Loss of appetite and nausea

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mom2greatkids
mom2greatkids Member Posts: 528
in Ovarian Cancer #1


I am currently taking irinotecan. (this is my 9th drug). This is the first time I am dealing with loss of appetite. I'm also experiencing nausea and vomiting. I have lost 7 lbs. since beginning this drug the end of October. The dr. said this drug is hard on the digestive system. I have weight to lose, but this isn't good. He isn't really concerned at this point. My blood counts are holding up to continue treatment. (3 weeks on; 3 weeks off). He said last week's chemistry report was good.

Any suggestions as to what to eat? Even when I think I want something, just a few bites and I don't want any more.

My dr. said he's  almost certain this is caused by this drug. This drug is mean, it better work!!


Thanks,

 

Carla

Comments

  • kimberly sue 63
    kimberly sue 63 Member Posts: 421 Member
    #2
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    yogurt,,sips of fluids all

    yogurt,,sips of fluids all day. Get the book fighting cancer in the kitchen.  Soup, ice creame

    egg

    Kim

  • soul-mate
    soul-mate Member Posts: 82
    #3
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    Appetite and Nausea

    Sorry to hear about issues but Marinol might be an option as that is what this pill is suppose to help with. Ask your doctor about it and see what he says, it was available for my wife in treatment if those two issues came up. Take care and hope it all goes well.

    SOUL-MATE

     

     

  • Alexandra
    Alexandra Member Posts: 1,308
    #4
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    Hi Carla

    I hope irinotecan is working and I'm sorry that it's causing you unpleasant side effects.

    Medical grade marijuana (smoking, vaping, dabbing, edibles) or hash oil (Rick Simpson Oil, Phoenix Tears). I don't know if they are legal in your State, but they are not too hard to find and proven to combat nausea and to increase appetite naturally.

  • kate1313
    kate1313 Member Posts: 25
    #5
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    small frequent meals

    Carla,

    When I have problems with nausea and/or lack of appetite, I try to at more frequent meals....usually something bland like cottage cheese and crackers, yogurt, eggs, cheese.  Sometimes Wendy's chili works well, when I need a change of taste from the bland stuff.  Also things like a cup of soup, some ready made mashed potatos - things that are easy to prepare, eat, digest.  The main thing is to eat frequently, and get in plenty of liquids.  Have you tried any of the protein drinks?  A good one is Syntrax Nectar - you can get it on line.  They sell samples of their various flavors for about $2 so you can see what you like without spending a whole lot of $$ on a big cannister.  (I'm not affiliated in any way with this company, BTW).  I like their strawberry kiwi and the Fuzzy Navel, but everyone's taste is different.

    Good luck, hang in their, and hopefully this stage will pass.  If not, talk to your doc - proper nutrition is so important.

     

  • kate1313
    kate1313 Member Posts: 25
    #6
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    Zofran

    Carla, meant to add.....I take Zofran for nausea, seems to help a lot.  If I take it as soon as I feel the least bit sick, it usually stops the nausea in it's tracks.  You might want to talk to your doc.  That nausea/vomiting can be totally miserable.

  • lovesanimals
    lovesanimals Member Posts: 1,366 Member
    #7
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    kate1313 said:

    Zofran

    Carla, meant to add.....I take Zofran for nausea, seems to help a lot.  If I take it as soon as I feel the least bit sick, it usually stops the nausea in it's tracks.  You might want to talk to your doc.  That nausea/vomiting can be totally miserable.

    Dear Carla

    I am so sorry you are suffering with side effects.  I like all of the suggestions for combating the nausea/vomiting.  You have to get that under control first.  Then, try to force yourself to eat just a few bites at a time, even if it's done standing at the kitchen counter.  I experienced a total lack of any appetite for the first four or so days after each round of chemo.  It was like pulling teeth, trying to get myself to eat.  I happen to like chocolate Ensure which I drank for the vitamins and calories.

    Sending lots of positive thoughts and prayers your way that the side effects subside and that the chemo drug kicks your cancer's butt to the curb!

    Hugs,

    Kelly

  • Vickierph
    Vickierph Member Posts: 12
    #8
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    lovesanimals said:

    Dear Carla

    I am so sorry you are suffering with side effects.  I like all of the suggestions for combating the nausea/vomiting.  You have to get that under control first.  Then, try to force yourself to eat just a few bites at a time, even if it's done standing at the kitchen counter.  I experienced a total lack of any appetite for the first four or so days after each round of chemo.  It was like pulling teeth, trying to get myself to eat.  I happen to like chocolate Ensure which I drank for the vitamins and calories.

    Sending lots of positive thoughts and prayers your way that the side effects subside and that the chemo drug kicks your cancer's butt to the curb!

    Hugs,

    Kelly

    Carla, another suggestion for

    Carla, another suggestion for no appetite is a drug with the brand name Remeron -- it is available generically. I have used it both during chemo and several years ago after my colon was removed due to ulcerative colitis. I had been on massive doses of steroids before surgery and my Dr. tapered me off too fast and I was so nauseous I couldn't eat. My family MD recommended this and it really helped. Remeron is listed as an anti- depressant but it also helps with sleep and with appetite. I took it along with my Zofran and compazine during chemo and it helped. It doesn't have many side effects and I did not have any problems with it. I am a pharmacist and do some chart review for nursing homes, and I have seen it used for some of the folks there to help with appetite with no side effects. It also helped me sleep during chemo. It is not an addictive med. Hope this helps, Vickie

  • mom2greatkids
    mom2greatkids Member Posts: 528
    #9
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    Vickierph said:

    Carla, another suggestion for

    Carla, another suggestion for no appetite is a drug with the brand name Remeron -- it is available generically. I have used it both during chemo and several years ago after my colon was removed due to ulcerative colitis. I had been on massive doses of steroids before surgery and my Dr. tapered me off too fast and I was so nauseous I couldn't eat. My family MD recommended this and it really helped. Remeron is listed as an anti- depressant but it also helps with sleep and with appetite. I took it along with my Zofran and compazine during chemo and it helped. It doesn't have many side effects and I did not have any problems with it. I am a pharmacist and do some chart review for nursing homes, and I have seen it used for some of the folks there to help with appetite with no side effects. It also helped me sleep during chemo. It is not an addictive med. Hope this helps, Vickie

    Thanks Ladies for all your

    Thanks Ladies for all your suggestions and concerns.  I am doing better.  THe dr. called me in Zofran (?) the other day.  That has helped.  My appetite is slowly improving.  I'm just trying to eat less, and just eat what sounds good to me.

     

    Carla

  • kate1313
    kate1313 Member Posts: 25
    #10
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    mom2greatkids said:

    Thanks Ladies for all your

    Thanks Ladies for all your suggestions and concerns.  I am doing better.  THe dr. called me in Zofran (?) the other day.  That has helped.  My appetite is slowly improving.  I'm just trying to eat less, and just eat what sounds good to me.

     

    Carla

    lack of appetite

    Carla, I'm glad the Zofran is helping - it helps me a lot, but I have to remember to take it as soon as I start feeling nauseated.  And eating smaller, more frequent meals will help a lot - large heavy meals (like we're used to eating for our main meals) can sit just too heavy and make us feel awful.  That's why I've discovered small meals.....whether it be yogurt, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, deli meat, whatever works for you....will sit better and hopefully cause less distress.  I'm still learning the hard way - today I got a sub sandwich, ate part of it and felt really crummy, so need to stick to the lighter foods.  Wishing you well.  Message me any time you'd like to chat. Kate

     

  • kikz
    kikz Member Posts: 1,345 Member
    #11
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    mom2greatkids said:

    Thanks Ladies for all your

    Thanks Ladies for all your suggestions and concerns.  I am doing better.  THe dr. called me in Zofran (?) the other day.  That has helped.  My appetite is slowly improving.  I'm just trying to eat less, and just eat what sounds good to me.

     

    Carla

    Carla

    You said exactly what I was going to suggest to you.  I just let my mind wander and think of something I wanted to eat.  Sometimes it was a little strange but it worked.  I also ate nuked potatoes with a little butter or pasta with some cheese on it.  I guess carbs did it for me.  When I've had trouble eating anything I do drink Ensure, only the chocolate appeals to me.  Small portions are important.  During my first treatment I had people putting large amounts of food in front of me and it totally turned me off.

    Most importantly I wanted to wish you the very best.  This is not the greatest time of year for treatment (I guess none is) I am in treatment too.  It really put the kibosh on Christmas this year.  I paid to have someone put up my tree and that's it for Christmas decor.  I always host holidays at my home and this year's no different, but others will have to do most of the work.  It's hard for the control freak in me but I guess it's all about adapting.

    Karen

  • kate1313
    kate1313 Member Posts: 25
    #12
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    mom2greatkids said:

    Thanks Ladies for all your

    Thanks Ladies for all your suggestions and concerns.  I am doing better.  THe dr. called me in Zofran (?) the other day.  That has helped.  My appetite is slowly improving.  I'm just trying to eat less, and just eat what sounds good to me.

     

    Carla

    nausea and lack of appetite

    Hi, Carla

    Just checking in to see how you are doing and if your problems with nausea and lack of appetite have gotten better.  I hope things are better, that small meals are helping.  Try to eat protein first, but if you can't manage that eat whatever appeals to you.  This is such a difficult thing to deal with, especially at this time of year where there're food everywhere and people just don't understand why we can't/don't feel like eating all those goodies.

    Happy holidays to you, hoping things have improved.

    Kathy

  • mom2greatkids
    mom2greatkids Member Posts: 528
    #13
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    kate1313 said:

    nausea and lack of appetite

    Hi, Carla

    Just checking in to see how you are doing and if your problems with nausea and lack of appetite have gotten better.  I hope things are better, that small meals are helping.  Try to eat protein first, but if you can't manage that eat whatever appeals to you.  This is such a difficult thing to deal with, especially at this time of year where there're food everywhere and people just don't understand why we can't/don't feel like eating all those goodies.

    Happy holidays to you, hoping things have improved.

    Kathy

    Thanks for checking on me.

    Thanks for checking on me.  THis drug is 3 weeks on, one week off.  Week 2, my appetite improve about the time to go do it again.  WEek 3, (which was last Tuesday) has been hard.  little appetite.  Hard for me to even drink enough fluids.  UGH!  Thankfully, Christmas is my week off.  Hoping it's better by then.  Plus, I'm so sleepy, it seems all the time...But, I'm still hre and fighting.  Carla

  • kate1313
    kate1313 Member Posts: 25
    #14
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    mom2greatkids said:

    Thanks for checking on me.

    Thanks for checking on me.  THis drug is 3 weeks on, one week off.  Week 2, my appetite improve about the time to go do it again.  WEek 3, (which was last Tuesday) has been hard.  little appetite.  Hard for me to even drink enough fluids.  UGH!  Thankfully, Christmas is my week off.  Hoping it's better by then.  Plus, I'm so sleepy, it seems all the time...But, I'm still hre and fighting.  Carla

    Fatigue

    Carla, I too deal with the fatigue and sleepiness all the time. I have my chemo 2 weeks on, 1 week off.....seems by the time I get done with the 2nd week I'm just wiped out.  My daughter's wedding was this past Friday - it was lovely but I was so exhausted I had to go back to the hotel to rest.  I hope you are feeling better during Christmas week - this is my week off (chemo was last Thurs, day before the wedding, go figure, huh?) so maybe by Christmas I'll be doing a little better.

    Hang in there, positive thoughts and prayers headed your way.

    Kathy

  • wholfmeister
    wholfmeister Member Posts: 315
    #15
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    Wishing you well

    I am also taking Topotecan (irinotecan).  I have just finished my second month (3 weeks on, one week off).  Because my blood counts stayed strong after the first month, the dose increased for month Two, and we will see about month three.  So far, so good.  Definately no decrease in appetite...bring on those Christmas cookies!

    i don't have any ideas except for what has already been shared.  Just wanted you to know I'm wishing you well!  Merry Christmas!

  • kate1313
    kate1313 Member Posts: 25
    #16
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    wholfmeister said:

    Wishing you well

    I am also taking Topotecan (irinotecan).  I have just finished my second month (3 weeks on, one week off).  Because my blood counts stayed strong after the first month, the dose increased for month Two, and we will see about month three.  So far, so good.  Definately no decrease in appetite...bring on those Christmas cookies!

    i don't have any ideas except for what has already been shared.  Just wanted you to know I'm wishing you well!  Merry Christmas!

    Appetite

    Good morning to all,

    I hope everyone is feeling better and dealing better with the lack of appetite and nausea that accompanie it.  Hope everyone had a good holiday and will have a better new year.  My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.  Kathy

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