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Kathryne's avatar
Kathryne
Member
14 years ago

1st chemotherapy

Well I had my 1st chemotherapy on Friday 9th and it did not go as I expected. I was at the hospital for approx 5 hours and access to my portacath was difficult due to the swelling but they did manage to get the needle in. The drugs were given and all was going well until I got home and all of a sudden the waves of nausea started. Of course my husband had to be sick with the flu and unable to assist me and so all night while he slept on the lounge so as not to contaminate me I layed in bed vomiting from the beepest part of my stomache. I honestly do not know how I survived that 1st night I have never in my life felt so unwell. I was that sick I could not even pick up the phone to call an ambulance as every time I moved the heaving started. In the morning my husband came in and realised what a night I'd had and called the hospital , I was then  promptly admitted to hospital and put on and IV for 3 days, given anti nausea medications and only  then I started to pick up. I am meeting my Oncologist to discuss how to handle my next chemo , I am hoping I can be admitted and put on the IV from the beginning so I do not have to go through that again.  Did anyone else have such a bad time with chemo and is it going to be like this everytinme????

8 Replies

  • Kathryne's avatar
    Kathryne
    Member
    13 years ago

    Thats Ok Deanne, we all have chemo brain thank you for your post. Take Care. Kathryne

  • Aussiemumof2's avatar
    Aussiemumof2
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hi Kathryne,  It sounds like you have had an absolutely dreadful time. I hope & pray that things will get easier for you. At least you will get the best care being in hospital & I hope that you can take comfort in knowing they will be able to monitor you & treat you accordingly.

    In my 1st 3 week period I found it very difficult to eat food & I felt so delicate & a normal meal would seem to take me about 1-2 hours to get through as I could only eat tiny bits at a time, but eating became easier after that. I just hope you may get some improvement. I wish I could be more helpful to you.  I found reading some of the blogs of others going through the same treatment quite helpful. Another website is the breastcancer.org site, where you can check out sites of similar diagnoses & treatments & pick up helpful tips to get you through the chemo.

    best wishes, Vicki

  • Kathryne's avatar
    Kathryne
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hey Aussiemumof2

    I just got out of the hospital today after 10 long days. The Oncologist does not want to change my drugs as I am on F,E,C which is the best for my chance of survival. When I go in on the 30th for my next session I am being admitted to the ward for 5 days, where they plan on having me on IV antiamedics which should hopefully make me feel better. If not at least I am in the hospital where the Dr's and Nurses can look after me.

    Things were so bad within a hour of finishing my chemo I could not even sip water without it coming right back up. I never for a second thought I could be so unwell. At one stage I was begging the staff to Give me something to put me out of my mysery. On day 5 I could start to drink water and i started to eat toast and bland foods but this was also the time I became Neutropenic and was placed in Isolation. I have to say the whole thing has been a nightmare and far worse than I expected. Here is hoping the next round is kinder to me. OOhh how I pray it is kinder to me.

  • w_w_w_dette's avatar
    w_w_w_dette
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hi Kathryne

    I am so sorry that your first chemo was such a nightmare. I am beginning to realise that maybe I was so lucky that the anti-nausea medication worked so well for me. I did take all except the backup supply dutifully. Definitely keep talking to your oncologist and the nurses because they can and will find a way to make it at least liveable.

    I changed to Taxotere for my last chemo and the amount of anti-nausea medication was next to nothing in comparison and I was still okay. I'm not sure what drugs you are having but i'm sure they'll be able to adjust somehow.

    All the very best and I will be thinking of you.

    Dette xxoo

  • w_w_w_dette's avatar
    w_w_w_dette
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hi Kathryne

    I am so sorry that your first chemo was such a nightmare. I am beginning to realise that maybe I was so lucky that the anti-nausea medication worked so well for me. I did take all except the backup supply dutifully. Definitely keep talking to your oncologist and the nurses because they can and will find a way to make it at least liveable.

    I changed to Taxotere for my last chemo and the amount of anti-nausea medication was next to nothing in comparison and I was still okay. I'm not sure what drugs you are having but i'm sure they'll be able to adjust somehow.

    All the very best and I will be thinking of you.

    Dette xxoo

  • Aussiemumof2's avatar
    Aussiemumof2
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hi Kathryne,   I'm very sorry to hear of your experience. My first treatment was my worst experience, perhaps because I was so nervous & also getting over my surgery. Subsequent treatments were definitely easier.

    I was advised take my nausea medication even if I felt OK, because it can hit you at any time. I found drinking sips of water constantly helped me.  I would fill a 2 litre jug & make sure I finished it in 24 hours. The first 2 -3 days were generally the days I felt unwell on AC but I would get stronger each day.

    I went on CMF after 3 months of AC & found anti - nausea wafers (under the tongue) worked best for me when I couldn't  keep tablets down.  I hope that your next experience will be easier for you. Just keep talking to your Onc & nurses who will help you through this. 

  • Aussiemumof2's avatar
    Aussiemumof2
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hi Kathryne,   I'm very sorry to hear of your experience. My first treatment was my worst experience, perhaps because I was so nervous & also getting over my surgery. Subsequent treatments were definitely easier.

    I was advised take my nausea medication even if I felt OK, because it can hit you at any time. I found drinking sips of water constantly helped me.  I would fill a 2 litre jug & make sure I finished it in 24 hours. The first 2 -3 days were generally the days I felt unwell on AC but I would get stronger each day.

    I went on CMF after 3 months of AC & found anti - nausea wafers (under the tongue) worked best for me when I couldn't  keep tablets down.  I hope that your next experience will be easier for you. Just keep talking to your Onc & nurses who will help you through this. 

  • Susan_Schuback's avatar
    Susan_Schuback
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hi Kathryne,

    I'm so sorry to hear your 1st chemo was a nightmare, it must have been positively rotten to feel like that I cant even begin to imagine.  Hopefully your oncologist will come up with a better plan of treatment for you that is more agreeable.  As I have TNBC I am only on Taxetere which doesn't cause to much nausea thank goodness but it does resemble being hit by a but though the pain in the joints are terrible but we must suffer I suppose to get better, or at least I hope thats how it goes :-)  You will be in my prayers for a speedy recovery Kathryne!

    Brightest Blessings sent your way, Susan xxx