What Causes Nausea And Sweating During Bowel Movements?

Posted on Thu, 28 Apr 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 28 Apr 2016 Answered on

Wed, 15 Jun 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : My dad is 85 last night he got real dizzy ,thought he needed to vomit, and needed to move his bowels. He broke out in a cold sweat. he is on cumadin for a leaky heart valve. He seems ok this morning. Hope you can help

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (17 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
food borne gastroenteritis?

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

since he's OK today, the most likely cause for a case with nausea and bowel movements with sweating is a mild food-borne gastroenteritis. Preformed toxins in food may cause similar symptoms that usually last for no longer than 24 hours.

Cold sweats in people on coumadin raise suspicions for gastrointestinal bleeding (which also causes bowel movements). The stool in such cases is black, tarry and foul smelling - its odor is very characteristic. The stool is shiny and looks abnormal without any doubt. If this was the case then immediate medical attention and tests are required.

I can't suggest other potential causes with the current data. If you'd like to provide more details about his symptoms or any additional information about his current condition, perhaps it could reinforce my suspicions - or deny them!

I hope it helps!
Kind Regards!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar