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Post-Operative Nausea and Vomiting
Post-Operative Nausea and Vomiting
(PONV) is the queasy feeling in the stomach often experienced by patients who have had surgery.
Nausea
is the queasy feeling in the stomach which may lead to the urge to vomit.
Vomiting
is the actual act of getting rid of the contents of the stomach through the mouth, or "throwing up."
Retching,
also called "dry heaves," is an attempt to vomit that does not remove anything from the stomach.
Chemotherapy-Induced
Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) is similar to PONV, but is caused by chemotherapy.
Radiation-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (RINV) is similar to CINV, but is caused by radiation therapy.
If you are being
treated with Chemotherapy, click here
If you are being
treated with Radiation therapy, click here
Impact of Nausea and Vomiting on Quality of Life
PONV can negatively affect your quality of life, making it hard to function normally
from day to day, causing anxiety and depression. Uncontrolled nausea and vomiting may
even delay your recovery.
Until recently, PONV received little attention compared with the issue of post-operative pain.
However, many patients consider PONV to be as debilitating as the pain associated with a surgical
procedure, with an estimated 25-40% of all surgical patients being at risk.
Learning about treatment options available to you is a first step toward better control
of nausea and vomiting. Medicines that are easy to take and provide full 24-hour prevention
of nausea and vomiting are now available. You no longer have to suffer. Your doctor can talk
with you about the medication he or she believes will be most effective in controlling your
nausea and vomiting.
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Chemotherapy Side Effects |
Radiation Side Effects | Post-Operative Side Effects | Symptom Relief |
Treatment Options | References
Symptom Diary | Diet Do's & Don'ts | Questions & Answers | Tips & Facts | Handbook for Nurses | Practical Guide for Patients
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