The oncology nurses recommended 1/4 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp baking soda dissolved in 8 oz. (or 12 oz.?) water. I zap a little of it at a time to warm it up, then gargle and rinse. The rest stays in the refrigerator until I need it. This is helping so far, but I have only had one round of chemo. I'm told to expect mouth soreness to get worse with more doses of chemo.
I've read about mouthwashes from compounding pharmacies and will give that a try if necessary.
My integrative medicine doctor recommended honey and that worked for me. Manuka honey has many good properties, but it’s expensive. I just used local honey at the time in combination with the salt and baking soda gargle.
Well, I had my first chemo treatment this past Thursday. I ate three light meals on Wednesday and I had a little coffee with cream and sugar and consumed 2 liters of water before chemo at 9 AM. The Zofran I received during chemo seemed to do its job well enough that I was able to eat a decent size lunch. I drank 3L more water over the course of the afternoon.
The evening wasn't so great. I had only been able to urinate once after chemo. (Yes, it was red from the adriamycin.) I had bloating, nausea, and vomiting. I hesitated to take the optional proclorperazine, thinking I would just tough it out. I took the bedtime regimen of the anti-emetics and stool softener that my oncologist prescribed, but it was a rough night. I did not urinate until 1:00 AM, at which time I got major relief from the nausea, vomiting, and bloating. My main concern up until then was whether my kidneys had stopped working.
On Friday, I communicated with one of the oncology nurses who said I should just monitor urine output and not to be concerned since I was able to go several times that morning. (I've never had kidney issues before; it makes me concerned for the next dose of chemo.)
Friday was actually a very good day. I took the regimen of anti-emetics that include prochlorperazine (as needed), ondansetron, olanzapine, and aprepitant (Emend).
Today (Saturday) has been marked by continuous queasiness and dizziness even though I took all the meds as prescribed. The only difference today is that I took the prochlorperazine around noon rather than in the morning. Keeping busy has helped keep my mind off the queasiness. I worked to get 3.5L of water down but have not been able to eat as much as I probably need, even though I am trying the small, frequent meals thing.
I'm hoping for less queasiness tomorrow if I take the prochlorperazine with the other anti-emetics in the morning.
Any suggestions from those with more experience?
Wow, you manage to stay hydrated way better than I did. I just couldn’t make myself drink that much, no matter what they said I should drink. Good for you.
Nausea was my biggest hurdle during these drugs. They did not have nearly as many nausea drugs as they have now. I hope they find something that works for you.
Our compounding pharmacy was definitely my friend, they made up a cream with 4 different drugs in it and I used a lot of it, and it helped.
I can’t honestly say anything but sleep completely eliminated it for me. The compazine just knocked me out for a while and the rest seemed to help.
How many rounds are you scheduled for?
I just stayed away from acidic foods and drinks as much as possible, but once I started to get sores in my mouth, my doctor ordered a magic mouthwash that was compounded. I got two flavors but I could only stomach the banana flavor.
You only have to hold it in your mouth for a minute and it works amazingly well.
I hope you are getting enough rest, and able to eat enough.
Will you please call on me anytime, and also keep me posted on how you are feeling? 💕
How are feeling after your first treatment? Once I got started, my anxiety dropped fast, then it was just getting it done.
You can try alternating your anti nausea meds as they all kind of work a little differently. Take whatever you need to get through the worst days and don’t forget to drink and get that chemo flushed back out.
Did they give you odansetron/zofran? That one made hubby less sleepy than some of the others.
Well, I had my first chemo treatment this past Thursday. I ate three light meals on Wednesday and I had a little coffee with cream and sugar and consumed 2 liters of water before chemo at 9 AM. The Zofran I received during chemo seemed to do its job well enough that I was able to eat a decent size lunch. I drank 3L more water over the course of the afternoon.
The evening wasn't so great. I had only been able to urinate once after chemo. (Yes, it was red from the adriamycin.) I had bloating, nausea, and vomiting. I hesitated to take the optional proclorperazine, thinking I would just tough it out. I took the bedtime regimen of the anti-emetics and stool softener that my oncologist prescribed, but it was a rough night. I did not urinate until 1:00 AM, at which time I got major relief from the nausea, vomiting, and bloating. My main concern up until then was whether my kidneys had stopped working.
On Friday, I communicated with one of the oncology nurses who said I should just monitor urine output and not to be concerned since I was able to go several times that morning. (I've never had kidney issues before; it makes me concerned for the next dose of chemo.)
Friday was actually a very good day. I took the regimen of anti-emetics that include prochlorperazine (as needed), ondansetron, olanzapine, and aprepitant (Emend).
Today (Saturday) has been marked by continuous queasiness and dizziness even though I took all the meds as prescribed. The only difference today is that I took the prochlorperazine around noon rather than in the morning. Keeping busy has helped keep my mind off the queasiness. I worked to get 3.5L of water down but have not been able to eat as much as I probably need, even though I am trying the small, frequent meals thing.
I'm hoping for less queasiness tomorrow if I take the prochlorperazine with the other anti-emetics in the morning.
Any suggestions from those with more experience?
I want to thank you for sharing your journey with me....they gave me 3 anti-nausea meds to help if I get nauseous...
I didn't get nauseated too much cause I took all 3 meds....it was the exhaustion that had me
You're welcome! If what I've experienced can help even one person then it's worth sharing!! Glad you were given the medications. yes, the exhaustion is real and you really need to rest.
How are feeling after your first treatment? Once I got started, my anxiety dropped fast, then it was just getting it done.
You can try alternating your anti nausea meds as they all kind of work a little differently. Take whatever you need to get through the worst days and don’t forget to drink and get that chemo flushed back out.
Did they give you odansetron/zofran? That one made hubby less sleepy than some of the others.
You should not be fasting during chemo. That is against every protocol I've read. There are very effective drugs for nausea. Take the advice of your oncologist or your infusion nurses. I had 16 infusion treatments with these drugs and never once had more than mild queasiness that dissipated with the meds. Best advice? Talk to your infusion nurses. They have a wealth of knowledge and advice ready to be tapped.
When I had my 1st infusion...the nurse asked if I wanted lunch..I wasn't hungry..so I said..No I didn't want any lunch & the nutrionst was in my cubicle & said to me...You need to eat especially about to recieve chemo & you don't want to take those harsh drugs on an empty stomach....
So I told the nurse...Yes...please vring.me lunch..it was good that nutrionist was there...
So my lunch consisted of a Tuna Sandwich, a fruit cup; Lorna Doorne cookies; bag of chips; cranberry juice & apple juice!
I enjoyed it, needless to say!
Original diagnosis of invasive breast cancer not DCIS, but I took these drugs.
They called it TAC, presumably because they gave all three at once. It was a very hard regimen of drugs, I was lucky to have the support I had at home.
My best advice is make sure you have plenty of nausea medicine, and rest when you need to. You will likely have good and bad days, but it won’t last forever. I just counted them down on the bad days and celebrated the good days.
You said end of November which reminded me that I started in December, 20 years ago. It was certainly a different time for oncology patients. Are you due to start soon? All the drugs at once or separated like some of the comments above?
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The oncology nurses recommended 1/4 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp baking soda dissolved in 8 oz. (or 12 oz.?) water. I zap a little of it at a time to warm it up, then gargle and rinse. The rest stays in the refrigerator until I need it. This is helping so far, but I have only had one round of chemo. I'm told to expect mouth soreness to get worse with more doses of chemo.
I've read about mouthwashes from compounding pharmacies and will give that a try if necessary.
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1 ReactionMy integrative medicine doctor recommended honey and that worked for me. Manuka honey has many good properties, but it’s expensive. I just used local honey at the time in combination with the salt and baking soda gargle.
Best wishes to you.
Cindy
Wow, you manage to stay hydrated way better than I did. I just couldn’t make myself drink that much, no matter what they said I should drink. Good for you.
Nausea was my biggest hurdle during these drugs. They did not have nearly as many nausea drugs as they have now. I hope they find something that works for you.
Our compounding pharmacy was definitely my friend, they made up a cream with 4 different drugs in it and I used a lot of it, and it helped.
I can’t honestly say anything but sleep completely eliminated it for me. The compazine just knocked me out for a while and the rest seemed to help.
How many rounds are you scheduled for?
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1 ReactionI just stayed away from acidic foods and drinks as much as possible, but once I started to get sores in my mouth, my doctor ordered a magic mouthwash that was compounded. I got two flavors but I could only stomach the banana flavor.
You only have to hold it in your mouth for a minute and it works amazingly well.
I hope you are getting enough rest, and able to eat enough.
Will you please call on me anytime, and also keep me posted on how you are feeling? 💕
Hello. Yes I jave that one.
I also am starting to jave sensitive gums..they are sore....
Did you experience this? If so, what did you to soothe your gums?
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1 ReactionWell, I had my first chemo treatment this past Thursday. I ate three light meals on Wednesday and I had a little coffee with cream and sugar and consumed 2 liters of water before chemo at 9 AM. The Zofran I received during chemo seemed to do its job well enough that I was able to eat a decent size lunch. I drank 3L more water over the course of the afternoon.
The evening wasn't so great. I had only been able to urinate once after chemo. (Yes, it was red from the adriamycin.) I had bloating, nausea, and vomiting. I hesitated to take the optional proclorperazine, thinking I would just tough it out. I took the bedtime regimen of the anti-emetics and stool softener that my oncologist prescribed, but it was a rough night. I did not urinate until 1:00 AM, at which time I got major relief from the nausea, vomiting, and bloating. My main concern up until then was whether my kidneys had stopped working.
On Friday, I communicated with one of the oncology nurses who said I should just monitor urine output and not to be concerned since I was able to go several times that morning. (I've never had kidney issues before; it makes me concerned for the next dose of chemo.)
Friday was actually a very good day. I took the regimen of anti-emetics that include prochlorperazine (as needed), ondansetron, olanzapine, and aprepitant (Emend).
Today (Saturday) has been marked by continuous queasiness and dizziness even though I took all the meds as prescribed. The only difference today is that I took the prochlorperazine around noon rather than in the morning. Keeping busy has helped keep my mind off the queasiness. I worked to get 3.5L of water down but have not been able to eat as much as I probably need, even though I am trying the small, frequent meals thing.
I'm hoping for less queasiness tomorrow if I take the prochlorperazine with the other anti-emetics in the morning.
Any suggestions from those with more experience?
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1 ReactionYou're welcome! If what I've experienced can help even one person then it's worth sharing!! Glad you were given the medications. yes, the exhaustion is real and you really need to rest.
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3 ReactionsHow are feeling after your first treatment? Once I got started, my anxiety dropped fast, then it was just getting it done.
You can try alternating your anti nausea meds as they all kind of work a little differently. Take whatever you need to get through the worst days and don’t forget to drink and get that chemo flushed back out.
Did they give you odansetron/zofran? That one made hubby less sleepy than some of the others.
When I had my 1st infusion...the nurse asked if I wanted lunch..I wasn't hungry..so I said..No I didn't want any lunch & the nutrionst was in my cubicle & said to me...You need to eat especially about to recieve chemo & you don't want to take those harsh drugs on an empty stomach....
So I told the nurse...Yes...please vring.me lunch..it was good that nutrionist was there...
So my lunch consisted of a Tuna Sandwich, a fruit cup; Lorna Doorne cookies; bag of chips; cranberry juice & apple juice!
I enjoyed it, needless to say!
Thanks for sharing your journey with me.
I had my 1st Chemo week before last.. I am scheduled to have #2 infusion next Wednesday....
So I go every other week & it will be for 8 rounds.
Then Radiation.
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