Stomach Issues During Flares

[MandyBrook]

Hey guys!!!

I haven't posted in a while because I have been feeling great! So, I've been soaking up all that time wih my family!!! However, three days ago I began to notice the signs of a flare coming on. Since we last spoke I have completely come off the metoprolol and lexapro. I feel mentally much better. I am handling this flare much better mentally, staying positive, etc. And, I am three weeks away from being completely off my klonopin!!! Yay!!! I have begun taking a whole food vitamin, and fish oil. Haven't seen any signs of improvement from those two yet, but I am hopeful!!! And, I have also, under the instruction of my cardiologist begun exercising for the first time since I got sick. I went to the gym last night and did twenty minutes on the ark trainer (kind of like the gazelle's). I didn't feel awesome doing it but I wa so proud of myself for pushing through and doing it (especially during a flare)!!

Okay, so.... My flare began this time as it does every time. I begin to notice my appetite slowly fading away. Then that night my tachycardia will awaken me an I won't be able to sleep because of the tachycardia. Especially if I move in the bed, it worsens the tachycardia. So, with each day my nausea gets progressively worse and my appetite goes away completely, literally the smell of food and sight makes me sick. Thankfully I have not vomited during this flare. So, my question is why do my flares affect my stomach and appetite so greatly and what could I do to ease some of the nausea? I am thankful that my flares generally do not last very long and that my appetite will return and the nausea will subside. But, just thought i would ask if anyone else goes through this with their flares.

Thank you!!!

Mandy

[micheller]

I have the same issues, actually it's how I was diagnosed with pots. My pots started with reflux, seen many specialists, none of the meds helped, had 3 nissens before I seen a GI at a teaching hospital which diagnosed me on the first visit. When I flare, my reflux is out of control, food is repulsive, severe nausea, stomach cramps, etc. I haven't found anything that really helps the nausea. I've taken phenegran, zofran, reglan, and all of the OTC meds. I've tried all of the home remedies, nothing gives me relief. My GI said my nausea is most likely a neurological thing, I had yet to ask my neurologist about it. Sorry I'm not much help!

[Christy_D]

While my son also has the GI issues, they think his nausea is also neurological. Like Michelle, we have tried every OTC med and lots and lots of prescription meds(currenlty trying Ativan) without any relief. Unfortunately, he is sick 365 days a year. His symptoms don't come and go, they are there everyday but severity of symptoms go up and down. I wonder why some people have 'flares' while others, like my son, are in a constant flare. He has been sick daily since Feb 09, before that it was a frequent illness.

Sorry I can't answer the question on what helps nausea, since we haven't figured it out yet. Oddly, he rarely looses his appetite..maybe because he is a growing teenage boy. He will eat even when he has very debilitating nausea.

Christy

[MandyBrook]

I am giving probiotics a go to see if they help any

[bellgirl]

We all have days like these. I used to have nausea all the time. I thought it was due to my dizziness, but I think it is just the dysautonomia. At first was put on phenergan, but it made me too sleepy, but ginger capsules, and drinking ginger ale seems to help me. I also try to keep something small on my stomach at all times. I will take urogesic blue for spasms in my colon, if I am in a lot of pain. I sometimes have IBS, so that helps. I just try to watch my diet, too. I really believe milk products don't help, but since I've been deficient in vitamin D, I've been trying to increase my vitamin D in my diet and supplementation by vitamin D capsules, but it was giving me a spastic colon, so I backed off on the milk. I also use my acupressure wrist bands, when I know I will be in the car or going to exercise. I think they help. (It's like acupuncture without the needles). There is also a scopolamine patch for behind the ear for motion sickness, too, but you need a Dr.'s prescription for that. There are always so many questions, and everyone reacts differently, and sometimes it is hard to pinpoint where the problem is coming from, so I use trial and error most of the time

Sorry you are having a flare....it's great that you were able to exercise, through it, though. That is hard to do! I always go twice a week on the elliptical, no matter what, but my doctor told me to never push to exhaustion, so I listen to my body and try to do the best I can. Yesterday, I was able to go for 3 miles, but I am feeling better for a change!! I try to walk my dog short distances every day.

[kjmom]

My daughter's POTS was diagnosed because of her stomach issues too. She has constant stomach pain with intermittent nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps and lack of appetite. The Florinef has helped the appetite somewhat but the pain is still bad. She takes Levsin when the cramps come and Zofran for nausea, but it makes her constipated. Haven't found anything to help the pain yet except for swimming, which temporarily relieves all of her symptoms. Have you tried a pool?

[issie]

Nausea - yes a lot of the time. My best thing to use so far is --Motion Mate by Hylands. Homeopathy product.

Issie