Nausea and dizziness from day 1?

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Is there anyone else out there who is having nausea and dizziness from radiation to the chest, or am I just a freak?

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  • Colette37
    Colette37 Member Posts: 387
    edited October 2009

    Am I the only one who has felt sick directly after the "treatment?"  I do not know if this is normal or not...according to the Rad Onc he says that it is not normal for where I am getting treated.  Basically it is my entire left chest and ALL my nodes which have been left.  I didn't have any cancer found in my nodes, but the fact that the cancer was 10 cm in size.  Yes, you read that correctly..they want to kill me in the process.  It went from IDC to DCIS because of 6 boughts of chemo.  I am 37 and I am sick and tired of fighting this crap.  All I want to do is either live or just put out of my misery.  Because of an idiotic surgeon at the beginning, (went on vacation the monday after talking to me on friday and his office refused to let me talk to any other Dr. in his practice)...I wasn't able to find out if any nodes were involved because he didn't test it BEFORE I started chemo, but none of them came back positive at the surgery.

     I no longer have either breast.  I have scars all over.  My left arm is constantly aching.  My kids are having to deal with this.  I have had sex one time since dx.  I have had to give up nursing.  Never will nurse again.  Don't know if I have mets because the ******* surgeon didn't do a PET or Bone scan until AFTER I had started chemo.  I have no energy.  I have no desire to live any longer if this is how I will continue my "life"  It ain't living that is for sure.  My kids and my husband would be better off if I weren't around...at least I wouldn't be snapping at them.  You know what the saddest part is?  I don't even care if I were to die right now.  Can't take anti-depressants either because they dry out my mouth even more and cause sores to develop because of all of the chemo that I have had.

  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited October 2009

    Oh, Colette, I am so sorry for all that you have to go through. You sound so miserable, I wish I could just walk over and give you a hug.

    So I will have to send you some ((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))).

    As far as what you asked - I had dizziness with rads. I don't know when it started but it was at the beginning. If you're worried, ask them to check your blood pressure. I didn't but have a normally very low bp so figured the dizziness was connected to that. I was also nauseated most of the time which the rad onc said ws not from the rads. I didn't believe him for two reasons - first of all, a lot of women on these boards have nausea with rads. Second, the mantra of rad oncs seems to be "it's not from the rads, it's not from the rads".

    You WILL get through this, and your family will still love you and need you.

    Leah

  • Alcie1
    Alcie1 Member Posts: 68
    edited October 2009

    I posted to your query about nausea on my thread.

    Your surgeon is not in charge of your entire treatment.  You have a medical oncologist too.  You can ask for antidepressants or sleep meds and other help.  After this kind of surgery it is extremely likely you are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD.

    I found help with a breast cancer support group in my area.  It didn't solve my problem, but helped me get through it.  The depression does go away.  This forum has threads on depression.  My surgery was in January, and I am just now feeling better and cutting out the meds.

    My nausea was indeed due to the radiation.  It was hitting my stomach with the full dose.  It can be seen clearly on the CT scan done as part of the rad plan.  Zofran helps, but read my post on my thread.

  • believeinmiracles
    believeinmiracles Member Posts: 4
    edited October 2009

    I am just getting set up to begin my radiation after having a partial mastectomy a month ago. I just read your post and my heart goes out to you. No doubt that the nausea and dizzieness are  a side effect from the radiation and you should definately talk w/the medical oncologist.  You are a precious, amazing woman. DON't let the BastXXX's drag you down. I feel crippled with what to say because I feel like it won't make you feel cured, but I wish with all my heart and pray that someone within your Medical Team take a wake up pill and follow your care and get you to a full recovery mentally and physically.


  • tracyanne
    tracyanne Member Posts: 112
    edited October 2009

    I definitely have some nausea the first day or two of the week...I think because I've gone the two days of the weekend without. Thought I had to be imagining it or that it was psychosomatic the first time, but it was back the next Monday...so yeah, it's for real.

    By Thu I'm feeling calm again and eating normally...even snacking and hitting the Halloween candy!

    Colette, sounds like you deserve a treat for yourself.  Pamper yourself...be easy with yourself.  You are hurting, inside and out.  One thing that has helped me is to consciously think "I won't think, anaylze, decide anything today...I'll just feel.  Feel bad, feel sorry for myself, feel tired...just feel.  Thinking/anayzing/deciding anything can wait for when I'm clear-headed."

    Hugs to you. 

  • lynrose
    lynrose Member Posts: 18
    edited October 2009

    Thank you for this post.    I too, have just started radiation and I keep thinking "it is all in my head"   So at least I know what it is from.....is there anything I can do or take for this?   Colette, you are not alone, for there are many days I feel like this too......Lets just hang on , for it will be over with soon.........UGH

  • Colette37
    Colette37 Member Posts: 387
    edited October 2009

    Lynrose...I started to take one xanax and also a zofran before my appointments...that seemed to help and it also helped because they do a quick CT scan to line me up.  I know it means more radiation, but if it means that they are zapping where they need to, it is worth it to me.

    I also have been taking benadryl every 6 hours to help with the itching..which I don't understand why it helps, but it does.  I use the "My Girls Radiation Cream" which helps cool the skin.  The benadryl helps me be in a better mood too...I think it is because I don't feel like I am going to jump out of my skin so I am not as jumpy and moody.

    Tracyanne..."Just feeling" is great advice.  There really is nothing that you can do and just knowing that it is not a good day to make any choices and to put it on the back burner is worth it.

    Thanks for the hugs and thoughts.  I am just exhausted from feeling bad, and having something else happen again after I start feeling better is just getting on my nerves.  It helps knowing that I am not alone in these feelings.

  • lynrose
    lynrose Member Posts: 18
    edited October 2009
        Hi Colette, thank you for writing back so quickly.  I just called my dr. and yes she is perscribing something for me......ugh, I feel so horrible , so thank you once again........:)  I do appreciate it a lot........
  • lynrose
    lynrose Member Posts: 18
    edited October 2009
    Thank you for writing back so quickly Colette.......My dr. just returned my call, so I am going to pick up the meds she ordered for me........:)   Please take care , and thank you once again, for telling me what you do to help me. 
  • lynrose
    lynrose Member Posts: 18
    edited October 2009
    What is this????/geeeeeeee , I have had nausea since day one, it seems when I do a lot it comes on.....I am on Femera.ugh if this is the pill , welll I might as well quit,for as you all know it is 5 years on one pill or another.   They gave me adivan and a anti nausa pill, but they both make me soooooooooooooooooo tired.I tried them once............Have anyone of you had nausea through this, I am now done with the first week.....I hate taking pills so yea, today, I did not take them...I am afraid of getting additive to them and then another problem is created.........has anyone had nausea with radiation?  Thanks

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