I haven't piped in - I don't think.. I know the break through meds aren't helping much frankly it sounds like nothing is) I was okay with chemo, rads was hard. Though I did have bouts of nausea mostly related to my tube, so I stopped using it after two tries and bit the bullet.. Maybe try getting him to take his meds about 15 minutes prior to eating, have him down a bottle of ensure and either sit up, or lay on his right side to help drain his stomach a little more quickly. I found position made things a little better laying on your left side makes it harder to drain your stomach. Ensure is fast, if you get the one with extra calories it has almost as much protein as the protein plus ensure has! I survived on four to 5 a day, and learned to chug them in 13 gulps!! They are bland - texture free and shouldn't trigger too much gagging (I found the thng that was worse was gagging on my own spit. I kept a cloth nearby, to spit into, and a glass - gross I know - I also rinsed frequently on the lowest setting with a water pick and a dab of all natural, alcohol free mouthwash - it made everything feel less gross and cleans out the secretions.... it dependeds on what is setting off the nausea.

However I also know someone who was sick from beginning to end! He said he lost 50 lbs, and spent all his time throwing up - he's great today!! It all ends!! if you find the ensure helps and does stay down, the try buying some protein powder, and adding say. 1/4 of a scoop per bottle of ensure. Would add one scoop to one ensure a day - and found it really helped with healing. One scoop affects the thickness though - so breaking it down might make it easier for him. Good luck!, sorry he's feeling so crappy! Take care!

Thank you Christine
He is on zofran and compazine. They keep the naseau at bay, but as soon as he puts something in it comes right back.
Poor guy is getting pretty down. It's hard to keep him positive right now. I don't know how to keep things in him or what to do to help. Feel so powerless. And of course it's a holiday weekend so he won't see the doc till Tuesday. I hate seeing him go thru this.

Personally I'm a fan of marijuana (vaporized not smoked) for nausea and increasing appetite. If it's legal in your state then ask your Dr about it, if it's not it doesn't have any drug interactions so talk to your hippie or stoner buddies and score a bag. It'll help with the depression, pain, anxiety and increase appetite. No matter what your notions are of marijuana many on these forums have used it successfully during treatment to help cope with side effects of other drugs and keep moods lifted. A few hits from the vaporizer, a bag of jevity and Pineapple Express on DVD should be enough to get him in a good mood, if not I recommend doubling the doses of mj, jevity and switching any Cheech & Chong or Harold & Kumar movie for P/E

Keep your chin up!

Eric

Add to Eric's post....don't let your docs prescribe Marinol, supposedly a MJ substitute, as it just plain DOES NOT WORK and it's very expensive. I know from experience! I smoked my share of MJ in my college years so I know what MJ can do and those pills didn't mimic MJ in the least for me. Looking back I wish I had tried the real stuff.

Okay, due to legal issues, let me say that I know a "friend" who can can vouch from personal experience for the recommendations from Cheryl, Eric & David. This "friend" got thru the first time without a feeding tube due to Ensure Plus and MJ (vaporized). None of medications worked well for the nausea and usually "he" threw those pills up. Using the MJ for this medical purpose worked exceedingly well in that it not only made the Ensure Plus palatable but "he" was able to keep it down. There is a very good reason why every State that has medical marijuana specifically lists Cancer as a qualifying condition. NORML has an excellent web page debunking Marinol Marinol vs Natural
Plus "he" was able to keep "his" prescription opiate use way down. Okay legal hypocrisy parenthetical done.

One more thing I found helpful was to gargle and swish with cans of Seltzer water: it dissolved that damn mucous so I could spit it out and not choke. Just the mucous dripping down your throat is often enough to trigger a vomiting reflex.
I found the large bottles did not keep enough fizz so I bought the individual cans in six packs - just generic Safeway or any non brand name will work.

It's very tough and your post brings back bad memories but it does end.
Charm

Yes -soda water was awesome, you can swish and spit, and or swallow the flat stuff - it heals!

Christine,
I tried Zophran, Zuphrine, Compazine, and Phenergan. No help. I finally started using ativan every four hours followed by Marinol. I would let the ativan disolve in my mouth (so I wouldn't throw it up) then wait 30 minutes and take the marinol. That combo allowed me to stop vomiting for an hour to an hour and a half.
Angie

Man, I'm so sorry to read about the continuing nausea. There's practically nothing worse. And it seems you've tried nearly everything. The MJ is another good idea if you can get it.

I in fact had a different experience with Marinol than DavidCPA's: it helped me and was easy to take, so I didn't need to get a vaporizer, etc. (although living in LA I could have and still could get an MJ license if I wanted one, which I don't)

Good luck!