6 days after 3rd chemo and still feel like crap

LoveBabyJesus said:

I'm sorry you're having such a rough time. Please note you will make it! You can do this!

Some people experience different things, but I know how annoying having stomach problems is. This was the one side effect I was mostly afraid of (throwing up). I tell you what helped me: eating very small portions 5-7 times a day (and I mean really small); drinking 6-8 glasses of water daily; taking ativan (yes, ativan actually helps with the stomach because it calms your muscles down allowing them to relax - and it also gives you appetite); eating foods your stomach can easily tolerate, and would help with healing such as broths, warm teas (CHECK WITH DR. as some herbs may not be recommended to take during chemo!). Perhaps taking those drugs they are recommending are actually harming the stomach. Perhaps the stomach needs to naturally heal before it can take any med. You're already taking chemo, and that's pretty strong on your body (including your stomach), so adding more drugs could probably hurt it more, in my opinion. Try doing it the natural way. I believe ativan is a lot lighter than those other drugs they recommend, which is why I took it. It helped.

I was taking a stool softener that was causing me more problems! It made my colon bleed. So I bled for weeks. This was my worst side effect from chemo. And even the Dr. didn't think it was the pill! I had to go online and read about the pill side effects, and the first (serious) one to pop up was colon bleeding ("STOP med right away and check with Dr."- see?). It is possible for some of these drugs not to work, rare but possible.

Take a break from some of the drugs as they may be irritating your stomach. Check side effects too.

I hope you feel better soon! Things get better and soon you will see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Hugs!

Rague said:

What do you mean by 'pain'?
The word 'pain' is so subjective and comes in different forms.

I did not experience any problems with this while on Taxol but was told it was a possibility (haven't seen anyone else mention it either) to develope gall bladder sludge or gall stones that cause pain (My PA tells me it is some of the worst pain she ever felt). I did develope Gall Bladder Sludge (yes that is a correct medical term) while on Taxol. Sometimes it will resolve itself but sometimes will go on to form gall stones (mine did). But (knock on wood) so far I've had no pain from them. Had been warned though for any upper abdominal pain to get to a Dr quickly. So far in the 2 1/2 yrs of Sludge then Stones, I've had no pain but scans have proven 'they're there'. I don't remember the whole medical explaination but very basically - the chemo is killing so many cells and the cell detritis overwhelms the gall bladder's ability to pass them on. I'm sure some one else has a more scientic explaination of the process.

It's worth asking your Drs about.

Along with loss of all taste and appetite, I lost all sense of smell on chemo. Taste came back first (and best), smell next but not as good (which wasn't great to begin with) next and appetite the last and least. I still have to remember to eat but I do most of the time. (Have to remember what I ate too, as Hubby questions me daily when he gets home. He is petrified of me becoming aneorxic as my Mom was.) It doesn't keep me from eating something I want (I love prime rib and the last time we went to Deadwood I ate 5 (yes 5) slices of it at Silverado all you can eat buffet - I'm a piggy LOL.).

Winyan - The Power Within

Susan

rallendorfer said:

Ativan worked much better
Ok, not perfect...but much better. I also tried the Activia yogurts for soothing my stomach and easing constipation and that worked. But I was so sick yesterday again with the stomach pain and the smells making me want to dry heave! Sandy, you were so right about it being compared to pregnancy. Yuck!

So here is my next plan of attack: Like Linda says, no matter how good my stomach feels the day of and day after chemo I am going to treat it with utmost care and not eat anything but soft bland food. I may be getting into trouble by feeling fine and eating the tacos and pizza kind of thing and sending my wounded stomach which is sedated with anti nausea drugs into cart wheels. Then when the meds wear off the real stomach starts to complain bitterly at its treatment. What do you girls think of that plan?

It was my birthday yesterday (56) and the boss's wife brought in a chocolate cake to send your saddle to Texas for! I almost enjoyed it twice...once on the way down and again on the way up. Any of the guys from the construction sites that could were invited in after work and several stopped in to have some cake too with their poor bald office manager. I wore a turban instead of a wig not suspecting anything. My site supervisor left me a huge bouquet of flowers when I came in. Oh I wish I didn't feel so sick, but I tried to keep a good face on it, then held my stomach all the way home.

Gabe N Abby Mom said:

You've received good advice
You've received good advice from everyone. The only thing I will add is that eating small amounts frequently worked well for me. (I liked bland foods, plain noodles, plain rice, instant mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, stone fruits.) In the chemo class they recommended Carnation instant breakfast, now called breakfast essentials...I often drank that when I couldn't really eat anything.

In my case, I couldn't drive/work on Ativan. You might try it in the evenings after work, any relief will help. I was told you could take it under the tongue too.

Finally, are you staying well hydrated? I ask because I know I am not as good at hydration when I am working. I found that the cycles where I didn't hydrate so well were much harder for me.

I hope you get some relief soon.

Hugs,

Linda