Fatigue/Nausea

I found anti-acids helpful, also Ativan-(SP) for my nausea during Folfox, but it can make you drowsy. Also, Root Beer-(flat) helped. so far as the diet, it varies so much with the individual, it's difficult to say what works; I found that lighter foods, such as soups, yogurt, and fruits,plus plenty of liquids-water, fruit juice,
gatorade, etc seemed to be tolerated better. Hydration is very important-keep water with you all the time.Ask the nurse/doctor if they have any
diet suggestions-there is usually some expertise availble. Nanuk

Hi Jen,
I think I remember mashed potatoes setting pretty well, and comfort-food-type things....but I also found that the less refined, the better my system like it: whole grain breads and pastas, salads and less-cooked vegetables.
I really hate to tell you that the tiredness will prevail during this fun regime. But there is an endpoint!! As for working, I would really look at limiting things.....but some work might help you feel more normal. My doc forbid everything for me -- working and grad school -- but Folfox hit me like a freight train, so I am glad that he made decisions for me. All the best to you and do ask around. It is really hard to be accepting something into our system which we know will make us feel strange and poorly....and yet we still aren't sure of the full extent. Take care and all the best to you -- Maura

Hi Jen,

So sorry you have to be here with us but you did find a wonderful group of people. I did folfox with avastin for 8 months and the beginning was by far the easiest. I found eating a really good meal the night and morning before treatment really helped me the most. I also took food with me to my treatments. I drank a gallon of water the day before, day of, and the days after chemo. Protein and starches seemed to hold the nausea at bay. I lived off oatmeal for one month, then grits. Dairy products really bothered me, as did anything greasy (butter and olive oil included). I remember having to force myself to eat whether I wanted to or not. There were times when nothing in my cabinets or fridge felt right to eat, but I would make myself find something. I also found that scratching and sniffing a lemon helped with the nausea. Find you own way, experiment, but bottom line, keep stuff in your tummy to soak up the nasty poisons right before, during, and right after your treatments. If you don't, YOU WILL GET SICK.

Lean towards bland type foods. I found that keeping myself from getting nauseous was the key. Once you feel it, it is hard to turn around. I will also share with you that once the nausea hits, you should lay down in the dark and let it pass. With you working that may be difficult.

I totally agree with Maura about working. My job was my life (bad me), until I got cancer. I worked the first 4 months of my chemo treatments and did the worst work I have ever done in my life and regret it now. My job was very challenging and extremely stressful. You are much younger then I was (I was 49) so you may be able to juggle both but at what cost to you and your health??????

I was stage IV with mets to my liver and one lung. I never was able to have surgery, so chemo was it. I did it for 8 months and eventually felt like it was killing me so I found a local naturopathic doctor, completly changed my diet and other lifestyle things (like work), took lots of vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements and am now NED (no evidence of disease) with no cancer surgeries!!!!!!!!!

If you want to know more, send me an email here and I will be more then happy to help.

Take care of yourself, but more importantly, take special care of yourself. You deserve it and personally, I think your body will thank you in the long run and help you fight the ****.

Lisa P.

Jen28 said:

Thank you all for your advice regarding the fatigue and foods. I'm going to try to stock up on some easy to tolerate foods (using your suggestions) this weekend.

With the fatigue issue, I've realized that, at a minimum, I'm not going to be able to do as much at work as I've been used to doing, and am going to need more flexibility. I am single and support myself, so it would be a bit of a challenge for me to take a leave of absence during chemo, but I'm going to look into my disability coverage and am going to think about it. I'd like to wait until January to make a decision about it (because I'll be eligible to take leave under FMLA in January). Depending on how I feel after my next two treatments (and I'm guessing the fatigue will just get worse), I may switch to working half time (taking the week right after chemo off) or taking a leave of absence.

I get a blood draw tomorrow, so I should find out tomorrow if lowered blood counts are causing the fatigue. The idea of taking ritalin for fatigue is also really interesting--I think I'm going to ask my oncologist about it next week.

Jen

I had 7 rounds of Folfox, then the side effects got tougher (tingling in hands and feet, very seriously) and now I am on Folfiri. I worked for 18 months of chemo (I am stage 4 and have no choice but to continue treatments) and now am on permanent disability. I am 59 and the disability policy is good, so no problems there. If you can "somehow" manage to not work the fatigue will be dramatically reduced. It happened to me, anyway, retiring was the best decision I have made. Hope this helps, Email me if you need more info.

scouty said:

Hi Jen,

So sorry you have to be here with us but you did find a wonderful group of people. I did folfox with avastin for 8 months and the beginning was by far the easiest. I found eating a really good meal the night and morning before treatment really helped me the most. I also took food with me to my treatments. I drank a gallon of water the day before, day of, and the days after chemo. Protein and starches seemed to hold the nausea at bay. I lived off oatmeal for one month, then grits. Dairy products really bothered me, as did anything greasy (butter and olive oil included). I remember having to force myself to eat whether I wanted to or not. There were times when nothing in my cabinets or fridge felt right to eat, but I would make myself find something. I also found that scratching and sniffing a lemon helped with the nausea. Find you own way, experiment, but bottom line, keep stuff in your tummy to soak up the nasty poisons right before, during, and right after your treatments. If you don't, YOU WILL GET SICK.

Lean towards bland type foods. I found that keeping myself from getting nauseous was the key. Once you feel it, it is hard to turn around. I will also share with you that once the nausea hits, you should lay down in the dark and let it pass. With you working that may be difficult.

I totally agree with Maura about working. My job was my life (bad me), until I got cancer. I worked the first 4 months of my chemo treatments and did the worst work I have ever done in my life and regret it now. My job was very challenging and extremely stressful. You are much younger then I was (I was 49) so you may be able to juggle both but at what cost to you and your health??????

I was stage IV with mets to my liver and one lung. I never was able to have surgery, so chemo was it. I did it for 8 months and eventually felt like it was killing me so I found a local naturopathic doctor, completly changed my diet and other lifestyle things (like work), took lots of vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements and am now NED (no evidence of disease) with no cancer surgeries!!!!!!!!!

If you want to know more, send me an email here and I will be more then happy to help.

Take care of yourself, but more importantly, take special care of yourself. You deserve it and personally, I think your body will thank you in the long run and help you fight the ****.

Lisa P.

Hello, I was reading and you

Hello, I was reading and you state that you found a naturopathic doctor and made changes in your life?? Did you stop the chemo??Or did you continue taking it?? Thank you..