I'm 6 days post-chemo-SO NAUSEATED! Advice?

[Bev G]

Hello all:
Thanks again for all of your wonderful pre-chemo support. You were all right. It wasn't so bad. Felt utterly steam-rollered Friday, Sat, yesterday. Have tried to stay up this morning. I am trying like crazy to stay hydrated but I feel SO pukey (haven't vomited because I refuse to). I'm taking zofran and ativan. I had the pre-chemo emend + 2 days after. I'm eating virtually nothing. A couple of saltines with peanut butter or cheese. Chicken noodle soup without noodles (furbaby Luc loved the noodles!). My husband found me a great drink called Jamaican Ginger Beer (non-alcoholic). It's not as sweet tasting as usual ginger ale. But that's about it. He couldn't find ginger tea at the store. Any thoughts on when this nausea will end? Even anything I can think of eating makes me sick to think about--carnation instant breakfast, which I thought would be a great supplement I can't even get close to my nose.

Whine, whine, whine. So sorry. Just hoping for some thoughts and anti-nausea energy. I know so many of you have been through it. Thanks you guys.

Both Johns, Justsing, hope you're feeling better, you too, Allie, and Ashlee, on your first day back at chemo.

All the best,

Bev

[SkiFletch]

Hey Bev, sorry you're struggling with the nausea, I bet that's no fun at all. If the Zofran and Ativan aren't working for you but the Emend did, get on the phone with your onc, tell him this, and ask him for a script for the Emend, frimly if necessary . I know Terry had a lot of troubles with nausea and found only Emend works for her. Different drugs work differently on different people, so a little trial and error with your onc might be in order here. If the onc scoffs at the Emend, even after "firmly" requesting it, maybe try Compazine too? It's dirt cheap (less than my copay ) and I can't imagine your onc wouldn't let you try it. But keep at it till you find one that works for you. Nausea is controllable, don't let it control you

Good luck

[Rick7]

Hi,
Some of the things I can remember right now.
Ginger tea.
Ginger cookies
Ginger snaps
Juicy Fruit Gum
sipping pedialyte.

All those things helped with my nausea.
I was also taking 4-5 Zofran a day.

The biggest help was Ginger supplements for 2-3 days before treatment. Once I started that, I almost stopped the Zofran (1 a day).

And - there was 1 more drug that I used when actually throwing up. Ativan - stopped the throwing up fast.

Rick

[willtowin]

So Bev, did the pump come off six days ago? or was 6 days ago your first infusion? Either way, it is longer than you should be dealing with nausea. It is not fun to be nauseas.

I found a couple things. Ativan works great for break thru nausea. I really loved it,it helped so much. If you don't have a script for it, ask for one. It helps w/ anxiety a little as well. My first couple of rounds of chemo were not the best either. It was just adjusting to treatment and my body still healing i think.

I tried the raw ginger in my cheek as well. Just buy a piece of ginger root from the store, trim off the outsite and cut in small piece and put in your cheek and keep it there. I really don't like ginger, but i like nausea less.

Also, go ahead and call your onc. They might be able to help and or offer you fluids. A few times when i was dehydrated nausea was worse. I went in for iv fluids and felt so much better.

Good luck, and hope you feel better.
{{{{Hugs}}}}

[mhastings1229]

One of the drugs they gave me was Kytril. I found that Ativan worked best for me, but again, it's all so different for each person.

Mint seemed to work best for me - mint hard candy, gum, etc. This seemed to settle my tummy. I couldn't handle the ginger - but, mint seemed to help. This worked well with peppermint tea, etc.

Try small snacks several times each day - and, try foods that you wouldn't normally like. My tastes changed so much during chemo. Post-chemo, they changed again, but one of the things that I found during chemo was that things that I assumed would be "safe" made me so nauseous.

Also, if you have the capability, talk with a nutritionist to get some advice. If you have a local Wellness Community, they might have someone they can refer you to.

Hope this helps. Good luck....

[KarMel]

I liked Phenergan, but it has a sedative effect. I used it sometinmes in between Zofran doses.

For the last couple treatments, I did Reglan and Zofran. Hate to say this, but best be warned... the side effects tend to accumulate, i.e. they get wrose and worse each treatment. Not to scare, but just so you are prepared.

I never tried Ativan. and Ginger did nothing for me. Keep trying different things for now, under onc's supervision , of course, till you find what works for you.

I really craved carbs, too. When nothing else would stay down, I could usually eat bread, cereal, and mashed potatoes. and mac and cheese. I did peanut butter toast, just to get some protein in.

I hope your side effects start to let up soon, I;d have treatment on Tuesday, and usually felt OK again by Sunday.
Good Luck

[BrownBagger]

I stuck with ginger and exercise for the most part. Cannabis is not for everyone, but I found it to be the most effective solution in most cases. I tried to keep my consumption of pharmaceuticals to a minimum, but that's probably more of a personal bias than a sound strategy. I thought the potential side effects outweighed any relief they might have offered. Again, YMMV.

Good luck, Bev. I've come to the conclusion it's more a matter of trail and error than anything you can predict with any accuracy.

[wwroam]

I can't offer much advice on the different anti-nausea medications, speak to your oncologist for that. Ginger beer is quite popular here in Australia as well, and was recommended by the clinic nurses . I found it very useful. The sixth day after my first cycle of treatment was very grim for me, possibly the worst in the entire treatment. For the entire day I could barely move ( it was a public holiday in Brisbane). The next day, I felt OK and went into work. At the time I wondered how I would ever complete the 12 cycles, but things seemed to stabilize and from then until the 11th cycle, things were not too bad. Don't take it as a given that the effects will progressively worsen, it isn't always the case, and may not be for you either.

[HollyID]

Bev,

I wish I could offer some better advice than these wonderful people have given, but I can't. I can empathize though and I'm so sorry that you have to go through this. I hate nausea worse than puking, but I refuse to do that, too. I do agree that talking to the onc about taking PO emend might be a good idea. Compazine, for me, was like taking tic-tacs. I've never tried phenergan. I've given a lot, just never tried it myself. My onc switched me over to Zofran which does help.

My sister is sending over some brand of ginger pills that you can only get in a health food store. One of her friends who is on chemo suggested these and when I get them, I can let you know what they are.

I wish I could suggest something to eat or drink so as not to get dehydrated. I like oranges, so my honey will cut up a couple of those into bite sized chunks and sprinkle a little coconut on it. Other than that, it's usually crackers. I can't even stomach the peanut butter or cheese. I absolutely abhor plain water, so I drink tea. Orange tea, (couldn't find ginger tea in my store, either!) The oxaliplatin doesn't allow me cold drinks for about a week, so it's either room temp or hot whatever. My poor husband gets so frustrated because whatever he makes, doesn't sound good and I refuse to eat or drink. I know that's bad. As nurses, we know that's bad, but I can't help it. I try to hydrate myself really well before chemo, but sometimes those good thoughts are not carried out so well.

I'm thinking of you.

(((BEV)))

[Ashlee H.]

Bev, I just hate that you are having such a rough time with your first round of chemo. So many good suggestions from everyone. All you can do is try them one by one and see what is going to work for you. Hopefully, day 6 was the worse of it for you. I remember in a chemo class they made me attend, they stressed nausea is not an option. If you were nausea, they wanted to know right away to get you on something that would work for you. There are so many things they can do. Have you contacted your ONC yet. Maybe s/he needs to reduce the dosage of the chemo. Hang in there.
Hug, Hug.

Ashlee

[CRguy]

My husband found me a great drink called Jamaican Ginger Beer (non-alcoholic). It's not as sweet tasting as usual ginger ale.

Luvit LUVIT, the real ginger is the key, some Ginger ales have real ginger ( Canada Dry ) I know and lots of the ginger beers...a lot don't though, and with ginger flavor, or some extracts, you may not get the benefit.

also one significant acupuncture point PC6 (Neiguan) which is highly researched etc. PM me if you want to know more info, or if you have tried Acu...anyone will show you this point for acupressure at home on yourself....(( a little harder to find on Bailey...but I can help you ! )

Finally, any asian markets around or superstores which carry FRESH ginger root ?? ...lots of ways to prepare it, so you know you get the real thing, yourself.

Whine, whine, whine. So sorry.

NO WAY ! You are one of US, going thru this crap...so NO such thing as "Whine, whine, whine", you are not whining...when it is real for you. NO SORRY. This is why this forum exists ! gotta cut ourselves some slack sometimes.

Cheers and harmony on your journey. Let us know how you are holding up ??? Give Bailey a hug..will help you both !
CRguy

[susan in toronto]

i too had a really hard time with nausea and tried all the drugs available, finally I discoved accupuncture and went weekly for relief from nausea. After 3 weeks I literally had NO nausea after chemo- I can't say enough about it but it was a godsesnd, i felt I had a life after all. I know it can be pricey if money is an issue, but I would have sold my furniture to get another accupuncture 'fix' each week. Hang in there, keep whining, it's healthy!!!

[John603]

Hi Bev,

I don't remember. Did you get Decadron? If so, did you also get a prescription to take two pills at home for two days? That really got me through the toughest part of each cycle. Decadron is basically speed, but it makes you feel really good. The only side effect that I got from it was the hiccups and my face was flushed red.

Someone else also mentioned Reglan. That was my favorite nausea drug. I never did get to try Emend.
I tried Compazine once and it put me to sleep, so I didn't use it again. Keep good notes on all of your side effects. For your next cycle, the onc's office should be able to improve your experience.

I haven't been on Folfox since 2007 but I recall that breakfast was my best meal of the day. I would drink a full glass of room temperature OJ from Minute Maid. You can find it in the gracoery aisle. Just remember that once it is opened you have to drink it all or refrigerate it. I think I also had a bowl of medium warm oatmeal since I couldn't tolerate the cold milk in my regular cereal. I also liked getting Boston creme donuts but they aren't very good for you. I also couldn't tolerate coffee at all. I also drank a lot of room temperature Gatorade (changed the flavors every day so I wouldn't get sick if one.

It is all trial and error but follow the basic rules. Stay hydrated. Get at least some light exercise. Snack often so that your stomach is never empty.

[JillCurtis]

how long did nausea last for you all after chemo ?

[Kathryn in MN]

You are not whining! This is one of the hardest side effects to deal with - especially for those of us that get hit hard by it.

I have a lot of trouble also. But we've gotten it down to where I get by now. One thing that hasn't been mentioned is removing the 5-FU bolus. It has shown to not really make a difference in outcomes, but it does cause worse side effects if your body doesn't tolerate that drug well. I haven't had the bolus for the last several treatments. Between the nausea for over a week, and white counts dropping so badly we had to adjust.

Here is what works best for me (I am allergic to Compazine so it isn't an option, and Zofran gives me awful headaches).

Day of infusion, Emend (IV - although last cycle was in hospital and all they had was pill), Aloxi (IV), Decadron (IV). I also have to get Benadryl for allergic reactions. Day #2 Emend, Day#3 Emend, and I am "outside normal protocol" Day #4 another Emend. At night I sometimes take Ativan. If I'm feeling nauseated and can't sleep, I do take it sometimes.

I HATE putting all these chemicals in my body. But I can say for me that the side effects are in NO WAY worse than the outcome if I don't take them. I've been down that road before with hyperemisis during all my pregnancies, with the last one so bad that my bi-daily IV fluids still couldn't help me - I ended up hospitalized (and I looked like someone from a concentration camp - I couldn't even keep water down). The new drugs they have are a lot better. Especially Emend which is targeted for longterm help against chemo induced nausea. I didn't have it my first cycle and that was one of my worst. I said there was no way I could go through 11 more times. Once or twice maybe, but no more. But removing the 5-FU bolus and adding Emend made a big difference for me. Antiemetics are a necessity in my case.

Maybe you could ask to try Aloxi instead of Zofran on infusion day. It might work better for you, it is long lasting and only available IV (no pills). Keep the Emend! Ask about Decadron if you don't already get it. Ask about removing the 5-FU bolus. If your onc hasn't already looked at the studies about the bolus, and he gives you a hard time, ask him to look up the info. My onc is super aggressive, but he still backed off and took away the bolus, knowing there is no way I'd get through all 12 if he didn't. Thursday I have tx #8. We are dropping the amount of 5-FU due to allergic reaction problems (and I'm on pretreat of Decadron and Benadryl for today, tomorrow and Wednesday).

For several days I exist on Cream of Wheat (this counts as fluids too), mashed potatoes, organic yogurt, oatmeal, Gatorade, herbal tea, and Isagenix shakes with a banana added. I eat and drink because I have to - not because I want to. Several cycles I have had to get IV fluids on day #4 when I go in for my Neupogen shot. It really helps me a lot. You may want to consider that. As the days go on I can add more variety, but I have very few days that don't have at least a little nausea. The first few cycles in particular I craved things I normally eat very little of - I ate cinammon rolls and banana cream pie. I hadn't eaten anything like that at all for 6 weeks prior to starting chemo. After seeing someone in the infusion room with Tahitian Treat soda, I got some of that, along with Fanta. Yikes! I am not a soda drinker, but that is something that can stay out at room temp and not go bad. The last couple cycles I have not been drinking soda, but for a couple I did.

I just can't eat a lot of foods I normally love right now. I'm not eating real healthy as I always do. But heck, I got colon cancer when eating mostly fruits and veggies, whole grains, minimal dairy, minimal sweets or junk, and no red meat. So I'm not going to worry too much. I get in what I have to right now for calories sake. When I'm done with chemo I can return to my normal healthy eating. Don't worry about balanced diet right now - worry about getting in enough fluids and calories.

You should feel a little better day by day. Ask for some tweaking for tx #2, and it should go better than the first. Good luck to you!