Calories after throwing up

CNUcaptain
CNUcaptain Posts: 28 Member
edited May 2016 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm prescribed a medication that can periodically make me nauseous and have the need to throw up. This happens about once every 2 weeks, is a common side effect of the medication, and my doctor is aware of its effect on me. I also feel like I should insert the disclaimer that this isn't something I make myself do.

However, I'm curious as to how to count the calories of the foods that I throw up shortly after consuming. I've only been able to keep down my breakfast of an English muffin with peanut butter, which I had before taking my medicine. I haven't been able to keep down my lunch or the crackers and ginger ale I had as a snack to attempt to calm my stomach. Including all of that, I'm sitting right about at my calorie goal for the day when I factor in my planned dinner.

How should I count for those calories to make sure I'm meeting my goals and not falling below the 1000 calorie mark (which I would be well under if not counting my lunch or snack)? I don't "feel" hungry as my stomach is still uneasy, but should I have a larger dinner than originally planned to make up for these "lost" calories and nutrients? I am typically able to keep down a meal if I eat a late dinner, giving my medication time to wear off.

Replies

  • jen_bush
    jen_bush Posts: 679 Member
    Keep them in your logs as you might have already started absorbing some.... you could go a bit over on that day if you felt hungry, but most importantly - try and keep well hydrated!
  • canadjineh
    canadjineh Posts: 5,396 Member
    Just a thought.... since it's only once every couple of weeks, I wouldn't worry about changing your food log. Also is there any tie-in with the kind of food eaten as some meds DO NOT mix well with certain foods? Might be worth noting...
    Good luck and hope you get feeling better. You might want to also note what seems to stay down on those days, and choose to eat only that on the day you are feeling nauseous just so you get some nutrition. Have you thought about supplementing on those days with an oral rehydration drink such as Pedialyte? https://pedialyte.com/
    You can also get a cheaper home recipe off the internet - my doc suggests using that to save some money. Not as 'tasty' but still works.
  • devil_in_a_blue_dress
    devil_in_a_blue_dress Posts: 5,214 Member
    I wouldn't worry about it. If you vomit, see how you feel the rest of the day. If you are hungry and out of calories, eat something around the number of calories you expelled.
  • Queenmunchy
    Queenmunchy Posts: 3,380 Member
    Weigh your vomit and subtract it from your day.
  • Queenmunchy
    Queenmunchy Posts: 3,380 Member
    So joking!!!!
  • grumpya
    grumpya Posts: 54 Member
    Sorry to hear you have to live with these nasty side effects, it must be horrible, but if you are only experiencing them fortnightly then I agree with the other posters that you should carry on as normal, if you eat a large meal in the evening trying to make up for having "lost" the earlier food you risk straining your stomach, it needs to be treated gently after these episodes. You can make a rehydrating drink by mixing a teaspoon of sugar with a pinch of salt in a pint of water & flavour it with fruit syrup, Ribena, squash or similar, but just keep up your fluids & consider taking a multivitamin with minerals just to make sure you do not become deficient in any micro nutrients. If you start throwing up more often ask your family doctor for advice or ask him to recommend a dietician who will be qualified in diets for people with conditions like yours. (Be wary of nutritionists they often are not as qualified as a dietician, don't fall for strange regimes or sales pitches of expensive products, you just need some advice if your symptoms get worse). It may also be worth a discussion with your family doctor or specialist to see if you can tweak your drugs to stop the side effects, sometimes a different formula of the same drug can help or a different way of taking it.
    I hope you feel better soon from this episode & that you don't have a recurrence again too soon
  • _lyndseybrooke_
    _lyndseybrooke_ Posts: 2,561 Member
    Queenmunchy wrote: »
    Weigh your vomit and subtract it from your day.

    Now that's dedication. :smile:
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    If you think you lost everything you just ate, then allow yourself to add that much, or most of it, back in for that day only. If you lost only the medicine and a little liquid, then don't bother.
  • kirstinethornburg
    kirstinethornburg Posts: 300 Member
    Have you tried drinking one ounce of Aloe select from Univera instead of ginerale to selltle your stomach? Try eating something lite and drinking lots of water

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