Having nausea (being sick to your stomach) and vomiting (throwing up) can be very difficult to go through:
Being nauseous can make you not want to eat, and it can lead to unhealthy weight loss. Vomiting can make you dehydrated (dried out), and that can be dangerous. Once you and your doctor find the cause of your nausea or vomiting, you may be asked to take medicine, change your diet, or try other things to make you feel better.
Sit quietly when you feel nauseous. Sometimes moving around can make nausea worse. Try to take a nap. But do not lie down.
Drink 8 to 10 glasses of clear fluids every day. Water is best. You can also sip fruit juices and flat soda (leave the can or bottle open to get rid of the bubbles). Try sports drinks to replace minerals and other nutrition you may be losing when you throw up.
Eat 6 to 8 small meals throughout the day, instead of 3 big meals:
Other tips that may help:
Your doctor may also recommend medicine:
If you are vomiting after taking any of your medicines, tell your doctor or nurse.
You should avoid some specific kinds of foods when you have nausea and vomiting:
Call your doctor if you or your child:
Nausea - self-care; Vomiting - self-care
Abrahm JL, Fowler BF. Nausea, vomiiting, and early satiety. In: Walsh D, Caraceni AT, Fainsinger R, et al, eds. Palliative Medicine. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 169.
Hainsworth JD. Nausea and vomiting. In: Abeloff MD, Armitage JO, Niederhuber JE, Kastan MB, McKenna WG, eds. Abeloff’s Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2008:chap 39.
Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; and Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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