Persistent Nausea Concerns
Hello, I'm an 18-year-old female experiencing frequent bouts of nausea over the last four to five months. It appears that this issue began following a severe illness when I vomited multiple times in one day. The subsequent weekend, I began feeling nauseated again and feared I might be sick once more, but fortunately, I did not vomit again. This unsettling feeling persisted for a few days, coinciding with episodes of diarrhea. After a brief respite, the nausea returned along with similar symptoms, where I'd feel the urge to experience diarrhea without actually doing so. Last Wednesday marked a turning point as I felt nauseated throughout the entire day, which has continued relentlessly ever since. I've lost nearly 10 pounds during this time. Despite visiting a doctor and being prescribed medication, there hasn't been any noticeable improvement. It's worth mentioning that I have PCOS, and previous nausea episodes seemed to occur around my menstrual cycle. Interestingly, this time my period only started today, leading my mother to speculate that it could be related. However, the nausea has now been a constant presence for almost a week, significantly impairing my ability to eat and go about my daily life. While I haven't vomited yet, the situation is very distressing, and I feel stuck. Any advice or guidance would be immensely helpful. Thank you!
Answers (1)
3/2/2026, 12:51:06 PM
OpenHealth AI
It's understandable to feel very concerned about your persistent nausea, especially since it has significantly impacted your daily life and led to weight loss. Given the history of your symptoms starting after a severe illness and their recurrence, it may be connected to gastrointestinal issues or something else related to your health. Here are some key points and next steps that could help you manage your nausea.
Explanation
Persistent nausea can stem from several factors, including:
- Gastrointestinal Issues: Conditions like gastritis, or delayed gastric emptying, can contribute.
- Hormonal Influences: As you suspect, your PCOS and menstrual cycle may play a role, given the timing of your symptoms.
- Anxiety or Stress: Sometimes, ongoing stress or anxiety can manifest physically as nausea, especially when you are worried about the possibility of vomiting.
- Diet and Eating Habits: Sometimes, dietary choices can exacerbate feelings of nausea.
Next Steps
-
Keep a Symptom Diary: Document your nausea episodes, including when they occur, their intensity, associated symptoms (like fatigue or diarrhea), and your diet. This can help identify triggers related to your diet or menstrual cycle.
-
Hydration and Small Meals: Focus on staying hydrated and try eating small, bland meals throughout the day that are less likely to upset your stomach. Effective options are bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (known as the BRAT diet).
-
Timing with Your Cycle: Track how your nausea aligns with your menstrual cycle. If your symptoms seem to worsen before or during your period, this information can be indicative and useful for a healthcare provider.
-
Relaxation Techniques: Incorporate stress-relief strategies such as deep breathing, gentle physical activities, or mindfulness exercises, as these might help alleviate some of the nausea.
-
Medication Review: Since you’ve seen a doctor and received medication without improvement, consider discussing this with your healthcare provider. Sometimes, different medications or dosages may be required to find relief.
-
Observe for Worsening Symptoms: If your nausea worsens significantly, if you experience severe abdominal pain, or if you develop additional concerning symptoms, consider seeking further medical attention.
Remember to prioritize your comfort and well-being, and don’t hesitate to seek medical help if necessary; your health is most important. I hope these steps provide some relief and clarity as you manage your symptoms. Please keep me updated on how you're doing or if you have more questions!
Related Questions
Seeking Suggestions
I’m dealing with a bothersome rash on my forearm that’s incredibly itchy. My girlfriend has developed a similar one as well. Thankfully, it’s not painful or burning—just very uncomfortable. We’re both in our late thirties, with me being 37 and her 36. Neither of us takes any medications, and we both identify as Caucasian.
Evaluating Surgery Options for My Grandmother with Complications
My grandmother, a 91-year-old woman who stands at 5 feet tall and has never been a smoker, is currently facing a challenging situation. Recently, she experienced a fall that resulted in a midshaft femur fracture, characterized by angulation, following a hip hemiarthroplasty performed around six weeks prior due to a displaced fracture of the femoral neck. The hospital where she is currently admitted lacks the capability to address this complication effectively, leading to her transfer scheduled for tomorrow. She lives independently yet requires approximately 19 hours of paid home assistance each day. Her cognitive capabilities are impacted by moderate dementia, and she primarily communicates in Russian. Before her recent medical events, she had limited mobility; she could walk short distances using a walker but relied heavily on assistance for transfers. The options being evaluated are: **1. Surgical Intervention (Intramedullary Nail):** While this procedure may help alleviate pain in the long run, it carries a considerable risk due to her underlying congestive heart failure (CHF). The recovery process could be lengthy, possibly forcing her to spend several months or even years in bed, especially as her dementia progresses. The initial post-operative phase will likely bring its own set of challenges and discomforts. **2. No Surgery with Hospice Care:** This route is likely to result in a higher level of daily pain, which could be managed with opioids, offering a more immediate comfort solution. The life expectancy here could be shorter, ranging from weeks to a few months, with possibilities for home hospice care, presenting a more natural end-of-life journey. Our paramount aim is to lessen her suffering rather than prolong her life under these circumstances. I am seeking insight and advice from anyone who has had experiences with similar situations: - For those who have cared for elderly patients with dementia, which approach did you find to be more effective in minimizing suffering? - How well can pain from an unstabilized femur fracture be managed through proficient hospice care? - Do any of you have experience with palliative fixation, where surgery was conducted solely for pain relief without any intent of enhancing functionality? - What is the realistic post-operative recovery timeframe before she could return home? - Are there particular questions we should ensure to ask the surgical or hospice teams during tomorrow’s consultation that might not come to mind?
Unusual Hand Tremors: Should I Be Concerned?
I’m a 17-year-old individual, identifying as male, standing at 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighing approximately 165 pounds. I’m of Caucasian descent and I reside in the United States. For about a month now, I have been experiencing peculiar tremors or shivers primarily in my hands, although they are not exclusive to that area. In terms of my medical background, I have received diagnoses for ADHD, depression, and anxiety, and I suspect I might be dealing with some form of PTSD as well. However, I have no formally diagnosed physical health issues. My medication regimen includes Atarax to assist with sleep, Trileptal for mood stabilization, and Zoloft for depression. Additionally, I am in the process of trying Qelbree for my ADHD management. For several years now, I've encountered episodes where my head randomly shakes, which feels like an accumulation of pressure prior to a sudden forceful movement. Initially, I attributed it to simple shivers, but I’ve since realized that these occurrences aren't temperature-related. This shaking has predominantly affected my head, but I’ve noticed similar sensations in other parts of my body over time. When these episodes happen, the muscles in my neck tend to tense excessively, leading my mouth to involuntarily twist into a grimace. Recently, I’ve become aware of comparable sensations in my hands, particularly when I engage in activities such as touching my face. They seem to spasm, and I find it challenging to describe this adequately; it feels akin to the buildup before a sneeze that desperately wants to occur but doesn't. Is this a common experience, or should I take it seriously?
Experiencing Pancreatic Challenges: An Ongoing Struggle
I am a 41-year-old female, standing at 5’11” and weighing 235 pounds. Throughout my life, I have dealt with gastrointestinal problems that seem to coincide with psychiatric difficulties, beginning when I turned 21. Despite numerous evaluations, no medical professionals have identified any clear issue. I was often told that my struggles were purely psychological. Over the years, this cycle has repeated itself with varying intensities. I have tried 16 different psychiatric medications, yet none have brought any relief. Currently, I am facing a severe exacerbation of symptoms characterized by intense nausea and diarrhea. The only factor allowing me to maintain weight has been marijuana, though this seems ineffective following my recent endoscopy and colonoscopy conducted last Friday. I have already shed five pounds since those procedures. During the endoscopy, a pancreatic flare was noted. Although my pancreatic levels were recorded previously and had been found to be elevated, they were dismissed due to the absence of pain at that time. This flare pertains to the area where the pancreas meets the stomach. It appears that my doctors did not connect the dots, prompting me to reach out to them for clarification, and I am currently awaiting their response. In the meantime, I am experiencing significant pressure in my upper mid-abdomen, particularly on the left side, accompanied by noticeable movements and sounds of digestive processes occurring within. I plan to cover the cost of a pancreatic level test myself since my previous message has gone unanswered. Although I have images from my endoscopy, I would appreciate guidance on identifying the specific one in question.
Bumps Appearing on Surgical Scar
I’m a 31-year-old woman who underwent surgery in October 2025 to excise a thyroglossal duct cyst along with part of my hyoid bone. Two months after the procedure, I began experiencing swelling beneath my scar that would dissipate within a few hours. This issue progressively evolved into small lumps. Recently, I noticed a significant bulge forming at the center, leading both me and my surgeon to suspect the potential recurrence of the cyst. However, much to my surprise, that bulge disappeared after a fortnight. Now, I’ve awoken to discover another swelling at the scar’s edge. Unfortunately, I'm not receiving any guidance on this matter; my surgeon is unavailable until April. This situation is quite distressing, and I would appreciate any insights into what this might be. Thank you for your support.