I’m mid way through chemo (done EC, now on paclitaxel) and it’s going ok overall, but… I’m getting a wave of strong nausea as soon as I enter the building from the smell of the unit and just generally the feeling of being there. Today I wore the bands, didn’t help, felt sick until the moment I left then I’ve been fine. Any ideas for coping strategies or things I could do? I don’t like ginger but might try some mild ginger boiled sweets next time?
2 Likes
Hello I have not had chemo but I work in Theatres and have had similar problems with people who start to feel sick as soon they enter the unit and smell the anaesthetic . One lady soaked something in peppermint essential oil and managed to hang it on a string around her neck and then kept sniffing it . This seemed to help her a lot so maybe that’s worth a try . It doesn’t have to be peppermint if you don’t like the smell of that - tangerine / lavender / pine / tea tree would all work I think . You could try sucking boiled sweets with a strong flavour as well and I’ve heard of people using barley sugar as well . I don’t know what you are / aren’t supposed to have when on chemo but if you don’t get on with ginger and you can have cola then try that as it does have some anti- sickness properties . Hope you get some relief from this xx
Thanks for sharing your experience, this is really helpful. I do like peppermint so will try this as I’m going in next time. Also yes coke obviously isn’t healthy but I used to get bad travel sickness and sipping coke (eg on a plane) worked so will also give this a go. Thanks again x
1 Like
Hi
Have you tried deep breathing? I know when i feel nausea i breathe in for 8 then out for 8 and that seems to settle me down.
1 Like
I haven’t but I definitely will, thank you. It goes when I’m distracted, eg when the nurses are asking me questions, so focusing on something like that could be good. x
I had anticipatory nausea really badly as I approached the ward and arrived tearful , eventually getting to the point I felt I couldn’t do this. I told the staff I could only do it if they knocked me out . They can’t do that but did give me a drug - trying to remember what it was called - lorazepam! Supposedly was awake but felt happy remembered nothing much about the last five hours and didn’t feel sick.
Hope they can help you.
It’ll soon be a distant memory
All the best
2 Likes
Hi
I’ve not had chemo but when I had very bad pregnancy sickness I sucked on pear drops to help
Xx
Hi, I have heard people spreading a little bit of vicks vaporub between upper lip and nostrils helps where there are smells that make you squeamish.
Best wishes x
2 Likes
I had lorazepam prescribed, as the nausea and panic was too much. The lorazepam plus Piriton made me sleep through, much nicer! Initially I was taking 1mg as half wasn’t enough but I tried half last time and that was ok
2 Likes
Good to know that benzos are on the table for this process!
Hello,
I felt exactly the same and it started after my first EC. I rubbed Vicks under my nose, sucked on polo mints and took deep breaths. I found nausea from smells one of the worst side effects during my chemo journey. Good luck and it will soon be over. Xx
Hey! Sorry to hear you’re going through this. I had the same side effect, I felt nauseous when I felt the hospital smell, and especially the smell of the surgical tape that they connected the needle to the port on my chest 
Also, I used to treat myself to a coffee after the chemo session, and then I felt nauseous even when I saw that coffee shop in the city! I was very upset…but it all went away a couple of months after the chemo ended, and now I can enjoy the coffee at that place again 
The smell of the surgical tape still makes me a bit sick, but I just use another type if I need it.
Good luck! It’ll be over sooner than you think!
It’s horrible and I often think I still smell it at home in my bathroom but it’s been nearly a year since I had chemo. They would give me antisickness to take before coming to the ward, I would always have biscuits in my bag, green or peppermint tea bags too I hope that helps xx
I had 6 months of chemo including paclitaxel. I didn’t have a “chemo unit smell” reaction, but when felt sick nibbled a ginger nut biscuit. The cheap versions still have ginger in the mixture but not great slices of it. They may help. I used to sail and as I acquired Skipper qualifications suffered increasing sea-sickness. (Talk about being prepared for the whimsical nature of cancer treatment!). I tried fruit pastilles (the sweets) which were ok and also crystallised ginger (from the baking aisle). At the point when you start to feel a bit chilly, your tummy starts to get wobbly and your eyesight starts to wibble, then sucking on a fruit pastille or a piece of crystallised ginger should stop this (the sugar hits your brain and gives it a boost, whilst the ginger hits your tummy and warms it). This helps your body readjust to the nausea and hopefully stops it. On a boat I love crystallised ginger, on land I spit it the furthest! I cook with ginger so think it may be the boat’s fault!! If you go the full nausea route however, then I recommend the Boots own “Colling headache and migraine pads”. They are good for sprains also as they are immediately cold, stay cool for ages and strangely for the market they are in stick well. (Some I’ve tried don’t stick at all and you may as well use a wet flannel!). I had a fantastic set of chemo nurses and there was an awful lot of hope and love in the air. The sense of humour was black as pitch but the laughs kept me going for the whole week. Hope you find a solution that works for you. All the best!
2 Likes