Had to go to ER

coco2008

I had a hard time with n/v.  It seemed the more I tossed the worse it got.  I coudln't hold on to solids or liquids. I got so weak I couldn't walk from my bedroom to the living room without stopping at the bathroom to rest.  I was taking my nausea meds regularly, but it didn't help. Did not even think to call and get new meds.

Yesterday morning I called 911. They kept me until this evening. IV's ran both days, but the first day I didn't try to eat and just let my stomach relax.  Doing well with liquids now and being gentle with solids.

They told me the first chemo was the worst.  After that it got a bit better.  Has anyone else found this to be true?

jlharris

Sorry.

I did not have chemo but I wanted to tell you that I am so sorry that you are going through this. I only hope that your next treatment goes a lot better. I will keep you in my prayers.

Jenifer

CypressCynthia

I am queen of n/v.  I have

I am queen of n/v.  I have worked out a routine of zofran 8 mg every 8 hrs round the clock.  If I have breakthrough nausea I take 0.5-1 mg ativan (I think that is every 4-6 hrs but I don't need it often now) or marinol either 2.5 or 5 mg (I think every 6-12 hrs depending on dosage, severity, etc, but I don't take that much anymore either).

Taking the zofran full dosage has been a breakthrough for me.  Warning: insurance first allowed 12/month.  We had to get doc to write insurance company re medical emergency/necessity.  The insurance company did work with us in an expeditious manner, but I think I had to buy one batch out of pocket because I had to have it.

Also, I had a real loss of appetite and my dietitian told me to view food as another medicine.  That clicked with me and I begin at least getting an Ensure (or whatever supplement) down 3 X day.  Not the greatest but you do what you have to do.

Of course, while you have the nausea, you won't tolerate the Ensure.  First start with whatever clear liquids you can keep down.  Ginger ale is what does it for me.  But you will have to figure it out for yourself.  An empty stomach can make the nausea worse, so try to eat a lot less, more frequently.

There are many different medicines for n/v and you may have to be the squeaky wheel until your practitioners figure it out.  You have to get your n/v under control!

Since everyone at the cancer center now knows about my tendency to barf, they give me aloxi and emend before I get the chemo.  If I start to get nauseated, they then give me ativan which puts me to sleep immediately (a good thing).

The day after chemo, the onc makes me come in for IV fluids just in case.  Not sure that I need them anymore, but I don't want to rock the boat.

Good luck and I hope some of this helps!

CypressCynthia

CypressCynthia said:

I am queen of n/v.  I have

I am queen of n/v.  I have worked out a routine of zofran 8 mg every 8 hrs round the clock.  If I have breakthrough nausea I take 0.5-1 mg ativan (I think that is every 4-6 hrs but I don't need it often now) or marinol either 2.5 or 5 mg (I think every 6-12 hrs depending on dosage, severity, etc, but I don't take that much anymore either).

Taking the zofran full dosage has been a breakthrough for me.  Warning: insurance first allowed 12/month.  We had to get doc to write insurance company re medical emergency/necessity.  The insurance company did work with us in an expeditious manner, but I think I had to buy one batch out of pocket because I had to have it.

Also, I had a real loss of appetite and my dietitian told me to view food as another medicine.  That clicked with me and I begin at least getting an Ensure (or whatever supplement) down 3 X day.  Not the greatest but you do what you have to do.

Of course, while you have the nausea, you won't tolerate the Ensure.  First start with whatever clear liquids you can keep down.  Ginger ale is what does it for me.  But you will have to figure it out for yourself.  An empty stomach can make the nausea worse, so try to eat a lot less, more frequently.

There are many different medicines for n/v and you may have to be the squeaky wheel until your practitioners figure it out.  You have to get your n/v under control!

Since everyone at the cancer center now knows about my tendency to barf, they give me aloxi and emend before I get the chemo.  If I start to get nauseated, they then give me ativan which puts me to sleep immediately (a good thing).

The day after chemo, the onc makes me come in for IV fluids just in case.  Not sure that I need them anymore, but I don't want to rock the boat.

Good luck and I hope some of this helps!

P.S. Here is a link to

P.S. Here is a link to a study about aloxi and emend: http://news.cancerconnect.com/aloxi-plus-emend-highly-effective-in-preventing-chemotherapy-induced-nausea-and-vomiting/

 

"The researchers concluded that the combination of Aloxi™ and Emend® is highly effective in preventing both acute and delayed CINV following a variety of moderately to highly emetogenic chemotherapy regimens. The prevention of CINV not only allows for a significantly greater quality of life for patients during and following treatment, but for a higher compliance rate with subsequent treatment for their disease, resulting in optimal chances for a cure and/or improved long-term outcomes. Patients undergoing chemotherapy associated with nausea and vomiting may wish to speak with their physician about Aloxi™ or an Aloxi™-containing anti-emetic regimen."

coco2008

CypressCynthia said:

P.S. Here is a link to

P.S. Here is a link to a study about aloxi and emend: http://news.cancerconnect.com/aloxi-plus-emend-highly-effective-in-preventing-chemotherapy-induced-nausea-and-vomiting/

 

"The researchers concluded that the combination of Aloxi™ and Emend® is highly effective in preventing both acute and delayed CINV following a variety of moderately to highly emetogenic chemotherapy regimens. The prevention of CINV not only allows for a significantly greater quality of life for patients during and following treatment, but for a higher compliance rate with subsequent treatment for their disease, resulting in optimal chances for a cure and/or improved long-term outcomes. Patients undergoing chemotherapy associated with nausea and vomiting may wish to speak with their physician about Aloxi™ or an Aloxi™-containing anti-emetic regimen."

Thanks so much, CC.  This

Thanks so much, CC.  This will give me ammo to take to my onco before next tx or if another emergency comes up.

CypressCynthia

coco2008 said:

Thanks so much, CC.  This

Thanks so much, CC.  This will give me ammo to take to my onco before next tx or if another emergency comes up.

Your welcome.  And feel free

You're welcome!  And feel free to private message me.  I didn't mention that phenergan and compazine can also be effective.  Unfortunately, I have an uncoomon weird dystonic reaction, so they are out for me, but they are good drugs too.  There are so many new drugs out there that I don't pretend to know them all.  I did have the granisetron patch, but zofran (ondanestron) has worked the best for me.

Taking the zofran regularly was a real breakthrough for me.  The sad thing is that my chemo regimen (herceptin, perjeta, taxotere) is not that high risk for nausea.  However, my liver mets was already causing me nausea, so I guess the chemo was the proverbial straw for me.  I think that I am at the point where I am going to try and slowly space out the zofran now :-). 

If you do ask for zofran, make sure that you get ODT (orally disintegrating tablets).  They dissolve in your mouth and work even if you are vomiting because you don't have to swallow them.

I was in bad shape when the oncs saw me in the hospital, hospitalized for low wbc, fever, not eating or drinking, n/v, wt loss, etc.  Onc said I HAD to get the nausea under control and he has pulled out the stops to help.

I know you will find something, but be persistent and ask for help.  They can't help unless you keep them informed. 

Josie21

I hope you feel better.

I am so sorry chemo hit you so hard.  I have never had it, so I can't answer your question, but I am hoping the next one is easier on your body.  I am sending many hugs your way.

Ginny

Doe1504

coco2008 said:

Thanks so much, CC.  This

Thanks so much, CC.  This will give me ammo to take to my onco before next tx or if another emergency comes up.

Coco, I am so sorry you are

Coco, I am so sorry you are not doing well with this

I hope yiou start feeling better soon. I am praying the next treatment goes much better for you.

Faith_In_God

I am sorry

I hope it gets better next time. My second session with T/C was a little better than the first.

CC's advices are very valuable, especially about not leaving your stomach empty. Try to eat very little portions but more frequently.

Take care

coco2008

Faith_In_God said:

I am sorry

I hope it gets better next time. My second session with T/C was a little better than the first.

CC's advices are very valuable, especially about not leaving your stomach empty. Try to eat very little portions but more frequently.

Take care

Faith, it's good to know the

Faith, it's good to know the next time could be better.

I don't eat meals any more. I found out today that I'm better off grazing slowly all day than trying to eat a meal.