If you don’t suffer from nausea or even vomit a few times after surgery, consider yourself extremely lucky. A lot of different treatments are given to patients automatically around the time of surgery because nausea is so prevalent. However, for some patients that is still not enough and the nausea and stomach discomfort can be worse than the surgical pain.
If you know from past experiences that you are prone to nausea, let your doctor know before surgery because there are some special precautions that can be taken to make surgery more palatable, both literally and figuratively.
For most patients, however, the routine treatments, in combination with some of these tricks you can use at home, are enough:
- Opioid pain medications like hydrocodone and oxycodone are one of the primary drivers of postoperative nausea. You can take pain medication with or without food. However, most patients seem to do best when they take their medication with or immediately after some food. Taking the least amount of pain medication you reasonably can will also minimize the medication-induced nausea.
- Stay Hydrated: Staying hydrated before and after surgery can help to prevent nausea. Drinking adequate amounts of water and fluids can help to flush toxins from your body and prevent dehydration, which can contribute to nausea.
- Chew on some ginger. Ginger has some natural anti-nausea properties. Sugar and soda also can help a little bit, so some sips of ginger ale are usually beneficial.
- Eat frequent small meals. Meals with higher protein and lower carbohydrates and fats are less likely to cause nausea. Larger meals with high fat, strong flavors and spices, or high salt content seem to increase nausea.
- Cold fresh air. Most patients feel hot and flushed when nauseated, so a gentle cool breeze can help. A fan will work, or some patients find that a cold pack on the forehead or back of the neck works too.
- Rest and Relax: Rest and relaxation are essential after surgery. Stress and anxiety can contribute to nausea, so try to rest and relax as much as possible.
- Acupressure: Acupressure is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves applying pressure to specific points on the body to relieve pain and other symptoms. Research has shown that acupressure can be effective in reducing nausea after surgery. One popular acupressure point for nausea is the P6 point, located on the inside of the wrist. Applying pressure to this point can help to relieve nausea and vomiting. For specific instructions on acupressure for nausea, see below.
- Aromatherapy. Strong, clean scents like peppermint or citrus have demonstrated anti nausea properties.
- Stay upright after meals. Italians have a traditional walk after meals called the passeggiata. You don’t have to walk far, but some light walking and staying upright will help your meals stay down.
- Medications are necessary in some cases. If the above tricks and treatments are not enough, contact your doctor. You should be able to get a prescription that will calm down your insides. Make sure to take any medication only as directed.
Acupressure for Nausea and Vomiting
To apply acupressure to the P6 point, follow these steps:
- Find the P6 point on your wrist. It is located about two finger widths up from your wrist crease, on the inner side of your arm in between two superficial tendons you should be able to feel there.
- Place your thumb or index finger on the P6 point and apply steady pressure for about 2-3 minutes.
- Repeat on the other wrist.
Acupressure can be a safe and effective way to reduce nausea after surgery, and it is easy to do. So if your stomach is acting up, give it a try.