ztweb Posted June 16, 2006 Share Posted June 16, 2006 OK...so I am probably overly concerned for nothing...my dad is getting excellent care at Mayo. He goes home on the weekends, so he is on his way home right now, and I am just worried. He finished round 4 of chemo, the last one...has three radiation treatments left...he is beyond tired. He just sleeps and sleeps, and he coughs and coughs...getting so much phlegm that he cannot even fit any more into his mouth (gross I know!...sorry!). This then makes him feel like vomiting...and he get the heaves. His muscles ache from the heaves, and then he gets tired. He can't eat or drink very well, and thus we are worried about dehydration. He had 1.5 hours of hydration IV on Wednesday night. That helped. In addition he had Kytril(?) IV that night as well. That helped with the nausea. However, last night...back to the same old, same old. Is this just "part of the process?" typical? He has been SO good up until this last week. We realize he is almost at the end of treatments, but gosh...oh yeah..one other thing...the phlegm tastes and smells TERRIBLE! Let me know your thoughts! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Littlegirl Posted June 16, 2006 Share Posted June 16, 2006 So sorry your dad is having a rough time right now. I know you said he is having problems eating but DO try to push the fluids so that he does not get dehydrated (gatorade or popsicles???) I've heard others talk about Mucinex to help with a bothersome cough. It is an over the counter med that is supposed to help thin out the phlegm. Don't know if this would help or not but it could not hurt to try. Good luck, hopefully he will feel better getting to rest in his own bed. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted June 16, 2006 Share Posted June 16, 2006 It's normal with some chemos to get that horrible cough but they should be giving him something for it. John has tessalon pearls and a codeine cough syrup, inhaler etc. Ask for something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teresag Posted June 16, 2006 Share Posted June 16, 2006 As Katie said, I've used a cool cloth to the forehead for nausea for years as a nurse. Seems to work for a lot of people. And, of course, call the physician and ask for better symptom control! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welthy Posted June 17, 2006 Share Posted June 17, 2006 Try the mucinex 2 times a day to thin out the mucus. Contact the lung doctor to see what other options might be available. We've been using a nebulizer which seems to make Tony cough more, but brings a lot of junk up with it. I also noticed that he got so weak from the chemo/radiation that the coughing wasn't strong enough to expel a lot of the junk and the nebulizer helped with that problem. Have him sleep propped on a few pillows. Please double-check with the lung specialist to help ease his problem. Sorry he isn't feeling too well. The hydration thing is a real problem too -- I think that being well hydrated helps thin the mucus too. Problem is getting them to drink enough fluid -- haven't been able to fix that issue in my own house yet. Best of luck Welthy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dchurchi Posted June 18, 2006 Share Posted June 18, 2006 Alan still has the same problem even after almost a year after treatment. As Katie said, cold compresses help. I even turn the air conditioner on full blast during the winter to help out with this. Sorry your dad is going through this. Prayers he gets some symptom relief Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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