2nd cisplatin treatment (sick)

terryscarlett
terryscarlett Member Posts: 143
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Dave has had several bad days since his treatment on Tuesday! This was his 2nd chemo treatment (with 1 more in 3 weeks) and has had 15 rads getting a total of (39 rads) before done.
He has been very sick to his stomach Not wanting to take his feedings at all! Forcing him to take what I can) I tell him, you have to do this because your not eating at all, other than (Green tea daily all day long). I need advice to help him get over the hump and keep his mind on the positive outcome. This is the 2nd night in a row he has skipped his last feeding. I am worried he is going to loose more weight and his energy level is gone. He is laying in the lounge chair sleeping only moving to go to restroom and then to the couch where he spends the night. He has stopped coming to bed to sleep ( now a couch potato) any suggestions or advice is greatly appreciated. I am truely worried!!!!
What can I do to help him? (I am lost)

Comments

  • tonyanddenise
    tonyanddenise Member Posts: 70
    2ns cisplatin
    Hello, sounds very familiar I just spent almost 3 weeks in the hospital due to not enough nutrition and complications. I would ask your M.O. about the sancuso trans dermal patch for nausea in combination with EMEND Bi-pack. Post Chemo for the Emend, 3 days prior for the patch. this helped me greatly. I seem to be hypersensitive and still had some issues. do not discourage any liquids that he can swallow especially if his tastes have turned bad like mine. He will need to swallow all the way through. try carnation instant breakfast,boost, ensure anything for nutrients.I did not tolerate any of it well. every one is different. I do not have a recliner, I would have lived in it if I did. It is going to get a bit worse before it gets better. Not news you are looking for just real. I am sorry. I finished treatment only a week ago and still feel pretty rough. I AM getting better you/he will too. Keep the faith. when I feel I can't go on I hold my wife and simply cry. It cleanses my soul. We will all be better hang in there!
  • terryscarlett
    terryscarlett Member Posts: 143

    2ns cisplatin
    Hello, sounds very familiar I just spent almost 3 weeks in the hospital due to not enough nutrition and complications. I would ask your M.O. about the sancuso trans dermal patch for nausea in combination with EMEND Bi-pack. Post Chemo for the Emend, 3 days prior for the patch. this helped me greatly. I seem to be hypersensitive and still had some issues. do not discourage any liquids that he can swallow especially if his tastes have turned bad like mine. He will need to swallow all the way through. try carnation instant breakfast,boost, ensure anything for nutrients.I did not tolerate any of it well. every one is different. I do not have a recliner, I would have lived in it if I did. It is going to get a bit worse before it gets better. Not news you are looking for just real. I am sorry. I finished treatment only a week ago and still feel pretty rough. I AM getting better you/he will too. Keep the faith. when I feel I can't go on I hold my wife and simply cry. It cleanses my soul. We will all be better hang in there!

    M.O.
    Who is MO?
    He has had the emend and finished it yesterday. His first treatment of chemo side effects(lasted for 3 days) I am hoping tomorrow will be a better day (day 4) I don't know though as the rads are building up along with the every 3 weeks of cisplatin. May be building up to a point of no return until the treatment is over, and time hopefully will lesson the symptoms? Dave had such a possitive outlook going in to treatment and now it seems to me he is tired and sort of giving in. He has got to get the calories in to keep up his weight along with his energy level! But he has just kind of laid down on me and I am scared for him!!! I see a difference in the look in his eyes when I feed the tube. He is totally dependant on me to be here and do every feeding, get his tea, change his bandages over the tube daily, ect!
    I don't mind doing all this for him, but he needs to get up and move around and help himself where possible. He has got to keep active if possible! Am I doing the wrong thing by being there for every need? I feel he is giving up and I need to put some smoke under his a## if you know what I mean? Am I right?
  • terryscarlett
    terryscarlett Member Posts: 143

    M.O.
    Who is MO?
    He has had the emend and finished it yesterday. His first treatment of chemo side effects(lasted for 3 days) I am hoping tomorrow will be a better day (day 4) I don't know though as the rads are building up along with the every 3 weeks of cisplatin. May be building up to a point of no return until the treatment is over, and time hopefully will lesson the symptoms? Dave had such a possitive outlook going in to treatment and now it seems to me he is tired and sort of giving in. He has got to get the calories in to keep up his weight along with his energy level! But he has just kind of laid down on me and I am scared for him!!! I see a difference in the look in his eyes when I feed the tube. He is totally dependant on me to be here and do every feeding, get his tea, change his bandages over the tube daily, ect!
    I don't mind doing all this for him, but he needs to get up and move around and help himself where possible. He has got to keep active if possible! Am I doing the wrong thing by being there for every need? I feel he is giving up and I need to put some smoke under his a## if you know what I mean? Am I right?

    Any one there to help
    Please I need some replys to help us with the side effects Dave has to deal with and not able to take his tube feedings! I am really worried for him.
  • JohnnyP
    JohnnyP Member Posts: 1
    2nd Cisplatin
    I was sick for about a week. But you have to stay as active as you possibly can. Went for walks around the mall. I could not eat. Drank ensure had chocolate shakes, pudding & fruit cups to get something in my stomach. Even tried cereal, sometimes it would stay down other times not. Got very dehydrated right before my third and last. Thank goodness I was at hospital when I fainted. My total weight loss was 40 pounds.
  • team stevens
    team stevens Member Posts: 46

    M.O.
    Who is MO?
    He has had the emend and finished it yesterday. His first treatment of chemo side effects(lasted for 3 days) I am hoping tomorrow will be a better day (day 4) I don't know though as the rads are building up along with the every 3 weeks of cisplatin. May be building up to a point of no return until the treatment is over, and time hopefully will lesson the symptoms? Dave had such a possitive outlook going in to treatment and now it seems to me he is tired and sort of giving in. He has got to get the calories in to keep up his weight along with his energy level! But he has just kind of laid down on me and I am scared for him!!! I see a difference in the look in his eyes when I feed the tube. He is totally dependant on me to be here and do every feeding, get his tea, change his bandages over the tube daily, ect!
    I don't mind doing all this for him, but he needs to get up and move around and help himself where possible. He has got to keep active if possible! Am I doing the wrong thing by being there for every need? I feel he is giving up and I need to put some smoke under his a## if you know what I mean? Am I right?

    know the feeling
    hey, i can relate to what you're going through. my husband was very active before all of this and loved to cook. he was determined to do whatever it took to beat this thing. week 3 of rads, a bump formed on the side of his neck.a biopsy tested +. even then he said "i had a complete glossectomy, this little bump isn't gonna stop me". but they widened the range of his radiation & he had to stay on the table an additional 10 minutes each session to make sure they killed the dern thing.week 5 he gave up doing for himself just like right after the surgery.told me he wasn't going back..he couldn't take it anymore. i held him & prayed..he did go back & even met with a nutritionist about other things that could go in the tube. he gets organic ginger root & brews tea for nausea, & makes organic veggie soup that he blends & has along with ensure plus & replete. adding familiar foods motivated him. still has alot of fatigue..some days no energy whatsoever, but getting better. CSN is a God send. when he started reading the threads & seeing other people describe what he's been going through & he got pumped up.joining this family did wonders for him.

    thanks for taking us in
    love & prayers to everyone here
  • terryscarlett
    terryscarlett Member Posts: 143

    know the feeling
    hey, i can relate to what you're going through. my husband was very active before all of this and loved to cook. he was determined to do whatever it took to beat this thing. week 3 of rads, a bump formed on the side of his neck.a biopsy tested +. even then he said "i had a complete glossectomy, this little bump isn't gonna stop me". but they widened the range of his radiation & he had to stay on the table an additional 10 minutes each session to make sure they killed the dern thing.week 5 he gave up doing for himself just like right after the surgery.told me he wasn't going back..he couldn't take it anymore. i held him & prayed..he did go back & even met with a nutritionist about other things that could go in the tube. he gets organic ginger root & brews tea for nausea, & makes organic veggie soup that he blends & has along with ensure plus & replete. adding familiar foods motivated him. still has alot of fatigue..some days no energy whatsoever, but getting better. CSN is a God send. when he started reading the threads & seeing other people describe what he's been going through & he got pumped up.joining this family did wonders for him.

    thanks for taking us in
    love & prayers to everyone here

    Eating
    Thank you and I will pass this along to david
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member

    Any one there to help
    Please I need some replys to help us with the side effects Dave has to deal with and not able to take his tube feedings! I am really worried for him.

    Terry
    Terry

    Hey, I may have skimmed over your messages too fast. Did you mention, does Dave have any antinausea meds other than the Emend? I was given Zofran to take every day for a week after each chemo treatment. Then, I had compazine and ativan for breakthrough nausea. Emend isn't enough. With Cisplatin, and likely with other chemo drugs, the nausea is the worst on day three after receiving the chemo.

    Also, beyond a certain point, the man is sick sick sick. It isn't going to kill him to skip a few tube feedings. I took in a lot less nutrition during each of the three chemo weeks, lost a few pounds, but it really helped the nausea for me to reduce my food intake. He will be better in a week. Just concentrate on feeding him as much as he will stand, IN BETWEEN the "chemo weeks."

    Send me a private email. Add me to your friend list, and then you can ask questions directly. Its easier than trying to keep up with every thread.

    Dave will get through this. And, sometimes, he's going to have no choice but to eat less.
    It's okay.

    Deb
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    D Lewis said:

    Terry
    Terry

    Hey, I may have skimmed over your messages too fast. Did you mention, does Dave have any antinausea meds other than the Emend? I was given Zofran to take every day for a week after each chemo treatment. Then, I had compazine and ativan for breakthrough nausea. Emend isn't enough. With Cisplatin, and likely with other chemo drugs, the nausea is the worst on day three after receiving the chemo.

    Also, beyond a certain point, the man is sick sick sick. It isn't going to kill him to skip a few tube feedings. I took in a lot less nutrition during each of the three chemo weeks, lost a few pounds, but it really helped the nausea for me to reduce my food intake. He will be better in a week. Just concentrate on feeding him as much as he will stand, IN BETWEEN the "chemo weeks."

    Send me a private email. Add me to your friend list, and then you can ask questions directly. Its easier than trying to keep up with every thread.

    Dave will get through this. And, sometimes, he's going to have no choice but to eat less.
    It's okay.

    Deb

    Also, hydration
    Terry

    Is Dave getting IV hydration before he gets each of his chemo treatments? If not, demand it, during the last Cisplatin treatment. I got a bag of water, then the chemo, then a saline flush. Also, three different anti-nausea meds via the same IV.

    Just have him keep sipping the tea every day, every week. That will help with the hydration. Most of the issues folks are having here, are more a result of dehydration than a lack of nutrients. Dave will get by a lot longer without food than he will without water. I went from 145 pounds to 120 pounds, but I stayed hydrated.

    Remember, the rads and the chemo are cumulative. Each treatment will make him feel worse. He will likely be even sicker after his third round, but he WILL get through it. And, don't freak out because he looks like hell, and has no energy. It's what happens. We all go through it. You ain't seen nothin yet.

    Deb

    Deb
  • Jimbo55
    Jimbo55 Member Posts: 590 Member
    JohnnyP said:

    2nd Cisplatin
    I was sick for about a week. But you have to stay as active as you possibly can. Went for walks around the mall. I could not eat. Drank ensure had chocolate shakes, pudding & fruit cups to get something in my stomach. Even tried cereal, sometimes it would stay down other times not. Got very dehydrated right before my third and last. Thank goodness I was at hospital when I fainted. My total weight loss was 40 pounds.

    Yes try to stay active
    TerryScarlett, as JohnnyP just put it, Dave should try and stay active, nothing strenuous mind you but active none the less. One of my goals during treatment was to take a 30 minute walk/stroll each day. My wife and I would stop off after the daily rad treatment at a park near our house. It worked out well for both of us, I took a stroll around the park and my wife would go shopping in the mall next door! By the end of treatment, I could barely make the 30 minutes. Studies have shown that daily exercise helps to combat the fatigue we all feel. It also might help with his appetite. I found that pudding, canned fruit, oatmeal, soups were a few of the things that were easiest for me to eat. And certainly I would encourage him to read the posts on this site. Perhaps tell him you won't stop bothering him until he gets off his a**???? My wife used that trick with me!! Cheers

    Jimbo
  • rmdgy
    rmdgy Member Posts: 22
    Benecalorie, Meds and Hydration
    I can relate to your comments. After my 2nd round of Cisplatin I had a similar experience. I did not want my tube feedings, could not taste anything, hated the smell of food, etc...

    A couple of comments:
    1. Keep pumping water through the G tube, also try Powerade or Gatorade to add a few calories to the hydration. My wife found an ice crusher and also added the Powerade to the crushed ice to sip on during the day. This really helped later when my throat was hurting from the rads.
    2. We found Benecalorie Concentrated Liquid Nutrition on the internet. Each small 1.5 oz container added to a whopping 330 calories and 7 g of protein to my "shakes". I could not tolerate the smell of Ensure so I switched to Carnation Instant Breakfast drink mixed with lactose free milk.
    3. Speak with the medical team (Med Onc, Rad Onc, Dietician) about additional meds to take for nausea. I was on two other meds in addition to the Emend. Also, they prescribed Sancuso transdermal patches for me after the third round.

    Stay positive! I am 14 months post treatment (33 rads and 3 Cisplatin for SCC, right tonsil). My salvia and taste buds are back. Unfortunately, I gained back all 43 pounds that I lost during the treatments last summer. Met with my ENT yesterday. Everything looks good...N.E.D. I go back at the end of October for my next CT scan.

    God Bless

    DGY
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    rmdgy said:

    Benecalorie, Meds and Hydration
    I can relate to your comments. After my 2nd round of Cisplatin I had a similar experience. I did not want my tube feedings, could not taste anything, hated the smell of food, etc...

    A couple of comments:
    1. Keep pumping water through the G tube, also try Powerade or Gatorade to add a few calories to the hydration. My wife found an ice crusher and also added the Powerade to the crushed ice to sip on during the day. This really helped later when my throat was hurting from the rads.
    2. We found Benecalorie Concentrated Liquid Nutrition on the internet. Each small 1.5 oz container added to a whopping 330 calories and 7 g of protein to my "shakes". I could not tolerate the smell of Ensure so I switched to Carnation Instant Breakfast drink mixed with lactose free milk.
    3. Speak with the medical team (Med Onc, Rad Onc, Dietician) about additional meds to take for nausea. I was on two other meds in addition to the Emend. Also, they prescribed Sancuso transdermal patches for me after the third round.

    Stay positive! I am 14 months post treatment (33 rads and 3 Cisplatin for SCC, right tonsil). My salvia and taste buds are back. Unfortunately, I gained back all 43 pounds that I lost during the treatments last summer. Met with my ENT yesterday. Everything looks good...N.E.D. I go back at the end of October for my next CT scan.

    God Bless

    DGY

    Positive mdgy
    Hey DGY

    So happy to hear you are 14 months post treatment with NED! And, that you have both tastebuds and saliva!

    I'm currently 4 months post treatment, with NED. Sadly, I also have NES, or No Evidence of Saliva. Here's hoping I'm where you are now, when I am 14 months out.

    Deb
  • adventurebob
    adventurebob Member Posts: 691
    suggestions
    Hi Terry,
    I haven't started radiation yet but I have had 3 rounds of Cisplatin and have managed to stay ahead of most of the side effects, especially the nausea with medical marijuana. I live in California where it is legal and the docs actually recommend it and prescribe it for cancer treatment. For me it has been the difference between having horrible nausea or having almost none and between having no appetite and being disgusted by the thought of food and eating normally throughout the entire day. I use a vaporizer to dispense the marijuana as I don't want any smoke in my system. I'm not sure if this is an option for you and Dave but it has been a real blessing for me. Also, green tea has caffeine in it and is an appetite supressant. It is important to drink green tea for all the anti-cancer benefits but it will kill an appetite fast. I'm not sure how much of a factor appetite is with the feeding tube but it can't be any fun with the nausea. I'm sorry for the difficulty you're going through right now. You and Dave are in my prayers this evening.

    Bob
  • Scambuster
    Scambuster Member Posts: 973

    Eating
    Thank you and I will pass this along to david

    If he is real bad ..
    Terry, I had a different regime but got very sick during the last 3 weeks of treatment and I was put in hospital. If you think he needs more support than you can provide, let your Doctors know and maybe admit him to hospital for a few days.

    Don't be afraid to push the Doctors if you feel you need to. He has to be hydrated and to get a minimum amount of nutrition in. if he is in hospital, that can give give fluids with an IV.

    These chemicals and the radiation are shocking for the body so it's no wonder he is sick. He is most likely very depressed as well so keep an eye on that. Remind him it is treatment that is making him sick, NOT the Cancer. Many of us were ready to throw in the towel during the horrible phase Dave is going through now. Keep reassuring him he will get past this low point.

    Keep us updated.

    Scam
  • terryscarlett
    terryscarlett Member Posts: 143
    rmdgy said:

    Benecalorie, Meds and Hydration
    I can relate to your comments. After my 2nd round of Cisplatin I had a similar experience. I did not want my tube feedings, could not taste anything, hated the smell of food, etc...

    A couple of comments:
    1. Keep pumping water through the G tube, also try Powerade or Gatorade to add a few calories to the hydration. My wife found an ice crusher and also added the Powerade to the crushed ice to sip on during the day. This really helped later when my throat was hurting from the rads.
    2. We found Benecalorie Concentrated Liquid Nutrition on the internet. Each small 1.5 oz container added to a whopping 330 calories and 7 g of protein to my "shakes". I could not tolerate the smell of Ensure so I switched to Carnation Instant Breakfast drink mixed with lactose free milk.
    3. Speak with the medical team (Med Onc, Rad Onc, Dietician) about additional meds to take for nausea. I was on two other meds in addition to the Emend. Also, they prescribed Sancuso transdermal patches for me after the third round.

    Stay positive! I am 14 months post treatment (33 rads and 3 Cisplatin for SCC, right tonsil). My salvia and taste buds are back. Unfortunately, I gained back all 43 pounds that I lost during the treatments last summer. Met with my ENT yesterday. Everything looks good...N.E.D. I go back at the end of October for my next CT scan.

    God Bless

    DGY

    Thank you
    So great to hear you are doing great and recovered so well! Praise God!
    I got up this morning and Dave had fixed himself a bowl of oatmeal and a glass of milk( whoo hoo) I was so happy to hear it. He has a upper plate with the middle being metal!!!!
    He took it out to eat and said he thinks that may be what's causing the bad taste. MAYBE we can get some real food down now KNowing this. Just keep praying for us, and thank you for time and your response.
    Terry
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member

    suggestions
    Hi Terry,
    I haven't started radiation yet but I have had 3 rounds of Cisplatin and have managed to stay ahead of most of the side effects, especially the nausea with medical marijuana. I live in California where it is legal and the docs actually recommend it and prescribe it for cancer treatment. For me it has been the difference between having horrible nausea or having almost none and between having no appetite and being disgusted by the thought of food and eating normally throughout the entire day. I use a vaporizer to dispense the marijuana as I don't want any smoke in my system. I'm not sure if this is an option for you and Dave but it has been a real blessing for me. Also, green tea has caffeine in it and is an appetite supressant. It is important to drink green tea for all the anti-cancer benefits but it will kill an appetite fast. I'm not sure how much of a factor appetite is with the feeding tube but it can't be any fun with the nausea. I'm sorry for the difficulty you're going through right now. You and Dave are in my prayers this evening.

    Bob

    Terry
    Ask you to re-read Scambuster's post= good advice. I would keep a close monitor on his Nutrition intake, now that you know this might be an issue. Nutrition is a critical matter which all agree on, and now you know it may be an issue.

    kcass
  • JUDYV5
    JUDYV5 Member Posts: 392
    Cistplatin
    Is horrible. I used to judge the way I felt by days past chemo. IV hydration is what pulled me through. When I was dehydrated I was so sick that I didn't feel like doing anything and anything that I got in my stomach would come back up. It is amazing how a little IV fluids can make you feel better.