gag reflex
This is different to nausea. I do not feel sick before or after tossing my cookies. It happens as a reaction to the deep hack. As a result calories and hydration are suffering. Now I'm afraid of being on the table under the mask when an attack happens.
We're meeting with the Dr today to discuss so I'll keep you posted. Anyone else out there with a hair-trigger gag reflex?
Best,
Mick
Comments
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suction device
I was a gagger long before cancer, but the surgery stopped it for a brief spell, including the period during rads and chemo. It has returned with a vengeance and I suppose I should be grateful for that (?).
In the meantime, have you considered a home suction device? I went home from surgery with a small device that did the same sort of suction (albeit weaker, I'm sure) that the docs and nurses use typically.
It did not preclude SOME manual ejection of the mucous (for want of a better way to put it), but it helped a lot. You might ask your docs about the availability.
You are close to done with the rads, so they might be reticent but if so remind them that you will continue to cook for some time after the last treatment.
Take care,
Joe0 -
suctionsoccerfreaks said:suction device
I was a gagger long before cancer, but the surgery stopped it for a brief spell, including the period during rads and chemo. It has returned with a vengeance and I suppose I should be grateful for that (?).
In the meantime, have you considered a home suction device? I went home from surgery with a small device that did the same sort of suction (albeit weaker, I'm sure) that the docs and nurses use typically.
It did not preclude SOME manual ejection of the mucous (for want of a better way to put it), but it helped a lot. You might ask your docs about the availability.
You are close to done with the rads, so they might be reticent but if so remind them that you will continue to cook for some time after the last treatment.
Take care,
Joe
Hi Joe. The suction device is what they suggested today. I can swallow fine (trying broth at the moment - one false alarm so far), but the mucous is just too much and they said it worked for another patient who had a similar problem. If I can keep the mucous down they think it might mean less deep hacking coughs. Let's hope so.
I just got 2 liter of saline because they thought I was dehydrated. I was a little.
Best to everyone.
Mick0 -
Sorry manmicktissue said:suction
Hi Joe. The suction device is what they suggested today. I can swallow fine (trying broth at the moment - one false alarm so far), but the mucous is just too much and they said it worked for another patient who had a similar problem. If I can keep the mucous down they think it might mean less deep hacking coughs. Let's hope so.
I just got 2 liter of saline because they thought I was dehydrated. I was a little.
Best to everyone.
Mick
Hey Mick,
I'm gripin about not gettin treated on another thread and maybe I should be thankful. Hell I don't know man. Sorry you are having trouble with the mucous and I hope they get you a solution. But you know they are gonna start doubling up on me and that is going to whip my butt. They want me to do treatments on the weekend, not so sure about that. Hang in there man. At least it is encouraging to me that you can still swallow. The less I have to use this tube the better I will be.
Best to you and superwoman,(Claire)
Steve0 -
It's up to you guys, but IGRAVEY said:Oh yeah man, especially when
Oh yeah man, especially when I would try to brush my teeth!!! Oh man, I literally couldnt even touch the bristles of the brush to any part of my tongue without having to immediately throw up........
Sorry man,
GRAVEY
It's up to you guys, but I found smoking some Maryjane did absolute miracles for my chemo side affects, I mean it was a literal God send. I was on 3 nausea medications, 1 of which was actually an anti Psychotic medication that just so happened to help chemo patients with their side affects, but after I would smoke, it would do what all three of those man made drugs I was taking never did. It took away my nausea, it made me want to eat and I could even keep it down, and it also just took away the feeling miserable for at least a little while.
It may not be for you guys, but I figured, I was already getting nailed with two of the worst poisons on the planet, it couldnt hurt to try something natural. And again, thank goodness I tried it, it truly was a miracle.
GRAVEY0 -
mjGRAVEY said:It's up to you guys, but I
It's up to you guys, but I found smoking some Maryjane did absolute miracles for my chemo side affects, I mean it was a literal God send. I was on 3 nausea medications, 1 of which was actually an anti Psychotic medication that just so happened to help chemo patients with their side affects, but after I would smoke, it would do what all three of those man made drugs I was taking never did. It took away my nausea, it made me want to eat and I could even keep it down, and it also just took away the feeling miserable for at least a little while.
It may not be for you guys, but I figured, I was already getting nailed with two of the worst poisons on the planet, it couldnt hurt to try something natural. And again, thank goodness I tried it, it truly was a miracle.
GRAVEY
Im with you Gravey, I live in CA and got my medical marijuana card ASAP after treatment started. My docs all approved. I have posted before on the subject. The benefits to cancer patients are huge. I took all the pills and liquids and the MJ was the only thing that seemed to help in almost all areas. I slept great and a lot. Found myself zoning out for an hour or so on some TV show I didnt remember watching,I laughed at nothing at times-but 1 hour passed very nicely for a change. I got to where I could zone out for long periods and read or watch TV and forget my symptoms .I used a vaporizer so it didnt bother my throat at all.Simply put,it was easier to go thru with the MJ than without it in many ways-just my opinion.Its legal in CA .Its funny but you can ask,and get from any of your docs . enough meds to bring down an elephant but a little weed is a no-no. Make any sense?0 -
'Fluimucil' (Generic name: Acetylcysteinemicktissue said:suction
Hi Joe. The suction device is what they suggested today. I can swallow fine (trying broth at the moment - one false alarm so far), but the mucous is just too much and they said it worked for another patient who had a similar problem. If I can keep the mucous down they think it might mean less deep hacking coughs. Let's hope so.
I just got 2 liter of saline because they thought I was dehydrated. I was a little.
Best to everyone.
Mick
Guys, not sure if any of you have actually asked your docs about this medication ? I had it initially through a nebulizer i.e a funky thing plugged in that I breathed in from a tube and mouthpiece.
It tasted something awful. I later had the syrup or maybe tabs. I was in hospital all that time so with the morph etc I can't exactly remember the sequence but mine certainly subsided. This stuff breaks down the mucus. I would think the mucus is sitting somewhere in your throat Mick so heavily, it has your trigger mechanism ready. If that cleared, it may relieve the problem. I think they also gave me some Ventolin which also helped.
Hang in there Mick, you are doing better than I did. Also remember the 'breath through the nose' deal when yr in the mask if you get panicky.
Hang in there.
Scambuster0 -
Hey Mick
The problem I had was after puking for 2 weeks, my stomach shriveled, and the trigger was in the back of my throat. The littlest article would set it off like it knew my stomach was fed, and kept coughing till i gave anything or everything back up. It passes after a few weeks, but i felt the phlem and anything more than liquid was like a trap door and set off the cough, it passed for me, but once in a great while starts up and keep sgoing till it's a dry annoying cough, it just feels something is back there with my tonsils, but the doc said it's fine? Anything else on the dry cough, please let me know. Dennis0 -
gaggingdennis318 said:Hey Mick
The problem I had was after puking for 2 weeks, my stomach shriveled, and the trigger was in the back of my throat. The littlest article would set it off like it knew my stomach was fed, and kept coughing till i gave anything or everything back up. It passes after a few weeks, but i felt the phlem and anything more than liquid was like a trap door and set off the cough, it passed for me, but once in a great while starts up and keep sgoing till it's a dry annoying cough, it just feels something is back there with my tonsils, but the doc said it's fine? Anything else on the dry cough, please let me know. Dennis
yes, me too. i have had a problem with gag reflex even before the cancer. everytime he had to use that scope up my nose it was a production. if they spray anything in my mouth, i gag. i get sick easily and after radiation the cumulative effects of pain, burning and mucous made it worse. i wasn't nauseous either a lot of the time, but mucous would make me gag, and it was over. then i would get sick and nauseated. for me the gaging and vomiting got bad. i ended up losing the 40 lbs. they put me on metocloprimide. like reglan, but i did not like the way it made me feel. i am better now, but still have a hard time with gag reflex @ my dillatations and other procedures. hang in there mick you are getting near the end of treatment.
i go get my mickey button changed tomorrow. it freakin hurts. grrrrr. good times.0 -
Similar Issue
Hi Mick: I had much the same problem about the last week of my radiation treatments (completed in December 2003) - plus I had developed a bad cough. I began worrying about being on the table under the mask because of the coughing and gagging and that caused some mild panic attacks (which I had not had since my 1st week of radiation treatments). So for the last week (as I did for the 1st week) I took 1/2 of a Valium 1/2 hour before the start of my 30 minute radiation treatments. I also sucked on lemon drops to cut through the mucus and to stimulate my saliva glands - which helped calm down the cough. Hang in there, you're almost finished. Hugs!
Kathy0 -
Welcome Back!sweetblood22 said:gagging
yes, me too. i have had a problem with gag reflex even before the cancer. everytime he had to use that scope up my nose it was a production. if they spray anything in my mouth, i gag. i get sick easily and after radiation the cumulative effects of pain, burning and mucous made it worse. i wasn't nauseous either a lot of the time, but mucous would make me gag, and it was over. then i would get sick and nauseated. for me the gaging and vomiting got bad. i ended up losing the 40 lbs. they put me on metocloprimide. like reglan, but i did not like the way it made me feel. i am better now, but still have a hard time with gag reflex @ my dillatations and other procedures. hang in there mick you are getting near the end of treatment.
i go get my mickey button changed tomorrow. it freakin hurts. grrrrr. good times.
Glad to see your back SweetBlood! we where worried about you, hadn't seen you in a few. Take Care. Dennis0
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