How I overcame chronic nausea, digestive complications, and stopped taking my prescription medication - the natural way.
Back in July of 2018, my newly wedded husband and I arrived at the Chicago O'Hare airport ready to embark on our romantic honeymoon to St. Lucia. I vividly remember this like it was yesterday.
It was 4 o'clock in the morning, and we were just about to walk through security when severe nausea hit me. It was so bad that I didn't want to board the plane that was taking us to the romantic trip that we so anxiously anticipated for almost a year. The nausea was so bad that I was fully prepared to use those handy barf bags the airlines graciously provide.
Fast forward to honeymoon bliss, my groom and I sat down for our first oceanside dinner of the week, and just as we were served our meals, severe nausea hit me again! It was so bad, I had to take a raincheck on dinner and headed back to the room.
For the majority of our trip I felt incredibly sick. Why was this? I was married to my best friend, relaxing on a beach, and all of the wedding stress was behind us. It just didn't make sense.
Throughout that year I continued to battle severe bouts of nausea, dry heaving, and digestive complications. If you know me, I work through the pain. Regardless of illness, I never call in sick or leave early. That all changed with this unexplained nausea.
I started my first professional job since college and was asking my manager if I could leave early or stay home because of how ill I felt; not the best impression in a new work environment, but I couldn't work like that.
Finally, I had enough. I needed to figure out what was going on. My doctor ran every test possible, completed every exam and procedure he could think of and everything checked out; nothing was wrong. But I knew deep down that my body was trying to tell me something.
The doctor ended up prescribing me two different medications. One was for acid reflux (females sometimes experience acid reflux through symptoms of nausea) and one simply for nausea.
These prescriptions were a Band-Aid that began masking what was really going on.
The acid reflux prescription did nothing, so I stopped taking it right away. The nausea drug, on the other hand, worked. It definitely took away the nausea, but it caused further digestive distress... constipation (gross I know, but hey it's a real thing).
I was nauseous so frequently that I was taking this medication as often as I could (once every 8 hours), so you can imagine how inactive my digestion was...
Funny story, constipation causes nausea too! So here I was in this vicious cycle of being nauseous, taking medication for nausea, and becoming even MORE nauseous due to constipation (gross I know, but again, it's all part of the story).
The doctor wanted to keep running further tests, but I gave up on them and decided to just live with this issue.
As time went on, my body starting working things out on it's own. My stress levels significantly reduced once I started taking control of the factors that caused stress and anxiety in my life. I made changes to my diet, quit my high stress job, and started exercising more.
Now, I don't even remember the last time I got my prescription filled. My digestion is better than ever, and let me tell you, I feel GREAT!! I'm no longer nervous to go out in public, I don't miss events, and I have a renewed sense of vitality that I've never experienced before.
Below are the tips that helped me overcome chronic nausea, eliminate the need for prescribed medication, and improved my digestion:
1. Eliminate Unnecessary Stress
This one is first on the list for a reason. Around the time of my wedding I had about 6 major life events happening all at the same time. I. was. stressed. out. period. I was finishing up my Bachelor's degree, buying a house, planning a wedding, starting a new career, getting married, and travelling outside the country. 2018 was a year of firsts, super exciting firsts, but it was so insanely stressful at the same time. Stress is a major factor that causes nausea, and I attribute roughly 80% of my problem to it. Stress is a part of life, but it harms the body, especially digestion. If there are people, careers, or commitments in your life that are causing considerable amounts of stress - ELIMINATE THEM!! I did, and I am so happy I made that choice. Initially it was terrifying, but I have reduced the amount of stress in my life so much that I no longer experience chronic nausea. I promise you it's worth it!!
2. Drink More Water
I'm sure most of you are tired of hearing this one. Literally every doctor, nurse, and health professional is preaching this message. And here I am preaching the same thing. Yes, drinking water is absolutely crucial, especially if you're battling chronic nausea. It promotes healthy digestion of your food, promotes consistent bowel movements (gross again, but it's true), and promotes internal and external vitality.
3. Eat More Dark Leafy Greens
Again, another message I'm sure you're tired of hearing, but hey, I'm just sharing what worked for me. It wasn't until I started including dark leafy greens, like spinach and kale, into my diet that I really started feeling better. These vegetables have high amounts of fiber and nutrients that promote healthy digestion and bowel movements. Not only did these vegetables help eliminate my need for prescription medication, they also considerably helped my period cramps!
4. Reduce Fast Food Intake
This one is the most difficult to adopt, but it's very important. Even as a health coach, I still love Culvers (my fellow Wisconsinites, can I get an amen?!). It's super convenient to run through the drive thru at the end of a horrific work day and indulge in greasy comfort food. This was a frequent scenario for me. I was so stressed with everything I had going on at the time that I did not want to cook, and all I heard was a crispy chicken sandwich calling my name. I am not saying to cut ALL fast food cold turkey, MODERATION is key here. Just keep in mind that these foods have zero nutritional value, cause inflammation, and inhibit healthy digestion. If you're nauseous or are experiencing poor digestion, simply reduce how often you're eating fast food. If that isn't an option for you, then make better choices (grilled chicken, salads, sweet potato fries, etc.)
5. Increase Activity
Activity and exercise are essential components of healthy digestion. I noticed this once I consistently included a minimum of 30 minutes of activity into my daily routine. Not only did it boost my digestion, I slept better, and had more energy. Activity does not necessarily mean exercise, so don't assume you need to spend your life savings on a fancy gym to get your digestion back on track. Nature walks, hikes, gardening, dancing, etc. are all ways to get active; they can even reduce stress!! A minimum of 30 minutes a day worked for me, I encourage you to try it!
If you're experiencing chronic nausea or poor digestion, I hope you find these tips helpful. I encourage you to try each of these out for at least a week, I know you'll feel better, lighter, and brighter.
If you have any questions about any of these tips or my personal experience, please don't hesitate to DM me on Instagram at @r.a.w.balance, message me on Facebook, or send me a message via my contact page.
I hope this helps you like it helped me!
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