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Avatar universal

Handling nausea

Just started tx last Fri (lambda interferon and ribavirin).  Slight nausea has increased to the point where I lost a lot of sleep last night related to nausea.  Last Fri PA suggested that I'd probably need "stomach meds."  I asked her to expound and she said "Zantac."  I really would like to avoid adding more pills to my regimen and so I am wondering how others who have nausea are dealing with this.  Thanks for your input.
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Avatar universal
Seems to me when I was a kid mom would give us a glass of 7-Up. Always did the trick for me.

Side effects from treating this disease are many and varied, and I think it's pretty much the norm that each day will bring something new. Fortunately, it usually only lasts a day or two, whatever it may be.

As Diane once said on this board, "unless it lasts for more than a week, I don't even mention it to my doctor anymore". (paraphrase)


Glad you found the issue. It's too bad we can't isolate more of them like this.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Great suggestions all.  I should update this though as I may have found the cause of my nausea.  

I'd read about how eating high fat foods help with the Riba uptake, and so, that is what I was doing.  However, it's not my normal eating pattern - so, I stopped that, stopped my vitamins and iron for a day and regrouped.  All in all, I was only really nauseas for one night and most of one day.  I mentioned this to my nurse yesterday and she said my Riba dosage was determined with normal eating patterns and that if I was increasing uptake w/ high fat meals than I was likely getting too much.  (I take 3 pills, 2x's a day.)  I've been doing fine taking my supplements with lunch, and my nausea hasn't returned.  I do find that I feel full sooner than I used to.  I have also really taken a shine to Reed's high strength ginger ale!

Wishing everyone a settled stomach,
Susan
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
ginger tea or aloe vera juice
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I ate soft black licorice ... the old fashioned kind. The stuff I ate came from Australia.  Not tons of it but enough to take the edge off of the nausea and it helped me some.  Soda crackers and noodle soup was about all I could tolerate.  Sometimes I ate when I was really hungry and I paid for it in spades as you do when you eat too soon when you have the flu....so I'd agree with the small meals.

Good luck with this...not fun but this too shall pass.
Helpful - 0
419309 tn?1326503291
My husband's nurse had given him a little list of "Side Effects Management Tips", for what it's worth...

For nausea:
-Take Ribavirn with food.
-Eat small meals.
-Avoid foods or smells that trigger nausea.  Try eating foods cold.*
-Avoid greasy, spicy, acidic, or sweet foods.*
-Try eating ginger in ginger tea, ginger ale, or gingersnaps. (Lots of ginger goodies around this time of year!)
-Eat some crackers or dry white toast

If you just have a "bad taste" in your mouth:
-Use sugar-free lemon drops or real lemon wedges*
-Eat a small amount of yogurt 30 minutes before meals or eat dark chocolate (diabetics should monitor glucose)
-Sip lemonade or cranberry juice*
-Use plastic utensils.

I asterisked the items that seemed to help my husband some during his mild nausea.  Hope that helps some.
Helpful - 0
374652 tn?1494811435
You might try a whole grain cracker with your ginger ale, I despise nausea, i sure hope your feeling better, lots of folks say mint is good for the tummy, but sipping a good ginger ale and nibbling on crackers may be helpful.  feel better
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
yeah, nausea is hitting me pretty hard too this round. The Reeds helps (also another soda with fruit pulp Orangina) - but my main problem is eating. On one hand, gotta eat 'cause if you let yourself get empty the nausea hits harder. On the other, food seems as appetizing as heavily used microwaved cat litter.

One other strategy I've found helpful is making shakes out of some protein powder stolen from my wife before going to bed. It seems relatively easy to digest and holds off that wave of empty-as-a-pocket nausea in the middle of the night.
Helpful - 0
184420 tn?1326739808
smoke some weed
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1010685 tn?1295032636
The only times I got really nauseated were when I didn't eat enough with my riba.  Then, if I ate something immediately it'd help.  Saltines rock.  Hope you feel better.
Helpful - 0
475300 tn?1312423126
A nice hot cup of green tea with real honey and grated ginger root usually worked for me.  When it got real bad I just puked.  Good luck

Denise
Helpful - 0
148588 tn?1465778809
It's good stuff - watch the calories though. I wish they made a version for diabetics :-(
If you can handle the taste, actual ginger root is the real deal. I like using paper thin slices as a condiment - but then I like munching raw jalapenos and slathering horseradish on my food as well.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I agree that Zantac is the wrong med and am a bit annoyed by the PA recommending it.  Should the nausea continue, at least now I know what to ask for.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I tried a commonly available ginger ale, and since I am not a soda drinker, I think I felt even worse.  Then this afternoon my husband traveled to a good grocery and found the Reed's ginger ale that you recommended.  Did you know that it comes in different strengths?  Anyway, drank a bottle of the high test, and finally, started feeling some relief.  YEAH!  Haven't eaten much today but have hope for dinner now.  Anyway, wanted to post this in case it may help someone else in the future.  And thanks again for recommendation.
Helpful - 0
1431734 tn?1421011671
i feel that zantac is the wrong med. this to my knowledge is more for heartburn related stomach issues. my nausea was beyond ginger and chamomile. i take zofran (prescription) as needed. some days diet coke helps altho i  know it is full of c...but the bubbles seem to be soothing so i have that in stead of coffee in the morn. the one with lime actually tastes pretty good. i hope you can lose the nausea. best, babs
Helpful - 0
1372757 tn?1305916571
I got the same thing a few time. I actually spent one night in the bathroom. Always seemed to happen at night . I started taking one rolaid before I went to bed and that helped. Other times when I got nausea even at nightI would take another rolaid. Always kept a roll in my pocket.
Helpful - 0
1477908 tn?1349567710
Sipping ginger ale really helped my nausea and nibbling saltines. Kind of an old standby from my childhood, but it's still working it's magic.

Hope you find something to help with the nausea and best of luck with tx.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for the post.  I was doing some research and saw info on ginger and phenergan but the acupuncture is a good idea that I didn't come across.  I also checked on the recommended Zantac and I don't think it fits the bill at all!  

I'll pick up some ginger ale today and maybe even some pickled ginger, and then hope for the best.
Helpful - 0
148588 tn?1465778809
Phenergan (promethazine) is great stuff. If you're that adverse to more pills, it also comes as a suppository (I'm sure GoofyDad would be happy to expound on that).
If you want to go the alt med route, ginger root is good - even a good ginger ale like Reeds that's made with real ginger works. Also, you could go to an acupuncturist. Some of the points on the 'stomach meridian' (actually located on the legs) have helped me. If you don't like needles, even acupressure used on these points is effectve and once the acupuncturist locates them for you, you could treat yourself.
Helpful - 0
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