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Nausea and Vomiting Symptom Relief

There are many ways to get relief from nausea and vomiting—from basic lifestyle changes, like watching the foods you eat, to learning what causes your nausea and vomiting and becoming more involved with your medical team during your treatment process.

Education will put you in a better position to talk with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist about your best options to treat nausea and vomiting. So, while your doctor can prescribe medicines to help control CINV, RINV, and PONV, there are a many things you can do for yourself to control your nausea and vomiting.

• change your diet and eating habits
  
  
• find ways to relieve your anxiety about your condition or treatment
  
  
• make yourself comfortable
  
  
• keep a symptom diary
  
  
• educate yourself
  
  

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Change Your Diet & Eating Habits

Click here for "Diet Do’s and Don’ts"

Find ways to relieve your anxiety about your condition or treatment

Relax

• sit in a dark, quiet room to help relieve some of the tension associated with feelings of nausea
  
  
• listen to your favorite music
  

Breathe

• when nausea hits, take deep breaths in through your mouth and blow out through your nose
  
  
• open a window and take in some fresh air
  

Remain Positive

• don’t forget, your treatment or surgery is helping you to regain and maintain your good health. A positive attitude can have a tremendous impact on your overall physical well-being
  

Make Yourself Comfortable

Posture

• remain in a seated or upright position; avoid leaning back or lying down
  
  
• keep your shoulders pulled back — it will help you breath properly and maintain your feeling of being in control
  

Mouth Care

• rinse your mouth often to remove any bad tastes or odors
  
  
• suck on mints
  

Distractions

• watch a favorite movie
  
  
• read a good book
  
  
• listen to your favorite music
  

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Keep a Symptom Diary

Good communication with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist is the best way to help them help you overcome the symptoms of nausea and vomiting. It’s as simple as 1-2-3:

1) Keep a record of various details in your Symptom Diary.

2) Use your Symptom Diary to help you discuss your symptoms with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

3) Use your Symptom Diary to provide important information to your medical team to make the best decisions about treating your nausea and vomiting.

Click here to see what a sample "Symptom Diary" looks like 

Click here to download the "Symptom Diary" (Adobe® PDF Format) 

Click here to download the "Symptom Diary" (Microsoft® Word Format) 

Please Note: These Symptom Diary documents are provided in Adobe® Acrobat Reader format (PDF). To view or print them, you must first have Adobe® Acrobat Reader (version 3.0 or higher) installed on your computer. If you do not have the Reader, you can obtain it free from Adobe Corporation. Click on the icon below to download the program from their Web site.

Educate Yourself

Educating yourself about your condition and treatment options will help you to talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about the most effective medicines to treat your nausea and vomiting.

Click here for a printable version of Tips for Talking with your Doctor, Nurse or Pharmacist

Learn

• as much as you can about your condition and symptoms
  
  
• about the options you and your doctor can use to manage your nausea and vomiting
  
  
• about all the medicines available to you

Know Which Medicines

• are easy to take and that can provide full 24-hour prevention of nausea and vomiting
  
  
• have the least side effects
  
  
• are less likely to interact with other medicines you may be taking
  
  
• can be taken if you have other conditions such as heart or liver problems

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Symptom Diary | Diet Do's & Don'ts | Questions & Answers | Tips & Facts | Handbook for Nurses | Practical Guide for Patients