Feeling sick and throwing up in palliative care Rehu me ruaki ki te manaakitanga whakamaene

Feeling sick and throwing up can be caused by:

• cancer or other illnesses, such as a kidney disease
• medical treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy
• medications
• anxiety.

If you throw up a lot, you may become dehydrated. This means your body does not have enough fluid to work properly. Mild dehydration can lead to symptoms like headaches and tiredness.

To stop becoming dehydrated, try to have regular sips of water rather than drinking a lot at one time.

If you are throwing up a lot, drink fluids to replace the salt you are losing, such as:

• a rehydration solution such as Gastrolyte or Enerlyte
• sports drinks
• salty soup.

Eating small bites of salty crackers can also help.

If you think you are not keeping enough fluids down, talk to your healthcare provider. Once your vomiting starts to improve, you can slowly begin eating again.

If you are taking medication and you throw up within 30 minutes of taking it, you can usually take another pill. If you are unsure, check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

You should call your healthcare provider if you throw up more than once or twice a day and either:

• you cannot keep anything down for more than 24 hours
• you cannot keep your medicines down
• you are feeling weak.

Nausea medicines

There are several medicines that each work to treat different causes of nausea and throwing up. Your healthcare provider will consider which one will work best for you. 

It is important to take your medicine as your healthcare provider has prescribed. For example, you need to take some medicines, such as metoclopramide or domperidone, 20 to 30 minutes before meals, so they can take effect by the time you start eating.

If your anti-nausea medicine is not working, keep taking it but check with your healthcare provider. Also check with them if you no longer feel sick. It might be because your medicine is working well, and your nausea might come back if you stop taking the medicine.

There are things you can do to help your nausea or vomiting.

• Rinse your mouth with a non-alcohol mouthwash after meals.
• If possible, avoid cooking smells and other smells that make you feel sick.
• Snack on small meals. Eat little and often.
• Sip cool fluids throughout the day rather than drinking large amounts. Ginger ale, diluted fruit juice and ice blocks often work well. Try drinking with a straw.
• Try ginger or peppermint as these can be helpful for some people. Have ginger in drinks, biscuits, cooking or tablets, or have peppermint tea.
• Get fresh air when you can.
• Keep a basin handy in case you throw up.
• Make sure you do not get constipated because this can make nausea worse.
• Try acupressure wristbands, which you can buy at the pharmacy.