anti-nausea medicine

frog08 · August 2003

My first chemo was Wed.. I felt fine until abou 3:30 pm that afternoon. I got a terrible headache and I started feeling stick to my stomach. I took the zophram and compuzene they suggested. I began throwing up until about 8:00 pm that evening. The doctor prescribed Adavan, which seemed to calm it down a little. They told me to continue to take the Zophran every 8 hours. I tried to take it last night and threw up as soon as I did. I feel a little sick this morning, and I don't know what to take. Any suggestions or comments. Anybody had same experience? Thanks for your help! Linda

momof4 · August 2003

Linda i am sorry you are feeling so sick when i was doing my CEF chemo on the first one i was ok but as the treatments when on i was sick as a dog, trowing up even if i took a sip of water that lasted for me the first 3/4 days and unfurtunately anything i tokk didnt help zofran nor compasine and another that i was to take every 12 hrs nothing helped but that will pass it might seem a long time from now but it will
I am now on 4 rounds of taxol had one done 3 to go and no nausea but lots of fatigue and leg pain make sure you dont become dehydrated and chew on ice if you can or at least take small sips of water. Keep us posted
Hugs Mariat.

frog08 · August 2003

momof4 said:
Linda i am sorry you are feeling so sick when i was doing my CEF chemo on the first one i was ok but as the treatments when on i was sick as a dog, trowing up even if i took a sip of water that lasted for me the first 3/4 days and unfurtunately anything i tokk didnt help zofran nor compasine and another that i was to take every 12 hrs nothing helped but that will pass it might seem a long time from now but it will
I am now on 4 rounds of taxol had one done 3 to go and no nausea but lots of fatigue and leg pain make sure you dont become dehydrated and chew on ice if you can or at least take small sips of water. Keep us posted
Hugs Mariat.

thanks for your help!
linda

frog08 · August 2003

momof4 said:
Linda i am sorry you are feeling so sick when i was doing my CEF chemo on the first one i was ok but as the treatments when on i was sick as a dog, trowing up even if i took a sip of water that lasted for me the first 3/4 days and unfurtunately anything i tokk didnt help zofran nor compasine and another that i was to take every 12 hrs nothing helped but that will pass it might seem a long time from now but it will
I am now on 4 rounds of taxol had one done 3 to go and no nausea but lots of fatigue and leg pain make sure you dont become dehydrated and chew on ice if you can or at least take small sips of water. Keep us posted
Hugs Mariat.

Husband Missing In Action!!
My husband went into a state of shock when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I guess he's still there. He missed a couple weeks of work going from therapist to doctor because he said he couldn't handle me having cancer. He felt guilty because financially 2 years ago he got us into so much debt that I don't know if we'll ever see the light again. Now he says he's guilty because he feels responsible for my cancer. Unfortunately while he's trying to help himself, he's MIA for me and our children. It seems everything is about him. How he's feeling. How hard he has to work. How bad he feels. What's going to happen if something happens to me. He comes in from work, goes up to his den and we don't see him till the next morning. He doesn't ask about how I'm feeling. He doesn't ask if the kids have homework or how they are doing. It's really hard going through this alone. I worry about the kids too! They need him to be strong and be there for them right now. Have any of you ever experienced anything like this? Does it get better? He's never been a caregiver. His family are not caregivers. He can't rub my back without looking at his watch to see how long he's been sitting there. Help!
Linda

simmonsg · August 2003

I had a terrible time when I did 3 round of A/C. I sipped through a straw on gatorade on ice - applejuice on ice and flat gingerale on ice. That stayed on my stomach but the nausea was terrible. Could not find food of any type that stayed. It lasted for about 3 to 4 days after each treatment. I spoke with the doctors and they said not to worry so much about solid food - but fluids were a must. One of the ladies at the clinic where I received treatment was going through the same thing and they prescribed for her Compuzine suppositories. She said they help alot. Do not drink any caffine drinks - try also frozen juice pops - they make the throat feel good and they worked for me.

Good luck - I understand what is happening - just try all different things to find something that works. Hugs and prayers are comming your way.

celticmist62 · August 2003

Hi Linda. I too am sorry that you're feeling bad. When I was on A/C, compazene did not work well at all. My doctor prescribed suppositories (i think they're called Tigand) then he subscribed Ativan. He said that I could take the two in conjuction because there came a time when I had trouble keeping the Ativan down. I found that if I took the suppository first, waited about an hour then took the Ativan, I did a lot better. A lot better. I'd still get sick, but maybe two or three times in a four day period. I hope they can find the combination that works right for you.

Clara304 · August 2003

celticmist62 said:
Hi Linda. I too am sorry that you're feeling bad. When I was on A/C, compazene did not work well at all. My doctor prescribed suppositories (i think they're called Tigand) then he subscribed Ativan. He said that I could take the two in conjuction because there came a time when I had trouble keeping the Ativan down. I found that if I took the suppository first, waited about an hour then took the Ativan, I did a lot better. A lot better. I'd still get sick, but maybe two or three times in a four day period. I hope they can find the combination that works right for you.

I am really sorry that you are feeling bad. When I was going thru chemo, it took a while until I found the right combination of drugs that would help with the nauseau, but I finally found that the combination of Emend and Kytril worked for me, along with Ativan. Compazene made me vomit within hours. Maybe the combo of Emend and Kytril will work for you also. I hope so. Good luck!

cammie · August 2003

I too had Zophram compezine and adivan, nothing worked. After a while they gave me dexametozone. It is a steroid. But geez it helped. I am a diabetic, so I would have to eat and take insulin, and had a awful time. Dexametozone helped to keep food down. Let us know how you are doing. Best wishes. Love Cammie

jeancmici · August 2003

cammie said:
I too had Zophram compezine and adivan, nothing worked. After a while they gave me dexametozone. It is a steroid. But geez it helped. I am a diabetic, so I would have to eat and take insulin, and had a awful time. Dexametozone helped to keep food down. Let us know how you are doing. Best wishes. Love Cammie

Cammie,

Please don't think I am nosy, but I am wondering where you are having your chemo - the reason I ask is because dexamethasone also called decadron is always given before chemo along wth Zofran. This is pretty standard treatment but obviously every place does not follow established practices.

So glad they finally got it right for you.
Hugs, Jean

smvargo · August 2003

Frog,
I would get sicker on Zofran than off of it. Compazine worked after the first dose and then stopped. Ativan really helped to take the edge off and my onc. finally offered a Rx. for Marinol. I was also on Decadron. I was on AC and this combo made things bearable. I still felt nausea, and as my treatments went on my nausea would last until the next treatment. The Dr's acted so suprised about how much trouble I was having. They actually recommended a brain scan!!! Finally, a wonderful chemo nurse said, "Honey, we got the pukers and the non-pukers. If you were a puker before chemo. you're gonna be a worse puker during chemo." Validation! I would get an upset stomach at the mention of something unsavory before the cancer.
The advice you are getting about taking in fluids is excellent. I ended up dehydrated had to be on IV fluids and Kytrel for several hours. Kytrel (IV) always worked through my chemo. day and about half way through the next.
Keep asking until you are given something that works. It does feel horrid---makes a root canal feel like a walk in the park. Much love.
Stephanie (in the puker camp)

mc2001 · August 2003

Hello Linda,
I am sorry you are feeling so sick. Unfortunately there are some crummy side effects with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. But, fortunately there are many good medicines that help with those side effects. Some may work better than others, and not everyone responds the same way so you need to find one that works for you. I am giving you the names of the meds that I took for nausea and pain. By the way, I am a leukemia survivor, not a bc survivor....
Nausea: Ativan, Zofran, Kytril, Benadryl, Phenergan, Versed, and Marinol. Not all the medicines have to be taken orally. Some can be taken IV or in a suppository.
Pain: Tylenol-3, Demerol, Morphine, Dilaudid, Percocet, Darvocet, MS-Contin, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Codeine, and Oxymorphone. Granted this was not all at once, but over an extended treatment period.
Many physicians are hesitant to give these drugs because they are afraid of causing addiction, but this is not the case. When person needs pain meds for cancer pain, and other real pain, I am told that there is almost a zero percent chance for addiction. I have some information on my website (for leukemia but a lot of info on general cancers) about chemos side effects, and pain management.
And one more tip: Dont be afraid to be aggressive if you have to. Your well being is MUCH more important than the feelings of your doctor. Take care and Peace be with you.
-Michael
Here is my leukemia website. It also contains information for most other cancers and treatment.
www.geocities.com/leukemia_lymphoma

cammie · August 2003

jeancmici said:
Cammie,

Please don't think I am nosy, but I am wondering where you are having your chemo - the reason I ask is because dexamethasone also called decadron is always given before chemo along wth Zofran. This is pretty standard treatment but obviously every place does not follow established practices.

So glad they finally got it right for you.
Hugs, Jean

Jean - yes I got the decadron also during chemo, but I received some for after the treatment as well. It helped to snap me out of getting sick. Of course you don't sleep with this stuff. But the house gets clean. lol (((Hugs))) Cammie

chemoqueen1 · August 2003

I just finished Chemo. Although I was not on AC I was given Decadron 1 day before, the day of and the day after Chemo. I have also heard some really good things about Ammend, you may want to ask you Doc to try ammend for the nausea. Insist on trying differant meds until you find one that works

joules112 · August 2003

I had to do the compazined suppositories to just stop the vomitting. My mother in law brought by a lemon freeze thing from Fazoli's and that actually tasted good and stayed down. And it's a way to keep you hydrated. I'm sure any kind of frozen ice product would probably help.

I'm so sorry that you're not feeling well. I can't think of anything else they did that actually worked for me. Of course, the steroids are always a possibility. Good luck

anti-nausea medicine

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