Chemo & Nausea

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ctc333
ctc333 Member Posts: 9
edited June 2018 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

Hello all,


I wanted to ask ya'll....I just started chemo and wanted to know if there was any advice to help with this horrible nausea/diarrhea. I feel like I can't do a single thing without wanting to vomit. How long did these symptoms last with you? I am taking zofran and compazine, but I feel like it did nothing.

Thanks in advance,


Cory

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited June 2018

    Cory, we're sorry you're having a hard time with side effects. Till other members come along to post with their now experiences and advice, you may want to read through the pages of the following articles from our main site:

    10 Ways to Manage Treatment-Related Nausea

    Managing nausea

    Eating When You Have Nausea and Vomiting


    Hope this helps!

    The Mods

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  • PreludeSing
    PreludeSing Member Posts: 102
    edited June 2018

    Hi Cory,

    So sorry you have to be here. I had incessant nausea during AC chemo despite taking emend and zofran. I got some mild relief from the steroid they gave me...dexamethasone. Did your onco prescribe this? This and tiny sips of ginger ale. Sending you strength ... you will get through it even if it seems endless now 💐

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  • Lula73
    Lula73 Member Posts: 1,824
    edited June 2018

    Over the counter options: Some people find relief with an antihistamine or Dramamine in addition to the meds already mentioned. Seabands that work through pressure points may help too. Ginger works really well-that ginger dressing at the Japanese steakhouse is all it would take. Walmart carries a product called Motion-Eaze; you just put a drop behind your ears to help prevent nausea or to get relief from nausea. We have had great success with it for nausea caused by all kinds of things. It’s a small package that isn’t always obvious in the store so I posted a link for you below.

    Prescription Options: A scopalomine patch may help. Phenergan works well but it can cause serious drowsiness. Same with Ativan.

    https://www.walmart.com/ip/Motioneaze-Motion-Sickness-Relief-Topical-Oil-08-fl-oz-20-application/12346124


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  • VL22
    VL22 Member Posts: 851
    edited June 2018

    Cory - the only thing that worked for me was an anti nausea patch called Sancuso. My cancer center was just starting to use it last year. No oral meds worked for me.

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  • ctc333
    ctc333 Member Posts: 9
    edited June 2018

    I actually started smoking medical marijuana today and I was able to eat with an appetite! I still feel very very exhausted because I haven't eaten in about a week, but I am happy that I found this. We are meeting to discuss what to do next round, so I am happy that I found this option without having to try a lot of different things with side effects


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  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited June 2018

    Cory - speak to your MO & get additional meds. The goal at my cancer center is NO nausea or vomiting. There are way more drugs available than the 2 you're receiving.

    Look at page 2 under high emotegenicity & you'll see the list of pre & post chemo drugs that are used here. On page 5 there is a flow chart which guides clinicians and has additional options available. http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/chemotherapy-protocols-s...

    We were also allowed to use otc gravol on top of all the rx meds if nausea/vomiting were still occurring. But speak to your team, if necessary show them the protocol above & get them to prescribe more meds.

    I was SO worried about nausea because I'm a super barfy person, get easily motion sick etc. On this protocol I didn't throw up even once & I only had a few twinges of nausea which was well controlled once I figured out how frequently I needed to take my meds for the first few days.

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  • Lula73
    Lula73 Member Posts: 1,824
    edited June 2018

    For those in the US, the medication called gravol that Moth mentions is called Dramamine in the US. It’s the original Dramamine. Also note that the original and less drowsy formulas have different active ingredients and may not be interchangeable as far as efficacy for you.

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