Hydrate with clear liquids Make hydration your main focus after a bout of vomiting, states Dr. Goldman. Start by drinking small sips of water every 15 minutes for the first three to four hours. You can even suck on ice chips.
Do not eat or drink anything for several hours after vomiting. Sip small amounts of water or suck ice chips every 15 minutes for 3-4 hours. Next, sip clear liquids every 15 minutes for 3-4 hours. Examples include water, sports drinks, flat soda, clear broth, gelatin, flavored ice, popsicles or apple juice.
Allow yourself to rest. Resting propped up in a seated position with the head elevated at least twelve inches above the feet is ideal. Remain in this seated rested position for a minimum of an hour, or until you are no longer experiencing nausea. Do not lie down all the way.
Drinking fluids.
Taking small sips of water or drinks containing electrolytes can help to reduce dehydration caused by vomiting.
Drink clear liquids at room temperature (not too cold or too hot). Take small sips. Drink only one to two ounces at a time. Water, "flat" cola and ginger ale are good.
Stay hydrated by sucking on ice chips or frozen fruit pops. Try drinking sips of water, weak tea, clear soft drinks without carbonation, noncaffeinated sports drinks, or broth. Sugary drinks may calm the stomach better than other liquids.
To rehydrate, it is best to use a commercial rehydration solution, such as Gastrolyte, Pedialyte or Pediatric Electrolyte. Commercial rehydration solutions contain the ideal proportion of water, sugar and mineral salts your body needs to recover.
When to visit the emergency department. For the most part, if you have uncontrolled vomiting for extended periods of time where you can't keep anything down, you should go to the emergency room. This is especially true for the very young, the elderly, or those with severe underlying health conditions, Dr. Lee says.
A prolonged bout of diarrhea or vomiting can cause the body to lose more fluid than it can take in. The result is dehydration, which occurs when your body doesn't have the fluid it needs to function properly.
Resting after eating and keeping your head elevated about 12 inches above your feet helps reduce nausea.
Struggling with the stomach flu
Sleep on your side with your head elevated: If you find yourself vomiting a lot, then sleep on your side with your head elevated.
Staying hydrated: If a person is having difficulty keeping liquids down, they should regularly sip small amounts of water to avoid dehydration. Slowly reintroducing bland foods: A person who is experiencing nausea or vomiting should stick to eating bland, easy-to-digest foods, such as: plain toast. unsalted crackers.
Self-care. Drink lots of fluids if possible, but start slowly with 1–2 sips every 5 minutes. If you become nauseated, wait 20–30 minutes and then begin again.
After your vomiting stops, you may feel weak and lethargic. This is quite common and happens because you haven't eaten in a while. Vomiting may also have left you dehydrated. You also lose electrolytes and salts when vomiting.
Strange colors: Vomit may look bright red or dark (like coffee grounds) if it contains blood. Meanwhile, bile -- a fluid made by your liver that helps with digestion -- can make vomit look bright green. Both are cause for concern. Blood could be a sign of an ulcer or an irritation in your GI tract.
Sip a little bit of water at a time, but often
“This is especially important for those who are throwing up, because you don't want to cause a trampoline effect,” Dr. Bates said. “Drinking too much too soon can cause the stomach to stretch out and then bounce those fluids right back out.”
Sleeping on your side with your head raised can ease symptoms and keep you from choking on your vomit, if you're unable to make it to the bathroom in time.
Why does stomach flu hit at night? In some people, the stomach flu symptoms may be more pronounced at night due to their circadian rhythm. At night an increase in immune system activity releases infection-fighting chemicals. These can cause inflammation that make you feel worse as you battle your flu.
Second, just before throwing up your body produces extra saliva, which helps protect your teeth from the strong acid. Third, the vomiting process releases chemicals in your body to make you feel better. So that “I feel better” feeling after throwing up is not just your imagination — it's your biology working.
Yellow or greenish-vomit is usually a sign that you are throwing up bile. Throwing up yellow bile could indicate a potentially serious medical concern like a hiatal hernia or intestinal blockage. It can also happen if you have stomach flu or food poisoning and continue to vomit after your stomach is empty.
At this stage, the most important thing is to stay hydrated. Drink water even if you are also able to drink juice and other drinks. You can go without food much longer than water, and severe vomiting and diarrhea can quickly lead to dehydration. Avoid drinking colas or any other drinks with caffeine.
Symptoms like lightheadedness, muscle cramps, and general weakness are indications that the body is failing to compensate for dehydration. Nausea and vomiting are particularly bad because they can cause the situation to get worse.