hi my name is mbh456 and i had my first chemo last Friday. I've had some minor bumps and pitfalls mainly the stomach upsets and sore mouth. but all in all not too bad considering. I'm getting back to normal till my next go round. well, i welcome any suggestions on how to deal with a sore throat. and a crummy stomach from time to time. mbh456
Hi mbh, I hope things are going as well as possible for you as you undergo your treatment (may the side effects be no worse than they are now).
This link will give you a wealth of information about side effects and how to manage them. I hope it is of some use for you.
http://www.nhlcyberfamily.org/effects.htm
be well and good health,
kermica
kermica, hi how are you? thanks for the website. i’ll look it up. i called my doctor today and they are thinking of calling something stronger for the digestive upsets. i made a appointment with my gp doctor for my ear and throat soreness but i think it is a virus. but my oncologist advised me to go to make sure it is not strep. i think i’ll do ok. i thought chemo would be worse than it has been but then again i’ve only had one treatment so far. well, keep me informed on how you are doing ok? take care mbh456
It's uplifting to hear these "not-so-bad" reports on chemo. I've had 3 thus far--yesterday being most recent--& my "side effects" have been nominal. My oncologist gave me Emend for the nausea. It's an extraodinarly expensive drug--2 pills for each session--& I understand not everyone gets it simply because of cost ... if insurance won't pay, or one doesn't have good--or any--insurance.
However, if you're not taking it, & you do have a decent insurance, you might check on this. It's, in my mind, a miracle drug. My husband & I often leave the chemo session & go have Mexican food for dinner!
All the best to you in your journey.
yes, mine wasn’t bad but i did get dehydrated and need iv fluids. i have compazine and ativan for nausea. they give me anti- nausea drugs during chemo also. but I’d say all in all it wasn’t a bad experience. i just had problems a few days later. wow you have Mexican food for dinner after? sounds wonderful right now. I’m on a bland diet for now till the doctor figures out why i reacted this way and what else is wrong. how is your treatment going? take care. mbh456
I get 2 anti-nausea drugs during chemo--one being the Emend. My oncologist also gave me 2 others to take at home, between treatments, if I get nauseous. However, I've not had to touch either one throughout the 3 treatments. My most aggravating digestion issue has been indigestion, & I've taken Prilosec which seems to take c/o it.
My dr, for what it's worth, said the most drastic reactions are usually after the 1st treatment, & the body seems to balance against the drugs beyond that. For me, this has proven to be right on-the-mark. Hope you get on an even keel, as well.
All bodies are obviously made up differently & each will react in different ways. Some side effects are expected, almost universal, & the experienced medical community is ready for those. Others are oddities but very real to each person. One woman during my 2nd treatment said she woke one day--one day--w/one eye a different color than the other. She, or her drs, couldn't attribute it to anything else ... but since it fixed itself, it wasn't considerd a big deal.
Who'd'a'thunk it?!
I had terrible stomach pain I coukdn't eat with my chemo not even Prilosec helped - being a nurse I finally used an old medication that saved my life- Sucralfate 1 GM tablet- 1 tab 4 times a day in slurry (make a slurry by crushing the tablet put in water) 1 hr prior to meals & at bedtime. I finished my chemo July 2010 and no signs of new cancer. I was told I probably would not make it to May 2010-only God can say when life is over-
Bless you and hang in there!!!!
I also was plesantly surprised when I had oa trace of side effects from "The Spa" as I called my treatment time, and still have most of my hair.
I host the cancer neighbor to neighbor campaign for my street, and I wrote-'If you want to see your cancer donations at work, just look at me.' I got a great response.