One of the most unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy is unrelenting nausea. Depending on severity and how often the waves of nausea occur, this can be a life-altering impact of treatment.
Although nausea is not a dangerous health issue, the impact it has on people is significant. Especially when nausea has become such a recurring side effect of someone's treatment. Nausea can also cause vomiting, which can result in weight loss, dehydration, and fatigue; but, even if vomiting does not occur, it is unlikely that someone struggling with nausea will want to eat. When you're feeling nauseated or sick to your stomach, the very sight of food can be unpleasant.
This blog will go through several strategies for dealing with nausea so you can keep your body strong throughout treatment.
- Eat small, frequent BLAND meals throughout the day – small, bland meals put less strain on your stomach and allow your body to take its time to digest—think crackers, bananas, toast, potatoes, chicken broth, rice, or applesauce.
- Drink ginger root tea – ginger is often used as a natural remedy to soothe the stomach. If you like the taste of ginger, brewing some ginger tea could be a nice way to relax at the end of the day. Consider adding a lemon wedge—tart foods are also useful in making foods more palatable. Ginger candy is also available to relieve nausea if you want something you can use throughout the day.
- Drink flat, clear soft drinks – try ginger-ale or lemon-lime flavored sodas to help settle a queasy stomach. Make sure to stir the bubbles out and let it sit for about ten minutes before drinking. This will release some of the carbonation and prevent burping, which could aggravate feelings of nausea and vomiting.
- Avoid greasy and fried foods – Our bodies must work harder to digest fatty foods, so they sit in our stomachs longer. If you’re already nauseated this may lead to vomiting.
- Drink enterade® – enterade® is a clinically shown non-prescription medical drink that manages the GI side effects of cancer treatment including nausea, diarrhea, dehydration, and unwanted weight loss. enterade® works naturally with your body, using a special blend of plant-based amino acids to not only repair the damage done to the good cells in your stomach by chemotherapy and radiation, but also to help protect against future damage. A study conducted by 21st Century Oncology concluded that 91% of patients taking enterade® experienced an improvement in nausea.
Managing your nausea can feel like a full-time job. Whether you’re trying the tips above to reduce that queasy feeling or working with your doctor to find a nausea relief regimen that works best for you, you don’t have to go through it alone. We want to hear your best solution for fighting chemotherapy induced nausea!
Disclaimer: These are recommendations only. If your side effects are affecting you, it is important to talk with a medical professional.
Sources:
https://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/side-effects/nausea-vomiting-chemotherapy.aspx
