Hi everyone,
I’ve been monitoring this website for a few weeks now and found it very helpful. I have just completed my 4th chemo session (TAC) with G-CSF injections for 5 days after.
The thing is, I have had such bad nausea and stomach cramps the last few doses that I’m absolutely dreading the next two sessions.So much so, I’ve even thought about asking to stop treatment which isn’t in my vocabulary normally!
I have been told to take the ondansetron tablets for the rest of the week following chemo which has helped a little but given me chronic constipation. I wonder now whether I have created an associated reaction because everytime I even think about the next session, I feel sick, so much so, I am having trouble eating.
Also, I have developed severe acid reflux which isn’t halping matters!
Any suggestions apart from getting a new head or perhaps body!!
Dear Greenpea,
I too was on the Tact 2 trial back in April 2006 - with the GCSF injection the day after my Epirubicin. I f you have just had your fourth chemo then I think it now changes. My combination was 4 x Epirubicin and then 4 x CMF.I too had terrible constipation and Sickness on the Epi. I had to have the district nurses in to give me an injection to stop the sickness. It was absolutely awful!!! I can only comment on my own expereinces but the next chemo I had was much more shall we say more doable!!
I wanted to give in as well but let me just say this is an excellent chemo combination so throw the lot at this bloody Cancer and get rid of it - you are nearly half way there carry on Greenpea and good luck with the rest of your Chemo - it soon passes and ask for something as well for the acid reflux - they gave me a tablet called omepraziole - 1 x daily this helped a great deal.
Take care and look after yourself
With love
Tracey
xxxx
Keep up with it Greenpea…I start my first FEC tomorrow and know that I need to do it for me, hubby and son.
I also take omeprazole once a day but this is for an existing tummy condition. The tabs are wonderful and keep heartburn and acid reflux at bay.
keep positive - you are nearly half way so don’t give up
Anita
Thankyou so much to the both of you for your support. i really appreciate it.
Tracy41, I’m not on the trial, just six straight TAC sessions with the inections for the five days following chemo. I think I’m feeling a little sorry for myself today - to be expected I know but I’m such a control freak it’s so hard to feel everything is so out of control. I’m very lucky, I have great support from my lovely family but somehow it makes me feel guilty that they worry so much. I know, stupid cow.!!
I’ll ask for the omeprazole next time I see the consultant. I’ve just found out that I can actually taste AND keep down bitter lemon which helps a little with the acid reflux. Not sure how that works.
Well, have two more weeks till next session, so need to enjoy the time in between.
Once again, thanks for the comments. Will keep you informed how it goes.
Viv x
Hi Greenpea
Just reading your thread reminded me about how awful chemo can be. I had associated nausea too. I felt sick eveytime I went near the wash basket. This is in the bathroom, and when I was vomiting into the toilet, I was on my kness at it’s height. The funny plasticy smell had never bothered me before, but even now, I can’t get too close to it! Keep saying I’m going to replace it, but keep forgetting!
I too had acid reflux. I found Gaviscon brilliant. Have you been given steroids? They should help with your appetite. Just eat whatever you fancy. I loved salty greasy things like chips while on chemo, bazaar as have them rearly usually. Also, I’m sat here drinking coffee. Went off that 26 yrs before chemo when pregnant, but chemo brought me back to drinking it! Mad ay!
I know how you are feeling, but you must keep going, only 2 more and you may really regret it later if you stop. There really is no complete answer. Just be kind to yourself, and don’t push yourself too hard.
Good luck with the next 2.
Irene
HI greenpea/viv I saw your mail and like you cannot enjoy the breaks from chemo beacuse i’m dreading the next round. I have put a a blog on chemo site about fear… Scared of living and feared of dying!!! WE will do it though !!!I I had my first CMF two IV’S days one and eight and tabs for fourteen days had a lot of vomiting and diarrhoea , so when I see ONC next Mon will discuss this with him. I have2nd Cmf on 23rd , when is your next appt??? Keep going chick I will hold your hand all the way , it is all very shite and I really think that only those who experience it really know what it’s all about. Thats why we need our cyberpals.
Lots of love and big hug Bobbie… You where one of the first to respond to me when I first when on this site and I thank you so much for thatxxx
Irene thanks so much for letting me know I’m not going mad.
Yes I have steroids the day before chemo, the day of and the day after. I hate them and what they do. I am up all night when I have them even though my body is telling me to rest, my mind is working overtime and won’t shut up!
I have trouble stopping eating but mostly sweet things which makes the sicky feeling worse. So strange and doesn’t fit with the whole scheme of things but hey this is chemo huh? I only ever drink coffee and I normally love it but can’t stand it now or red wine worse luck. Can’t even get plastered to forget on the chemo week!!!
I’ve tried gaviscon, tums, asda own brand antacids, and now on windeze chewables. Hate the taste of all of them. All trial and error I think.
I’m not feeling so bad about the next treatment now. Probably because the side effects have slowed down a bit this week (midweek 2nd week).
I think this forum is such a brilliant site. I’ve only just plucked up enough courage to join - don’t ask me why! but I truly feel I’m not the only one in this predicament and it’s ok to mollycoddle yourself now and again. Thankyou. xxx
Hi Greenpea, I watched this site for ages using info and ideas to help me through this,only recently joined in too.
I have had 4EC and 4 Tax and had lumpectomy and just had wider clearence and full lymph clearence I came home last night. Totally totally understand the feeling after steroids, you so just want to sleep and your mind is racing and racing, after this op I had same feeling and asked nurse if I had beeen given steroids in pre-med or something she said she did not think so , but in morning I checked chart and there it was, dexmethasone, exactly same one I had when on chemo. At least I knew I was not going mad!!! Sometimes you think you are during all this… Thats why this site so brill others who understand.
I went to a place local to me in Barnet, North London called Cherry Lodge cancer care centre and had acupuncture just before all chemos, especially to stop or help sickness and vomiting, I did not have any so whether it was that or in my mind I carried on with acupuncture as it really helped me. Granistron anti sickness tabs made me really constipated and I had some nausea so I spoke to oncology team and I stopped them and felt much better
I also went off coffee found lemon juice in water good as I could taste it and also lime juice. I loved chillis and curries more as I could taste them and they helped with constipation, I became a regular at our local curry house.
It does end honestly and you will soon feel more like the old you,
Take care
Dawn X