Have had 1st round of chemo and are now coming up for my second . I had terrible nausea with first round and now feel depressed going into the 2nd .I found it difficult to stomach food and fluids loosing 3 kilos in 6 days( not complaining , could do with a liitle weight loss).
Can anyone advise me or suggest anything that might help with the nausea . The medication only helped a little .
Hi Chell,
I have been chewed up and spat out the other side of this torture, so take it from me it can be done. I had 4 fortnightly treatments of AC and then Docetaxal which was supposed to be every 3 weeks but the dose got lowered and I ended up doing it weekly. There are many things for the Nausea i had a drug called Motillium that worked for me.You must remember to take them even if you do not think you need them. But Ginger cookies, ginger ale all things ginger if you can stand it, all work. Lemon lime and bitters is also amazing. If you use propper lemonade and not diet that will help with the sugar and get some into you. Also try powerade. I lived on it for the first 4 treatments(can't even walk past the display now without dry reaching) but at the time it was my saviour. Find a dry biscuit that you like and keep them by your bed, your chair anywhere that you sit or rest and just try to nibble on them whenever you can. Remember it does end it will be over and you will be better. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and in your case as in mine it is not a train!
Hi Chell,
I have been chewed up and spat out the other side of this torture, so take it from me it can be done. I had 4 fortnightly treatments of AC and then Docetaxal which was supposed to be every 3 weeks but the dose got lowered and I ended up doing it weekly. There are many things for the Nausea i had a drug called Motillium that worked for me.You must remember to take them even if you do not think you need them. But Ginger cookies, ginger ale all things ginger if you can stand it, all work. Lemon lime and bitters is also amazing. If you use propper lemonade and not diet that will help with the sugar and get some into you. Also try powerade. I lived on it for the first 4 treatments(can't even walk past the display now without dry reaching) but at the time it was my saviour. Find a dry biscuit that you like and keep them by your bed, your chair anywhere that you sit or rest and just try to nibble on them whenever you can. Remember it does end it will be over and you will be better. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and in your case as in mine it is not a train!
I only had limited nausea but horrible indigestion. I found that nibbling ginger snap biscuits helped with nausea, also stewed apple in tiny amounts. Just trying to keep something in your mouth often helps. Fruit tingles were also fabulous if you let them just sit in your mouth and dissolve. The bicarb in them helps -and they taste good ! Warm showers also helped.
Def 3 weekly, I could not have coped otherwise. I am nearly at the end of that process - only 4 Herceptins to go - yayy !
Best wishes, be kind to yourself.
magicmum
Thankyou Nicole
My oncologist wanted to do chemo every 2 weeks , so that ment 1 bad week and 1 good week . I would not have coped with that and didnt want my family to have the good me for only 2 weeks of the month . So I have requested every 21 days and he has agreed .I only have 4 rounds of E&C then a small break then 3 months of Taxol weekly with herceptin for 12 months and 6 weeks of radiation . Its hard to see light at the end of thge tunnel , but I read these couragous stories of others and its an inspirational. I know i have to do it .
I thought it would be easier and was hoping for little side effects .
I did eat crackers and yes i did think it helped . I will try the protien bars so i can keep my energy .
Thankyou for your advise. Every little bit helps and I'am willing to give anything a go to make this journey easier
Cheers Michelle
Hi Chell
I also had shocking nausea, dry reaching etc etc etc. None of the medication seemed to work for me either - I found the best things that helped were Jatz crackers and bitters lime and lemonade, and nibbling really slowly on one of those protein bars you get from the supermarket (choc caramel are the best) as it slowly gives you energy and helps regain some protein, and getting outside for a short slow walk (much as you don't feel like it).
I also got some sleeping pills to get some sleep amidst the nausea and this really helped. Drugs wise the dexymethozone was the best - but only a half dose as it made me very restless at the full dose
Chemo was hugely stressful for me too as the first one was so bad I thought I didnt want to do it again - but you need to and you will find a way through it and each time I celebrated ie 2nd treatment - 1/3 of the way there, 3rd treatment (halfway) and I think the first is the worst somehow. Good luck with it all and hope some of the above may help you
Cheers Nicole
Hi Chell
I also had shocking nausea, dry reaching etc etc etc. None of the medication seemed to work for me either - I found the best things that helped were Jatz crackers and bitters lime and lemonade, and nibbling really slowly on one of those protein bars you get from the supermarket (choc caramel are the best) as it slowly gives you energy and helps regain some protein, and getting outside for a short slow walk (much as you don't feel like it).
I also got some sleeping pills to get some sleep amidst the nausea and this really helped. Drugs wise the dexymethozone was the best - but only a half dose as it made me very restless at the full dose
Chemo was hugely stressful for me too as the first one was so bad I thought I didnt want to do it again - but you need to and you will find a way through it and each time I celebrated ie 2nd treatment - 1/3 of the way there, 3rd treatment (halfway) and I think the first is the worst somehow. Good luck with it all and hope some of the above may help you
Cheers Nicole
Thanks Louie
A banana is a good idea before you get out of bed , I will try this, as early morning is when I feel the sickest . I 'am hoping that i dont feel this anxious before each treatment .I agree about not wanting anymore drugs as I feel there is enough toxic meds going through our body .
Pramin didnt seem to work for me , maybe took the edge off a little .
Thankyou for you reply
Take care
