Getting Rid of Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting is an unpleasant experience we have all experienced before to some extent. It always seems difficult to escape this endless cycle of ejecting fluid each time you take it in. Regardless of how many bowls of chicken soup your mother feeds you, it seems nearly impossible to ingest anything. So, when home remedies don’t work, what should you do?
It is difficult to think logically about what the next step is when you are lying in bed, shivering, trying to anticipate the next time you are going to keel over the toilet bowl so you can run to the toilet in time. As such, we have synthesised the appropriate measures you should take to rid yourself of this terrible feeling, depending on the severity of your condition.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU’RE NAUSEOUS OR VOMITING
If your nausea or vomiting is mild, you can take some simple measures at home to relieve the discomfort.
For nausea,
Drink sips of cold water or sports drinks
Consume bland food like bread or porridge
Do not mix hot and cold food or drinks
Reduce activity (such as exercise) after eating
For vomiting,
Drink sips of water or sports drinks
Avoid taking solid food until vomiting has stopped
Rest and avoid activity
Avoid medications or foods that may irritate the stomach
WHEN TO CONSULT A DOCTOR
Visit your GP if vomiting persists, accompanied by abdominal pain or diarrhoea, as that could signal something more serious, like viral gastroenteritis. You may require an oral rehydration solution if you’ve been experiencing diarrhoea or vomiting for more than 24 hours. If you struggle to keep the rehydration solution down, an IV drip may be necessary. Speedoc’s house call nurses can visit your home to administer IV drips so you don’t have to go to a clinic when you’re already feeling so unwell.
The timing you experience nausea and vomiting may also indicate an underlying condition. For example, nausea or vomiting eight hours after a meal could be due to food poisoning. Females who are nauseous for more than a week may be pregnant. For a more accurate diagnosis, a doctor video consultation could be useful and more economical and convenient than visiting a physical clinic.
WHEN TO GO TO THE A&E
It is advisable to go to the A&E immediately as there may be immediate life-threatening complications if you:
Have severe abdominal pain and/or high fever
Exhibit signs of dehydration, such as extreme thirst and a dry mouth
Suffered a head injury that had caused vomiting
Experience rapid breathing or pulse
Notice blood in your vomit (there seems to be ‘coffee grounds’ in the vomit)
HOUSE CALL MEDICAL SERVICES AROUND THE CLOCK
At Speedoc, we provide house call GP and nursing services around the clock. Our doctors can diagnose and prescribe treatment for nausea and vomiting on the spot, even if it’s in the middle of the night. From 8am to 8pm daily (yes, including weekends!), GP doctors are also available over video consultation to provide consultations and prescribe medications that will be delivered to your door.
