I've struggled with a lot of nausea and have found a few things helpful (other than the usual ginger/soda crackers/etc.):
One thing that may help is a homeopathic remedy called Bryonia Alba (NOT the herb itself) that helps to treat nausea from sitting up. I keep this remedy next to my bed so I can just grab it and take some then wait about
5-10 minutes and try to sit up. It has been very helpful for me. I get my homeopathic remedies at a local health food store but can also be ordered online (I use abchomeopathy.com ~ I have no financial connection with this website). I also use homeopathic Ipecac. (NOT the syrup itself) to help with nausea/vomiting.
Another thought is motion sickness wrist bands - these are wrist bands that stimulate an acupuncture point on the wrist to reduce nausea. I got a set at a local drug store (no prescript
ion needed - they're over-the-counter).
And you might ask your doctor about
stomach motility medications. Reglan and Domperidone both promote normal stomach emptying and also reduce nausea. Domperidone must be obtained from Canada or a compounding pharmacy, but it has fewer side-effects than Reglan.
Here's a link to the "Bell's Palsy of the Gut" article:
http://www.thehumansideoflyme.net/viewarticle.php?aid=62
about the PICC line: Yes, no blood return means something has caused a blockage of the PICC line. Are you using a heparin lock flush after each time you use the PICC line? You might want to contact your doctor's office or the home infusion company who does your dressing changes (unless you do your own dressing changes) and ask about this. One trick I learned with my PICC line is to hold the arm with the PICC line in it up over my head (like raising your hand in school) for about 3-5 minutes. This maneuver can sometimes help release the blockage or reposition the PICC line; I have always had this method work when my line quits flushing and/or quits giving blood return.
I hope this helps - take care,
-Razzle
Chronic Lyme Disease, Gluten & Sulfite Sensitivity, Many Food/Inhalant/Medication Allergies & Intolerances, Asthma, Gut issues (dysmotility, non-specific inflammation), UCTD ("Secondary Lupus-Like Syndrome"), Osteoporosis, Anemia, Lymphopenia, intermittant Pancytopenia, chronic malabsorption/malnutrition, etc.; G Tube; Currently TPN-dependent.
Meds: Zofran, Pulmicort, Heparin (to flush PICC line).
Post Edited (Razzle) : 1/3/2009 1:08:08 AM (GMT-7)