Nausea

sukichu61832
sukichu61832 Member Posts: 12
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
After my first two rad treatments I became nauseated. I have been nauseated for the last five days. It's an all day thing and I don't want to eat because it makes the nausea worse. The Radiation Doc said it could not be caused from the radiation - must be something else. Did any of you have nausea as a side effect so early in the treatment? Rad Doc gave me Prochlorperazine for the nausea. Not helping. It is rough to get the treatment with that big bar thingy in your mouth when you feel like throwing up. Any suggestions?

Comments

  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #2
    start chemo yet?
    I never suffered much from nausea but many others here have. Are we to assume no chemo as of yet? Any other meds and have you read their list of side effects yet? Any cause nausea?
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #3
    Hi suki
    The radiation can make you nauseated, but it usually takes a while. By about the 2nd or third week, even though I was taking anti-nausea meds, I would need a bucket for the ride home. :( Sometimes, at the very end, I would be needing to find the rest room before I even got out of radiation oncology.

    Maybe you are like me, when I get scared or upset, I get nauseated, and I get the dry heaves. I also have a terrible gag reflex, and don't do well with putting things like that tube in my mouth, especially when I am feeling that way. Maybe something to relax you more might help? Not sure. I know when I am a nervous wreck or cry, or get upset, I wretch. Deep breathing, biofeedback, yoga style breathing, and meditation can give some relief as well. Also music. Sounds weird, but when I was in severe pain and sick, I'd cram my earbuds in my ears, and crank up my favorite tunes in my iPod. Did not totally take it all away, but it helped some.

    Talk to your docs and let them know, that's fine he thinks that it shouldn't be from rads yet, but that doesn't help you out any. Keep pushing and trying things.
  • DrMary
    DrMary Member Posts: 531 Member
    #4
    Tough to pin down
    Doug's rad doctors did not think much, if any, of his nausea could be caused by the radiation, but his nausea did fade once the rads stopped. Ativan before could prevent any anxiety-related nausea, as well as experimenting with various carbohydrate drinks to make sure your stomach is not empty and your blood sugar level is not wobbly.

    The only anti-nausea med that seemed to help with the rad-induced nausea was dexamethasone - the problem with that is that it will mask signs of infection; we kept Doug away from exposure to infection as much as possible.

    An interesting tidbit - the rad doctors said they did seem to see more nausea happening in folks who were prone to motion sickness. That does describe Doug.
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #5
    DrMary said:

    Tough to pin down
    Doug's rad doctors did not think much, if any, of his nausea could be caused by the radiation, but his nausea did fade once the rads stopped. Ativan before could prevent any anxiety-related nausea, as well as experimenting with various carbohydrate drinks to make sure your stomach is not empty and your blood sugar level is not wobbly.

    The only anti-nausea med that seemed to help with the rad-induced nausea was dexamethasone - the problem with that is that it will mask signs of infection; we kept Doug away from exposure to infection as much as possible.

    An interesting tidbit - the rad doctors said they did seem to see more nausea happening in folks who were prone to motion sickness. That does describe Doug.

    Drs not thinking rads can cause nausea
    This really surprises me, because every morning before rads, I was told to take benadryl, Tylenol (for the amifostine shots), and my anti-nausea pill they prescribed for me. I remember both my RO and the Hemotologist Oncologist telling me that rads can cause nausea. I didn't take the chemo, but I kept her notes, and I know she wrote that.

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