Just curious -- any tips on overcoming the queasiness associated with a chemo (Cisplatin).

During my first treatment, it only lasted 2-3 days and I was fine. But it's been a week since my second infusion, and I still feel "not right" in the stomach department. I still haven't been sick (i.e. vomitted) yet, but imagine being car sick or sea sick and someone shoving food in your face.

"Eat!"

"Ummm, no way Jose..."

Just curious how some of you beat this. I need the calories!! Don't want to waste away...

Eric

Eric-
I never did well on the chemo. Mine was cisplatin 24 hours followed by 4 days of 5fu. A 5 day hospital stay, 3 weeks off then start over again. 4 total treatments. Was sick every step of the way. The docs tried all sorts of cocktails and even had the hospital pharmacist come up to meet me and see if he had any ideas. Getting sick with radiation burns in your throat made life very uncomfortable. Hummm, not giving you much encouragement here am I??? Other than to say when treatment ends there is hope and you'll feel better again! It really doesn't last forever and there will be joy in eatting again! Really! Hang in there! Ask them to try a few more meds and they might hit the right combination for you. - Kris

Eric,
Here are some things that worked "somewhat" for my husband when he was suffering from chemo nausea:

Peppermints. Simple, but seemed to help. He would sometimes just breathe in the smell and would get over an acute attack of nausea.

Sea bands. These are sold for seasickness and seemed to help a little. Our accupuncture practitioner friend also showed him some pressure points that helped.

Wishing you better and better days.

Anita

Anita is right! I forgot all about it, but when I was having Cisplatin and the associated nausea, I rubbed oil of peppermint (had on hand as a candy maker) under my nose and it really did the job. I don't know why and at the time didn't care because I felt so much better. I cannot imagine how I forgot that! Give it a try. It is inexpensive and worked rings around the meds I was given.

If that doesn't work try compazine. A sublingual or oral ativan should work pretty well also.

There is no scientific data to support the efficacy of seabands. The following is a link from Quackwatch: http://www.skeptics.org.nz/SK:VIEWARTICLE::waDeptTOC.1%2CA761

You're doing pretty well just to be queasey. I threw up so much from the Cisplatin that I polished my teeth like glass!

Hi Eric,
I'm sorry to hear your still dealing with stomach issues. I didn't have chemo but I can attest to the peppermint working on a quesy stomach. Everyone of my daughters learned at a young age, from my mother, that peppermint would make their stomachs feel better. Hope it helps.
Take Care,
Minnie

Eric, Don't know if your chemo is the same as what I had, but I had 3 chemo's, one every 21 days along with rad. They took me into the hopital and hydrated me for 24 hours, then gave me anti-nausia drugs, then knocked me out, gave me the chemo and then kept hydrating throughout the chemo. The only bad effect I had was with the first anti-nausia drugs. They made me vomit and have diarieha (sp) simultaneously. Once they switched me to a different anti-nausia drug, I had no problems at all. We are all different, but if you are doing the same type of cisplatin treatment, make sure they are hydrating and using anti-nausia drugs. If they are, maybe a different anti-nausia drug would help. Hang in there partner.

Eric, sorry, I forgot. They were also giving me some kind of drug in place of my Nexium for my acid reflux. That may have helped settle my stomach as well.

Thanks everyone... I think I turned the corner yesterday on the queasiness issue -- a week after the infusion... I still have a small appetite but at least I can sit in Cracker Barrel now and absorb the smells and a meal without having to run out...

The bad news -- the doc wants me to do one more round of chemo on Aug. 31. Dang it, I was hoping to get by with just two doses... In the long run, I'll be glad I gave this everything I've got... In the short run, I just want my appetite and (some) weight back...

I'll have to try the peppermint on the next go... we've been reading about taking ginger to help settle the stomach. The problem is, once I reach I get queasy, I don't want any part of swallowing a pill... I've got a VERY sensitive gag reflex these days, and that could send me over the edge...

Eric

Hi, Eric!
Glad to hear you are feeling a little better! You are running about 2 weeks ahead of my husband's treatment schedule....he finished his Xeloda on Wednesday and now he's on his "free" week....waiting for next Wednesday.
He's also on the Cisplatin infusion...he takes one EMEND capsule one hour before the IV is activated with the other anti-nausea drugs and the chemo. He takes an EMEND the next 2 mornings.....plus the Zofran and Decadron. Lots of stuff, but he only vomited one day. Don't know what they gave you to keep you from being sick......but I had heard the first go-round is easiest to take, so I guess we'll tighten up for this next go-round!!!

QUESTION EVERYONE....I don't want to appear stupid, but I am so very excited/curious/anxious about the fact that Tom's tumor is almost non-existant now. I mean, we are talking SHRUNK from a goose-egg lump sticking out of his neck to something you have to really "hunt" to find!
Am I being really, really naive to think that he has responded so well to the chemo that he might not have to have surgery????? I guess the radiation thing is unavoidable, but boy, after reading everyone's posts about surgery, it would be a real blessing to pass by that door!
Thank you all for listening! Have a wonderful night and a blessed day (FRIDAY!!!)
Nicki

Nicki, it is possible to avoid surgery. Take myself as an example. My neck tumor shrank from the size of a goose egg to that of a peanut within a month post chemo-radiation treatment. I still thought that surgery was inevitable but I was wrong. The follow up scan taken at 2 months post treatment could not detect cancer cells around the area. So I did not need any surgery. You are not naive thinking that your husband may skip operation. Good luck,
Karen.

Hi Nicki,
like Karen my advanced large tumor was treated by radiation and chemo alone. I checked the NCCN guidelines and it says for N2b cancers that they radiate post surgery. Optionally they recommend the same Tx Karen and I had. I would have a serious discussion with the RO and find out what the risk/benefit of both protocols are and what is the most sure way of killing the cancer.
http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/head-and-neck.pdf

Hi Nicki -- I'll let you know how I make out with "round three" of the cisplatin infusion... Next week is my free week, and I'll be trying to pack down the calories as much as possible...

I'm determined not to vomit from this stuff, and I'm doing well there so far... I may have to look into the EMEND you were talking about -- haven't heard of that...

My docs told me the second round would be "much tougher" but it was really about the same for me except the queasy feelings hung around longer... I'll be interested to see what my blood counts are the next time they check those...

Nicki-- glad to hear your husband's tumor is shrinking so much!!!!! Just curious -- where is Warrenton, Va? Is that near Warrenton, NC? I'm originally from Raleigh and worked for several years at a newspaper in Wake Forest...