It’s estimated that over a million Americans are currently living with ulcerative colitis (UC). This chronic illness is often characterized by stomach pain and severe diarrhea but people with UC can also experience debilitating bouts of nausea. If this is happening to you, it’s good to know how to manage that symptom as a part of your condition.
The causes of nausea when you have UC can vary. For some people, nausea is a common part of having a UC flare. Additionally, studies show that you’re more prone to nausea if your UC symptoms are severe or the condition affects major sections of your large intestines.
It’s also worth noting that some of the medications that are used to treat UC can cause nausea as well. You may get nauseated if you’re taking aminosalicylates, immunomodulators, or JAK Inhibitors.
RELATED: How To Manage Ulcerative Colitis
Doctors and patients agree that eating smaller meals more frequently will usually curb nausea. It also helps to eat slowly so that your system has time to digest what you’ve eaten.
Though what constitutes a small meal can vary, you can consult your doctor about what that looks like for you and what foods are good to include based on your needs.
While some foods can help to ease your nausea, others can make it worse. It’s best to stay away from spicy foods, heavily seasoned foods, and foods that are high in fat.
Alcohol is also heavily discouraged. If you like carbs, it’s best not to eat too much of them in one sitting as this can make your nausea worse. Where proteins are concerned, lean protein is usually best
Once you’re finished eating, doctors recommend staying still for up to 30 minutes to reduce the odds of developing nausea. Though some people with UC have stated that lying down after eating helps, doctors prefer that you stay upright for at least an hour. It’s a good idea to find which works for you.
Keeping hydrated not only helps digestion but it can also keep nausea at bay. To get the best results, you shouldn’t drink while eating. It’s better to drink 30 minutes before and after your meal.
You shouldn’t only stick to water, though, as this can throw your electrolytes out of whack. It’s good to balance your fluids with light juices and electrolyte drinks that are low in sugar.
Many herbs can be used to treat nausea naturally. These include ginger, peppermint, lemon, fennel, chamomile, raspberry leaf, and red licorice.
In most cases, making teas from these herbs can be helpful. Before adding them to your diet, though, you should talk to your doctor to ensure that there are no potential side effects.
Persistent nausea can significantly affect your appetite, which affects your overall nutrition. Given that UC is known to reduce how well your digestive system absorbs nutrients, you need to eat healthily.
If the nausea gets bad enough, some people have needed hospitalization to get it under control while keeping their nutrition in check. In worst-case scenarios, uncontrolled nausea can leave you on the brink of malnutrition. That situation can lead to more hospitalizations for IV nutrition.
If your nausea is bad enough to stop you from drinking fluids or eating full meals, then you need to see your doctor. The same is true if you’re constantly dizzy or feeling faint. You should also look out for signs of malnutrition such as chronic fatigue, loss of appetite, the inability to concentrate, feeling weak, feeling cold all the time, frequent illnesses, and having wounds that take a long time to heal.
While many people don’t talk about it, UC can make you nauseous. The severity of it can vary but you need to know how to handle it. Since UC is a chronic condition, you should also be able to tell when your doctor needs to step in. Sometimes, persistent nausea is a sign that your treatment regimen needs to be modified.
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