I started Cisplatin and Rads

KristynRuth86
KristynRuth86 Member Posts: 140
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hi everyone! I like to keep up to date with all that is going on with you guys, so I thought I'd fill y'all in on my past week. I started the Ciplatin this past Thursday, it lasted about 7 hours then right after went to do the radiation. I felt just fine and dandy the rest of the day. Then that night at about 10:00 pm it hit me like crazy I RAN for the bathroom to throw up and didn't make it. It was so so hard to see my 280 lb 6'5 husband tear up. I guess it hit him at that second I was sick? I mean I still felt ok, I didn't feel terrible, but it was hard on him I guess. Anyway the nausea lasted Thurs night til Sunday night, but I feel less nauseous today. I don't feel like myself though, I feel very sleepy and drained. I don't like it at all, my 3 year old and 2 month old require so much attention and I feel SOOO sad I just don't have the energy. :( I feel like a terrible mom.
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Comments

  • Pumakitty
    Pumakitty Member Posts: 652
    #2
    Stay Strong
    Things will get better. I would talk to the nurses about the sickness. They told my dad to tell them if he felt the least bit nauseaus and they might change his meds. What did they give you?

    Pumakitty
  • timreichhart
    timreichhart Member Posts: 194
    #3
    Pumakitty said:

    Stay Strong
    Things will get better. I would talk to the nurses about the sickness. They told my dad to tell them if he felt the least bit nauseaus and they might change his meds. What did they give you?

    Pumakitty

    about getting sick
    they are post be giving you some kind of anti-nausea's meds before they start chemo. Because I had 4 different meds before the chemo started. Ask the doctor for pills its 2 pills post to help you not to get sick after chemo on first and second day and them 2 pills are $$$$ if you dont have insurance.
  • KristynRuth86
    KristynRuth86 Member Posts: 140
    #4
    Pumakitty said:

    Stay Strong
    Things will get better. I would talk to the nurses about the sickness. They told my dad to tell them if he felt the least bit nauseaus and they might change his meds. What did they give you?

    Pumakitty

    meds
    Yes my nurse told me the same thing, she said I should not be getting sick at all. My meds are in my purse in the car and I came to work today so I can't remember exactly what kinds they are, there are 4 bottles. I called her Sat morning, but I am assuming she doesn't work on the weekend. I am probably taking them wrong maybe. The 2 I can remember is
    Ondansetro, and Dexamethasone. I'm not so sure of the other 2.
  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    #5
    KristynRuth86 said:

    meds
    Yes my nurse told me the same thing, she said I should not be getting sick at all. My meds are in my purse in the car and I came to work today so I can't remember exactly what kinds they are, there are 4 bottles. I called her Sat morning, but I am assuming she doesn't work on the weekend. I am probably taking them wrong maybe. The 2 I can remember is
    Ondansetro, and Dexamethasone. I'm not so sure of the other 2.

    get your meds out of your purse in your car
    Aside from the fact they are probably supposed to be kept in a temperature-controlled environment (and the car gets too hot), you need to keep them with you (or locked up somewhere at the place you work).

    Nausea is variable and that's why there are so many types of nausea medications. The Emend my husband received before and after each of his chemo treatments worked well for him. Jim also took Cisplatin and radiation.

    Hugs to you KR. Kiss your babies for us :)
  • RushFan
    RushFan Member Posts: 224
    #6
    My wife and I were thinking
    My wife and I were thinking of you today. We have been at the doctors office all day for my second round of post-treatment scans. Linda asked how you were doing and I said you had not posted yet...well, now you have.

    Sorry about the nausea, Cistplatin hit me hard too. I stayed on the anti-nausea meds around the clock and they eliminated that "I gotta run" feeling. Now the mucus was a different story, but it's early for that.

    I'm sad about your kids too, but this will pass and you will recover and catch up soon!

    Hang in there!
    Chuck.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #7
    Noellesmom said:

    get your meds out of your purse in your car
    Aside from the fact they are probably supposed to be kept in a temperature-controlled environment (and the car gets too hot), you need to keep them with you (or locked up somewhere at the place you work).

    Nausea is variable and that's why there are so many types of nausea medications. The Emend my husband received before and after each of his chemo treatments worked well for him. Jim also took Cisplatin and radiation.

    Hugs to you KR. Kiss your babies for us :)

    EMEND
    Emend for sure, I never felt sick at all...ever.

    Also, another thing, unless you were just trying to reach a specific nurse...they should have given you a number that you can reach someone 24/7. If you don't have one, get it....

    Keep hanging in there, just think, you're down one chemo already.

    Best,
    John
  • adventurebob
    adventurebob Member Posts: 691
    #8
    nausea
    Hi Kristy,

    I get the all day Cisplatin round once a month and I pick up a prescription for Emend the day prior that I take the day of and for the next 2. It's a $400 med that my insurance covers. I would buy it if I didn't have insurance because it works so well. I have Ativan as a backup which works ok but puts me to sleep. The best instant med is the medical cannabis that I also have a prescription for. A nice ginger tea helps too. It works best to dice up the ginger and make it fresh. As for the energy; nothing helps like exercise. A good walk kicks up the energy levels fast.
    Sorry to hear you're feeling it. The cancer is feeling it too. Kick its ****!

    Bob
  • Kimba1505
    Kimba1505 Member Posts: 557
    #9
    RushFan said:

    My wife and I were thinking
    My wife and I were thinking of you today. We have been at the doctors office all day for my second round of post-treatment scans. Linda asked how you were doing and I said you had not posted yet...well, now you have.

    Sorry about the nausea, Cistplatin hit me hard too. I stayed on the anti-nausea meds around the clock and they eliminated that "I gotta run" feeling. Now the mucus was a different story, but it's early for that.

    I'm sad about your kids too, but this will pass and you will recover and catch up soon!

    Hang in there!
    Chuck.

    You are a great mom...
    Great moms take care of themselves. That is exactly what you are doing. You must continue to take care of yourself so you will be there always to take care of them. The time you will be too sick to care for them will be very small in comparison the thier lifetime of love they will get from you. Please put that worry aside...Dads and grandparents do just fine until mom's get back on their feet.

    Emend is the word of the day. It is the big anti-nausea drug. Talk to your doctors. They should be able to tweak something to make things a little better.

    Hang in,
    Kim
  • staceya
    staceya Member Posts: 720
    #10
    adventurebob said:

    nausea
    Hi Kristy,

    I get the all day Cisplatin round once a month and I pick up a prescription for Emend the day prior that I take the day of and for the next 2. It's a $400 med that my insurance covers. I would buy it if I didn't have insurance because it works so well. I have Ativan as a backup which works ok but puts me to sleep. The best instant med is the medical cannabis that I also have a prescription for. A nice ginger tea helps too. It works best to dice up the ginger and make it fresh. As for the energy; nothing helps like exercise. A good walk kicks up the energy levels fast.
    Sorry to hear you're feeling it. The cancer is feeling it too. Kick its ****!

    Bob

    You are a great mom! My ex
    You are a great mom! My ex husband (we get along fine and he has been cancer free for 21 years- non hodgkins) was going through tx when our children were very young. And they don't remember any of that!
    Take care and kiss those babies for me! You will get through this.
    Stacey
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #11
    staceya said:

    You are a great mom! My ex
    You are a great mom! My ex husband (we get along fine and he has been cancer free for 21 years- non hodgkins) was going through tx when our children were very young. And they don't remember any of that!
    Take care and kiss those babies for me! You will get through this.
    Stacey

    Cat in a Hat....
    Errrr, I mean bowl, LOL.....
  • rush1958
    rush1958 Member Posts: 223 Member
    #12
    Hang Tough
    I'm probably the antithesis of the whole board. I didn't have a sore throat, I never got mouth sores, I could always swallow, The PEG tube was miserable........

    But nausea is the thing I can relate too. I was nauseas too. Four days of hospitalization worth. All those wonderful nausea drugs didn't work for me..... you could set your watch to my sickness and the intake of antinausea drugs.....

    But you know what..... the nausea and fatigue were over before I knew it. You may have a few weeks that are bad..... you can't focus on the future.... things aren't normal.....

    but it is going to get better soon..... when it does, it won't seem nearly as long as when, 'you're in it'.

    Rush
  • staceya
    staceya Member Posts: 720
    #13
    Skiffin16 said:

    Cat in a Hat....
    Errrr, I mean bowl, LOL.....

    Funny cat, she is! She kept
    Funny cat, she is! She kept hopping in the mixer, every time it is out.
    (unless it is on...)
    Stacey
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #14
    KristynRuth86 said:

    meds
    Yes my nurse told me the same thing, she said I should not be getting sick at all. My meds are in my purse in the car and I came to work today so I can't remember exactly what kinds they are, there are 4 bottles. I called her Sat morning, but I am assuming she doesn't work on the weekend. I am probably taking them wrong maybe. The 2 I can remember is
    Ondansetro, and Dexamethasone. I'm not so sure of the other 2.

    Meds
    KristynRuth,
    Hope you're still feeling better.
    My oncology nurse told me when to start taking anti nausea meds after chemo. She said to start the meds, and take them on time, and not to dare wait until I felt sick. I had another anti nausea for "breakthrough" nausea, and I didn't need to take it - I think because I had Emend and took my other anti nausea as my nurse dictated. Do well.
  • stevenl
    stevenl Member Posts: 587
    #15
    rush1958 said:

    Hang Tough
    I'm probably the antithesis of the whole board. I didn't have a sore throat, I never got mouth sores, I could always swallow, The PEG tube was miserable........

    But nausea is the thing I can relate too. I was nauseas too. Four days of hospitalization worth. All those wonderful nausea drugs didn't work for me..... you could set your watch to my sickness and the intake of antinausea drugs.....

    But you know what..... the nausea and fatigue were over before I knew it. You may have a few weeks that are bad..... you can't focus on the future.... things aren't normal.....

    but it is going to get better soon..... when it does, it won't seem nearly as long as when, 'you're in it'.

    Rush

    Rad and Chemo
    Hi Kristen,

    I had my chemo different from you and it made me violently ill the last week of treatment. Nothing I could take or do helped. We all have problems so don't let it get you down. Keep up the good fight and my prayers are with you and your family.


    Best,
    Steve
  • nicki74
    nicki74 Member Posts: 55
    #16
    stevenl said:

    Rad and Chemo
    Hi Kristen,

    I had my chemo different from you and it made me violently ill the last week of treatment. Nothing I could take or do helped. We all have problems so don't let it get you down. Keep up the good fight and my prayers are with you and your family.


    Best,
    Steve

    KRISTEN
    hi, you are a terrific mother! your illness is not your fault.. you will get through this.. your family, especially your kids are your strength..

    stay strong and positive!

    god bless you
    nicki
  • PattyNC
    PattyNC Member Posts: 65
    #17
    nicki74 said:

    KRISTEN
    hi, you are a terrific mother! your illness is not your fault.. you will get through this.. your family, especially your kids are your strength..

    stay strong and positive!

    god bless you
    nicki

    We're voting you Mom of the year
    Wow ... a 3 yr & 2 mo old. I'm exhausted just thinking about it & I don't have any health issues. You're worried about your children ... & that is natural and it shows you are a loving & caring Mom! But nows the time to ask for some help -- invite friends & family to pitch in. You & your husband both have your hands full --- need some more helping hands so reach out for support.

    Best wishes & God bless.
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #18
    Hang in there
    Kristyn

    You can get through this. We're all cheering you on.

    Deb
  • JUDYV5
    JUDYV5 Member Posts: 392
    #19
    You are a great Mom
    You are sick and you are worried about them. It will be tough - but it really doesn't last that long. Soon it will all be over and you will be back to your normal heathy pre c
    self. They won't even remember how sick you were.
  • GraceLibby
    GraceLibby Member Posts: 88
    #20
    Starting treatment
    I'm going to be exactly one week behind you. I start Cisplatin and Rads on Monday the 20th. Good luck and they're exactly right, your kids won't remember this. I know this as a mom of a 6 year old. Take care of yourself first, they will need you later.
  • delnative
    delnative Member Posts: 450 Member
    #21
    GraceLibby said:

    Starting treatment
    I'm going to be exactly one week behind you. I start Cisplatin and Rads on Monday the 20th. Good luck and they're exactly right, your kids won't remember this. I know this as a mom of a 6 year old. Take care of yourself first, they will need you later.

    Dittos on the Emend
    I think I threw up twice throughout the whole ordeal, and it was really no big deal. Lord only knows how I would have felt without Emend.
    Some insurance plans won't cover it because it's frightfully expensive. My plan did, but I remember my docs and Johns Hopkins saying that if my plan wouldn't pay, they'd be able to scrounge some up for me anyway.
    I can highly recommend it.
    Good luck.

    --Jim in Delaware

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