Nausea

luvofmylif
luvofmylif Member Posts: 344
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
My husband received second dose of Cisplatin on Thursday along with the usual antimemitics(Amend, steroids, fluids) and then Zofran and Ativan for at home. With his first dose of chemo he did fairly well but this time is very nauseated and unable to eat or drink anything of consequence since yesterday. He had fluid replacement yesterday and will be going for fluids again on Monday.

Just wondering if anyone can offer advice as to how long nausea will continue. I am guessing that the second time is usually worse then the first as far as side effects.

Thanks for any help .


Joan

Comments

  • ditto1
    ditto1 Member Posts: 660
    #2
    Hey Joan
    As you have learned everyone is different in how they react, however in my case and I think many others Cisplatin is the tough chemo to tolerate. I did not do so well on my 1st or 2nd treatment. After the 1st time I needed and my wife and Doc insisted IV fluids, I believe knowing if I did not drink fluids by the 2nd treatment I would be back getting IV fluids again so I decided it was easier to drink than deal with IVs. But I do remember it was a tough time and usually the first two weeks after chemo I did not want to eat much and did not. Not sure any of this helps other than hearing from someone whos been thru it and survived.
  • luvofmylif
    luvofmylif Member Posts: 344
    #3
    ditto1 said:

    Hey Joan
    As you have learned everyone is different in how they react, however in my case and I think many others Cisplatin is the tough chemo to tolerate. I did not do so well on my 1st or 2nd treatment. After the 1st time I needed and my wife and Doc insisted IV fluids, I believe knowing if I did not drink fluids by the 2nd treatment I would be back getting IV fluids again so I decided it was easier to drink than deal with IVs. But I do remember it was a tough time and usually the first two weeks after chemo I did not want to eat much and did not. Not sure any of this helps other than hearing from someone whos been thru it and survived.

    No it helps. I guess he's
    No it helps. I guess he's doing about what is considered normal. I hope you are doing well now and thanks for the info. It's just hard seeing him so miserable.

    I know I sound redundant but I hate all this but each day gets us closer to the end of treatment.

    Joan
  • cureitall66
    cureitall66 Member Posts: 913
    #4
    luvofmylif said:

    No it helps. I guess he's
    No it helps. I guess he's doing about what is considered normal. I hope you are doing well now and thanks for the info. It's just hard seeing him so miserable.

    I know I sound redundant but I hate all this but each day gets us closer to the end of treatment.

    Joan

    Nausea...
    Only had nausea for the first two chemo tx(once a week). They put some nausea meds in his chemo from what I understand. It did subside. But, his chemo is Carboplatin and Paclitaxel.

    Yes, everyone is different and depends on the tx. I would mention at his next appt or call if his nausea turns real bad...maybe they can increase his nausea med or change it.

    We are dealing with low grade fever and thrush right now....

    Hope it gets better soon for you guys.
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #5
    I sure remember some of my bus mates having
    bad nausea after treatements...I was nauseated, but not pukey...I managed to get one high calorie Boost down per day, but that was about it...I got my chemo's on Tuesdays, and the nausea lasted till the next Sunday and maybe into Monday. For sure tho, it was gone by Weds. I did have "moments" tho, for a couple of weeks, where I'd see something that would make my stomach reel. Once I was sitting in a restaurant while my hubby ate breakfast and I saw a lady taking pills...that sent me over the edge, and I ended up in the parking lot with dry heaves.

    The only extra anti-nausea med I had that I don't see on your man's list was Compazine...it was part of the regular regime along with the Zophra and Ativan...

    p
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #6
    Still Nauseated?
    For me, Emend was a God-send. That and the steroids helped me feel good (and want to eat) for a couple days after treatment. He didn't miss any doses of anti-nausea meds, did he? I know I was told to never wait to develop nausea, but to take the meds on schedule, religiously. I did.

    Hoping the nausea fades quickly.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #7
    Emend
    You say that he recieved Emend on Thursday, then Zofran, etc... for home.

    Out of curiousity, was the Emend only given Thursday?

    Myself and others, the Emend was a 3-day sequence and labeled for each day..Day1, Day2, and Day3...similar to a Z-Pack.

    If they are only giving it once, that could leave him open to being sick for the few additional days.

    I know it's expensive, but when you need it, you need it.

    I never got sick during treatment, but I attribute a lot of that to those first few days on Emend.

    Zofran, and other milder would knock the edge of of the many times that I had slight nausea, but it came no where close to Emend.

    I was getting Cisplatin, Taxotere and 5FU during those periods. When just Carboplatin, only Zofran...

    JG
  • luvofmylif
    luvofmylif Member Posts: 344
    #8
    Skiffin16 said:

    Emend
    You say that he recieved Emend on Thursday, then Zofran, etc... for home.

    Out of curiousity, was the Emend only given Thursday?

    Myself and others, the Emend was a 3-day sequence and labeled for each day..Day1, Day2, and Day3...similar to a Z-Pack.

    If they are only giving it once, that could leave him open to being sick for the few additional days.

    I know it's expensive, but when you need it, you need it.

    I never got sick during treatment, but I attribute a lot of that to those first few days on Emend.

    Zofran, and other milder would knock the edge of of the many times that I had slight nausea, but it came no where close to Emend.

    I was getting Cisplatin, Taxotere and 5FU during those periods. When just Carboplatin, only Zofran...

    JG

    The Emend was IV on the day
    The Emend was IV on the day of chemo. No PO Emend was given. Maybe I will inquire about that. He is dehydrated I know and scheduled to get more IV fluids tomorrow. Thinking about taking him to the 24 hour clinic to get fluids today. He has taken very little liquids since Thursday.
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #9
    luvofmylif said:

    The Emend was IV on the day
    The Emend was IV on the day of chemo. No PO Emend was given. Maybe I will inquire about that. He is dehydrated I know and scheduled to get more IV fluids tomorrow. Thinking about taking him to the 24 hour clinic to get fluids today. He has taken very little liquids since Thursday.

    Emend three-pack
    My insurance balked at paying for the Emend three-pack. For some reason, their rules forbid them from doing that. Turns out all that was needed to fix that issue was for the doctor to prescribe me THREE one-packs. duh. okay. The Emend for three days really helped me. That, and the zofran, ativan and compazine. And steroids.

    Deb
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #10
    Skiffin16 said:

    Emend
    You say that he recieved Emend on Thursday, then Zofran, etc... for home.

    Out of curiousity, was the Emend only given Thursday?

    Myself and others, the Emend was a 3-day sequence and labeled for each day..Day1, Day2, and Day3...similar to a Z-Pack.

    If they are only giving it once, that could leave him open to being sick for the few additional days.

    I know it's expensive, but when you need it, you need it.

    I never got sick during treatment, but I attribute a lot of that to those first few days on Emend.

    Zofran, and other milder would knock the edge of of the many times that I had slight nausea, but it came no where close to Emend.

    I was getting Cisplatin, Taxotere and 5FU during those periods. When just Carboplatin, only Zofran...

    JG

    I also got Emend in a pack...mine was two, 2 day packs....
    for each Chemo...My insurance paid for the biggest portion, tho it was still $100....definately ask you Onc about these...they are expensive, but make a world of difference.

    p
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #11
    my
    my favorite was Zofran by IV, the tablets at home did nothing for me except empty my wallet.

    sure hope it get's better soon

    john
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #12
    Hydration is Key...
    I can definitely tell you if he's dehydrated, meds aren't gonna matter...

    It's a vicious circle, the worse you feel, the more you wanna sleep, the less you drink, the worse you feel....yada, yada, yada...

    Get extra fluids anyways, I don't think you can get enough in you, and it will definitely make you feel better.

    JG

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