Nausea and Ankylosing Spondylitis: My Experience

By Ali Long

2 min read

Ankylosing spondylitis isn't just aches and pains. It’s a lot of things, and for different people, it's a lot of different things.

For me, it's pains and aches, stiffness, spasms, fatigue, and nausea. Along with other symptoms that I'm forgetting, oh like brain fog. Add brain fog to the list!

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Injection anxiety

With AS, I get horrible bouts of nausea. Sometimes it's hard to know why I feel so nauseous.

It could be from my injections. Sometimes I will feel nauseous for a few days after I inject. Sometimes I will not. Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatories usually make me feel so nauseous! Even when I take a stomach protection tablet. Some pain relief meds make me feel nauseous - again, I will take a stomach protection tablet. I always question myself: is the nausea worth the little break from pain?

What makes me feel the worst is the debilitating feeling of nausea that comes with fatigue. When this happens, even lying down is difficult. Everything is.

How I try to help myself

I feel like I completely run out of energy, if I stand up, walk or do anything I feel like I am going to pass out and vomit all at the same time. When I'm feeling like this, I know that if I eat something it will help. But what can I eat? When I am feeling this nauseous eating is the last thing I want to do. But I force myself, usually with carby food such as toast and a cup of tea. This will not fix me, but it will make me feel less awful for a little while. I will still feel sick, but I'll be able to function a little better.

When I'm feeling like this I need to rest and stay in bed. Often the nausea makes me feel dizzy, which in turn makes me more nauseous. So even lying in bed is difficult.

After the slice of toast and a cup of tea, I normally start to feel hungry again. Usually, I have a smoothie or a yoghurt. This continues to bring up my energy levels for a small amount of time, but on days like this, they only increase so far.

The nausea eventually starts to lessen

At this point, I am still feeling nauseous but the intensity of it has lessened. I am able to sleep. Having a nap when I'm feeling like this really helps. But I must force-feed myself first. As before I eat, I am even too nauseous to sleep.

Luckily, I have been prescribed an anti-sickness medication, which is also a tablet that helps with migraines. This suits me perfectly as sometimes I get migraines. This tablet will either take my nausea away completely! Or make me vomit..not so great. But either way, I’m able to sleep after taking it.

On days where I'm nauseous but it's not debilitating. I will sip on chamomile and hemp tea and that always soothes the feeling of nausea.

Does anyone else feel nauseous quite frequently? What helps ease this horrible feeling for you?

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Luvmetender Member
I have had more hospitalizations for intractable vomiting than I can count on both hands. Three this year alone, in fact, I just got home from the last one four days ago. I am pretty sure it’s anxiety-related gastritis related to my AS but it is impossible to stop without major intervention. Mornings are the worst. As soon as I wake up, I’m nauseous and struggle to stop it from escalating to actual vomiting because once that happens, it’s all over. I dissolve a Zofran under my tongue and lie in bed for hours before I can function. I also have compazine on hand which has worked for me when administered in the hospital. 
1. Rebecca C Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="Luvmetender" user-id="8792042"/> - oh my! I'm truly sorry to hear about the significant challenges you've been facing, especially with frequent hospitalizations due to intractable vomiting. It sounds incredibly tough to deal with, and I can imagine how exhausting it must be for you, particularly in the mornings. It's positive that you're aware of the potential link to anxiety-related gastritis and are seeking interventions. I sincerely hope you find relief soon, and please know that your openness about your experiences can be valuable not only for your well-being but also for others who may be going through similar challenges. Thanks for sharing this with us in the community. We certainly hope things settle for you and relief is close at hand. Rebecca (community moderator)
EdieAdelstein Member
Thank you so so much for this! I felt so alone with my chronic nausea and by god has it been hard to manage. Mornings are tough, and fatigue makes me feel nauseated too. It’s so relentless. I too used to be the person who always barfed growing up until now … though it isn’t funny anymore. Anyway, I hope you find some relief soon and in the meantime please know that this post has been incredibly validating. 
1. Doreen H Community Admin
 <inline-mention username="EdieAdelstein" user-id="4610873"/>, We're so glad this article resonated with you. May it provide a small bit of comfort to know you are not alone. Thanks for the feedback and for being a part of this community. ~Doreen (Team Member) 
2. Rebecca C Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="EdieAdelstein" user-id="4610873"/> - Your openness about your experiences with nausea is not only courageous but also helps create a supportive space for others who may be going through similar struggles. It's important to acknowledge the emotional toll that chronic conditions can have, and finding validation and understanding from others can make a significant difference. Thank you for sharing a view into your life. I hope that your mornings become easier and the fatigue lessens. Cheers to a wonderful New Year! Warmly - Rebecca (community moderator)
CommunityMemberd6598b Member
Hi there guys. I'm struggling with nauseous and my weight 
1. Rebecca C Moderator & Contributor
 Sorry to hear, <inline-mention username="CommunityMemberd6598b" user-id="8783294"/>, you are struggling with weight and nausea. What has your physician communicated to you about these symptoms? I had issues for many years with nausea and weight gain (before AS diagnosis) and discovered (after AS diagnosis) that I had IBS-C/IBD and possible other gut issues related to spondyloarthritis and severe inflammation. Have you considered seeing a gastroenterologist to be evaluated? It may be your next step (?). Hoping your stomach doesn't prevent you from having a wonderful holiday dinner and treats. Thoughtfully, Rebecca (community moderator)
Lisa Marie Basile Moderator & Contributor
I sometimes experience this, too, but I'm convinced it's anxiety. And I think my anxiety at least in PART stems from an overactive nervous and immune system. Huh. Thanks for giving us this platform to share our thoughts.
James Hollens Moderator & Contributor
It really is awful how this condition can affect so many parts of our lives - as if the back pain and stiffness wasn't enough! Sorry to hear that you have such struggles with nausea, unfortunately I think that it is something that impacts a lot of us including myself. I think my nausea is mostly due to the medication I take. I definitely feel it a lot more on the days that I take my methotrexate tablets! My tactic was to eat plain Greek yoghurt when I felt this, but to be honest it isn't the most effective technique in the world! So I will definitely try those teas that you mentioned to see if they help at all. How is your nausea at the moment? Have the tablets helped at all? Thanks for sharing, James (Community Member)
ngraham Member
Good article Ali! I too get extreme nausea, and always have. It is a bit of a running joke in family, but I just say any well prepared person always carries a barf bag, don’t they? I am not sure if the nausea is the AS or the meds, I do both injections and pain meds. But same as you it is so random, or if I smell something, or get anxiety, or am overtired. But what really resonates with me from your article is forcing myself to eat, as I try to explain to people, it is very difficult, despite having hunger pains to eat. I do not take meds for the nausea, I take enough meds already, I just carry a barf bag 😀 Hang in there my friend!
1. Ali Long Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="ngraham" user-id="2393174"/> Thank you for reading my article and leaving this comment! It is very difficult, personally I find forcing myself to eat awful, it's like my stomach is never happy! Thanks again, hope you are keeping well! Ali (Community Member)
grannypants Member
I too get this way. I find eating toast helps. Having someone to share my pain with does also.
1. anthony.carrone Community Admin
 <inline-mention username="grannypants" user-id="2391415"/> - It really does help to share! PS - I LOVE your screen name!! So clever 😀 Thanks for being part of the community - Anthony (Team Member) 
2. Ali Long Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="grannypants" user-id="2391415"/> I find toast helps everything lol. Sharing really helps me too! Hope your keeping as well as can be! Ali (Community Member)
Lawrence Rick Phillips Moderator & Contributor
 You might get someone who has tired or will try this? Either way I wish you the best. rick - moderator
Carol C Member
Hi, I’m brand new here. I can so relate to the nausea and with it comes bad fatigue and general weakness. I’m no good for anything and days like that are the worse. Even my pain levels in my back go way up.. some things I’ve found that can help are DGL licorice and Gas-ex together. (Chewables). Others are L-Glutamine and enzymes. If you try these, I’d be interested to know if it helps so I chill tell more people. I’m sorry you have this condition.
stacies Member
I get sudden bouts of severe nausea...no rhyme or reason...just out of the blue. I'm so thankful my Dr gives me a continuing prescription for a nausea tablet that melts under the tongue and helps pretty quickly. Thanks for sharing your story. 
1. stacies Member
 <inline-mention username="Ali Long" user-id="2378712"/> It is generic zofran. I believe the generic name is ondansetron. I'm not near it at the moment. Make sure you get the sub-lingual which is just fancy talk for "melts under the tongue". I once got the pills you have to swallow. What idiot decided a pill you have to swallow would be good for nausea?! The sub-lingual are awesome and they don't taste bad at all. I just asked my Dr for an ongoing prescription. I think I get 20 each time. Nausea is the worst. I'd rather have back pain all day long than have 15 minutes of nausea Good luck to you!
2. cindyellen Member
 <inline-mention username="stacies" user-id="2397339"/> i completely agree!! Both with: why make something you have to SWALLOW for nausea? and I'd rather have any other kind of pain than nausea. Any day. Maybe even surgery without anesthesia
Doreen H Community Admin
Ali Long, Thanks so much for sharing your experience and one of the many challenges of AS. I find the image is perfect as well. Be well, Doreen (Team Member)
1. natrlvr Member
 <inline-mention username="Ali Long" user-id="2378712"/> I'm just thinking out loud, but could this be a vagus nerve response due to nerve issues in the spine (neck/lumbar region)? I have many tattoos and remember becoming nauseous whenever the artist worked near my lumbar spine or near my neck. This is something many experience. Sipping a Sprite or 7-up helped at the time. If you're having nerve aggravation in those areas, is it possible that is what's causing your nausea?
2. Steve Tuffin Moderator
 @Ali Long Going slightly off topic, but I don't have a single tattoo and now I am too old a wrinkly to get one. It's a great regret of mine. My borther, a former sailor, has a giant Chinese dragon which snakes all the way from his neck to his lower back. It took three sessions and he did it for a bet because another sailor - possibly from the US, had taken four sessions. Boys will be boys, as they say. @grannypants - did you mention toast? I love toast - but do you eat it hot or cold? There are two schools of thought as to which is the better. Personally, I like it cold, with about half a ton of peanut butter Marmite on it. That's another thing, the question fo peanut butter combining with Marmite. To add - I totally agree regarding having someone to share the pain with. I am relatively new heare, but already I have found that this community does me the power of good. It's just really good to know I'm not alone. Take care all. I hope your days are good. Steve - Community Advocate (PS - I am always tempted to sign off with 'Community "Avocado" - I wonder if anyone would notice 😀

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