Food intolerance with chemo

Mmm2014

I had my first chemo treatment 2 weeks ago and I am still having digestive issues. I seem to be gluten intolerant since I started chemo. I'm staying away from gluten but I still can't find foods that agree with me. I have bouts of diarrhea and acid reflux when a food disagrees. The dr has prescribed me protonix but that doesn't really seem to help. Anyone else out there with these issues? Help?? I have 5 more treatments and would really like to get a handle on this. 

Kicks

Can't help you.  I did have problems eating while on chemo but not like yours.   I lost all sense of taste and smell.  I also lost all appetite.  I just never thought got hungery or thought about eating - Hubby had to call me several times  daay to remind me to eat 'something'.  No problem with eating (other than no taste/aroma) when I was reminded to.

YoungTurkNYC

Mmm2014,

I had many digestive issues during chemo.  After my first infusion, my entire digestive tract was on fire; sores from my mouth all the way down in my digestive tract.  It changed after the first infusion, and eventually, my taste buds were altered, and I could not eat even tomatoes or anything acidic.  Anyway, my recommendation is that you stick with extremely bland foods.  Mashed potatoes (no salt or spices), steamed white rice, yogurt, smoothies, peanut butter (salt free kind), freshly baked white bread (not commercial versions) - although I am not sure if you can have this if you are experiencing a gluten allergy.  You may be able to have gluten free bland crackers or gluten free pasta (such as the ones made out of rice).  How about apple sauce?  I could not even eat apple sauce because it was too acidic for me but perhaps you will have better luck.  This is why I lost 20 lbs on chemo.  I wish you all the best.  A few days after the infusion, I have always been able to eat a bit more (and with a bit more variety) than the first few days.  So, perhaps you can try to eat more towards the end of the chemo cycle in preparation for the next infusion.  Best of luck.

Mmm2014

at first I couldn't taste but I have that back now. I just can't figure out what I can eat without getting diarrhea and the acid. I tried coconut milk this morning and that did not go well.  Would love to get some of this figured out before my next tx. 

Melrosemelrose

Check out this book that was given to me before I started chemo.  I found it to be informative and helpful so I would have a better idea of what to eat.

Eating Well Through Cancer by Holly Clegg and Gerald Miletello, MD

This book has chapters on what to eat when you have certain side effects ( diarrhea, constipation, mouth sores, etc) plus what to eat before chemo and has grocery shopping lists, menus and recipes.  It also has some helpful tips throughout the book. 

The other book I which had great recipes and pictures and other tips was

The Cancer Fighting Kitchen by Rebecca Katz

I know you can check out this books to see what is in them on Barnes & Noble and/or Amazon.

I used to eat 5-6 small meals daily.  My tummy was never totally empty.  In chemoland, a full tummy is a happy tummy and one is less likely to have nausea.  Make sure you take your meds with plenty of water and with food.  I used to keep a food diary so I could remember from infusion to infusion, what foods worked the best and when.  I usually had a very bland diet the day leading up to chemo and for several days post chemo.  I ate what I called " White Meals" which was rice, mac n cheese, mashed/baked potatoes, baked chicken or baked fish.  None of these foods were cooked with much spice.  I know that at times, it is hard to motivate yourself to eat.  I viewed food as nutrition and fuel for my body and not for comfort or taste.  I can remember sitting at dinner one night and just boo hooing like a little kid because the food I had cooked smelled great but just didn't taste good at all.  My family told me that the food tasted great.  I still laugh at myself for crying like that but I know it was from the chemo and nothing more.

Sorry you are having a little trouble figuring out what to eat.  Hope this info helps and you start feeling better soon.

Mmm2014

Thank you. I will def check these books out. I wish I could eat Mac n cheese. One of my favs. When I was pregnant I had the same gluten intolerance and as soon as my son was born it went away. 

Moderators

Mmm2014, we're sorry you're struggling with digestive issues! As well as the helpful suggestions you've already received, the Nutrition section of the main Breastcancer.org site includes Healthy Eating Through Treatment with tips that may be useful for you.

Best wishes,

• The Mods

ziggypop

liquids and lots of them - even with the runs. Lots of water, any juices that you can stand, tea with honey (a lot of honey - you need the calories), drinks with electrolytes, fruit popsicles, watermelon, chicken broth was a biggie for me. And yes, bland food, I can remember asking for just white rice with butter. Peanut butter for protein. Bland soups. Raman noodles worked for me. I craved salt sometimes.  

artsmart

mmm2014- I can totally relate to your situation.  I had terrible constipation after my first infusion.  Plus got Thrush - which is basically a fungal infection in my mouth.  Tongue and gums turned white.  To top it off I had my gallbladder removed several years ago - which typically causes diarrhea if you don't eat.  So after several days of crippling constipation (from meds) it went the other way for several more days - due to not eating.  The smell and taste of food was totally nauseating but I agree - it's important to eat when you can - and don't worry if it's only a few bites, or sips, or whatever.  Every bit helps.  I personally found salty & cold foods to be more palatable for some reason - but each of us is different.   I also started keeping track of all my symptoms (day by day) and sent that list to my doctor.  Just finished my second infusion a week ago and was definitely better prepared. Laxatives taken the day before, the day of, and the day after, gargling with salt water, etc. I've bounced back much quicker this time - 

Mmm2014

I have gone gluten and dairy free the last few days and feel great. No more acid reflux. I hope this helps me with the next tx. One tx down and I already dread the next one. Still doesn't seem real yet. I am using cold caps it is day 16 and I have not lost any hair yet. Yeah!!!

Deblc

I would recommend harassing your doctor to help you find a solution. Change your meds until you find one that works. I had terrible nausea on AC chemo for about 4 days, and breakthrough nausea every time I ate after that. The doc changed my anti-nausea meds which helped with the worse of the nausea but not the constant queasiness. I was trying to self-medicate with Zantac, and followed all eating tips I found here. I am on taxol now, and still felt sick every time I ate, even though the doc said I should have no nausea on taxol. It wasn't until I went back to my doc and said this is not working, I think I need something for acid reflux, that she recommended an anti nausea pill every morning, and Prilosec once a day. This has worked much better for me. I can't emphasize enough to keep badgering your doctor for a solution to these side effects. If one med doesn't work, try another one. I was very passive when it came to that, I wish I had insisted sooner that the doc try to find a solution instead of just letting me suffer through it.

vlnrph

Hi mmm! Hope that's what you're saying as you enjoy your meals. How is it after your second treatment?

Dairy is what did me in after the first TC when I drank a protein shake without looking at the ingredient list - it contained whey. I had been somewhat lactose intolerant for about 10 years but could have small amounts without problems. That day, very nasty diarrhea resulted.

The "poison" chemicals they give us to kill the cancer cells can also do the same to your helpful gut bacteria which digest milk sugar. Enzyme replacement in the form of lactase tablets is available and is usually effective when taken with the offending food. I keep some on hand for when I can't pass up the ice cream on a hot summer day or if the chocolate cheesecake looks especially tasty.

After an attack like I had, I try to restore the normal GI flora by consuming probiotics such as acidophilus. Some of these products need to be kept in the fridge (ask at the pharmacy counter).

Wishing good nutrition and calm stomachs to everyone, be healthy. 

Mmm2014

vinrph- I was like you I could tolerate small amounts of dairy. But since chemo, no dairy at all and gluten is an issue also. The dr finally prescribed carafate which is helping. It's crazy but Xanax seems to help the most. I have always had a nervous stomach.  Round 3 is next week. I hope I am better prepared. I have the probiotics also. It's a guessing game every time I eat. I feel good now but this will be my good week. I'm trying to limp my stomach through these treatments because I know I have too. Thanks for the advice. 

SpecialK

I had problems with the Big D throughout chemo - the first 10 days after each of six rounds.  I stuck to the BRAT (bananas, rice, apples and toast) most of the time.  Be care with acidic stuff, and clearly, you have figured out the gluten and dairy sensitivity.  If you are concerned about protein intake you can use vegan protein powder - both Vega and PlantFusion are good and come in flavors.  I did not try a probiotic until after chemo was done and I was on Herceptin alone - the onc nurse recommended trying it as I still was having GI issues at that point.  Changed my life!  I had reflux surgery in '95 and had been suffering with IBS-like issues from that point.

MsJAR

OTC anti-diarrheal meds helps me.

Mmm2014

Thanks but OTC was not enough. I'm on carafate with helps with the acid. Xanax helps the most with tummy issues. I guess it calms the nervous stomach.  Hopefully when this is all over my tummy will recover. 

laurie2025

When I was on my chemo I could not stand to smell or eat peanut butter, garlic or beef.  What an odd combination.  But, any of those would make me nauseous.  My doctor increased my anti-nausea meds but those foods did me in every time.  Pretty quick I quit trying.  I was on some stomach acid reducer that wasn't working, so my doctor put me on a generic for something called Pantoprazole, which really helped.  Good luck Mmm2014; will be thinking good thoughts for you.

kickin-cancersbutt-2014

I just went through this myself, anything I seemed to eat tasted bad, awful indigestion/heartburn and/or stomach upset which eventually led to multiple days of diarrhea which made me so frustrated I didn't even want to eat anything.  I went back to a bland diet (bananas/jello/Activia Yogurt/toast/crackers/chicken broth) and took Imodium for a couple of days; which really is the only thing that seemed to work.  Then I slowly started to incorporate other healthy items into my diet.  I am happy to report, I have just managed to be able to eat normally again finishing up a nice Easter dinner this evening. 

MarieNJ

I just bought organic Kefir probiotics.  Is this safe to drink?  I don't know what medications I will be on since my MO consult will be this Monday.  

sweetjam

I have noticed that being on chemo is a lot like being pregnant in a lot of ways.  I also have had some food issues mostly related to taste and food avoidance.  I want every thing really salty or I can not taste it.  Certain things also give me diarrhea but I can not always figure it out AND I have been eating tons of juicy fruit which seems to help with the yucky taste in my mouth so that may be the route of the problem.  I have found potatoes work for me any way they are prepared.  Tator tots are currently a favorite.  I would keep a food diary if I were you.  It might help with eliminating things you know are an issue.  Good luck!