Hello all. I started my chemotherapy and radiation treatments on Monday and other than a slight reaction to the Erbitux, it went well. I did develop a sour stomach on Tuesday and some nausea yesterday which a dose of Zofran remedied. I have also developed an off taste in my mouth, which I'm guessing is from the Cisplatin, although I supposed could be either drug, but its making eating a challenge. I did just make a smoothie with Vanilla Soy ice cream, almond milk and whey protein which tastes fine, but I'd love to hear if others developed this and what foods were at least vaguely okay to eat.

Thanks!

I wish I could say which foods are ok to eat but without teeth, all I would be doing is guessing. I blend all I try to eat and some are just give the burning sensation in the mouth are too hot to handle. I had the Erbitux along with Chemo , but I had no side affects. Good luck as you go thru it. I want some teeth. LOL

Margaret,

I can't tell by your posts if you aren't able to eat or you have just developed a taste issue? If you are able to eat then eat and eat and eat all your favorite things now as there will be plenty time for those damn liquid drinks. If you can't eat and must rely on liquids then drink or pour down that Peg whatever pleases you. If or when nutrition becomes an issue then consider drinks with the most bang for the oz which Carnation Instant Breakfast VHC still sits at the top with 560 cals in an 8 oz can. I didn't develop taste issues until about my 3 week of radiation and then everything went south for about 7 weeks.

I can eat but this off-taste in my mouth (bitter and metallic) is making my favorite foods taste awful. That and the lingering nausea are making eating a challenge. I just went to Whole Foods Market and bought a bunch of different things to nibble on, I'm hoping something will appeal to me.

Margaret:

Sorry to hear your taste is not what it was. That will happen when going thru chemo/radiation, and it really stinks!!!! Unfortunately, it will probably get alot worse than it is now. Eat as much nutritious foods as you can. If you can handle pizza, meats, mexican food, eat them now cuz it might be a while before you are able to eat like you did prior to being treated.

Have you tried eating with plastic utensils? Easy foods to try if your mouth is bothering you are yogurt, puddings, soup (some are easier than others), canned peaches. I also drank alot of yoo-hoo and chocolate milk during my treatments. Even with having a PEG, keep trying to eat and swallow daily or you can have difficulty down the road.

Best of luck to you,
Christine

I had Cisplatin and my body was a haxardous waste dump for some time. Not only did everything taste metallic but I had a very chemical smelling body odor. It all passed about a month after my last infusion. It might help to insure that you are well hydrated and you should drink 2-3 liters of water a day. Cisplatin needs to be flushed from your system. It can cause kidney damage if you don't stay hydrated.

It must be our fate to have the metallic taste. I thought I imagined it . Now I know better. Thank you all.

I would continue to eat solid foods and my sinful favorites would top the list. The taste is the first to go and that's difficult to deal with but when the dry mouth starts and the swallowing difficulty begins, it really gets tough and you're limited to a liquid diet so that's why we are stressing the solid foods now while you can. Forget the taste and just enjoy the solid stuff. A month from now you'll thank us.

David, for a CPA you give some good advice . LOL Right on my man.

Gary,

You are dead-on right about the hazardous waste dump! Its amazing the quantity of crud that's run through our veins. And then all the drugs to mitigate the side effects of those drugs, and so on and so on! I am a little surprised at how quickly the cisplatin affected my taste buds. I am staying hydrated - thanks for the reminder though.

David,

My point in posting was that I am trying to eat solid foods, just having trouble figuring out what's going to be tolerable and not upset my stomach. I'm muddling through it as best I can - at any rate, in a couple of weeks it'll all be moot anyway.

Margaret,

The lack of taste is something horrible that unfortunately so far comes with our Tx. Maybe one day...Until then hang in there and know that it will get better and besides before long worst things will take your mind off the no taste anyway. LOL

Margaret,
It will get more difficult as you proceed through treatment to stay on top of hydration. I kept a log. I had to be rehydrated in the hospital twice - once in the ER and the second time in the infusion unit -MUCH better in the infusion unit. In and out in a 1/2 hour. ER was a 4 hour hour nightmare.

Cisplatin AKA Platinol is made from platinum so I am not surprised about the metallic taste.

Ditto what Gary said re the ER. I had to get hydrated twice in the ER and they are just not mentally equipped to deal with our Tx. First you have wait the customary 2 hours to get a bed. Next you have to (or your caregiver when you're to weak to talk or give a damn) explain WHY you need hydration which is way more difficult than it sounds. Then they drip the solution in at like 1 drip per hour and then they said I couldn't leave until I pee'ed. If I would have had a knife that doctor would have had a real ER on his hands!!

So the moral of this nightmare is to STAY HYDRATED. Do not fall behind. Drink at least 48 ozs of water each and every day or you to will waste many hours dealing with ill aware good intentioned people.

Margaret, I also had that bad metallic taste from the cisplatinum and I found that things that were kind of salty cut through it the best. My husband made some very salty mac and cheese that I could have--though I couldn't really taste the cheese--and then I got by also on this portobello mushroom soup--the organic kind that comes in a box-- with dollops of yogurt. In fact, for some reason I could tolerate that soup far into my treatment when everything else either hurt or made me sick. Now I absolutely cannot go near it! And that is one warning you might want to take to heart is that if you have any nausea at all you will probably create taste aversions for yourself so it might be best to NOT try to eat the stuff you really love since if it tastes bad and you are nauseated after you will probably not want to go near it after treatment is over. Same goes for using a cologne you like to cut through the metallic/chemical smell (which I also did). For the rest of your life, that smell will remind you of chemo nausea. So if you go that route choose carefully.

Nelie

Nelie

Thanks, Nelie! I had a big bowl of hot and sour soup last night that was perfect - a little salty and easy on my tummy. I've also been having good luck with soups from Trader Joe's, pretty nutritious and yummy and I went out with friends to a Mexican restaurant the other night and had cheese enchiladas with guacamole, not delicious, but workable.

During my treatment for lymphoma, I was warned about avoiding favorite foods to prevent future aversions, but didn't have any trouble with that, thankfully. I'm hoping this time will be the same.

During my treatments I could not wear my dentures so I ate flavored oatmeal, yogart, pudding, pasta and soups. I wasn't much for blended foods. But for a month I was only able to use the peg tube. This was due to mouth sores. Everyone is different so you have to try and see what works for you. But you can get great advice and alot of support. Just take it day by day. It will be all over before you know it. Rest and take care !

When I needed rehydrtaed, my Dr told me to go to the Dr that gave me chemo. No problem at all. I went and was out in an hour and feeling much better. I watch it close now.

I'm laughing at Nelie's post. BUt you are right Nelie and I bet not many of us think about it like you did.