My husband is HOOKED on the suction machine. He has been using it to suction out the mucous, that he was gagging on so often causing vomiting. Now though, he uses it for even his saliva, and I am wondering if the lack of saliva is causing his stomach problems. We are almost 2 wks post treatment, and he is miserable with stomach issues. He is still throwing up, he has a PEG, but not taking in more than a few cans of "food" each day and it just makes him feel terrible. Waves if nausea, but mostly his food isn't processing? He feels full, not interested in food, etc. I give him a few cans and he just feels uncomfortable and won't want anything much more through the day. He takes walks to try and jumpstart his digestion, but it just makes him feel yucky. A few days ago, he threw up for 3 days, a few times a day. He is loosing LOTS of weight, nearly 40 lbs. Yesterday was a very low day emotionally. He is not in much pain at all so I am not sure why he isn't swallowing much. His stomach hurts so I think he is just trying to avoid putting anything in. Has anyone had the experience of saliva causing such stomach issues? I am trying to convince him to swallow, but that's not so easy. He is taking in a few glasses of water a day, about 16 oz. but we are still doing hydration at the hospital to avoid dehydration.

The suction machine is great, but I think we may be overusing it. Thoughts? Help, he is wasting away physically and emotionally. This is so hard. We expected the few weeks after treatment to be hard with pain, but not still loosing weight,vomiting and not eating. He feels like he will never improve. Suggestions?

Likely the chemo. It causes nausea, it's also very hard on the kidneys he should be taking in lots of fluids, constipation could be another reason. Also this early in the game he should try to eat to maintain swallowing. There is also the possibility that the issue is related to the formula - I couldnt tolerate any of them... I was by mouth the whole time. good in a way.

Try slowing it to a ver very slow drip rate and running the feeds at night maybe? Good luck. And do bring it to the attention of the dr. And or dietician.. Take care!

It seems very unlikely to me that overuse of the suction machine is causing your husband's stomach problems. Lack of saliva causes many many problems, but as far as I know, not stomach issues or vomiting. Almost every OCF patient has struggled with lack of saliva and the resultant Xerostomia (medspeak for dry mouth). It's "normal". Actually, too much saliva can cause stomach problems, including reflux. but not too little. The canned nutrition is formulated to be digested in the stomach and does not need any saliva predigestion.
I used my suction machine all during the day and got up several times during the night to use it. Actually it helped prevent vomiting since when the mucous would get stuck in my throat, it would trigger a gag reflex.
You do have a serious problem with his lack of nutrition.
Here is a recent thread on someone's similar (not exactly the same, but we are all different) problem. Unable to keep food down thread
One other possibility would be that he needs a pump to slow down his feed. Christine B is our resident expert from personal experience on those issues.
I'm sorry I don't have the solution but I did want to reassure you that it's not the suction machine. He needs it. You have more than enough to worry about as it is, plus focusing on the suction machine will keep you both from finding out what is the real problem and fixing it.
Charm

At almost 2 weeks post treatment, your husband still is going thru a very rough time. Just because he finished treatments does not mean the radiation has stopped working on him. It continues for weeks making him feel horrible.

A suction machine is a very useful tool. Im sure that he has problems swallowing like we all went thru after radiation. Thats why he is using the machine to suction out the excess saliva.

Right now focus on nutrition and hydration. Shoot for 2500 calories daily with high protein and 48 oz water, more is even better. Soon your husband will begin to feel a little better. Best wishes with his continues recovery.

It sounds like a gastric motility agent such as Metaclopromide might help with the nausea. My husband found this helpful when he had a feeling of fullness in his stomach and resultant nausea. It increases the speed of emptying of the stomach sometimes caused by other medications especially narcotic pain medication.

The month after treatments ended for me was horrible. By far the worst time out of the whole experience. The two things to remember are hydration and nutrition. Getting behind on those two things can make you feel really horrible. These folks have given you the advice you need though. All I can say is that it does get better.

Hi Beth
So sorry to hear your husband is struggling. The description of what he is struggling with sounds almost identical to my Alex. However, my Alex did not have a suction machine so it was not due to any suction.

He was bullied by the oncologists who told him to "try harder". If this happens to you, ignore them, they don't realise it is not a question of will. Like Tracey, my Alex complained of feeling bloated after literally 3 mouthfuls of food and the 4th would cause him to throw up. This of course, was to be avoided at all costs because it meant the struggle for the first 3 mouthfuls was for naught. Mornings were worst.

Wallyswife has suggested metaclopromide which Alex takes. Alex takes it 30 minutes before he "eats" (Alex is still on almost total liquid diet of EnsurePlus)which helps with both nausea and the bloated feeling. Usual dose of metoclopromide 4 times a day (30 minutes before eating and then before bed) but Alex takes only when he thinks he will get nauseaous which is usually in the mornings. He also takes Somac (pantprazole) before bed to stop the gastric reflux. The plan is to stop the metoclopromide one day (goodness knows when) and keep going with the Somac for the rest of his life.

We don't know what causes it and the oncologists have been mute in their opinions other than to suggest it sometimes happens and will go away in time(thanks guys - very helpful).

Alex also complained of no appetite and bad or wrong taste which also put him off. After 6 months of this, his GP tried a baby dose of an anti-depressant to assist with appetite. This worked quite well too.

Thanks so much for the feedback. I read them all aloud to him, and it gave him some peace. So my next step with the nurse tomorrow is Reglan and Ativan! We were not expecting the nausea and vomiting to last so long after treatment. We were expecting more pain, but not nausea and stomach upset. How does anybody not loose so much weight? If we drip one can into his PEG, he finds that he is so full it is almost coming back up his esophagus.
Thanks again you allowed us to rest a little easier tonight.
Beth

Careful with the Reglan. I had tremors and it caused me to pace. It was horrible! Read all the side effects and make sure you understand what to watch for with that medication. I did much better with zofran. I still use zofran occasionally for nausea.

My husband was on both Zofran and Compazine for a month after he was finished treatments. The mucus and nausea gagged him so much he couldn't talk or eat without throwing up. It will get better. Hang in there and be patient.