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Vomiting five days post chemo
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Vomiting five days post chemo

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Vomiting five days post chemo

  • Post
    • September 26, 2010 at 9:16 pm
    Lori C
    Participant

      I am worried about Will (as always, but more right now than usual).  He had chemo (taxol & carboplatin) on Tuesday.  His appetite has not been great on this treatment but he's done okay.  He had a brain scan (clean, thankfully) because he'd had a few bouts of vomiting.  He was nauseated this morning and has been retching on and off all day.  Very weak and tired as a result.  I have a call into his nurse's voice mail.

      I'm giving him sips of ginger ale, etc.  We'll try toast later.

      Is this possibly a chemo side effect?

      I am worried about Will (as always, but more right now than usual).  He had chemo (taxol & carboplatin) on Tuesday.  His appetite has not been great on this treatment but he's done okay.  He had a brain scan (clean, thankfully) because he'd had a few bouts of vomiting.  He was nauseated this morning and has been retching on and off all day.  Very weak and tired as a result.  I have a call into his nurse's voice mail.

      I'm giving him sips of ginger ale, etc.  We'll try toast later.

      Is this possibly a chemo side effect?

    Viewing 13 reply threads
    • Replies
        • September 26, 2010 at 9:59 pm
        Fen
        Participant

           

          This isn't his first round, is it Lori?   I can't speak for this type of chemo, but when I had breast cancer the treatment would make me sick. Got progressively worse the first 3 treatments then leveled off.  I hope the nurse gets back to you soon. 

          Fen

            • September 26, 2010 at 10:10 pm
            Lori C
            Participant

              Thanks.  This is his fourth round.  He's had some vomiting before but not like this.  It's not violent but it's retching every hour or so.  His stomach just seems so upset. 

              I'm giving him sips of ginger ale and will try some soup or toast soon.    Maybe the toxicity of this is cumulative.

              • September 26, 2010 at 10:10 pm
              Lori C
              Participant

                Thanks.  This is his fourth round.  He's had some vomiting before but not like this.  It's not violent but it's retching every hour or so.  His stomach just seems so upset. 

                I'm giving him sips of ginger ale and will try some soup or toast soon.    Maybe the toxicity of this is cumulative.

              • September 26, 2010 at 9:59 pm
              Fen
              Participant

                 

                This isn't his first round, is it Lori?   I can't speak for this type of chemo, but when I had breast cancer the treatment would make me sick. Got progressively worse the first 3 treatments then leveled off.  I hope the nurse gets back to you soon. 

                Fen

                • September 26, 2010 at 10:19 pm
                W.
                Participant

                  I googled a bit and found out that there is something called "Delayed Chemotherapy-induced Nausea and Vomiting" (CINV) and carboplatin is one of the drugs associated with it.  So I guess it is entirely possible that it is chemo side effect.

                  • September 26, 2010 at 10:19 pm
                  W.
                  Participant

                    I googled a bit and found out that there is something called "Delayed Chemotherapy-induced Nausea and Vomiting" (CINV) and carboplatin is one of the drugs associated with it.  So I guess it is entirely possible that it is chemo side effect.

                    • September 26, 2010 at 11:03 pm
                    molly
                    Participant

                      Lori,

                      Is he taking anything for nausea? Just be careful about dehydration…..it can happen quickly. I've always heard it's more important to drink than eat…but I'm no doctor. I hope the nurse will get back with you quickly and get him something for the nausea….that is so miserable.molly

                      • September 26, 2010 at 11:03 pm
                      molly
                      Participant

                        Lori,

                        Is he taking anything for nausea? Just be careful about dehydration…..it can happen quickly. I've always heard it's more important to drink than eat…but I'm no doctor. I hope the nurse will get back with you quickly and get him something for the nausea….that is so miserable.molly

                        • September 27, 2010 at 12:15 am
                        Kevin from Atlanta
                        Participant

                          I requesed the anti-nausea drug Zofran after hearing about it here. It worked quite well. With a clean brain MRI, it is the chemo. I am glad you got the MRI done.One less thing to worry about.

                          • September 27, 2010 at 12:15 am
                          Kevin from Atlanta
                          Participant

                            I requesed the anti-nausea drug Zofran after hearing about it here. It worked quite well. With a clean brain MRI, it is the chemo. I am glad you got the MRI done.One less thing to worry about.

                            • September 27, 2010 at 1:06 am
                            EricNJill
                            Participant

                              Eric did a treatment of Carboplatin, Avastin & Abraxane and the ONLY thing that helped with his vomitting was Emend.  They give you a dose with your chemo and then you take a pill the next two days.  It was WONDERFUL!  He didn't get sick for that entire week, which was a miracle for him.  They also gave it to him when he was receiving IL-2.  The first week he did IL-2 he vomitted the entire week.  The next week they tried Emend (because I begged them too) and it worked and from then on he never got sick when he took Emend. 

                                • September 27, 2010 at 1:09 am
                                EricNJill
                                Participant

                                  I forgot to say that Compazine, Zofran, or Kytril never worked for him.  They always try to give it to him but those drugs just don't work for him so if you don't find anything working for Will, be sure to ask for Emend.  There is also a patch that is supposed to be very good.  It's called the Sarcuso Patch but it's very expensive and Eric's insurance doesn't cover it so it wasn't an option for us.  You might want to ask about it too. 

                                  Good luck to you.

                                  • September 27, 2010 at 4:26 am
                                  JuleFL
                                  Participant
                                    Just an FYI on the Emend; my husband had hiccups when he took it so you might need to get some Baclophen for them if it is a problem.
                                    Good luck,
                                    Jule
                                    • September 27, 2010 at 4:26 am
                                    JuleFL
                                    Participant
                                      Just an FYI on the Emend; my husband had hiccups when he took it so you might need to get some Baclophen for them if it is a problem.
                                      Good luck,
                                      Jule
                                      • September 27, 2010 at 1:09 am
                                      EricNJill
                                      Participant

                                        I forgot to say that Compazine, Zofran, or Kytril never worked for him.  They always try to give it to him but those drugs just don't work for him so if you don't find anything working for Will, be sure to ask for Emend.  There is also a patch that is supposed to be very good.  It's called the Sarcuso Patch but it's very expensive and Eric's insurance doesn't cover it so it wasn't an option for us.  You might want to ask about it too. 

                                        Good luck to you.

                                        • September 27, 2010 at 1:09 am
                                        EricNJill
                                        Participant

                                          I forgot to say that Compazine, Zofran, or Kytril never worked for him.  They always try to give it to him but those drugs just don't work for him so if you don't find anything working for Will, be sure to ask for Emend.  There is also a patch that is supposed to be very good.  It's called the Sarcuso Patch but it's very expensive and Eric's insurance doesn't cover it so it wasn't an option for us.  You might want to ask about it too. 

                                          Good luck to you.

                                          • September 27, 2010 at 2:30 pm
                                          amybusby
                                          Participant

                                            After I had biochem (the chemo elem. were cisplat. vinblast. and decarb. )  I was still vomitting daily 3 months after.  I did okay on an alternating schedule of Zofran and phenergren (often as a suppository)  I think it can also be done as a patch but my insurance would not cover that.  Doing it as a supp. was the least of my worries!

                                            A

                                            • September 27, 2010 at 2:30 pm
                                            amybusby
                                            Participant

                                              After I had biochem (the chemo elem. were cisplat. vinblast. and decarb. )  I was still vomitting daily 3 months after.  I did okay on an alternating schedule of Zofran and phenergren (often as a suppository)  I think it can also be done as a patch but my insurance would not cover that.  Doing it as a supp. was the least of my worries!

                                              A

                                              • September 28, 2010 at 12:56 am
                                              Kevin from Atlanta
                                              Participant

                                                I forgot about Emend. I thought it was always given after chemo.

                                                • September 28, 2010 at 12:56 am
                                                Kevin from Atlanta
                                                Participant

                                                  I forgot about Emend. I thought it was always given after chemo.

                                                  • September 27, 2010 at 1:09 am
                                                  EricNJill
                                                  Participant

                                                    I forgot to say that Compazine, Zofran, or Kytril never worked for him.  They always try to give it to him but those drugs just don't work for him so if you don't find anything working for Will, be sure to ask for Emend.  There is also a patch that is supposed to be very good.  It's called the Sarcuso Patch but it's very expensive and Eric's insurance doesn't cover it so it wasn't an option for us.  You might want to ask about it too. 

                                                    Good luck to you.

                                                  • September 27, 2010 at 1:06 am
                                                  EricNJill
                                                  Participant

                                                    Eric did a treatment of Carboplatin, Avastin & Abraxane and the ONLY thing that helped with his vomitting was Emend.  They give you a dose with your chemo and then you take a pill the next two days.  It was WONDERFUL!  He didn't get sick for that entire week, which was a miracle for him.  They also gave it to him when he was receiving IL-2.  The first week he did IL-2 he vomitted the entire week.  The next week they tried Emend (because I begged them too) and it worked and from then on he never got sick when he took Emend. 

                                                    • September 28, 2010 at 4:55 pm
                                                    Lori C
                                                    Participant

                                                      Thank you all.  Will stopped the vomiting yesterday.  His chemo nurse said just to carefully monitor him for dehydration and next round (hopefully on the 12th of Oct. depending on scans) we'll try the Emend.  It knocked him around, though.  He was exhausted from the chemo anyway, let alone the disease, and then this.  Today he's slowly resuming solid foods and we're pushing fluids as much as possible. 

                                                      He's still with me at my place – I suspect this will soon be permanent, which would be my choice.  It has been MUCH easier caring for him this way. 

                                                      No way to really tell if it was a stomach bug or the chemo or what but at least the vomiting has stopped.  He was so exhausted and sore.  He was willing to drink Pedialyte (Gatorade was too awful tasting) and we've been doing a lot of ginger ale and peppermint tea, etc.  Being a coffee addict though, he desperately wanted a latte this morning, so I trepiditiously made him one….so far so good.

                                                      I truly appreciate the support and suggestions!

                                                      • September 28, 2010 at 4:55 pm
                                                      Lori C
                                                      Participant

                                                        Thank you all.  Will stopped the vomiting yesterday.  His chemo nurse said just to carefully monitor him for dehydration and next round (hopefully on the 12th of Oct. depending on scans) we'll try the Emend.  It knocked him around, though.  He was exhausted from the chemo anyway, let alone the disease, and then this.  Today he's slowly resuming solid foods and we're pushing fluids as much as possible. 

                                                        He's still with me at my place – I suspect this will soon be permanent, which would be my choice.  It has been MUCH easier caring for him this way. 

                                                        No way to really tell if it was a stomach bug or the chemo or what but at least the vomiting has stopped.  He was so exhausted and sore.  He was willing to drink Pedialyte (Gatorade was too awful tasting) and we've been doing a lot of ginger ale and peppermint tea, etc.  Being a coffee addict though, he desperately wanted a latte this morning, so I trepiditiously made him one….so far so good.

                                                        I truly appreciate the support and suggestions!

                                                        • September 29, 2010 at 12:29 am
                                                        Lori C
                                                        Participant

                                                          Rats, the vomiting returned this afternoon.  His chemo nurse phoned in a compazine prescription so we are trying that.  He is so tired; but I am keeping watch over him.  Hopefully alternating the Zofran and Compazine will help.  We will try the Emend next round of chemo.

                                                           

                                                          • September 29, 2010 at 12:29 am
                                                          Lori C
                                                          Participant

                                                            Rats, the vomiting returned this afternoon.  His chemo nurse phoned in a compazine prescription so we are trying that.  He is so tired; but I am keeping watch over him.  Hopefully alternating the Zofran and Compazine will help.  We will try the Emend next round of chemo.

                                                             

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