What is nausea?
Nausea is an unpleasant feeling in the back of the throat and stomach that may or may not result in vomiting.
How do people describe nausea?
People describe nausea as an unpleasant sensation related to food, smells or situations, such as cancer treatment. This sensation may occur with an acidic or bitter taste in the mouth or an abdominal fullness during eating. Some terms people use to describe nausea may include “sick to my stomach”, “queasy”, or “butterflies”. Increased saliva, lightheadedness, dizziness, difficulty swallowing, skin temperature changes and fast heart rate are other symptoms that may also occur with nausea. Lack of appetite may also occur.
What causes nausea?
Nausea can be caused by stimulation of the intestinal tract, a zone in the brain, or irritation in the brain. Nausea and vomiting are two of the most feared side effects of cancer treatment. Today there are many effective medicines to control nausea so that you don’t have to suffer. Chemotherapy, biological and radiation therapy can all cause nausea. Some medicines also have a side effect of nausea. Even taste changes can make you nauseated when foods don’t taste like you’d expect them to.
How do people cope with nausea?
Nausea is different for every person who experiences this symptom. The key is to prevent nausea from occurring.
Here are some tips other persons have found helpful:
Get plenty of rest.
Eat smaller, more frequent meals to help maintain calories without overfilling the stomach.
Eat foods that are cold or room temperature.
Decrease unnecessary motion.
Sip fluids slowly, such as ginger ale or ginger tea no sooner that 2 hours after the last vomiting episode.
Chew gum or suck on hard candy.
Avoid eating highly acidic foods such as salsa, tomatoes, citrus fruits and citrus fruit juices, or vinegar.
Antacids may combat heartburn and gas.
Take anti-nausea medications as directed.
Brush your teeth after meals.
Use non-alcohol containing mouthwashes to improve the taste in your mouth.
Avoid large meals.
Eat slowly.
Eat dry foods (crackers, toast, bagels, potatoes).
Avoid fatty or fried foods or very sweet foods when you are nauseated.
Try using television or music as a distraction.
Modify your diet to include cool, bland foods (toast, cereal).
Avoid milk or products that contain milk.
Decrease the temperature in your home.
Avoid foods that you know no longer “taste right” or have strong odors.
Try giving yourself, or have someone give you a foot massage.
Relaxation, visualization, or imagery.
What can family members and friends do to help me with my nausea?
Ask family members and friends to give you a backrub or foot massage to help you relax.
Ask family members and friends to go with you to your chemotherapy treatments to help distract you.
Ask family members and friends to prepare foods for you ahead of time that you can warm up in the microwave after nausea.
Ask family members and friends to prepare bland foods.
Ask family members and friends not to smoke around you. The smell of smoke can also worsen nausea.
Ask family members and friends to remind you to take your anti-nausea medicines.
How can I talk to my family about nausea?
Be open with your family members and friends about how the nausea makes you feel.
Remind them of things that help relieve nausea.
Ask for ideas to help deal with your nausea.
Ask your family members and friends how your nausea is affecting them.
What should I report to my doctor or nurse?
Telephone your doctor if vomiting accompanies the nausea and is:
The color of coffee grounds.
More than 3 episodes an hour for more than 6 hours.
Projectile.
Blood-tinged or frank blood.
Weight loss of more than 2 pounds in a day.
Faint and weakness.
If you vomit several times a day for 2 days.
Unable to eat solid foods for 24 hours.
Shortness of breath.
Unable to retain fluids for more than 12 hours with or without the use of anti-nausea medicines.
Severe stomach pain with nausea.
Persistent weakness or dizziness, or if you are confused (mixed up).
Your urine is dark yellow and you are not going to the bathroom as much as you normally do.
Abdominal bloating with nausea and vomiting.
Where can I get more information?
Contact your doctor or nurse.
Call the American Cancer Society at: 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit on the internet at: http://www.cancer.org.
Call the National Cancer Institute at: 1-800-4-CANCER or visit on the internet at: http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/. Click on Coping with Cancer. Find and click on Nausea and Vomiting.
Visit the National Institutes for Health on the internet at:
http://www.nih.gov.
Visit the National Comprehensive Cancer Network on the internet at:
http://www.nccn.org/.
Click on Guidelines for Patients. Find and click on Nausea and Vomiting.
Call the Oncology Nursing Society at: 1-866-257-4ONS or visit on the internet at:
http://www.cancersourcern.com.
Click on Side Effects.
Visit the Family Care Research Program on the internet at:
http://www.cancercare.msu.edu.
Visit the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship on the internet at:
http://www.canceradvocacy.org.
Click on Essential Care.
References:
Van Fleet, S. (2000). Relaxation and imagery for symptom management: improving patient assessment and individualizing treatment. Oncology Nursing Forum, 27(3), 501-10.
Wickham, R. (2003). Nausea and vomiting. In C.H. Yarbro, M.H. Frogge, & M. Goodman (Eds.), Cancer symptom management, 3rd Ed. (pp. 77-96). Boston: Jones and Bartlett.
National coalition for cancer survivorship: nausea & vomiting. (2003). Retrieved July 14, 2003, from: http://www.canceradvocacy.org.. Click on Essential Care.
National Cancer Institute at:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/
Click on Coping with Cancer. Find and click on Nausea and Vomiting (Professionals).
