The Colon Club

I am almost done with my 5 weeks of Xeloda pill and radiation. I have two more sessions. I feel like i have done well so far, but right now I just cant seem to eat and when I do I feel nauseous. I know eating is crucial. I have lost about 20 + pounds since Aug. I have done better today, but anytime I get up and walk through the house I am weak and feel a lump in my throat/nauseated. My husband is so frustrated because he is seeing me go from a energetic woman (47yrs old) that eats on a regular basis, to this. I have tried to drink Protien drinks, vitamin smoothies, but as far as meals I just have to force myself. Are there any suggestions from those of you going through this. I am getting frustrated with my self and a little emotional. This is not who I used to be......ugh

I had to force myself to eat. I scheduled my meals and set an alarm. Try adding calories where you can. Add butter to bread when making toast or a sandwich. Use the full fat versions of foods. My favorite go to was peanut butter toast, with butter on the bread before the peanut butter. When using milk, add milk powder to it to fortify it. That will add calories and protein. Talk with a nutritionist at your cancer center for more ideas.

Thank you for your time and suggestions Take Care

Marijuana if it's legal where you are. It really helped me.

Maybe Anti-Nausea drugs? You could ask your oncologist. The nuisance about the chemo/radiation is that it does all kinds of things to your GI system.

I also had problems with losing weight during treatment. I probably lost 35-40 lbs during the course of my treatment. I had issues with diarrhea so hard to keep anything in. My chemo nurses suggested as Anne did to add calories wherever your can. I would eat white rice to help with diarrhea so added butter, etc. Also, tried the protein drinks also. I know how difficult it can be when you don't have much of an appetite and no energy. Anti nausea can help as well. It's difficult but you have to force yourself to eat as much as you can. I know my doctors were not happy with my weight loss.

For nausea, a Sea Band helped me. You can buy them at the drugstore but here's an Amazon link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001F731N0/re ... ail_0?th=1

I got by with wearing one on my right wrist (3 finger lengths below the wrist) but if your nausea is severe, you may need to wear one on each wrist.

Warm drinks made me more nauseous. Ginger helped - I have a ginger tincture I put in my water. You can also make ginger tea or try a good quality ginger ale.

I couldn't tolerate the side effects of the anti-nausea meds but I've heard from other patients that Zofran wiped out the nausea.

If you can fix the nausea and start eating, your energy levels might improve.

Wishing you relief.

One thing that I found that helped with fatigues was going for a five-to-ten minute walk outside. It was completely counter-intuitive though because my basic instinct was to go and take a nap.

It's possible that it might help with the nausea too.

Not sure of the difference between Xelox and Folfox nausea-related side effects, but I found that snacking helped a lot during my "on" weeks. Always having something in my stomach staved off the nausea. I forced myself to eat a handful of Cheerios, popcorn or walnuts/almonds when awake, even if not hungry. Also, I took prophylactic Ativan (only 1/2 a pill) the night before my Chemo cycle started, as well as 1/2 a pill each night during. I also took Zofran round-the-clock during the 3-4 days of the cycle. I really think managing/preventing the nausea was the key to not letting it get out of hand. Like pain, it is harder to come back from it once it's gotten bad. My first cycle, I was trying to tough it out, but I found subsequent cycles -- especially down the line -- to be much easier, nausea-wise. And you are feeling more fatigue and other side effects from the cumulative chemo, so it's preferable to get the nausea in control if you are able. My weight remained totally consistent throughout, and my appetite was pretty good. (Also, are you hydrating/drinking as best you can the day before? Are you getting oxaliplatin injections? If so, can you ask for IV fluids, too? I did an hour or so of that with each disconnect and that helped a lot.)

Ginger is helpful with nausea. Ginger snap cookies, Ginger Ale, Ginger root.

Try eating several small meals/snacks through out the day vs 3 meals. Do certain foods sound/feel better than others. Guess what I'm asking, maybe avoid heavy type foods, greasy types, etc. And if certain foods sound good, eat them.

As others have said, medical marijuana has helped many people deal with the side effect, especially while on chemo. Also walking could help a lot too.

Good luck, nausea is the worst.

Lee

Little meals, calorie rich. Avocado toast. Whole fat yogurt smoothies. Use cream in mashed potatoes. Keep something to snack on with you all the time. Does the food taste strange or just no appetite?
Take care

Susan

Both, but mainly no appetite. I am trying hard though.