Help?

[Noxxx3]

Hello!! This is my first post here!! I’ve been riding for as long as I can remember, but a few years ago when I started to canter, I’d throw up. This has continued to be an issue despite trying to get into better shape, eating healthier, drinking water, ect. I’ve been to multiple doctors and have gotten my heart rhythms looked at by a cardiologist, who said that all had seemed normal, as well as a neurologist for my migraines (I get chronic migraines almost daily and have a prescription for them but my MRI showed everything to be normal). This has been a pressing issue for such a long time and I’m not really a big fan of puking in front of my lesson group every time I ride.

What I’ve noticed is that I don’t notice anything wrong while I’m cantering/jumping, but as soon as I stop, I feel dizzy, nauseous, and then I puke. A lot.
I know for a fact that I’m breathing and focusing, as I count strides out loud and I also know that I don’t have motion sickness or anything like that, as riding a bike downhill is fine. I’ve also noticed that if I sprint with all of my effort, I vomit harshly.
I don’t think I’m pushing myself too hard, as I’m not out of shape. I’d really just like to get a rough idea of where to start with doctors and how to explain this stuff to them without them thinking I’m just out of shape or that I’m dehydrated.

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!
Thanks so much!!

[Scribbler]

@Noxxx3

Hello!! This is my first post here!! I’ve been riding for as long as I can remember, but a few years ago when I started to canter, I’d throw up. This has continued to be an issue despite trying to get into better shape, eating healthier, drinking water, ect. I’ve been to multiple doctors and have gotten my heart rhythms looked at by a cardiologist, who said that all had seemed normal, as well as a neurologist for my migraines (I get chronic migraines almost daily and have a prescription for them but my MRI showed everything to be normal). This has been a pressing issue for such a long time and I’m not really a big fan of puking in front of my lesson group every time I ride.

What I’ve noticed is that I don’t notice anything wrong while I’m cantering/jumping, but as soon as I stop, I feel dizzy, nauseous, and then I puke. A lot.
I know for a fact that I’m breathing and focusing, as I count strides out loud and I also know that I don’t have motion sickness or anything like that, as riding a bike downhill is fine. I’ve also noticed that if I sprint with all of my effort, I vomit harshly.
I don’t think I’m pushing myself too hard, as I’m not out of shape. I’d really just like to get a rough idea of where to start with doctors and how to explain this stuff to them without them thinking I’m just out of shape or that I’m dehydrated.

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!
Thanks so much!!

How old are you? What resources do you have to pursue diagnosis? Do you have medical insurance? Do you have related conditions other than migraine?

You say you also feel this way after running?

Has anyone investigated vertigo which is an issue with the deep ear structure?

[Noxxx3]

I’m 16, have medical insurance, and have multiple doctors I can reach out to through my main provider/doctor. Nobody has mentioned vertigo, so I don’t think it’s even been thought about. And I do vomit after running, similar to how I vomit after cantering. But then again, it’s only after I stop and I feel completely fine until then.
I think I’ve stumped some doctors already! I’ve also tried liquid iv in my water and things like that, but it just doesn’t do anything.

[Zevida]

When you met with a cardiologist did you run on a treadmill? Not sure what kind of testing that is but seems like you need to recreate the conditions that cause you to get sick while you are being monitored.

[GreyDes]

Is it possible you get vestibular migraines? The symptoms can include vertigo and nausea. The motion of cantering might be enough to trigger strong nausea if you’re already dealing with something underlying.

[Noxxx3]

That’s originally what I wanted to do, but they gave me a heart monitor and stuck it to my chest for a few days, one of which I had riding lessons, but it had fallen off because of sweat. We tried to explain this but they didn’t listen and said everything looked fine. I assume they didn’t notice the part where I died for a little bit because I didn’t have a heartbeat. Lol.

[Noxxx3]

Not sure. I wake up with migraines half the time and have really bad light sensitivity and noise sensitivity. I do tend to get migraines after riding lessons, but have always assumed it’s because I was just getting hot, but I started to question that once I kept getting them in below freezing temperatures.

[GreyDes]

It might be worth discussing these and @Scribbler‘s vertigo suggestion with your doctor.

Good for you on working to figure it out!

[OverandOnward]

OP I’m assuming that you are female, because of the primary demographic of this forum.

Even in this enlightened year 2025 women are frequently waved off by the medical profession, rather than taken seriously and given the attention that they deserve.

I could not say if this is happening with you, of course. But a couple of your remarks make me wonder.

You have to make a really big deal about this with your doctor. You have to push. Be very clear about how much of your life activities it is affecting. How it is interfering with your ability to live an active lifestyle. Even to maintain your overall physical health, when you have to work around this. Again, make it a big deal, not something you’re trying not to be a bother about.

You may have to stand your ground at the level of the front desk as well. The people who answer the phones and make the appointments. I am sorry to say that sometimes they are unfortunate gatekeepers. Be polite but firm. Don’t accept a wave-off.

Push as hard as you can to get an examination and a diagnosis from a specialist. Good luck!

[jherold]

You might consider a chiropractor. The first thing I thought of was something is tweaking you vagal nerve.

[luvmyhackney]

Try taking Dramamine or motion sickness pill prior to riding.

I used to get motion sickness cantering on a really smooth rolling canter.

[Hej]

I wonder if seeing a doctor in a sports medicine specialty practice might be the way to go.

As OverandOnward said, women’s medical issues are too frequently not taken seriously unless there’s a bone sticking out somewhere.

A sports medicine practice is used to seeing and listening to active athletes, and might be more helpful in investigating and treating your issue.

Ask your GP for a referral. If they don’t know of one, find out who your school and/or local college teams go to for sports injury care.

[luvmyhackney]

@OverandOnward

You have to make a really big deal about this with your doctor. You have to push. Be very clear about how much of your life activities it is affecting. How it is interfering with your ability to live an active lifestyle. Even to maintain your overall physical health, when you have to work around this. Again, make it a big deal, not something you’re trying not to be a bother about.

This advice should be pinned to the top of this thread and any thread where women are being dismissed. I’ve had it happen so many times.

[S1969]

@Noxxx3

I’m 16, have medical insurance, and have multiple doctors I can reach out to through my main provider/doctor. Nobody has mentioned vertigo, so I don’t think it’s even been thought about. And I do vomit after running, similar to how I vomit after cantering.

This is not normal.

Can we assume that you are of a normal weight and eat normally?

Since this only started a few years ago, I would consider hormones. Are you on any kind of hormones (birth control) and if not, do your symptoms vary in intensity that coincides with monthly hormone cycling? My sister was someone who had monthly migraines from an early age of adolescence (I just can’t remember if they were before her period or with her period, but it was pretty clear that they were caused by hormone fluctuation.)

Not suggesting that you automatically consider taking bcp, because that may exacerbate symptoms based on whichever hormones are causing the issue - but I would consider speaking to a gyn about it.

I would want my dr. to evaluate - hormones, heart (again) with a stress test, and ears.

[Bluey]

When I was 12, I had something similar happened.
We started latin class two hours after lunch every Monday and I was feeling fine at lunch and before class started I would start vomiting and some times had a bad headache afterwards.
All else was fine, they thought it may be an anxiety reaction caused by latin class?
The teacher was a very strict scary lady that was also our neighbor, bred Brittany’s and I was her puppy raiser.
Latin class was not the only time the vomiting happened, it was random at other times, but like clockwork Monday noon was a given.

Then I lost my hearing at 12 1/2 for six weeks, that luckily came back plus I started menstruating at that time and a few months later the out of the blue vomiting quit.
I always thought part of all that may have been conflicting hormones at starting puberty.

As one more zebra possible added cause, have they checked your hormones?

Hope they can find something to help you, be the squeaky wheel.

Editing to say, we had similar thoughts, post above also, check hormones.

[anonevent]

You would start with a gastroenterologist if your GP is out of ideas.

You didn’t mention stomach pain or a sensation of nausea. Are you throwing up spontaneously without feeling sick…more like regurgitation? That makes me thing about acid reflux. Maybe ask your doctor and parents if it would be safe to try taking an antacid on days you ride.

This is just the result of a quick google of studies of exercise induced gastric emptying, a common cause is actually just dehydration. That’s interesting to me because some migraine prophylactics I’ve taken screwed up my hydration. You have to be very careful to make sure you have enough electrolytes. Trying a sports drink 40 minutes before riding would be an interesting experiment.

[Nous]

It definitely sounds like you have vestibular migraines. I get them but they don’t effect my riding - however pilates is definitely a no go area, I signed up for a pilates for riders course and nearly threw up after the second class.

There appears to be no treatment, my medical specialist told me to keep a food diary to try and determine triggers, otherwise it’s a case of using motion sickness pills if I have a bad episode of vertigo.

From a riding aspect I think my riding position is good enough that I can keep my head fairly stable so I don’t have problems with canter (or trot), or when I dismount, I haven’t jumped in a long time, but of course your symptoms could simply be more severe than mine.

I can only suggest you do some research, the internet has info on vestibular migraines, and then see if you can make any progress with your doctor.

[Obsidian_Fire]

I agree with the others suggesting to check out vertigo and vestibular migraines. I have not had symptoms as bad as yours but I have had both, and they suck. Get a good ENT and have it all checked out.

[Simkie]

Just for giggles, it may be worth trying the Epley maneuver. It’s something you can do yourself at home. It won’t hurt you if this isn’t the problem, but it can be very very effective very quickly if this is the issue. This would be a pretty weird presentation of this type of vertigo, but this sounds like a weird presentation of pretty much anything.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/home-epley-maneuver

[FjordBCRF]

While I have never had the puking problem you describe OP, I always struggled with the canter/heart rate maxing due to my Ehlers Danlos/POTS. After I was put on beta blockers for heart palpitations/high resting heart rate, it helped tremendously. I also deal with vertigo, though for me it has more of a seasonal component than anything else…spring time is when I notice it the most, but it’s generally mild for the most part. We did do an MRI when it first started up and thankfully there were no concerns there.

The comments about women being dismissed over health issues is VERY real. I encourage you to keep a log of your symptoms with dates/severities. I had 3-4 pages of stuff complied when I approached my PCP about the possibility of Ehlers Danlos. She took the time to look at everything, agreed, and promptly got me in with a rheumatologist.

Be persistent and if your care team doesn’t seem like they are on your side…dont’ hesitate to doctor shop.