Nausea, nausea, nausea
Hi everyone --
I haven't posted much lately because I've started teaching again, and also because my last chemo treatment (on Tuesday) was very rough.
In order not to experience the so-called kidney freeze that sent me to the ER the two previous times I had AC, I opted out of the Decadron this time. However, I still had the kidney freeze! In other words, it's not the dexamethasone, but apparently something else that's giving me that problem each time. This time I simply took Lasix and toughed it out, but it took nearly 24 hours to resolve.
However, I now have another situation I never experienced before, and wonder how common it is, or if I should be alarmed. Five days after treatment, I still have waves of nausea! I seem to be all right in the morning, and then either in the afternoon or early evening the nausea will start up. I don't get sick to my stomach, but it does make me feel very weak and woozy.
Has anyone else experienced this, and is there anything I can do about it? Or should I be very concerned?
Thanks as always.
Annie
Comments
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Hey Annie-
I was bothered with nausea off and on the whole time I was on A/C. I found that a lot of time mine was related to dehydration and drinking some Gatorade would help. Does taking any of your anti-nausea drugs help? Zorina was the one that helped me the most, but it can cause constipation, so you have to watch that. I would talk to your medical team, especially if it is more of a weakness or dizziness instead of a true nausea. They may want to check things like you potassium level....
Hang in there
Hugs
Deb C
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Annie - I had nausea with each chemo Tx. But it started right away. I went for IV hydration for 3 days after each chemo. And I used quite the cocktail of anti-nausea meds - Kytril, BDR suppositories were the two best. Good luck to you. Hugs, Karen
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So sorry you're having a rough time with the nausea. I have no advice, but I think it's pretty common. My SIL went through exactly what you are describing. Usually the 3rd day after the infusion. She would also end up with gout after each treatment.
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Annie, IMHO you should give your onco a call on Monday morning, if you're not all better.
What you've described as a "weak and woozy" feeling might be delayed nausea, which I've heard can occur with nasty cocktails like AC; but it could also be a whole raft of other things.
What are they giving you for anti-nausea drugs for your AC treatments? Were they drugs that you take for 4 or 5 days and then stop (i.e., are you feeling nausea now because you're off your anti-nausea drugs)? Did they give you something for "breakthrough nausea", like Compazine or Phenergan, that you could try now to see if it helps?
It might just be dehydration. As Deb C said, be sure you don't stop drinking lots of extra fluids after the first few days, just because you've flushed all the chemo drugs out. For me, the most common cause of woozy-headedness during the second week of my treatments was dehydration. As soon as I resumed drinking extra fluids, especially gatorade and plain old water, I felt much, much better.
The weakness and woozy-headedness could be due to anemia. When I was anemic during my last 2 tx's, I felt disoriented and half-drunk, rather than dizzy. I was definitely weak, too. When you get that feeling you're describing, is your heart rate higher than normal? Does your heart pound? How has your hemoglobin been doing during these past few tx's?
OK, there is another possibilty I've thought of. I'll admt that I don't understand the "kidney freeze" you've mentioned here and previously. Is that when your kidneys were not producing urine, even though you were drinking fluids like crazy? I'm wondering what your blood work looks like, with respect to your kidney function. How are your BUN and creatinine--are they in the normal range? Sometimes if the kidneys are not operating properly, it can make us feel queasy or even nauseous.
In any case, since this is something new that you didn't experience during Taxotere/Avastin or your first 2 AC treatments, it's worthy of a phone call to your onco's office. I agree with Deb C.
Hugs to you, Annie...
otter
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Annie, so sorry about the nausea - no words of wisdom here but I hope it goes away soon! I just wanted to add something in case you decide that you may be dehydrated: everyone recommends Gatorade, but I can't stand the stuff. During chemo, I literally could not tolerate even one sip, it tasted like melted jello and made me queasy. I discovered something called Smart Water, which has all the electrolytes that Gatorade has without the sugar and artificial flavors/colors -- it just tastes like water. I found it in the supermarket.
Feel better!
Lauren
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I've missed you Annie, and you've never been far from thought.I don't have much to add to the great advise that's been given. Otter suggests letting your oncologist know about this tomorrow; this sounds good to me too. Do you have any abdominal pain when you have the 'wave of nausea'? The gut motion is wavelike, and when dtysfunctioning in this motion, it can cause nausea. AC of course, like any chemo, can cause gut problems.Hope you are nearing the end of your chemotherapy. You've been strong throughout.Tender
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Hi all,
Heartfelt thanks to all yet again. To answer a couple of the questions, I'm given Aloxi in drip the day of infusion, then Emend for two days following. I didn't realize I was supposed to take the Emend the same day as infusion (nobody told me), so I didn't. I also have Compazine for break-through nausea, but this time it didn't work at all.
Because of your feedback, I called the oncologist's office this morning and requested a kidney function test. I'm waiting for a call back now. I haven't had a creatinine or BUN since the little hiatus between Taxotere and AC, so nobody has been monitoring that in spite of the various incidents described in my initial post.
I told DH last night that I wonder if becoming part of the clinical trial was such a good idea after all; it seems the moment I signed the papers, I ceased being a human being and instead morphed into a mere statistic. Kidney function tests are not part of the clinical trial protocol, so apparently nobody cares if my kidneys are failing or not. Pretty dismal.
Anyway, I'm off to campus to teach. Thank God for my job and my students!
Love to all,
Annie
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If I remember right [chemo brain to be blamed for not remembering right :-) ], I was nauseous 2-3 weeks after my last treatment. Doctor said it might be a month before all of the AC gets flushed completely out of the system.
My barometer was how the toilet smelled. Gross, sorry but during and a couple of weeks out of treatment, I would feel a need to throw up just at the smell of the toilet after I used it. Tells me I had just flushed out something that still had a trace of meds.
I was prescribed compazine but it being very mild, it seemed to be not enough for me. Nurse suggested to take it on the clock (every 4 hrs???) and not to wait for when I would start getting nauseous but at about the 5th day after each tx, I would stop compazine even if I knew I would still be nauseous. I am so not happy popping pills, that is why.
Weak, I always was as I am severly anemic (have been recommended for a 1 time blood transfusion but opted for iron infusions.). Woozy, I would be from all that throwing up everytime I had a nausea spell (which would be every now and then and most specially when I am in the bathroom or close to any smells I associated with chemo (like hand soaps). Could be psychological but it was real.
I think dr was about right, no more nausea about a month after last tx.
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Annie,
I can totally relate - I have been having nausea from Day-1 of AC, which was on May 30th. I have been participating in clinical trial for Avastin (E5103) and part of the protocol requires some tests (kidney and liver - every two weeks). I have been given Dexamethasone, which helps a little with nausea and also Zofran. On the day of Chemo, I take Emend (one hr prior to tx); day -2 I take Emend plus Kytril and Dexameth. I seem to need all these to keep even a sip of water down!!
Nausea and dizziness plus cough (due to reaction to chemo) has kept me out of work during the last 6 weeks.
Hope you feel better. If not, ask for more meds for nausea.
Take Care,
Desi.
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Annie, I'm just checking in with you. What's the status of your nausea/nausea/nausea today? Any improvement?
Also, did you get any more information from your onco about possible causes of the weak-and-woozy feeling?
(If I just imagine preparing and delivering 45 hours of lectures to a classroom of 96 college students after being retired for a year makes me feel weak-and-woozy!)
otter
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Hi Otter, Hi all --
Well, I called my oncologist and asked for liver and kidney function tests. He faxed me orders for both plus blood counts. It turns out I have an electrolyte imbalance (low sodium and low potassium). They said to stop taking Lasix; I responded that I took only ONE 50 mg tablet the day of infusion. Nothing since. I asked what to do about the imbalance, and they said to take Pedia Light. Isn't that a nutritional supplement for children?
Desi, thanks for your response. Maybe I've just been spoiled until now. This is the first time I have felt really, really sick since chemo started on March 4th. Also, I refused the Dexamethasone last treatment, but think I'll take it again the next (and last!) time.
Otter, how are you doing? I think you're at the end of the tunnel, right?
Love,
Annie
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Annie......if you are having a hard time stomaching the pedialyte.........my kids always hated it.......they do make popsicles.........or read the label......because I think a lot of the same ingredients are in gatorade.......I've been very lucky with the nausea thing.....feel a bit off days 3 and 4.....but not bad.......I went with half the dexamethasone first AC......no dexamethasone 2nd........only anti-nausea med I take is the ondansetron the first 2 days......and haven't needed the "as needed" anti-nausea at all......I have been drinking atleast one gatorade a day.......and I drink like a fish....can't get enough fluids.........always have.......hope this helps.........don't forget to eat your bananas.......
Cheers
Jax
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Annie, I'm sure glad you had them check your electrolytes. An imbalance there can cause all sorts of symptoms, such as queasiness, headaches, muscle pain, etc. Pedialyte is a fluid/electrolyte replacement solution for children who have diarrhea and/or vomiting. I've seen it described as "Gatorade for children." Sounds like it would be a reasonable option for your situation. I didn't read the website or packaging info, so I don't know why your doc would recommend Pedialyte instead of a sports drink. Since it's intended for treatment of a medical condition, it might be better-balanced than Gatorade. Here's the site: http://pedialyte.com/
When I was getting Taxotere & Cytoxan, I took dexamethasone for 3 days. My onco said one of the things it would do was provide some anti-nausea support. So, if you skipped the dexamethasone, that might be one reason for the wooziness.
Am I now at the end of the tunnel? Well, yes and no. I've reached the end of one tunnel, only to find myself at the wrong end of another, very long tunnel. I'm still recovering from what I presume to be the lingering SE's of Taxotere. I am very sensitive to salt right now, and I develop swelling from fluid retention if I just pass the salt shaker to someone at the dinner table. I started on Arimidex 3 wks ago, and that has gone pretty well, I think. I have some slight joint pain but I had that before BC, so I can't blame the Arimidex. I did read today that women who got taxanes (Taxol or Taxotere) in their chemo regimens are more likely than other women to experience joint pain when taking an AI. Don't know what that's all about....
Also, 5-1/2 wks [not "weeks"--MONTHS] past my surgery, I've re-developed "cording" under my arm on the mast/SNB side, and I've lost range-of-motion in that arm. I don't know if it is a short-term thing that will eventually go away as the Taxotere effects fade, or if it's something I have to look forward to through the next 5+ years on an AI. I am very much afraid of developing lymphedema in that arm and the chest wall on that side. Good thing I have a follow-up with my surgeon in a few weeks.
Finally, the bone loss associated with AI's is a nagging concern. I had a DEXA bone density scan a week ago, but I don't know the results yet. I was A-okay on my DEXA scan 4 years ago, but menopause had just begun at that point.
So, I am looking at the beginning of another very long tunnel, and that's not even considering the undercurrent of concern about follow-up mammograms and risk of BC recurrence we all face. Ah, but we do have to get back to our "normal" lives at some point, right?
This was your 3rd AC? How many more do you have before your neoadjuvant chemo is completed? That would be quite a tunnel to get through, I think.
Big hugs...
otter
[Edit: I said the latest cording developed 5-1/2 weeks after surgery. That's 5-1/2 MONTHS.]
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I usually have nausea and wooziness for about a week after chemo. I have tried the Decadron, Zofran, Ativan but still the same results. I have had 2 treatments so far and I tried the Emend. I don't know what to do. What other ones should I try? I also eat crackers, bananas, and drink the Vitamin Water and they help a little. Could someone explain gout or kidney freeze?
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Aw Otter, I'm sorry you seem to be a bit down. It's true that this journey seems never-ending. I guess I can say something about the underarm cording since I developed it after my repeated core biopsies. I had a couple, first to diagnose (one biopsy of primary tumor; another of the swollen axillary lymph node); then had to have more when I joined the clinical trial (apparently the hospital/medical team/Tooth Fairy hadn't kept the samples from the diagnostic biopsy (!). I developed cording fairly rapidly, thought it meant the cancer was spreading, but was reassured by Tender that it was most probably a consequence of biopsy. It went away on its own after about six weeks, so just be patient. It is painful, yes, but not permanent.
One more AC for me, then a few weeks' rest before surgery. I am concerned the cancer will start growing again during the rest period -- who knows if the neoadjuvant even worked. It's a weird situation, and not one I'd recommend to friends. Does anyone know if there's any way of keeping an eye on things during that hiatus?
Towens, kidney freeze is a term coined by someone else on this forum (I don't remember who) to refer to the effect I have after every infusion -- I drink and drink, but can't pee. Twice I ended with a Foley in the ER; the last time I simply took Lasix and said to hell with it. Either I'll start peeing or I'll pop. Whichever comes first.
Gout is explained at the link below.
http://www.medicinenet.com/gout/article.htm
Annie
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Ask your doc if your sodium/electrolytes could be low. AC can cause a sodium dumping problem...I made mine worse by drinking lots of water without a lot of food (I was too nauseous). Nausea and wooziness improved with saltines, gatorade (I dilute it), and chicken soup.
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Hey Onward --
That's really interesting because the doc did check my electrolytes at my insistence. Tests did indeed show low sodium as well as low potassium. What is "sodium dumping"? How does one prevent it, rather than merely deal with it? I have my final AC this coming Tuesday, and dread the inability to pee and the nausea more than anything else!
Thanks again,
Annie Pee Breath
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Thank you HeatherBlocklear. I have chemo on Tuesday and I hope that things are better. I am going to continue the Emend and 2 other meds.
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