Dealing with constant nausea and just feeling awful.

[B1rdL0ver]

Hello! 

I had just discovered this website when I was researching what Minocycline could do to your stomach after being really desperate to find out what was wrong with me. Since March of 2023 I was dealing with constant nausea that never went away unless I took Dramamine, which I have been taking everyday now for about a year. I went to the doctor to get it checked out a couple months ago, I got blood work done, and everything was normal, but they assumed it was a GI upset and the doctor put me on probiotics. It had never worked so I never scheduled a follow-up.

I thought I had become gluten intolerant, so I cut gluten completely out of my diet, but I still am nauseated.. so I also tried cutting lactose out of my diet thinking that was the issue too... I am still suffering.

Do any of you guys have an idea of what I could possibly be dealing with? Please reply, I need immediate advice. 

[B1rdL0ver]

**I was on Minocycline as an antibiotic for my horrible acne. I was on it for about 2 weeks when I couldn't take it anymore because I was constantly dizzy, as the side-effects said**

[trents]

Welcome to the forum @B1rdL0ver!

And why were you taking Minocycline and how long? 

Have you been checked for SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth)?

[B1rdL0ver]

I have not been tested for "SIBO"

The only tests that were done were just my blood work. (I'm 16 so I cannot read my own results, sadly.) I've been begging my parents to schedule a Gastroenterology appointment but they won't listen to me.

I was on Minocycline because of my bad acne, along with scarring on my cheeks, my doctor thought about treating me from the inside out for it. I was on the antibiotics for about 2 weeks, taking it twice daily. 

[trents]

2 minutes ago, B1rdL0ver said:

**I was on Minocycline as an antibiotic for my horrible acne. I was on it for about 2 weeks when I couldn't take it anymore because I was constantly dizzy, as the side-effects said**

Can Minocycline cause damage to the inner ear or some component of the vestibular system? Nausea and dizziness are often closely related and dizziness can be caused by inner ear/vestibular system problems. And Dramamine is often prescribed for those who are experiencing nausea, say from sea sickness/motion sickness which, of course, involves the inner ear.

[trents]

Found this: https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/52556-Can-antibiotics-cause-hearing-loss

[B1rdL0ver]

I forgot to mention I had a CT scan back in November (it's been too long 😂 and I'm literally going insane because of how trashy I am feeling) They thought I had something wrong with my brain or ears, so I went to a Neurologist. Everything came out 100% thank goodness. But it seems every time I eat, I get sick. And at night it's the worst if I don't take my Dramamine. 

 

I will definitely check out the article just in case. 

[knitty kitty]

@B1rdL0ver, welcome to the forum!

 Minocycline is a tetracycline antibiotic that can interact with Thiamine Vitamin B1 in your body resulting in Thiamine deficiency.  

Some acne can be caused by deficiencies in any of the eight essential B vitamins.  Diets high in carbohydrates can induce a thiamine deficiency.  

Thiamine deficiency symptoms cause nausea, dizziness, and digestive upsets (Gastrointestinal Beriberi).

An Erythrocyte Transketolase test to test for Thiamine deficiency is better than a test of Thiamine by blood level.  

Subclinical or borderline Thiamine deficiency can occur for years.  

Attached are some studies done about thiamine deficiency.  See if any of your symptoms are similar. 

 

Case Report:  Gastrointestinal beriberi: a forme fruste of Wernicke’s encephalopathy?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6040496/

 

Thiamine deficiency disorders: a clinical perspective

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8451766/

 

Gastrointestinal Beriberi and Wernicke's Encephalopathy Triggered by One Session of Heavy Drinking

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6739701/

 

Vitamin B group levels and supplementations in dermatology

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10099312/

 

Hiding in Plain Sight: Modern Thiamine Deficiency

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8533683/

Hope this helps!  Keep us posted on your progress!

[B1rdL0ver]

I had read all the articles you posted @knitty kitty, based on your information, I do have a diet of lots of gluten free noodles, gluten free breads, mostly fruits, white fish, and other meats. 

Based on the articles, I only have 2 of the symptoms mentioned; nausea and abdominal pain. I also do have constipation issues, but I have had that since I was a baby. If the pain is severe, I usually get chills and I get shivery, if that helps with anything. 

I'm not for certain if I have a deficiency. 

I will keep you updated.

[Scott Adams]

The only way to actually eliminate celiac disease as a possibility would be to get a blood panel done for celiac disease. 

This article might be helpful, but even if you don't have celiac disease, approximately 10x more people have non-celiac gluten sensitivity than have celiac disease, but there isn’t yet a test for NCGS. If your symptoms go away on a gluten-free diet it would likely signal NCGS.

 

 

 

[trents]

Also, testing for celiac disease is invalidated if you have already placed yourself on a gluten free diet.

[knitty kitty]

@B1rdL0ver,

Keep in mind that gluten free processed facsimile foods are not required to be enriched or fortified with vitamins and minerals.  Gluten based foods are required to be enriched with vitamins and minerals lost during processing.  So when you go gluten free, you have to buy your own vitamins.  

Do you eat any vegetables?  Veggies are an important source of fiber which helps move things along in the digestive tract.  Not getting enough fiber in your diet can cause constipation.  

Constipation is another symptom of Thiamine and magnesium deficiencies.  

[B1rdL0ver]

Sorry for the late reply,

I eat vegetables when I can. Yesterday I ate corn. I'm on a strict diet and I eat what my family eats, I can't go off the schedule, but I have these problems, we eat veggies every other day and we would eat meat at least 3-4 times a week. 

What kind of vitamins would I need if you are on a gluten free diet? (I don't take any so I may need to look into taking vitamins with my probiotics)

Edit: My mom had just scheduled a Gastroenterology appointment and it is on October 1st. I'm not sure if it's a good time to start to eat gluten in case they want to test me? Even if I cut the gluten out of my diet, I am still getting sick, so I am thinking I should start back up with eating gluten again so they can test me just to make sure. 

Edited March 12 by B1rdL0ver
Additional Info

[trents]

Start loading up on gluten several weeks before the gastroenterologist appointment. He/she will likely start with blood antibody testing and if that is positive he/she may order an upper GI scoping with a biopsy. 

[B1rdL0ver]

Would it be okay if I started now? 

[trents]

Yes, but if it makes you feel worse, no need to start that early. If it doesn't then go ahead. We have no idea at this point if gluten is even an issue with you.

[B1rdL0ver]

Same goes with me 🤣 I have no idea what is wrong with me and I wish my body could tell me what's the matter in our language. 

Eating gluten shouldn't change a thing with how I feel since I constantly feel nauseated and I have Dramamine to calm my symptoms if I REALLY need for the symptoms to stop. 

I may start eating gluten about sometime in July or August, if not, maybe a little bit earlier if July or August is too close and won't give me enough time to fill myself with gluten again. 

In the meantime(When I'm still off gluten)... I will attempt to take some vitamins and see if it helps calm things down a bit and eat more foods with fiber if I can convince my parents to buy foods with more fiber. 

Thanks so much for the help so far, I really appreciate it. 😄

[trents]

Keep us posted when you find out more or if things change. Hope you feel better soon.

[knitty kitty]

Updated Guidelines on doing a gluten challenge can be found here.

 

[B1rdL0ver]

Oooohh!

I'll go read this! 

Thanks @knitty kitty and @trents! I'll keep you both posted. 

[CatherineWang]

Sometimes, antibiotics have this effect, and even flora capsules that should be prescribed by your GP might be ineffective.
In this case, I can recommend only changing your diet. If you eat dairy products, then natural yogurt can help. If you aren't vegan, chicken broth can also be helpful.

[B1rdL0ver]

@CatherineWang I eat yogurt sometimes but I can only eat what my family eats. I might have to sneak a bowl. 🤣 

As I said, I'm on a strict diet/schedule for when it comes to food. 

[CatherineWang]

I think you got me wrong. Well, it's my fault. By changing your diet, I meant adding chicken broth and yogurt to your meals. However, regarding the yogurt, make sure that it's natural and not a dessert based on yogurt. On a natural yogurt package, it is usually written how many life bacteria are added there.

[B1rdL0ver]

We have some of the natural yogurt in the fridge. 

And it's okay  

[B1rdL0ver]

I knew what you meant anyways. 

I will try to add yogurt into my current diet. And then when it's closer to my Gastroenterology appointment, I'll put myself back on gluten, following Knitty kitty's article. 

Edit: We have only chicken noodle soups with the broth, we don't have it separate. 

Edited March 14 by B1rdL0ver