Nausea and/or
vomiting can be caused by cancer, chemotherapy or radiation. There are
many excellent anti-nausea medications available now that can prevent
nausea. If your medication is not working, tell your doctor. There
may be another that works better for you.
Some nausea can
be helped by watching your diet. These ideas can help prevent or relieve
nausea.
- Eat small meals every 2 - 3 hours. Larger meals can
make you feel sick. Keeping a little food in your stomach can help prevent
nausea.
- Eat dry, bland foods. Baked potatoes, bread sticks,
toast, crackers, plain pasta, etc. can help relieve nausea.
- Drink liquids separate from solid foods. Drink 30
minutes before or after a meal.
- Foods served at room temperature may be better
tolerated than cold or hot foods.
- Avoid greasy, spicy, overly sweet or fatty foods.
- Avoid strong smells. Open a window during cooking or
prepare foods with little smell.
- Sip liquids throughout the day. This will prevent
dehydration and will give you extra calories.
- Try ginger - ginger tea, candied ginger or other real
ginger products can relieve nausea.
- Try an anti-nausea wrist band. These are available at
the pharmacy without a prescription (by the motion sickness medicines).
Some are simple bands you wear on your wrist.
If you are vomiting, do not try to
eat. After vomiting, rinse your mouth and spit out the water. Wait
for about 30 minutes then try to sip cool, clear liquids or bites of ice chips
or frozen, flavored ice.