Nausea

I am now seven weeks post op and despite taking anti sickness medication I still feel constantly nauseous I can't even clean my teeth without it making me sick. I,m forcing myself to eat but food doesn't appeal to me at all has anyone any tips or advice and how long is this likely to go on for .

[kiddy]

Remember those days I am 3yrs post op. Check the meds e.g painkillers you are taking sometimes they don’t help. I got gin gins from Holland and Barrett ginger sweets to suck on. Food wont appeal at the moment and it takes time for those taste buds to reappear. Snacking little and often is your best policy. Think also there is a psychological thing when we first start eating again. I remember heaving a lot at food. It will improve.

A little walk after eating might also help.

Best wishes

Debbie

[Hidden in reply to kiddy]

Thanks for replying how long before the taste buds return and the heaving stops i.m finding it difficult because I find nothing taste of anything and then when I do eat I feel sick again

[Mindcrazedbanjo]

its the hardest thing trying to get calories inside you when you feel nauseous and its the last thing you want to do. My consultant said "if you don't eat you'll die", I had a feeding tube put in during the operation which was a good job, cos I ended up relying on that to get a 1000 calories in at night when sleeping. I remember the day I had the tube taken out and thinking, its going to be a struggle making up those calories. 6 times a day I eat and if I miss a meal I lose weight so its tough. At your stage you have to concentrate solely on building your body up and getting your digestive system working properly again. Full spectrum enzymes from Holland & Barrett might help along with Acidoplillus pro-biotics.

I also went to a Hyperbaric Oxygen chamber for 3 months to try and speed up the healing. I always suggest people cut sugar out their diet completely to prevent dumping syndrome, I would also suggest cutting out Milk, Cheese and Cream as well. But everyone to their own. Hope this helps and don't give up the fight, take every day as it comes, as you get stronger you will get better.

[AlanWare]

I had the same problem. Even now after 5 years I still feel sick nearly all the time. I was losing weight all the time. Eventually it was decided that I was critically malnourished and they wanted to refit a feeding tube, but, I was too ill to get it done. This is when I decided to ignore the advice about avoiding spicy food. I started eating curries. I immediately stopped choking in my sleep. I didn't feel so sick and started to put on weight. It was so successful I no longer needed the tube. I still feel sick in the morning, but this is due to my stomach not emptying properly. Also I get bile rising into my stomach, this is why many people feel sick. The bile damages the stomach lining. I believe the curry encourages the production of acid. Acid neutralises the bile, which is alkaline. My assumptions may be wrong, but it has worked for me. Good luck.

[Molly14]

I’m nearly 4yrs post IL cancer surgery and I suffer from constant nausea and zero appetite along with other side effects - my surgeons and gps worked so hard to help me but nothing has worked - I have to live with the new me which sometimes like everyone else takes it toll but equally we have a life to live - I was only 48 when diagnosed and was hyper fit and hardly been at the doctors and had never been in hospital - the shock was unimaginable - I had horses and rode and competed - after surgery I thought I’d never ride again but I have a pony again and ride every day - along with walking my dog and keeping as busy as possible - in January this year I hit a brick wall with fatigue but I’m getting through that now - there’s always something - I go on steroids twice a year to give me an 8 week break from nausea - I'm not the type for food diaries etc as I want to just get on with my life as much as poss - still dumping but again just work through it - I can eat most anything and I second the ‘curry’ - I had never eaten curry before surgery and now I live on it - I also only weigh 6 and a half stone - worried myself sick about that and then decided what’s the point - surgeons and doctors are just delighted I’m up and out everyday, happy and getting on with life. You are extremely early days - good luck with your journey!

[Janashlin]

I am not sure where you live. But if you can get yourself cannabis oil ( CBD oil) it has been a life saviour for me and my nausea. I am 5 months post op and had to be re hospitalised to try to find a cure for the nausea. None of the prescription medications did anything. Luckily I have family and friends who live in Canada and told me about CBD oil and how good it is for helping with nausea. I live in Australia and it is very hard to get via a doctor but I have been able to have it prescribed and approved by the government. I take it twice a day and it has resolved 95 percent of my nausea. If I miss a dose I start feeling nauseous again. This will help you get your life back. I couldn’t lift my head off the bed I was so nauseous and I am now mobile and feeling human again. Best of luck .

[champagnelover]

It is easy for me to say it is early days for you (I am 10 years post op) but it really is early days. I do remember feeling the same - it will eventually ease but I do occasionally still feel nauseous but I find sucking polo mints help now. In the early days a nurse recommended sipping peppermint tea which seemed to help. (Though if cleaning your teeth makes you sick this may not help you) Eating ginger biscuits helped me too. It may just be a case of finding what works for you. Eat little & often. Talk to your specialist nurse if you haven't done so already. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.