Feeling and being sick
Feeling sick (nausea) and being sick (vomiting) are very common if you have pancreatic cancer. This can be because of the cancer, or a side effect of treatment.
There are treatments available for nausea and vomiting – it’s not something you have to put up with. For example, there are effective anti-sickness (anti-emetic) drugs that can help. And some people also find other things such as ginger and peppermint or complementary therapies helpful.
Feeling and being sick is unpleasant and distressing. It may also mean that you aren’t properly absorbing medication that you take as tablets. If you are being sick a lot, there is a risk that you could become dehydrated (where your body loses more water than it takes in). Being sick a lot without any improvement (persistent vomiting) is a clear sign that something is wrong, and you may need medical attention in hospital.
Diarrhoea and vomiting
Diarrhoea and vomiting are common in adults, children and babies. They're often caused by a stomach bug and should stop in a few days.
The advice is the same if you have diarrhoea and vomiting together or separately.
A pharmacist can help if:
- you or your child (over 5 years) have signs of dehydration – such as dark, smelly pee or peeing less than usual
- you need to stop diarrhoea for a few hours
They may recommend:
- oral rehydration sachets you mix with water to make a drink
- medicine to stop diarrhoea for a few hours (like loperamide) – not suitable for children under 12.
Urgent advice:Get advice from 111 now if:
- you're worried about a baby under 12 months
- your child stops breast or bottle feeding while they're ill
- a child under 5 years has signs of dehydration – such as fewer wet nappies
- you or your child (over 5 years) still have signs of dehydration after using oral rehydration sachets
- you or your child keep being sick and cannot keep fluid down
- you or your child have bloody diarrhoea or bleeding from the bottom
- you or your child have diarrhoea for more than 7 days or vomiting for more than 2 days
111 will tell you what to do. They can arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor if you need one.
Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.
Nausea and vomiting in adults isn't usually a sign of anything serious and tends to only last 1 or 2 days.
Vomiting is the body’s way of ridding itself of harmful substances from the stomach, or it may be a reaction to something that has irritated the gut.
One of the most common causes of vomiting in adults is gastroenteritis. This is an infection of the gut usually caused by bacteria or a virus, which will normally improve within a few days.
However, vomiting can occasionally be a sign of something more serious, such as appendicitis, so if you are feeling very unwell or are worried about your vomiting, trust your instincts and call your GP.
When to contact your GP
Contact your GP if:
- you've been vomiting repeatedly for more than a day or two
- you're unable to keep down any fluids because you are vomiting repeatedly
- your vomit is green (this could mean you are bringing up a fluid called bile, which suggests you may have a blockage in your bowel – see below)
- you have signs of severe dehydration, such as confusion, a rapid heartbeat, sunken eyes and passing little or no urine
- you've lost a lot of weight since you became ill
- you experience episodes of vomiting frequently
Your GP may want to investigate the cause of your vomiting or prescribe treatment.
You should also see your GP if you have diabetes and have been vomiting persistently, particularly if you need to take insulin. This is because prolonged vomiting can affect your blood sugar level.
When to seek emergency medical help
Occasionally, vomiting can be a sign of a more serious problem.
You should call 999 for an ambulance, or go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department if you also have:
- sudden, severe abdominal (tummy) pain
- severe chest pain
- blood in your vomit or what looks like coffee granules
- a stiff neck and high temperature (fever)
- a sudden, severe headache that's unlike any headache you've had before
You should also seek emergency medical help if you think you have swallowed something poisonous.
Common causes of vomiting in adults
Gastroenteritis
If you have diarrhoea as well as vomiting, it's likely you have gastroenteritis. This is one of the most common causes of vomiting in adults.
It's often the result of a virus picked up from someone who's ill, such as the norovirus, or food poisoning caused by bacteria found in contaminated food.
Your immune system will usually fight off the infection after a few days and the self-care measures described above can help in the meantime.
Pregnancy
Pregnant women typically experience repeated episodes of nausea and vomiting, particularly during the early stages of pregnancy. This is often called "morning sickness", although it can occur throughout the day.
In most cases, morning sickness will develop at some point during the first 3 months of pregnancy and will pass by about weeks 16-20.
Migraines
If you have recurrent episodes of vomiting along with intense, throbbing headaches that last for a few hours to days at a time, you may be experiencing migraines.
Conventional painkillers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, can sometimes help control the pain and your GP can prescribe anti-sickness medicine to help prevent vomiting.
Labyrinthitis
If your vomiting is accompanied by dizziness and a feeling of spinning (vertigo), it may be caused by an inner ear infection called labyrinthitis.
Labyrinthitis will usually improve over a few days, and your GP can prescribe medication to reduce your symptoms if necessary.
Motion sickness
Nausea and vomiting associated with travelling could be a sign of motion sickness.
These symptoms can sometimes be improved using techniques such as fixing your eyes on the horizon or distracting yourself by listening to music, although medication to prevent and treat motion sickness is also available.
Appendicitis
As well as vomiting, appendicitis can cause severe pain in your abdomen (tummy). You should call 999 for an ambulance if you experience pain that suddenly becomes worse and spreads across your abdomen. These are signs that your appendix may have burst.
If you have appendicitis, you will often need surgery to remove your appendix.
Other causes of vomiting in adults
Vomiting in adults can also be caused by a number of other things, including:
- certain medicines, such as antibiotics and opioid painkillers
- drinking too much alcohol
- kidney infections and kidney stones
- a blockage in your bowel, which may be caused by a hernia or gallstones
- chemotherapy and radiotherapy
- acute cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
Looking after yourself at home
In most cases, you won't need any specific treatment and can take care of yourself at home until you feel better.
The most important thing you can do is to keep taking small sips of water frequently so you don't become dehydrated.
A sweet drink such as fruit juice can be useful for replacing lost sugar, although you should avoid sweet drinks if they make you feel sick. Salty snacks, such as crisps, can help replace lost salt.
You may also find ginger helps to relieve your nausea and vomiting. This is available as supplements, or can be found in ginger biscuits and ginger tea. Check with your pharmacist or GP before using ginger supplements.