just started chemo this week - how do you get through it

satots · February 2004

I feel so sick I don't even want to get out of bed. I have talked to people who say they did chemo for a full year. I only have 4 months and don't know how i will be able to continue. Can't eat anything. Every smell makes me sick - even soap. Somach is cramping - constipation - diareahea - nauseau. The pain from surgery was easier than this. HELP!

sebert · February 2004

There are anti-nausea suppositories that worked better for me than pills. In my case, the first 24 hours was the worst and then it began to get better. Sounds like the A/C combination of chemo drugs. Hang in there. Leave acidic foods alone and all alcohol. They are too hard on your stomach during chemo. Try lots of proteins like cheeses, yogurt, etc...and mashed potatoes. Don't hesitate to call your doctor and ask for something else to help you out. You don't have to feel bad all the time. Relaxation exercises like deep breathing can help, too.

lindatn · February 2004

please read the One Year ago Post. It will end and you will make it and then you will celebrate! It gets easier after you get the correct meds ask those Drs for whatever it takes. I took a lot of Xanax and if I had to do it over I'd take more! Prayers are with you, remember it takes longer to call 911 then God. Linda

ksfc · February 2004

I'm so sorry you're suffering. I agree with the others. Ask your doctor for better nausea meds.
I took Zofran as well as Decadron (a steroid) because the AC made me very sick. The meds didn't help completely, but they kept me from actually throwing up most of the time. The good news is that is does get better. I was okay the day of chemo and not too bad the day after. Then I'd spend the next 3 days in bed very weak and nauseated. I couldn't stand to smell anything. Then, I'd start to feel better and by the time the next treatment rolled around I'd feel pretty good. Hang in there and realize that some of the meds they give you can make you feel kind of down and depressed so you don't always thing as rationally as you would under normal circumstances. It will get better, I promise! Diane

MsKaren · February 2004

You poor dear...I remember 24 years ago when I had my first treatment. I felt exactly the say way. So the next visit I voiced my concern that this stuff was gonna kill me before making me better! Well then, Doc said, 'ok, we had to see how this affected you--not everyone gets sick." (Yeah, rightttttt!) He then said there was a drug that helps about 75% of patients to some degree. It's called Decadron, a steroid drug. Well I said greedily, "Gimmee that drug!" He did along with my regular chemo, and guess what. It worked like a dream. 'Course, I gained 20 lbs in 6 months from it!!!!!! But happily I'm here 24 years later. ASK about this drug.

inkblot · February 2004

Hi there:

Sounds like you're feeling miserable all over.

If you're vomiting, having both diarrhea and constipation, with major nausea AND stomach cramps, then you need to call your doc straight away! You said that you cannot eat at all but are you able to keep down some fluids?

Don't know which chemo you're taking but having all this going on and can't get out of bed is just not sounding right. If you're having any fever at all, even low grade, you may well have a virus or something going on, coincidentally with the chemo. It happened to me. Halfway through my treatments, I got a virus and it was dreadful. My first two treatments went very well, with only some passing nausea the first two days. Then suddenly, on the second week after treatment, I began vomiting ever half hour or so and had dry heaves when there was nothing left. All fluids came right back up. Nothing was tolerable. My tummy ached and I had a fever of 100. Initially, I thought it was delayed side effects of the chemo but my husband felt differently and rang my doc. I went in straight away and after a careful exam, including blood cultures, I was admitted. The dx was the flu! They gave me IV fluids and meds for 24 hours and I felt like a new person. When I could eat and keep down plain oatmeal and jello, they let me go home and although I felt weak for another day or two, the flu was clearly gone and it was smooth sailing after that.

Whatever's going on with your body, needs to be assessed. There are anti nausea meds, OTC remedies or rx drugs, to correct the constipation and diarrhea. You could dehydrate if you're not able to take in food/fluids at all. Did your doctor give you a list of things, which if they occur, that you're to call him/her right away? Did you begin experiencing all this after one treatment and how long has it been going on? Don't wait around. Call your doc and let him or her know, in detail, what's happening. He/she may want to see you right away, so be prepared and have someone available who can drive you.

Keep us posted and hope this gets addressed effectively and that you'll feel much improved very soon.

Chemo is not the nightmare of days gone by but it's no picnic either. Still, what you're describing sounds uncommon, so please check with your doc.

Love, light and laughter,
Ink

hummingbyrd · February 2004

lindatn said:
please read the One Year ago Post. It will end and you will make it and then you will celebrate! It gets easier after you get the correct meds ask those Drs for whatever it takes. I took a lot of Xanax and if I had to do it over I'd take more! Prayers are with you, remember it takes longer to call 911 then God. Linda

God bless your sweet soul...reading your message brought back a flood of memories from June of 2000.
If I could get up and make it to the couch it was a good day, then my goal for the day was to walk around the couch 10 times. Always felt like I'd been run over by a freight train.
For nausea I took Zofran. The key there is to start taking it before you need it.
For my appetite (or lack of) I found the best thing was to take a bite of saltine cracker and just let it melt in my mouth. Then, when you can, you just gotta make yourself eat something.
Xanex was good for me too. Calmed my anxiety and relaxed me enough to feel like eating.
Hope this helps, hang in there, you're already a SURVIVOR!
(((HUGS))) hummingbyrd

satots · February 2004

Thank you all for your replies. I am taking Fluorouracil, cytoxan, and epirubicin. I have taken both zofran and compazine, both of which give me little to no releif. I guess my case is further complicated by the fact that I have fibromyalgia and cannot take steroids. I also have very strong side effects to Xanax. The surgeon in the hospital gave me a children's dose after I explained that I could not take xanax because of side effects and he almost killed me. The nurses all came into my room the days after my experience and all indicated they were glad to see me because they hadn't thought that I could make it. I have been leaving messages with the doctor and his staff have told me to keep taking the compazine. Obviously, this is complicated by my other health problems. Please keep the suggestions coming. I do intend to bother my doctor again this morning but don't know if I will get any different responses. I am able to drink water and am literally drowing in it since being told that it will help remove toxins, but no releif as yet. Thanks!

bethd1946 · February 2004

Hey - been there, done that. I drank lots of fluids - mostly water and gatorade. Ate vanilla things, yogurt, ice cream, etc. Ate plain rice and applesauce. I found the BRAT diet helped. Bananas, Rice, applesauce and toast. Don't worry about balanced just eat what you can. I lost weight but gained it back (darn) (also got yelled at for losing but what the hey) It does get better but it seems like forever I know. You are in my prayers as are all of us cancer girls/guys.

Unknown · February 2004

satots-I'm right here for you sweetie! There have been several great messages for you that others have sent. Listen to them all, and believe in those angels. Take those nausea meds BEFORE you start to feel sick. If you are on the Cytoxin and Adriamycin they usually give you zofran at the beginning of the treatment. I had my third treatment today, and took a Compazine about 4 hours afterward, and will take another zofran later on tonight. Yes things really don't seem too appealing right now in the food department. Try some frozen fruit bars, or pb and j sandwiches. I have found that whatever I have eaten right after the treatment, it comes back as a haunting reminder of how sick to my stomach I got. Kind of like a hangover without the fun! I have five more treatments to go. only two more of the A/C and then going to Taxol. You can do this. Between the first two treatments, the times seems to just drag, but it will get better. It will! Have faith.

BettyN · February 2004

Hey, hang in there. I usually would have chemo on Friday, throw up all weekend and go back to work on Monday. I was tired and couldn't eat anything besides mashed potatoes, but I had a very supportive group of people to work with (I worked in psychiatry department - lots of couches to rest on!) If you can't take Xanax ask for something else. And try relaxation therapy (I did self hypnosis - it probably helped more than any of the drugs and I still use it whenever I have a bone scan or MRI). Good luck.

lynne40 · February 2004

I was really sick too. Hang in there I was told all the easy foods but the funny thing was every smell made me sick the only food I could tolerate were spicy foods! I know, it goes against conventional wisdom but sweet carbo foods nauseated me even more My husband would pick me up chicken tortilla soup. I ate it for 3 months straight. My oncologist said different foods do work for different people Hang in there and take the anti nausea drugs before you get treatment. I took chemo every 2 weeks The first day sfter was alright days 3-7 were the worse I felt pretty good by 12-13 and then got it again on day 14! You can do it. Try visualizing the outcome you want Less nausea sounds silly but it does work Hugs,
Lynne

just started chemo this week - how do you get through it

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