For many people undergoing chemotherapy, feeling nauseous and having no appetite
are frustrating side effects. Fortunately, there are many ways of dealing with
this. Several medications can be used to lessen or prevent nausea and vomiting,
including:
- ondansetron
- granisetron
- dolasetron
- metoclopramide
- dexamethasone
Some people prefer to use cannabis (marijuana) in order to control nausea and
restore appetite; this has been a controversial issue in law and health care.
But you may be able to deal with nausea and loss of appetite without turning
to any sort of medication - the right eating habits and attitude can go a long
way to help.
How to eat: The key to avoiding nausea is not to overwhelm your body
- don't try to eat too much all at once. But you do need to eat, and if you
don't have much appetite, here are some tips:
- Don't eat too much in one sitting.
- Have lots of small meals and snacks during the day rather than one to three
big meals.
- Eat and drink slowly.
- Try drinking liquids at least an hour before or after meals rather than
at mealtime.
- Avoid foods that are too hard on your system, for example:
- spicy foods
- fatty or greasy foods
- fried foods
- Vary your diet. Try new foods and recipes to simulate your interest. But
be sensible about it.
- Go for a stroll before and after meals - before to help stimulate your appetite,
and after to help digest.
- Make eating a social occasion when you can: eat with family or friends.
- Do things you associate with eating. Some people find that doing certain
things makes them hungry - watching sports or a video, reading or working
on hobbies. Think about what activities you usually associate with snacking.
Ways to deal with nausea: Try the following suggestions to help settle
your stomach:
- Drink cool, clear liquids - apple juice, tea, flat ginger ale.
- Nibble on sour candies, mints or ice chips (to suck on, not to swallow in
large pieces).
- Eat small amounts of dry foods such as crackers, toast, or cereal - if you
feel nauseous in the morning, try having some of this by your bed to eat before
you get up (avoid this if you have a dry mouth or sores in your mouth or throat).
Keep your mind over matter, and focus on something else to help control nausea:
- Get your mind onto something other than being nauseous - focus on a hobby,
or relax by listening to music, watching TV or talking with friends.
- Breathe slowly and deeply to calm your system.
- Meditate. There are many different ways to meditate, and you can meditate
without any religious purpose.