I apologize - I know I don't need too - but it is just so hard to see the person you love so wiped out. I feel very fortunate that the side effects so far aren't HORRIBLE - but hiccups, and not just normal hiccups, but hiccups that last 8 hours and shake the bed and the body, - really... (we asked for something to help and weren't given anything... try the phenergan - we tried that night one...). So we finished round two of chemo yesterday (14 hours of drip) - round one he stayed around the family/living area - this morning he's stayed in our room - asleep again - so that's good - but why did this have to happen... I know - there isn't an answer. Hate this and we are only at the beginning.

lisa,
dont focus on the why. there isnt an answer for that so it just wastes ur energy when u need to focus on so many other things.
but i remember what u are feeling all to well. it is normal. caregiving is tough. its tough to watch the one u love go downhill. yes u are only at the beginning and YES it is going to get tougher...ALOT tougher. it is something we all have to endure. just know that u have unlimited support here. everyone REALLY DOES KNOW how u are feeling, we have all been there.
so feel free to rant and rave all u want.
i feel for u sweetie, just hang in there.

Lisa,

Bill had horrible, convulsing type hiccups as well after his first and second chemo and they would not go away. We mentioned this to the MO, who immediately prescribed the generic for...believe it or not....Thorazine...yes thorazine and also one for Reglan. They worked wonders and after he got rid of the those hiccups he took them a day before and day of each weekly chemo and never had problems after that.

See if you can get the MO to prescribe this and if not, ask one of the other docs. Unless you have experience these hiccups, you have no idea how miserable they are...disrupting sleep and everyday activities. Your MO needs to care!

Deb

Lisa, I can't respond to this specifically but I was a caregiver with my parents and I can tell you ranting to others is a sanity saver. So, rant on!!!

I work with MDs and these days even the nicest, most caring are overworked(I won't go into a whole medical care thing here a) but it just is crazier for the medical field these days. As Deb said it's really important to make sure the MD really understands how disruptive a symptom is.

It may be a matter of the blind leading the blind here but please feel free to call me anytime...

He's sleeping tonight - no hiccups. He's pretty much slept all day. Cannot believe how mentally exhausted I feel. Thank you everyone. Goodnight. Hope he feels better tomorrow...

This and probably all cancer is at least 50% mental. JMO

Lisa, Susan,

Just thought I would mention something that popped into my mind. I knew that Bill would be very tired during the last few weeks of treatment and maybe beyond and so, when Bill became terribly sleepy and exhausted around the end of week 5, I just thought OK...this is what I have been reading about. That evening, while feeding him thru his PEG, I touched his belly and realized he was running a fever. Oops and it was way above the 101 threshold that the MO's office had told us was a reason to call! I felt terrible that I had not caught it earlier that day.

Long story short, he was hospitalized with neutropenia and an infection that was very dangerous for him. So...just be aware of taking or monitoring hubbie's temp especially when they seem very sleepy or out of it.

Deb

Thorazine is what we give our patients with those uncontrollable, obnoxious hiccups.

I've been lurking the last couple weeks - no posts but lots of reading and thank you to everyone - I learn so much here. This is just such a scarey thing to live with - but living is what we must continue to do. I kind of went into a deep dark place - my husband was more worried about me than him - but I've pulled out of it. Sleep is a huge help. Found myself a good counselor to talk too - and one for my kids. They are struggling too - seeing daddy without hair and so tired has been hard on them. I'm really fearful about what's next... but that too we will get through. We see the oncologist today to find out if round 4 of chemo will be needed and prelim schedule for the 6 weeks of radiation. Chemo round 3 starts tomorrow. Doc told my husband he would not need a PEG and the rads will not be awful and he'll be fine...he also said his goal was to eliminate the cancer with the chemo and rads so Ken would not have to face a neck dissection or any surgery to the tongue. I hope and pray he's right. I guess we'll know more later. It's the waiting part that kills me. Living by a treatment calendar - forgetting about my life - which sounds selfish, but on the other hand Ken is my life and the father of my kids - he just has to beat this. But watching a seemingly healthy 46 year old man become sick because of his treatments is unsettling at best. Such a long road and so much waiting. Cannot believe it's March.

Hi Lisa and welcome to OCF
sounds like your husband is having a tough time and if he is that means you are too.Its very distressing watching the person you love going through all this crap and yes it will take over your lives for a while,but it will be worth it in the end.Having chemo and rads first sounds like the doctors are optomistic that he won't need surgery because surgery is preferable before radiotherapy due to healing issues with radiated skin,but i would take their opinion about radiotherapy with a large pinch of salt.Radiotherapy can be brutal unless you are very very lucky which some people are,and if i were you i would read the information for new forum members to prepare yourself for the weeks ahead.Of course there is always someone here to help out if you run into problems and hey fingers crossed he will sail through without too many problems.