I am day 3 of radiation and had my first of 6 doses of cisplatin on tuesday. After my first rad on Monday night I started feeling nausea, tuesday was worse and I threw up 4 times, this morning threw up, haven;t since but then again I'm scared to eat now! Doesn't matter if I eat orally or through my PEG, it all comes out. Any suggestions? I think its a bit early for side effects, don't you think?

I'm taking my antinausea meds but they don't help if they keep getting puked out.

I'm on day 2 of IV fluids due to the dehydration.

I'm really not looking forward to the rest of the treamtnet if its gonna be like this!!! I thought the first 2 weeks were suppose to be a breeze!LOL

I sure hope the rest of the week goes better!

Sorry you are having such a rough time!! Glad you are getting some hydration...as an oncology nurse, I'm sure you are better educated than most of us were in keeping up with hydration.

How recent was your carbo/taxol treatments? Do you think that might be contributing to why you feel so lousy at the moment?

I hope that you will get some relief soon! Am hoping others here will have some helpful advice for you!

Sorry to hear it's been a bumpy ride already for you. I wonder if it's the Cisplatin that is causing the nausea and vomiting? Are they giving you anything for nausea along with the Cisplatin so that you are getting it i.v. instead of having to take it orally?

I hope things improve! Hang in there --

I have nothing I can say about how not to get sick or worry. Is it possible that worry is causu=ing this problem? Maybe if they gave you something to relax you this would prevent the sickness?? Anything would be worth asking about.

Perhaps you are just emotionally torn up inside over this whole thing? Maybe a mild sedative might be worth discussing with your docs.

Have you discussed it with your oncologist? I'm sure they give you a fistful of anti-nausea drugs for your chemo, but maybe you need something different?

I'm sorry it's gotten so tough so early in the process.

Sorry you're having such a tough time with nausea. I can very strongly sympathize as I've been nauseated pretty much constantly since mid-May when I was near the end of RT.

None of the stuff seemed to work for me - including Zofran, Carafate, ginger capsules and god knows what else - until I finally got some Compazine the other day. I also sometimes take a 2.5 mg Marinol capsule generally with the Compazine at bedtime, so it might be a combination effect.

Just a thought, and I hope things improve for you!

Courage.
David 2

I'll chime in what others are saying: I would suspect the Cisplatin over only 3 rad TX. Get with your Oncologist ASAP regarding nausea and vomiting. That's their job to help you manage this.

I can only speak for myself but with me it was the depression that caused lack of sleep which made me think I was having side effects which had not yet started. I'm into week three of cisplatin and Rads with very minor side effects after Doc put me on anti -anxiety meds.

Got through my first week, nausea and vomiting throughout! Over the weekend, I did not use my PEG tube and just ate by mouth (which was very little). I was put on new nausea med (phenergan) and I was good the whole weekend.

Monday I got my PEG tube checked for placement as they thought it might be the culprit, I already had to have it redone because it was in the wrong spot. The exam confirmed it was in the right spot so that night I had my tube feeding and woke up puking it all back out.

So now I wonder if its the type of feeding that is not agreeing with me. I'm going to try just one can at a time and slower rate first, I meet with my nutritionist on friday if that doesn't seem to work.

I didn't think it was anxiety but now I think I am anxious about whether or not my tube feedings will come back up!LOL I just wanted an answer to it since I knew it was too early for side effects from rad or chemo but my body seems to always amaze me on how wrong it operates at times!LOL

Thanks for all the responses.

Search for posts by ChristineB...she had trouble as well with the feedings and developed a method that helped keep the supplements down. I think she used a pump but it will still apply even if you are just using gravity feeding.

Can someone post a link...I am heading out the door or I would search it and do so??

Deb

I also didn't have a PEG but I think I have read others that said to slow the intake down both in terms of speed and volume until your stomach adjusts.

I'm sorry that you have a hard time going through your first week of radiation therapy. I think that your body is just adjusting to it especially the medications that they are giving you. But as an Oncology nurse, I think you know the benefit of undergoing this treatment. I wish you well...

Denver Radiation Oncologist

Hi ES,

Im the one who went thru PEG tube *heck. I have had to learn many ways to adapt to the liquid feedings. Its easier for me to write it than to search for some of the old posts.

1. Gravity and bolus feedings were way too fast and made me ill. The formula was too strong too.

2. If you dont have one get on immediately, the pump. I used it for overnight feedings which helped cut down what I had to do during the day. This is what got me thru OC. Im going to tell you info like you have the pump.

3. Start out with 3 cans formula and 2 cans water. A bag typically holds almost 5 cans.

4. At this level of mixture you will probably need to do this both night and day to get your full amount necessary.

5. Run it on only 20ml per hour. After 4 days kick it up to 30. If you are still doing ok after about 3 days then try 40. Then jump to 60 after 3 days, 80 after 2 days. Keep it there for about a week. If you move up too fast you may have to go back down.

6. After you are comfortable with 80 for at least a week move it up to 100. Keep it there a couple days then 140. Just keep moving it up til you hit about 180, just make sure to do it gradually so you dont need to go backwards.

7. Right along with pushing up the speed, gradually decrease the water. In the end I was at 180 with 4 cans and 1/2 water.

8. Talk to the doctor who is ordering the supplies. Better yet is the nutritionist who is familiar with PEG feedings. I went thru several formulas til I found the right one and learned the tricks.

9. Use benefiber mixed with water at least once per day to help with stomach/bowel issues. That can be done as a flush for the tube. I would flush it a few times per day.

10. To keep it clean, after a shower, pat it dry. Take a q-tip and antibiotic cream and put it around the peg site. Ask for guaze dressings with a slit to place on top. I used surgical tape to keep it in place.

11. I also taped the tube to the side of my stomach. I had a couple embarrassing moments where it peaked out and amazed small children. Then while frantically tucking it back in I got scared the store would see me on camera and think I was a shoplifter. Just imagine explaining that one.

Any other questions, please ask.

Hi Es,
I agree with ChristineB, definately slow the feed down. We also used anti nausea 'Pramin' 1/2 hour before feed to warn the stomach it will soon need to digest, and 'if' my other still felt nauseated after or during the feed, I gave him Valoid which tells the brain to tell the stomach to stop feeling nausea [haven't used many of these] - can you get these meds in the States?

Oh yeah, I completely forgot about the anti nasuea meds.

Once the nasuea has set in its very difficult to get a hold of. Make sure to keep trying to take the meds even if feeling ok. Nasuea is tricky and will sneak in there when you skip a dose of the meds. I used many different ones. Dont remember their names just know Compazine did not work it made me ill.

thank you!

Sorry to hear of the rough times. I had some PEG troubles as well. Christine gave some very thorough information.
Remember that pain meds can also cause nausea. You may not be on any yet but if you do, the Duragesic Patch made me really nausea and vomited a few times. This happened while taking reglan, compazine and zofran. For me I had to get rid of the Duragesic and go w/ oxycontin and lortab by PO or peg.

I started throwing up quite a bit shortly after my treatments started too. I found out that I was having a reaction to the daily injections of the meds that are supposed to help save the salivary glands (forgot the name). So I stopped taking them. Then the nausea/vomiting ceased.