Nausea and TX

[painterlady13]

I have been sick since wednesday, Not really sick but I can only keep very little down. I'm ok in the morning with something very small but in the evening I can't seem to keep down anything I eat or drink including water. My Doc said to supplement my water with gatorade for the electrolites because of the heat and the nausea and that was kinda what started it I got really bad indigestion. But Friday I ate very little and still got sick in the evening. Today has been the same, I'm tired of this and hungry and afraid to eat anything. Pepto (which usually helps a lot) just made me sicker.

[giddyup]

I took a daily antacid while on tx called protonix. I also took Compazine for the nausea feeling.I ate pasta with a little butter,salt and pepper and oatmeal. Ask your doc about compazine.I hope you fel better. Giddyup

[jmjm530]

Thanks. I used to take Echinacea but for some reason stopped. Can't remember. But like you say, it seemed to work best when something was just coming on. I may just let this thing run it's course. In a strange way it's nice to have a "normal" condition for a change like a common cold. Unless it's really a reaction to the Wellbutrin which is also likely.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Take what? The Apple Cider Vinegar for a cold? Maybe I missed it.  The Apple Cider Vinegar I did try way back was the one sold by that healthy Guru and has the "Mother" in it. Forgot his name but it's in all the health food stores.

[jmjm530]

Just saw the poem. You went "East" this time. Very nice. Thanks.

[jmjm530]

I have no doubt that Apple Cider Vinegar has helped many people in different ways -- and I can see how it may clear up digestive issues in some people, or stimulate the digestive track in folks who are relative sympton free.

Just wanted to point out that when I did research on GERD (reflux) at the various reflux discussion groups, Apple Cider Vinegar was not in favor and often made the situation a lot worse. Keep in mind these people have reflux bad enough to seek out an online support group.

While we don't know if Painter has reflux, her case sounded serious enough that I though she should understand it. If she does take Apple Cider Vinegar, she will know within a day if it works or not. In my case, it just made things worse. But like you say, everyone is different, and more than that different things work for the same people at different times.  So where is this morning's prayer? Need some help from above to get rid of this cold or whatever I have :)

-- Jim

[lilmoma]

I have not had any nausea since starting (just did shot 25)
But I cannot eat, cuz the smell of everything grosses me out,  everything tastes like Im suckin on a roll of quarters!
I have lost alot of weight, and somedays will just eat bread to get some calories in me, I have been real weak and dizzy from lack of food. Most days are like that, but when I have a day where I can eat,....I pack it away, kinda like a bear gettin ready to go into hybernation. HA HA HA
I have been on nexium for years, it is the ONLY thing that works for me (the purple pill)
Talk to your doc, I hope things get better for you.

[jmjm530]

I say yea for ginger root and Nay for Apple Cider Vinegar for reflux.

While Apple Cider Vinegar is often promoted for reflux, many, including myself, found it significantly added to the problem. If you go to the reflux discussion groups -- not the web sites that promote it -- you will find that the vast majority of people with reflux have problems with apple cidar vinegar.  

Vinegar of any kind, including Apple Cider is acidic in my opinion, but whatever it is, a lot of people find it doesn't work. Where it does seem to have some benefits are for people who don't have reflux but that's not what we're talking about.

[roaming]

try other power drinks. My son says poweraid makes him sick; bu t he like gatoraid so maybe you should try the opposite.

[painterlady13]

wow thank you all I will try the prilosec first, my gp is on vacation this week then if I am still having trouble I will be able to tell her "been there, done that".  My Ins has a prob with ok'ing nexium unless you have tried all the over the counter stuff.   I was kinda having a prob with the gatorade drinks before tx, had my gall bladder out in feb so I am trying to stay away from the acidic foods anyway but I thought I'd try it. I have to fuigure out something that I can eat as being on 2nd shift I eat and take my 2nd dose of riba at 7 during our dinner break.  maybe I will try ensure.  
Lil, I know what you mean about not even being hungry I have to force myself to eat something when I take the Riba.  nothing tastes good or smnells good either. last night someone was BBQing chicken and I love that but the smell was really making me sick.  ended up trying a piece of dry toast. yuck but it worked.  
Also I will try the ginger thing, I used to like it so maybe... lately even though stuff sounds good it doesn't taste good.
Thanks again all

[Alady1620]

Ask your doctor for Zofran if it continues.  I promise that it will help.

[jmjm530]

If things get very bad -- and I'm sure you're far from it -- you can always check into the ER. The thing that helped me most with the nausea was a day on IV fluids. They just filling those bags again and again and again. LOL. Boy my veins were thirsty :) They can also add some anti-nausea meds to the IV drip if you want. There were times at home on treatment that I wish I could get a couple of bags of water into me. I wonder if those visting nurse services can do something like that. I believe a lot of insurance policies cover them.

It's a vicious cycle. Nausea makes you not want to drink and when you don't drink you get dehydrated and that makes you more nauceous. If you throw up you get even more dehydrated. Fortunately, for most people nausea is only issue in the beginning of treatment. I think by week 14 my nausea had disappeared although the reflux didn't.

[way]

After my first shot I asked my Doc for an rx for nausea. He gave me Phenadoz 25mg suppositories. I can't say how good it is because I've never had to take any-- my only nausea occured after first shot only.

I do know that you won't be throwing it up cuz it goes in the other end...

[jmjm530]

If you do get Prilosec, ask the pharmacist how the dosage compares to Nexium. I believe two Prilosec equals 1 nexium but not sure. Standard dosing for Nexium is one capsule about an hour before your first meal. If it doesn't work, the next step is to add an H2 Pump like Zantac in the evening. If that doesn't work, you end up on two Nexium a day like I did. Can't hurt though to try the Zantac (xtra strength) first because while not as strong as Prilosec or Nexium it works right away. Nexium/Prilosec take a few days to kick in. Going back to Pepto or antacids, they can also help but you have to be careful to space them away from your ribavirn dosing by at least two hours or you won't absorb all the riba. I still take Pepsid Complete now and then which contains both an H2 Pump like Zantac as well as an antacid like Tums. But thankfully I'm no longer on riba so I can take them whenever I want.

[sfbaygirl]

Nausea is awful! I had it and indigestion really bad at first. I still do at times, but I am taking Nexium which helps so much. I couldn't keep anything down either for a while. The prilosec over the counter worked as well as the Nexium. Pepto never works for me, not strong enough I guess. Maybe you should try getting some at the store?

I was worried I wasn't getting enough nutrition too. So I ended up getting some Ensure. It was easier to drink than eat and this gave me vitamins and stuff.

After five days, I felt so weak and HAD to do something. The prilosec did the trick until I got a script. The Ensure helped me get my meds down in the morning.

Good luck!

[jmjm530]

Lastly, you might ask your doctor for some meds to fight the nausea. A lot of folks have very good resuts with Zofran, although all it did was make me woozy. Even though it may be difficult it's important to get some water down or you will become dehydrated. Sometimes heating it up helps get it down the throat  and adding a little honey but not lemon. Again, nothing acidic.

[jmjm530]

Also try and get your food down early. I usually had my last meal by 4PM so it had plenty of time to digest before I got into bed. Lying down after a meal is very bad if the problem is reflux. Taking a little walk after a meal seems to help get the food down. Now that I remember, I also ate poached eggs for protein and sometimes easy to digest cereal like Farina. Some people seem to be helped by warm ginger ale and crackers but I couldn't keep either down. Sucking on ginger after a meal seemed to help a little. You might have to experiment a little. What you are going through is very difficult and you will definitely be in my prayers tonight.
Hope you feel better soon.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Sorry you're not feeling well. Sometimes the gastro problems are caused by GERD (reflux). Gatorade or anything acidic (like orange juice) is about the worst thing for reflux. If it is reflux, you might ask your doctor about a PPI like Nexium. Not sure why the Pepto isn't working though. Maybe if you stop drinking Gatorade and go back to water and non acidic beverages you'll feel better. Coffee is also a reflux trigger. When I had reflux bad all I could eat were things like white toast (no butter) and a little apple sauce. Boiled chicken was OK as well and for some reason I craved salt on it. Hope you feel better soon and definitely get things checked out thoroughly with your doc if you don't feel better.

-- Jim