KatieB Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 Hi everyone, I originally posted this as a reply to "Topetecan" , but wanted to start a new strand because I need help!! Today dad had his second dose of the Topetecan. He ran out of nausea meds. day before yesterday (phenergrin (Sp) pills) so he actually went 10-12 hours with nothing (He's takes them on a reg. basis whether or not he feels sick...just in case) Because he went so long with out any, he worried that he may get sick, so he took an old prescription for compozine which didn't help (Never did) and he started throwing up. He's been throwing up for two days now and I am praying that him being sick is due to not having meds., and the compozine, and NOT due to the chemo. I pray this is so. He did dreadful on this last chemo back in Dec. He can't do bad again or this doctor may give up, or, god forbid, Dad may give up!!! You guys have any ideas out there. Dad can't sleep, his head is hurting alot (so much so, his pain meds don't really help)---remember he had a clear MRI a few weeks ago, he is throwing up and can't eat. Need prayers that tomorrow will be a better day......HElp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny G. Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 Katie, I am so sorry! I would call the doctor immediately and ask for something else for the nausea. There may be something more fast acting. I know they like to try to prevent the nausea since it is harder to stop once it gets started. I am given intravenous anti nausea medicine before my chemo treatment and they sent me home with compozine also. I took it the first couple of days, but don't think I needed it. I have had people say that it causes worse fatigue. You are the most amazing person and you have given such support and encouragement, please don't forget to take care of yourself, this must be taking a toll on you too. There are many different drugs and hopefully they will find something that works for your dad. It must be so easy to get discouraged when you are feeling so bad. I hope they will keep trying to find the right combination to work for him. Jenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bessb Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 Katie I am so sorry about how your dad is feeling. Where is he getting his treatments? I get anti nausea meds in my IV before they start the actual chemo, first they start a saline line then they put in the anti nausea drug and make sure it is finished before they start the actual chemo, in my case Irinetecan and Taxol, it is part of a new clinical trial protocol that I opted to try, I go to Yale University Hospital which is part of the Yale Medical School so they have a lot of new treatments available. Are they giving your dad anti anti nausea by IV? No matter what the chemo they should be. Another reason I opted for this treatment is that it is supposed to be a lot easier on the body, a lot less toxic and in smaller doses but for a longer period but is supposed to be as effective as some of the other chemo drugs, hopefully we will see. They gave me anti nausea pills (Zofran) to take and told me to take one that night before I ate dinner whether I felt any nausea or not, I did take one and took two the next day but they made me so tired and depressed and also made me constipated so I stopped taking them and haven't taken any since and I felt much better when I stopped. I would call his doctor right away and find out about the anti nausea in the IV and get him some new meds for the nausea. Don't give up there are still a lot of meds out there that I am sure they can give him and don't let him give up. He has come too far already, keep fighting and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers Bess B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieB Posted April 9, 2003 Author Share Posted April 9, 2003 Yes, Dad gets anti-nausea in his IV before chemo. IT's somthing they have always done because he got so sick the first time. It seems like if there is one tiny single side-effect of any drug, Dad will get it. I've read that compozine can cause aches, head pain and (believe this or not) Nausea ! I am hoping that because he ran out of his "tried and true" nausea meds, and reverted to the compozine (It never worked for him, I think it made him sicker last year) that the med / switch, or the compozine itself has given him this reaction. He even vomits the next day after getting an Arenesp shop to boost his blood counts! (Yes, nausea is one of its side-effects) But then he feels much better for several days. I'd rather my Dad not take any meds regularaly, He's not really in pain at all and unless he is getting a shot, is not reg. sick. BESS: you're right, they do make you tired and fatigued. But once he got over being so ill (and almost dying) at Christmas, he has kept the same medicene routine, the very same 2 pills every four hours. One hydrocodone, one anti-nausea pill. Been doing ok too until he let the prescription run out a few days ago and that threw everything off balance. JENNY: Thanks for the e-mail! We have experimented with almost every nausea drug you can imagine. Dad experienced every side-effect and none worked until now. Everything was good until he ran out and let a day go by. He IS one of those that have to stay on top of it, because once it gets started throwing up , his body has a really hard time stopping. Going over there this morning to have a visit with him. Fingers-crossed that this will be a better day. Take care Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest canuckwebgrrl Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 Katie, I'm so sorry to hear about the problems your Dad is having. I wish I had some experience with this I could share and maybe help you with, but I don't. The Dr.s must be able to come up with something, your Dad isn't the only person in the world to have these side effects I'm sure. I hope they work this out and find something soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosanne Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 Katie, I'm very sorry to hear about your dad's current problems. Can he get a refill of his meds? Maybe they will eventually help again. In the meantime call ther doc and see if there is a more immediate relief available. Good luck- I'll keep prayers coming your way. Rosanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spanky Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 Katie; I'm so sorry to hear that your dad is feeling ill & my thoughts and prayers are with you and I hope he's feeling better soon! I don't know if you've ever seen the health magazine "Alive", but I've found it to be very informative about alot of health issues. There was an article on something called "Moducare" that can be purchased at health stores & pharmacies, it's a plant sterol/sterolins(?) thats excellent for the immune system and apparently it also works quite well in helping with nausea caused by chemo. I don't know if it's something that starts working right away or if it needs to be in the system for awhile, but it maybe something worth looking into. I'm sure they have a website where you could access this information. The other one I read about was essiac tea. Although both products have statements that they are safe to take while receiving both radiation & chemotherapy, you may want to clear it with your dads doctors first. Hope this is of some help to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 Katie, I'm so sorry to hear that your Dad is having problems with throwing up.. I hope that he will be feeling better soon. I will keep him in my prayers. (((((Hugs))))) Laurie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candy Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 Sorry to hear your Dad is so sick. I still don't know much about all of this but I can tell you that Hugh takes Lorazapan for nausea which is a generic for Adavan (I think). My insurance would only cover the generic so we went with that, but I understand that Adavan can be disolved under the tongue which can be a help if you are really sick. The other morning Hugh took the Lorazapan and it no sooner hit his stomach but he lost it all. A friend of mine who's father had cancer said Zofran worked the best for her father. Does your Dad get Adavan for the first 3 days after treatment? Hugh takes a pill each morning for the first three days. Its 100 mg and costs around $88.00 a pill. At first the insurance company said it wouldn't pay and the doctor wrote a letter of medical need. Of course then they said we could only get one at a time (35.00 co-pay). Another letter - we now can get 6. I am learning to dislike the insurance company! As for pain, Hugh was in excrutiating pain from the mets to his back. It was just awful. We tried a bunch of stuff and now he takes Oxycontin - 20 mg twice a day. I guess its time released, but I know that Hugh is pain free right now. Praying for you both! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 Katie just to add to the other notes, make sure your dad doesn't get dehydrated from the vomiting. Watch him and make sure you get him in for an IV if you suspected dehydration (dark urine, etc.). Hang in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 Katie just to add to the other notes, make sure your dad doesn't get dehydrated from the vomiting. Watch him and make sure you get him in for an IV if you suspected dehydration (dark urine, etc.). Hang in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 Hi Katie, How was your Dad today? I hope much better. My mom is on anti-nausea drugs continuously right now, but she feels great, and is eating well. She is on Kytril + Decadron twice a day and maxeran 3X a day. Not sure if her nausea was from the radiation pneumonitis or the abd. ascites, but at any rate she feels great on these meds. Will be thinking about ya, Faylene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimblanchard Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 Katie, Oh I hope your dear dad is doing much better by the time you read this post. Prayers for you and of course for him. Peg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieB Posted April 10, 2003 Author Share Posted April 10, 2003 Dad was still really sick today. When I left, he had had about four hours without vomitting. He thought that was good...Mom thought it was terrible. Her old fasion sense of caregiving concludes that as long as you eat..."all is well" and dad hasn't eaten in two days. Don't know who is more distressed. Dad with being sick, or mom because he can't eat her food! I am hoping tomorrow will be a better day. My brother has made plans to come into town with his family and we were planning to all go to the zoo with our children and with Dad. Hope he will feel much better by then. These little outtings are something we never had time to do before his dx. I guess you grow up and get "caught up" with life. Right now, our main goal IS dad's life! So I'm praying it all goes up from here. He was starting to get alittle dehydrated and I reminded him that the last time he let it go he ended up in the hospital for 6 days. He promises to drink drink drink and take that "danged suppository" if he has too Boy Dad, don'tcha know pride goes out the window with this disease! I'm watching him like a hawk and if he shows any signs at all of dehydration tomorrow, he goes in.. Thanks for caring friend, Hope all of you are well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BessB Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Katie This is going to sound strange but I remember this from when I was pregnant with my children, one of the only things that tasted good to me and I could keep down when I had nausea was potato chips! There is just something about the salt and the crispy chips that always works for me, I guess its like saltines. I know its wierd but have your dad give it a try can't hurt! Of course you kind of have to like potato chips and I do LOVE them. Really hope he is doing better, praying for you both Bess B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 11, 2003 Share Posted April 11, 2003 Katie, Our thoughts & prayers are with you. Bess: I too stopped taking Zofran because of depression/constipation Spanky: I have heard of essiac tea..Has anyone tried it? Fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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