every man... Jesus is hope for every man"  -Casting Crowns

Hi wrightonewright,
Welcome to HealingWell! When your husband had the EGD they should have biopsied to test for Celiac's. They didn't mention that to you? Has he been tested for H.pylori?

Thirsty, you need to ask your doc for a Hidascan. The best way to detect a bad gallbladder is to have the test done when you're feeling bad. I know that's hard to predict, so you might need to be tested a couple times. It took Keri 5 years to get a bad gallbladder diagnosis. Keep pushing your docs; demand more testing.

Best of luck to both of you!!!

Wright, please let us know how your hubby's scope goes.

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Co-Moderator IBS Forum

I've self diagnosed myself with IBS/Gerd/acid reflux/organ cysts/organ tumor/..., some sort of GI issue. I just need a doctor to confirm it and start treating it. For years I've had excessive gas, both ends and bloat. I've gained about 15 pounds the last 4 years that I can't seem to lose and all my excess weight is in my stomach making it look like I'm a couple months pregnant. My boyfriend hates it, but when I pass gas or burp, but I feel better. My family hates it when I belch quite loudly even though I have not eaten or drank all day. I believe the right side of my abdomen sticks out farther than my left, but everyone I tell that to thinks I'm nuts, including my docs. I tell them I've always had a sensitive abdomen and that when someone pushes, piches, hits it, etc... it hurts a lot more than anywhere else. Finally my new doc it taking me more seriously than my old one. I have an ultra sound tomorrow. She seemed concerned when I mentioned constipation and diahrea and a couple other issues, but I told her my diahrea isn't really watery its like half normal and half diahrea. I don't usually have to run to the bathroom for bowel movements, but lately I've been feeling like I have to urinate more than normal even when I just went. I was prescribe Plevex(sp?) I think, but the insurance wouldn't pay for it without a referral for justification from my doc.

I don't know what else to tell you guys as I don't really have answers at this point. Still too new in the beginning diagnoses part of all this although I've had symptoms for years. Thanks for the support. I have more symptoms, but didn't want to bore people by writing them all down.

7lil, I had a Hidascan about two months ago and my doc said everything was normal. It hurt when I got it that morning and then went away. Then that night I had gone out with my husband and it hurt so bad my whole body got stiff and I couldn't hardly walk. It was like I was stiff and weak at the same time. Make since? And my momma came over (she's an RN) and told me to get in a hot bath and I felt a little less stiff after that. I am so frusterated with this. I have a dr app monday. Do you think he'd give me another hidascan so soon. I don't think he really believes me that it causes so much pain. Any advice is welcome! Thanks so much! ((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))

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"There is hope for every man, a solid place where we can stand, in this dry in weary land, there is hope for every man... Jesus is hope for every man"  -Casting Crowns

No, I don't think your doc would order another hidascan so soon. You can push for it though, if you really do think your woes stem from a bad gallbladder. You can also ask to speak directly to a surgeon and see what s/he thinks of your situation.
Have you tried a low residue diet? Or even keeping a food diary? Maybe you find you're allergic to something or that you do indeed feel much worse with higher fat content foods (possibly confirming a bad gallbladder).

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Co-Moderator IBS Forum

It's probably not worth it to get another HIDA scan so soon if your most recent one was negative. It may not be that your doctor doesn't believe how much pain your in but that he is taking a "wait and see" approach because sometimes the treatment is worse for the body than just letting it heal on its own. If you took a warm bath and felt less stiff, maybe there's a musculoskeletal component to the pain. Did your doc recommend taking anything for pain relief?

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Co-moderator - IBS Forum

Please always remember to consult your medical professional regarding your medical questions; this forum is intended to provide patient-to-patient support. Although some of us have healthcare backgrounds, we cannot diagnose or treat patients on the board.

He just said that I have acid reflux and perscribed me Nexium. Which I never filled because I didn't have heartburn. I've been pregnant and I KNOW what heartburn feels like. I think it really is my gall bladder. Or some other organ in that area. The thing is, I don't think I'm going to be able to have insurance for a while since me and my husband are getting seperated. I don't know how I'm supposed to take all this at once. I've got to get a job, find a babysitter, and a place to live. The pain is unbearable sometimes but I play it off like it's not that bad because I know that nobody believes me. My momma told me to take Ibeprofen for the pain but that doesn't help. I don't know what I'm gonna do about anything.

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"There is hope for every man, a solid place where we can stand, in this dry in weary land, there is hope for every man... Jesus is hope for every man"  -Casting Crowns

Hello everyone, your experiences are very helpful and it feels good to see others with similar situations.
Here's mine.
In May my cat died, and the next day under stress I happened to eat a giant Tootsie Roll. Hours later I got very ill. I thought I was having a heart attack. My arm was painful and nearly numb, my chest hurt badly, and I had nausea. I am only 26 and even though my dad has had heart attacks, he also has had major indigestion problems all his life. So I took alka selzter, which didn't really help. The next day I had more heartburn and found earthclinic.com and tried Apple Cider Vinegar, which helped with the heartburn. Now I don't really get heartburn, thanks to the ACV. But I have continued to get nausea, weakness, sometimes almost feel like I'll pass out, and now wanting to vomit (haven't yet), then have bowel movement and feel better. I tried to figure out if a food was triggering it. I got down to eating only fruits, veggies, beans, and hemp milk. After a week I felt I was almost back to normal. But because I had been eating so many bananas, and not realizing they are a trigger food for herpes, I got blasted with an onslaught of the virus (usually rears its ugly head a couple times a year). But my digestion seemed a lot better. I was eating Pizza with no problems.
Then I ate a tiny piece of Tootsie Roll.
Bam. Heartburn, gas, nausea, feeling like death all before having a bowel movement. Then feel much better. Then I went through another week of the same symptoms as before. So I figured, the Tootsie Roll triggered something and it took a while to get it out of my system. However, I have been keeping a strict raw food diet and have NOT gotten better yet this time. My immune system is low. I now have a swollen lymph node below my chin and I hope it's just because of the herpes, which I assume I'm still battling. Sometimes I have several bowel movements back to back, but right now I am bloated and feel constipated, which happened once before and was misderable (thanks to the ACV and also eating cayenne papper I do not have heartburn or chest pains). I am nauseous and feel the need to take a deuce, but can't get it out.
I will feel nausea and then my stomach will rumble, maybe pass a bit of gas (but I'm not generally gassy). I know I will feel better when I take a dump.

I am starting to read about gall bladder/liver cleanse and think I might try it despite having many amalgam fillings (9) in my mouth (and I am a small female).
http://curezone.com/cleanse/liver/
To those contemplating gall issues or even removal, please check this out first. Many have found they have cured the incurable (and not had to have gall bladder removed).
They say to do a colon cleanse first, then parasite cleanse, then the gall/liver cleanse. I don't know how important it is to do it in that order. But if anyone tries the cleanse, please post here and let us know how it goes! I will do the same.

Best of luck, all you intestinal detectives!
Peace,
Kiwii

There are a few links out there to dispute the gallbladder clense effectiveness.  I'm not qualified to say if it's true or not, and I believe that in some cases it might even make a person feel better as some of the ingredients do help thin out the bile and get it moving again.  Given that, it might actually relieve some of the pain and/or nausea for a while [ if you don't dislodge a large stone and get it stuck somewhere in the process and make it worse ].  Over time, though, the problems are likely to return.  Some more info on the science is here:  http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=93 

I've had good luck simply following a gallbladder diet (search and there are a few sites that have lists, basically = avoid bad fat/snacks/sugar/crap).  I try and substitute EVOO for butter/fats and eat apples and beets as much as I can tolerate.  Overall it seems to have helped quite a bit, but, I'm still not the way I was before all this started, and have accepted that I may never be able to eat crappy without directly suffering again.  I suppose that's ultimately a good thing. 

 

 

I, too, have been quite ill for a couple of years (nausea, sudden fullness, vomitting, constant swallowing because I feel I am going to throw up - all worsens at night with laying down - I sleep with 4 pillows). This has completely taken over my life. I also cannot fly as I get very ill and end up in the ER because I cannot stop dry-heaving. I am mostly constipated and very nauseas right before a bowel movement. I also find a little relief when I pass gas, which is usually very smelly. I have had ultrasounds, HIDA scan, blood work, MRI, celiac tests, food intolerance tests, upper GI, CT scans with nothing. Finally, they did a Gastric Emptying Study and I was diagnosed with Gastroparesis. Also, I did saliva tests which showed my adrenals were pretty much non-functioning (adrenal fatigue). I am on Reglan (as needed) to help the food digest as well as Promethazine for the nausea (I take this every day). Some days are better then others but no day is great all the way. I have gone to a gluten-free, dairy-free diet including no fried foods or ground meats, no caffein, no chocolate. I think the only reason that it helped was I ate less. I am also taking supplements to help with my adrenal, tried alleviating as much stress as possible including leaving my husband and kids for 2 weeks to go home and rest. I wish I could say things were better. I have lost a lot of weight and am so depressed and exhausted. I fear going to bed because I often wake feeling the imminent need to throw up.

It took almost 2 years to get the gastric emptying study done and that was after 3 GI docs. Although it was a momentary relief to have a diagnosis, the treatment options soon proved useless (have done all meds for this). I do have slight, constant pain in my lower right portion of ribs, but, gall bladder has been ruled out via tests - which I have gotten done when I have felt bad.

I have noticed some relief and better sleep with acupuncture (twice a week). This all has cost thousands of dollars, hundreds of hours and much grief. I am continuing researching, seeking care and mostly, much prayer. I am so sorry for all of you who are suffering. The nausea is so debilitating I know how much it affects every aspect of life. Keep pressing on and never give up.

I have a problem everytime I have a bowel movement I vomit. It really gets on my nerves. How normal is that? Can I do anything about it or do I suffer.b

Hi. I too experience a low grade nausea just before the urge to have a bowel movement. I do have fibromyalgia and IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a possibility but you know how it it. You always think the worst like cancer or something.

One day just out of the blue I got very sick. I was sweating and throwing up. Dizzy and sort of out of it. I was at work at the time and a girl that did not like me called security on me. They even took me to the nurses office to see if I was high or drunk. Guess she thought I would get fired. To make this long story short it ended up I had gallstones. I had my gallbladder out. They even gave me some stones that are about the size of a pea, wrinkled and black and hard. I had complained of pain in my back. When the doctor asked where I told him right under my right shoulder blade. It is so weird because I still have that pain. It has been 8 years now and I still have that pain.

At the time I was under a great deal of stress. My 14 year old daughter was suicidal. My oldest son left us and no contact. I was divorced and dating a guy that beat me. The worst was when I changed a toilet paper roll before it was totally empty. I placed it on top of the full roll knowing how he was. I thought I was doing it right but he later grabbed me by the hair, dragged me to the bathroom and told me to get it out of the toilet. He had knocked it in. Then he started choking me and just before I passed out he knocked me down which made my side hit the toilet and hairline fractured a rib. He had knocked out a tooth before. I don't know if that started the fibromyalgia or not but I never completely recovered from the gallbladder surgery. I developed pain all over and so on. They said it was fibromyalgia and I am now disabled.

My one hope was I also had Hepatitis C. I underwent treatment. During that time it was similar to chemo. I was a tad overweight and lost about 60 pounds. Lost a good bit of hair and had no taste. Food was awful to me. I would feel a slight nausea all the time and after a bite or two it would get worse so I did not eat much. LOL! I have gained it all back and even asked if I could re-take the treatment so I could lose the weight again. I had read there was a connection with Hep C and fibromyalgia. I thought if they cured the Hep C it would cure my fibromyalgia. Nope. Food tasted good again when it was all over. Too good and I ate and ate but mostly I would eat one food at a time. Like I wanted omelets and would even send my youngest son to IHOP for omelets late at night. I craved! Now I like cheese. Go figure. I did however feel a bit better. Well a lot better but I also had lost a lot of weight. I was high school weight again! With every 5 pounds I got worse and worse with the fibro. Up to 236 now and feel terrible.

Backing up a bit. The one thing about the gallstones I told the doctor I had a lot of nausea about 10 years before and they did an ultrasound for gallstones then and I was ok. He had told me the longer the stones are in you the darker they are so I could not figure out why they were so black and how I could have them. Ten years is not a very long time in my eyes. He asked if I had been dieting and lost any weight recently. I had because a diet doctor put me on a diet pill and at the time I had lost about 35 pounds. He said dieting can cause you to form gallstones. Never heard that one before.

The nausea I had before a bowel movement started with the Hep C treatment. By the way I am in remission and clear right now. But after it all it remains but it is very slight. Weird because when I feel the nausea and have a bowel movement the nausea goes away. I have wondered if it had anything to do with age because during the Hep C treatment I started menopause. At first I thought it was the meds and weight loss. It continued for about a year after the treatment stopped and now I have been no periods for about 2 years. I had a recent PAP and they said I was lucky not to have to take hormones or anything but I had been so sick I probably never noticed any symptoms. At age 50 now I wonder if the bowel thing has to do with going through menopause like growing chin hairs. Ouch! LOL!

With the fibro I hurt and feel very tired. When I exert myself even for a short while like trying to cut a small section of yard at a time with a push mower I start to sweat heavily, can't breath right and have chest and back pain. I went to the hospital once and of course after waiting over 2 hours I was feeling better so the ticker tape thing they do for the heart was ok and my oxygen level was 100 so best it could be. Even if I eat very little now I still gain weight due to inactivity. Perhaps that has a lot to do with IBS. The worse I feel the less I do and the less I do makes me gain more weight and more weight makes me feel worse and worse. Viscous circle.

Right now I am at my worst. I hurt all the time. Weigh a lot and depression. I am also one of the millions that is having their home foreclosed on. I have tried talking to the mortgage people and a lawyer so It seems hopeless. Hopeless leads to suicide. I hope it does not go that far. I have 3 beautiful Golden Retrievers that are my reason to stay alive right now. I am being told that if I go to a rental I cannot take my dogs or at least not 3 but I am so attached to them it borders on obsession. Right now I have a fenced-in yard and a pet door. I cannot physically handle them on a leash. No where will I find a place like I have now and I know no one would allow me to cut a hole in a back door for a pet door. Perhaps stress causes the bowel thing. I guess for each person it is different. When I see my fibromyalgia doctor ( a neurologist) she only sees me every 6 months, she gives me a ton of narcotics. Most of which I don't take. Only one (Lyrica) I have to take or I suffer extreme withdrawal symptoms. She did not tell me that suddenly stopping them could do that.

This may be a bit much to digest but perhaps even one tiny bit of it will make sense and help someone. Something may click or they see a connection to their problem. Best wishes to all ands always cherish each day. I even cherish seeing butterflies playing in my flowers or the birds drinking from the birdbath or eating from one of the feeders and don't even get me started on watching the babies with a ladder in the birdhouses I put up on 4X4 poles. CC

Oh dear god, there is actually someone out there who has exactly the same thing as I do... do know how bloody I don't even know what to say...

For about 4 years I've had the sudden nausea and vomiting, with the bowel movements, sweating, watery mouth, the lot.. and have been tested numerous times for anything you can possibly test. My most recent one was for the helicobacter pylori infection and that came back negative (no ****ing crap you idiot doctor)... I've had them say it's IBS, it's stress related blah ****ing blah...

I am feeling so very crap about it... I mean I don't know when it's coming on, it just happens, and I lie there for a while just waiting to chuck my guts up or pass out from feeling so freaking ill in my tummy. It feels like someone is at it with a wrench and is twisting the crap out of it.

I've seen numerous doctors, and none of them can help me, as they are all idiots... I just want it to go away and be able to manage when it's there... is that so much to freaking ask?!

I recall someone asking on the forum about when in the month it happens and how old they were. I'm not sure if it's the same for Catrin, but I'm random when it happens and I'm in my early 20's. So, go figure :(

I'm just extremely frustrated, and I'm hungry but can't eat as I still feel sick... I have had a bowel movement, and that helped a wee bit but still feel rotten... But at the same time, I am so freaking glad to have found someone with the same thing as me... I had tears of joy :) I suddenly don't feel as if I am alone and that I am some sort of stressed and crazed psychosomatic feeling idiot.

Please do reply to me... I think I would like someone to talk to about this.. someone that actually understands and has some useful advice for me.

With many thanks and well wishes,

Louise :)

OMG, a site where people are like me! my husband says all the time that I am broken. it's so nice to know I'm not the only person suffering. When I go to a restroom in public my worst fear is someone being in there because I know I'm going to have an explosive bowel movement. I had my gall bladder removed last year after 2 years of severe pain. I've always had tummy issues and was told I had IBS, but was never given any medications. 2 months after my gall bladder was removed I was still having pains and they were getting worse. After several tests, bouts in the hospital the dr. determined I had Chronic Pancreatitis. Nothing works, but I have learned that fatty and sugary foods cause severe pain and bouts of diahrrea, nausua, constipation, sweating, dizzyness and just about every other thing you can imagine. I wish I could be normal. My husband poops twice a day, with no problems, eats whatever he likes and just lives normal. God I want to be that. I mean, I eat and within 5 minutes I'm exploding on the toilet.

I get the nausea and need to go to the loo as well, sometimes it's associated with anxiety or after eating. I think that sometimes more vigorous peristalsis (muscle waves in digestive system) are triggered by either, and it makes you feel sick and need the toilet because your stomach is contracting and the contents are being pushed along and out. It's a gut sensitivity thing, but can be quite stressful.

I hope this helps.

This is for sukimommy....

I have been doing tons of gallbladder research, have had 3 hida scans, 2 of which showed slow emptying of my gallbladder and one that was normal. And I've consulted a 2 gallbladder surgeons, one at the Mayo clinic. Do you know that 5% of people who have their gallbladders taken out have the same problem you have....after eating anything they have to immediately run to the bathroom. It is a risk one takes when considering gb surgery (as my surgeons informed me). There is nothing one can do about it--you will be this way the rest of your life. You can take something called CLM (cholestermycin??????) It's powder in a can you mix with water and it "binds" with the food you eat to stop the diarrhea. It was originally an old drug for lowering cholesterol. But you lose nutrients and cannot take it four hours before or after food or medications. Pretty restrictive instructions.

I have not had my gb removed yet as I do not want to be where you are now....the 5%. I am living with the pain, nausea, gas, bloating, fatigue. Just trying to decide what to do.

Also 40 % of people who have their gb removed do not have a change in their symptoms. Actually a Mayo clinic study says 47%.

Hi Catrin,

I have had a diagnosis of IBS for over 12 years and have tried every drug everyone has talked about and there just doesn't seem to be anything that is good for a long period of time. I, too, suffer from nausea and have had negative gall bladder tests. In fact, many believe that IBS occurs to those who have had their gall bladder removed, but who knows. I have a weird suggestion for those with nausea which came to me from a holistic PhD. Mix 2-3 Tablespoons of bitters (that one would use in making mixed drinks) in a glass of water. Stir and sip it and it doesn't taste badly at all. It works just as well or better than all the drugs that are prescribed. My "drug" of choice is ginger (Trader Joe's also sells Ginger Chews which are usually in my purse).
I've never heard of the sitz marker test until now but I will certainly ask for it at my next gastro appt.
Thanks for all the good info.
Arlene

Here is my issue.  Occasionally I have had three things happen in tandem.  A.  I get really gassy and it smells like death. B. I get this hot flash and begin to sweat like its really hot while other people swear it is not, tonight one of my friends even said it was cold. C. I get really shakey and have to fight to not throw up.

Hello,

I have had IBS almost for my whole life. I am 27 years old and I was first diagnosed with it when I was 15 years old but I suspect I have had it since I was a child. Almost all my life I have lived with nausea and just as some of you, vomiting is the worst that can happen to me so I do whatever it takes not to vomit. I will tell you a little bit of my history with IBS because it may be of use to someone.

Since I am around 5 years old I remember I would feel nausea almost everyday, my parents took me to the doctor but he said it was probably psychological, so I grew up thinking it was something I had on my mind. I also suffered from constipation since I was a child. When I was 15 I remember waking up one day with a horrible stomach pain and my mom took me to the Doctor and finally I got diagnosed with IBS. Through all my adolescence I would have episodes of IBS (mainly constipation/diarrhea, stomach pains and some nausea). I took zelnorm for about two years and hat really helped a lot, I was almost never constipated and my IBS flares almost went away for several years. Then on 2006, I got married and move to the US, I guess I started eating unhealthier and I was kind of depressed because I was away from home and then it is when all started. I started having sudden nausea and dizziness as well as feeling lightheaded. It was really bad, I too didn't want to go out because I was afraid I was going to throw up in front of everyone (although I have never thrown up, when I get this sudden nausea I do feel I am about to throw up). So I went with this doctor and he said that some of the main foods that trigger IBS are dairy and artificial sweeteners. I stopped eating them for a while and I felt better (instead of having nausea every day I would get it 3 or 4 times a week), when I asked him if I could have some medicine he said "Nothing really works, but here is a prescription if you want to try" (Obviously, he was a lousy doctor)
Later that same year I went with other doctor that prescribed me Trimebutine and Levosulpiride, I started taking and for the first time in my life I was feeling wonderful! No dizziness, no lightheadedness and no nausea! I thought this is how normal people feel! I was also trying to take care of what I ate, meaning not drinking too much coffee, lactose free milk, little pasta or bread, little cheese and little fat. As time went by, I was feeling good and I guess I started letting go of this eating good habits and I started eating a lot of cheese and bread and drinking more coffee and I started feeling really bad again. Nausea and dizziness came back and even the bad stomach pain that I haven't had in years. Apparently after almost 2 years of taking the medicine it is not working anymore (I have heard that after a while of using them the IBS medicines stop having effect so is good to change them). What I wanted to tell you is that I have notice that it is all about what I eat, if I stop eating greasy or fried food, dairy and bread I start feeling better. It is just so hard sometimes to stick to a diet and having your food so limited can really be depressing but I guess is worth trying. I have also read that every person with IBS is different so what can be good to me can be bad for you and viceversa. I have also tried about 10 different medicines for IBS and I do now that some of them are better than others so if one does not work for you you can try another that might work (just tell your doctor this is not working I want to try other medicine!). I do believe that the best relief comes from mindful eating and exercising (as well as relieving your stress) I have obviously not been able to do it for a long time since I still suffer flares but I can really tell you that watching what you eat helps. Read books or websites and try to figure out what foods make your symptoms worse (you can even try having a food diary). But also if you have the opportunity, go to the doctor and like I said if one medicine is not working ask for another medicine, you have the right to do it There are several medicines out there for IBS and some of them have worked for me for some time so go and try them, but remember that watching what you eat is always important too.

Thanks for having this forum! It really makes me feel a little less lonelier on this IBS and nausea thing. Good luck to all of you, I really hope we will all find a way to at least control our symptoms!

Hi there, I'm new to this site but I'm so glad I found it!! I live in England and I'm typing this in the middle of the night while in the bathroom! Here is my background: My IBS started in 2008 but was only formally diagnosed (in my opinion!) a couple of months ago, when I had some tests to rule out anything else. Prior to this, I had had my gallbladder removed in 2001. My little boy, who was 7, died from cancer in late 2006, and I then suffered a miscarriage in early 2008, after which my symptoms became apparent. My GP (family doc) did several blood tests etc which all came back normal, and decided that my symptoms were IBS, brought on and triggered by the stress and grief of losing my little boy to cancer. I sort of believed him at the time (I trust my GP, he was there with us when our son was dying and has been fantastic throughout), but was never totally convinced there wasn't something 'in there' causing the symptoms...possibly a result of watching my son die from cancer. Anyway, eventually I asked my long-suffering GP to refer me for the tests as I finally realised that was the only way I was going to believe there was nothing 'wrong' with me! I've now had the tests, endoscopy and colonoscopy plus stool tests, blood tests, coeliac test etc. The docs found nothing except a hiatus hernia. I have GORD (or GERD if you prefer!) and IBS. I take omeprazole for the gord. My gastoenterology consultant told me to take Merbentyl, which is an anti-spasmodic, on the days when my tummy is uncomfortable. The jury is out, as far as I'm concerned, as to whether it helps at all. I don't have coeliac disease, although I know my tummy can't tolerate large amounts of gluten - this almost always brings on an attack. My IBS almost always happens during the night (often wakes me) or early in the morning, and almost always starts with nausea, often accompanied by dizziness or faintness, mild heart palpitations and a feeling of general 'uneasiness'. Then the diarrhoea follows... Luckily, both my doctors are fabulous. The gastoenterologist says I must figure out for myself what foods and how much of each food type I can tolerate. I tell her I am lactose intolerant, and she doesn't bat an eyelid, ie she believes me!! My GP, bless him, doesn't appear to mind how often I go down to his office with some new symptom or other and whinge about how rubbish I feel, or what crap is currently going on in my life! I always think I've completely lost my marbles and become a total hypochondriac, and somehow he always manages to convince me I'm not!
Okay I just re-read all the above and realised this is a rather long post! Thanks for reading, if you got this far! I replied to this post initially because my IBS always starts with nausea too, and I never 'met' anybody else whose IBS followed that pattern.
Again, thanks for 'listening'!

angelgeorge - I just read your post and want to say how truly sorry you lost your son to cancer. My heart just breaks for you. I am a cancer survivor so I am especially heartbroken when I hear children have cancer and especially those who lost their fight at such a young age. It's reasonable to assume you've been a lot of stress but it's good that your gastro doctor trusts your instincts. While I wish I had concrete advice for you (I suffer from the other end of this, the umpteen trips to the bathroom per day), I am a firm believer in the old saying - you are what you eat. A food journal is a must, I agree you should keep close track of what you eat and drink each day. Also other details are important, for example if you had taken antibiotics, had a cold or the flu, etc. I joke that a shift in the weather or wind brings on D for me but seriously, so much seems to affect my IBS like symptoms. Just go lightly with your meals, figure out what you can tolerate and learn what you cannot (it's hard if you like these foods, sometimes you will cheat and eat them but pay for it later).

I wish you success in trying to figure all of this out. Again, I'm so sorry for your loss.

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- Rectal CA 4/29/99, Stage I, 90% sigmoid/15" of colon/GB removed, temporary colostomy, reversed 6-26-99
- Chronic IBS/D symptoms, multiple bm's, on low residue diet
- Colace 50 mg + Renew Life/Ultimate Flora/Critical Care/80 Billion daily