alone, lonely, and feeling very guilty about it

neverquit said:

Thanks for the information DrMary.
I really appreciate you getting back to me with the suggestions and info. you posted. You have given me some new hope and I already started some of the suggestions. I began Mike on the Zofran with the Decadron tonight and told him we would be doing this on a regularly scheduled basis rather than just using the Zofran occasionally. I also started getting him to sip small sips of water and organic juices on a more frequent basis.
I was really worried these last two days as he was able to eat or drink almost nothing due to the nausea and the violent diaphragm spasms/hiccups he was getting any time he moved, ate or drank. These "hiccups" happened once before to him about two rounds into his first chemo regimine and they said they had never seen or heard of this before (has anyone reading the postings ever had these)? They seemed to be not as violent tonight, so he was able to get down a half of sandwich (lot of organic chicken) and 8 oz. of organic juice. This was in addition to him taking more frequent small sips of water/juice. I also told him that we would be talking to his Oncologist about trying something to control the nausea on an as needed basis.
The Zyprexa was prescribed based on a study of stage IV stomach cancer patients on the same chemo regimens Mike has been on so far to: 1) prevent long term nausea, 2) give a better night's sleep as he was waking up every hour and 3) to a small degree to take the edge off (more for 1 and 2 and to a much lesser degree 3).
As far as the hydration goes, he normally gets a bag of hydration each week based on his blood test results and how he feels. He refuses to go to the infusion center this week as they gave him an extra week off to work in the First Aid room at Ski Patrol (we've done this the last 16 years as volunteers as a way to give back to a sport that we both enjoy). He does not want to leave the mountains this week as he is worried that this may be the last time he sees his Ski Patrol family (and it really is like an extended family).
I am hoping that what you have shared with me can get us through this week so that Mike can do what he loves to do at the mountain. This would be a huge lift to his spirits as well as keep him in the fight mentally.
I also like the part where you would tell Doug you had it figured out and that he would see an improvement in 8 hours. You can be sure that I will be trying that one in the future as necessary. Thanks again and I am very happy that you did get your miracle. I do hope that everyone here also gets theirs.

hiccups
My boyfriend who has small cell lung cancer had violent hiccups/spasms when he was getting radiation and was on a hefty dose of decadron. It seemed to be related to reflux. After I called the nurse, she prescribed protonix to replace the prilosec he had been taking--he took both for a few days and that helped, then only took the protonix. Since he went off the steroids they haven't come back, even after starting chemo.