Here I go - port in place & first AC treatment

stox4bux

Hello to all my fellow breast cancer warriors!

I have been to this site almost daily and have read a lot of good and comforting advise by all you wonderful women.

Based on the overwhelming thumbs up I received from many of you for the port, I had mine installed 2 days ago. The operation was a breeze but I am still a bit sore now.
Today I had the first of 4 A/C treatments and I thought it was a cinch until 3 hours after the procedure the nausea started. I have a prescription of ondansetron of which I took one pill so far and it makes the nausea bearable but still miserable.

There was s study written up today, performed by the University of Rochester, which indicated that ginger capsules are giving great relief for nausea. They mentioned to take ginger root extract made by Aphios Corp. of Woburn, Mass.

Does anybody have experience with that?

djteach

Hi,
I'm sorry you are having
Hi,
I'm sorry you are having trouble with nausea. I am not familiar with the medication you were given (but that doesn't mean anything) but if it is not giving you the relief you want, I suggest you call your oncologist immediately and get help. I heard about the ginger root on t.v. but have not tried it myself. The study said you need to take it 3 days before chemo for it to be effective. I'm sure that someone else on the board has a lot more experience with this than I do. Just wanted to say hi and I hope your chemo gets easier.


Love and gentle hugs,
Donna

rjjj

Ginger root
I was getting my Herceptin treatment today and I asked my chemo nurse about it..She said she knew that some people had used it for nausea, but they didn't like the taste..and that now that they have it in capsule form, it should be better. I was given ativan which helped alot it helped me to sleep also. Make sure you tell them that you are still nauseated. There are so many new meds for this you shouldn't have to suffer.
The soreness on your port site should go away in a few days. Mine was sore for about a week but has been well worth it since.

I hope you feel better soon. love,
jackie

EveningStar2

FYI
Ondansetron=zofran.

phoenixrising

I had gotten a big bag of
I had gotten a big bag of crystallized ginger and tried that but not long after it made me nauseous and it took a long time after to use ginger again even in cooking. Gravol (dimenhydrinate) is for nausea and is over the counter but not as potent as zofran.

There is another drug that is spoken highly of and that is Emend. I hear it's very expensive though. Another thought is to get the nurses to iv it before you start chemo or at the end. Nausea is harder to combat once you have it, best to take it a head of time.
I think you can take 8mg twice/day....is that what they gave you. Give your chemo nurses a call and see what they will recommend for now and maybe they will be proactive when you go in next time. I think the ginger caps is for mild nausea, but what the heck you can give it a try.

Best of luck to you, I hope you find some relief and the next shot is much better.

jan

Eil4186

I HATED AC and had a rough
I HATED AC and had a rough time with it which is not uncommon. Taxol is much easier to take.
Take your anti-nausea meds right on schedule and it will help. Good luck, Eil

JoyD

Eil4186 said:

I HATED AC and had a rough
I HATED AC and had a rough time with it which is not uncommon. Taxol is much easier to take.
Take your anti-nausea meds right on schedule and it will help. Good luck, Eil

What my Oncologist gave me during my AC treatment
This is what my Oncologist gave me during my AC treatment (Procedure). Once I am set-up for my chemo, this is how or the order that the drugs go into my port.

1. Clean out the port first.
2. Inject the IV with anti-nausea drug called "aloxi". This drugs will last for 3 days.
3. Inject the IV with anti-nausea and vomitting drug called "decadron".
4. Through the IV another anti-nausea drug called "emend".
5. Adriamycin - before they start me with Adriamycin, I will need to cool down my mouth, tongue and throat by sucking on chip ice to prevent burning in these areas. I suck the ice even after the Adriamycin - need at least 10 more minutes of this.
6. Avastin - this is my clinical study drug
7. Cytoxan
8. Heparin is an anticoagulant (blood thinner) that prevents the formation of blood clots.
9. Clean out the port again.

My Oncologist gave me also a prescription drug called Zofran, just in case I start vomitting or anti-nausea. I bought this drug but have not used it, thank God.

Joy D

tatooedinpink

Emend
During my chemo, my oncologist prescribed Emend (as mentioned earlier in this post).
I took one pill day prior to chemo, one day of, and one day after (it comes in a 3 pack).
It is very expensive, about $750 for 3 pills, but it was covered by my ins Rx program, so I paid $25 for it. I never got even slightly nauseous during a very aggressive chemo regimen.

Please talk to your oncologist about trying it. It must be so miserable to be so nauseous. You endure enough without that, too.

Ginger tea is good and good for you.

You will love having your port. Mine is out, now, and just a little scar to remind me of my journey and strength :-)

Hugs to you,

Debbie

tatooedinpink

One more thought
Sorry, thought of something else....

I always went back for fluids day after....they always gave me option of getting IV fluids the day after (I was going back in for a shot anyway) and I ALWAYS took the extra fluids.
That probably helped as well.

Hope you feel better,

Debbie

stox4bux

tatooedinpink said:

Emend
During my chemo, my oncologist prescribed Emend (as mentioned earlier in this post).
I took one pill day prior to chemo, one day of, and one day after (it comes in a 3 pack).
It is very expensive, about $750 for 3 pills, but it was covered by my ins Rx program, so I paid $25 for it. I never got even slightly nauseous during a very aggressive chemo regimen.

Please talk to your oncologist about trying it. It must be so miserable to be so nauseous. You endure enough without that, too.

Ginger tea is good and good for you.

You will love having your port. Mine is out, now, and just a little scar to remind me of my journey and strength :-)

Hugs to you,

Debbie

Emend
Hi Debbie
Thanks for your comments and advise. I have taken the Ondansetron 3X now and am due for another pill in about 1 hour. It's keeping the nausea at bearable levels but still feeling lousy after a night of throwing up. I also bought some ginger capsules and are taking them, just for the heck of it. If I don't get more relief soon I will check with the oncologist about the Emend.

The port was a cinch during chemo yesterday even though it was put in just 2 days earlier and still sore.

Love
Gitta

stox4bux

phoenixrising said:

I had gotten a big bag of
I had gotten a big bag of crystallized ginger and tried that but not long after it made me nauseous and it took a long time after to use ginger again even in cooking. Gravol (dimenhydrinate) is for nausea and is over the counter but not as potent as zofran.

There is another drug that is spoken highly of and that is Emend. I hear it's very expensive though. Another thought is to get the nurses to iv it before you start chemo or at the end. Nausea is harder to combat once you have it, best to take it a head of time.
I think you can take 8mg twice/day....is that what they gave you. Give your chemo nurses a call and see what they will recommend for now and maybe they will be proactive when you go in next time. I think the ginger caps is for mild nausea, but what the heck you can give it a try.

Best of luck to you, I hope you find some relief and the next shot is much better.

jan

ginger
I bought some ginger capsules today and am taking it alongside the meds - I guess it can't hurt.

I am taking the Ondasetron 8 mg 3X per day. After a night of throwing up the nausea is down to bearable but still ****. I will check if I can get the Emend in IV before my next treatment. Don't feel like going through another episode like this one.

Thanks for pointing out that the next treatment should be easier. I am hanging my hat on that one.

Gitta

chenheart

Ginger
Ginger is a known natural nausea reliever~great for motion sickness...ginger root. ginger tea, ginger snaps, even ginger ale. But for chemo induced nausea, we might need something stronger to take the edge off... Gnger won't hurt, but you may just need a medical boost too. Ask your Dr!

Hugs,
Claudia

Moopy23

stox4bux said:

Emend
Hi Debbie
Thanks for your comments and advise. I have taken the Ondansetron 3X now and am due for another pill in about 1 hour. It's keeping the nausea at bearable levels but still feeling lousy after a night of throwing up. I also bought some ginger capsules and are taking them, just for the heck of it. If I don't get more relief soon I will check with the oncologist about the Emend.

The port was a cinch during chemo yesterday even though it was put in just 2 days earlier and still sore.

Love
Gitta

Emend and Ativan
Gitta, I also took Emend and Ativan along with Zophran. If the nausea does not improve, you might consider calling your oncology clinic and requesting something be called in to your pharmacy. I am sure there is an oncologist on call. At my clinic, an oncologist calls back in less than 30 minutes, usually within 5. I am sure it is the same for you in NY.

I say this because it will be a long weekend if you have nausea, and there is no reason you should suffer. There IS medication that will work. It is a matter of getting it. So please do not suffer unnecessarily.

stox4bux

Moopy23 said:

Emend and Ativan
Gitta, I also took Emend and Ativan along with Zophran. If the nausea does not improve, you might consider calling your oncology clinic and requesting something be called in to your pharmacy. I am sure there is an oncologist on call. At my clinic, an oncologist calls back in less than 30 minutes, usually within 5. I am sure it is the same for you in NY.

I say this because it will be a long weekend if you have nausea, and there is no reason you should suffer. There IS medication that will work. It is a matter of getting it. So please do not suffer unnecessarily.

Emend & Ativan
Thanks a lot for your concern and good advice.
I am slowly getting better this afternoon. Am even able to hold down some pizza (so far). Hopefully by tomorrow I will be over this thing but will still call the oncologist and let him know my reaction to the chemo.

I am hanging my hat on some people telling me that the first chemo is the worst. Hope I fall into that category.

Take care,
Gitta

Christmas Girl

Nausea - bummer!
Well, I can't add much that the others haven't already suggested. So sorry for your nausea.

I will reiterate that chemo induced nausea/vomiting is much harder to get back under control once it begins. I took Zofran: one pill evening before treatment, one morning of, one evening of, one morning & evening after. Pretty much did the trick for me. As the treatments progressed, cumulative side effects kicked in; however, I never had to change the Zofran schedule - but, did feel queasy for a few days after the last couple chemos. Didn't vomit until after the final treatment... So, please do - I cannot encourage you enough - contact your doctor, nurse, clinic as soon as possible. There are many different types of anti-nausea meds available. You may do better with something else, or even a combination.

I was also MANDATED (I'm not kidding!) to drink AT LEAST 8 glasses of water each day, every day during the entire treatment period (and, still do). The water dilutes the chemo drugs, making them a bit easier on the digestive system; and, most importantly, helps to insure that the meds get circulated fully throughout the bloodstream - which is the whole point of the systemic nature of chemotherapy. Also, try to eat only bland and easily digestible foods. Pizza? Not so sure about that! Nothing spicy or highly seasoned. Soup, broth, mashed potatoes, plain pasta & rice... At least for a few days after each treatment. I know it's boring; but, worth it to prevent the nausea/vomiting.

Best wishes to you. Hope you feel better, soon.

Kind regards, Susan

creampuff91344

Christmas Girl said:

Nausea - bummer!
Well, I can't add much that the others haven't already suggested. So sorry for your nausea.

I will reiterate that chemo induced nausea/vomiting is much harder to get back under control once it begins. I took Zofran: one pill evening before treatment, one morning of, one evening of, one morning & evening after. Pretty much did the trick for me. As the treatments progressed, cumulative side effects kicked in; however, I never had to change the Zofran schedule - but, did feel queasy for a few days after the last couple chemos. Didn't vomit until after the final treatment... So, please do - I cannot encourage you enough - contact your doctor, nurse, clinic as soon as possible. There are many different types of anti-nausea meds available. You may do better with something else, or even a combination.

I was also MANDATED (I'm not kidding!) to drink AT LEAST 8 glasses of water each day, every day during the entire treatment period (and, still do). The water dilutes the chemo drugs, making them a bit easier on the digestive system; and, most importantly, helps to insure that the meds get circulated fully throughout the bloodstream - which is the whole point of the systemic nature of chemotherapy. Also, try to eat only bland and easily digestible foods. Pizza? Not so sure about that! Nothing spicy or highly seasoned. Soup, broth, mashed potatoes, plain pasta & rice... At least for a few days after each treatment. I know it's boring; but, worth it to prevent the nausea/vomiting.

Best wishes to you. Hope you feel better, soon.

Kind regards, Susan

As all have stated, there
As all have stated, there are lots of meds out there to combat nausea. Just one that is wrecking havoc, and that is Reglan. This drug is used for chemo nausea as a last resort, but has recently (February 2009) been issued a "black label warning" by the FDA. It is linked to a neurological disease called tardive dyskinesia, which is a nasty disease that is permanent. If you are given this prescription, please take my word for it....don't take Reglan. I am dealing with the tardive after taking Reglan for only three months during my final chemo treatments. Other meds do work, and are highly recommended by those on the boards who have used various ones to combat nausea. Just wanted to give you a warning about Reglan. Good luck on finding something to help your problems. Hugs.

Judy

stox4bux

creampuff91344 said:

As all have stated, there
As all have stated, there are lots of meds out there to combat nausea. Just one that is wrecking havoc, and that is Reglan. This drug is used for chemo nausea as a last resort, but has recently (February 2009) been issued a "black label warning" by the FDA. It is linked to a neurological disease called tardive dyskinesia, which is a nasty disease that is permanent. If you are given this prescription, please take my word for it....don't take Reglan. I am dealing with the tardive after taking Reglan for only three months during my final chemo treatments. Other meds do work, and are highly recommended by those on the boards who have used various ones to combat nausea. Just wanted to give you a warning about Reglan. Good luck on finding something to help your problems. Hugs.

Judy

Thanks a bunch
to all who gave great advise. I feel so lucky to have met this group to help each other through this journey.

I will follow up on all your good suggestions.

Gitta

Christmas Girl

creampuff91344 said:

As all have stated, there
As all have stated, there are lots of meds out there to combat nausea. Just one that is wrecking havoc, and that is Reglan. This drug is used for chemo nausea as a last resort, but has recently (February 2009) been issued a "black label warning" by the FDA. It is linked to a neurological disease called tardive dyskinesia, which is a nasty disease that is permanent. If you are given this prescription, please take my word for it....don't take Reglan. I am dealing with the tardive after taking Reglan for only three months during my final chemo treatments. Other meds do work, and are highly recommended by those on the boards who have used various ones to combat nausea. Just wanted to give you a warning about Reglan. Good luck on finding something to help your problems. Hugs.

Judy

Oh, Judy...
So sorry to learn of your unfortunate experience with Reglan. Good grief, as if the breast cancer and the chemo aren't enough to deal with. Again, so sorry.

Kind regards, Susan