I was told to eat small meals x 6 a day rather than 3 large ones and it helped me a lot. I had ritual of small Breakfast lunch and dinner, and reasonable morning and afternoon tea. Sorry, can't help about the nausea meds. Best of luck xx.
I just read the side effect of Phenergan as I am having bad nausea also. Impairs thinking and drowsiness, I don't think I can do anymore of that. The taste in mouth is horrid. I guess I struggle through this. Laying down a lot this week end too.
I think I disliked the nausea sx most of all. Thankfully it didn't run the full course. I didn't use meds either, instead used alot of the tried and true homespun methods. Like Kristina, smaller meals and mostly foods of the BRAT group - bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. I tried ginger candies, but good ol' bubbly ginger ale worked best for me. Also jello and chicken broth, the latter three my Mom used on us as kids. Still works well for me even at this ripe old age. Hope you find something that works - I feel for ya!
Pam
You might want to ask your doc about Zofran (and I've heard there's a generic). It really helped me on triple tx. It's approved for cancer chemo and we had to struggle a bit with the insurance company but it kept me from gagging all the time : ) It doesn't cause drowsiness.
Here's the way I felt about tx: do whatever it takes to get through. I don't use a lot of pharmaceuticals but I was a veritable pharmacy during tx! I still have some of those drugs left: for nausea, diarrhea, heartburn. Don't need them now, but they sure helped me get through tx and do my job, etc.
Good luck to you both! It will get better when the Inc is finished.
Lapis
I'm glad you posted. Is Zofran a pill, liquid or suppository?
---- christina
I think it's a pill. I'm gonna call n ask for it... Tomorrow!!! Low sodium so no crackers or broth. That's what I always used before. Bummer. Glad it worked for you! Good luck all.. :} Karen
karin..i use ondansetron disintegrating 4 mg......good luck...billy
The generic for Zofran is Ondansetron.Its prescribed alot for cancer patients on chemo.It comes in pill and oral form.I have used it before and it works great....
Yes. A pill is what I was given. It can be used twice a day but if I used it in the morning I was good for the day. Morning was worst for me as far as the nausea.
If you need the pharmaceuticals, Zofran during the day and phenergan before bed. the phenergan also helps you get to sleep with no lasting effects during the day. Worked pretty well for me.
From http://www.rxlist.com/phenergan-drug.htm
"Phenergan (promethazine) is used to treat allergy symptoms and prevent motion sickness.
What should I avoid while taking Phenergan?
Phenergan can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of Phenergan. Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Phenergan can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, and a sunburn may result. Wear sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) and protective clothing if you must be outdoors.
Phenergan (promethazine) Tablets and Suppositories may impair the mental and/or physical abilities required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks, such as driving a vehicle or operating machinery. The impairment may be amplified by concomitant use of other central-nervous-system depressants such as alcohol, sedatives/hypnotics (including barbiturates), narcotics, narcotic analgesics, general anesthetics, tricyclic antidepressants, and tranquilizers; therefore such agents should either be eliminated or given in reduced dosage in the presence of promethazine HCl."
Hector
My husband has Ondansetron in the arsenal, but he uses it rarely. For the most part, he finds ginger ale and small pieces of bittersweet chocolate help when treatment nausea hits. Sugar free lemon/fruit drops helped sometimes, but it's sort of a nice safety net to have the rx meds at hand if the nausea turns to vomiting.
As a cirrhotic, it's important for you to maintain adequate protein, so if you find nausea is preventing you from eating properly, you might want to supplement with protein drinks to make sure you're getting enough nutrition; if you find you can't keep things down, then it would definitely be time to haul in whatever is needed, as much as we hate to add more meds to the mix. Hope the nausea gets under control soon! ~eureka
Try sea-bands, I got some at CVS
They are an accu-pressure bracelet.
they are listed for use in nausea related to chemo.
Just started to chew on raw ginger-helps tons.
You can brew it in tea also.
I have noticed if I always keep something in my stomach, I am less nauseated-
but if I get hungr....with no appetite/no food sounding good because I am nauseated..Catch 22.
My Dr. did prescribe me Phenegran , but I have only taken it twice so far. It makes me too drowsy.
Definitely tea made from fresh ginger root. About 1/2 to 1 oz of ginger root steeped in hot water for 3 min or so. Sometimes it works for several hours and I find I don't have to take my anti-nausea pills that day.
Karen,
Sorry to hear you are having such a rough time. I am a go-to gingerale girl but if sodium is an issue honeybear7's ginger root tea may be a great alternative. Given that I could eat a side of beef, nausea so far has not been an issue for me. I do recall in a previous round of treatment, everything made me gag....even smells from food, perfume, toothpaste, diesel fumes, etc. I resorted to drinking ensure very slowly. I never did take any meds, but I can't imagine taking anything that would make me feel more tired than I already do. Perhaps you could try them on the weekend when you are already couch-bound. Know I am thinking of you.
Thanks all for the tips. I do drink ginger tea and found an awesome ginger root beer. I have ginger candy in my purse too. It worked the first few weeks n now I'm just hit hard. Found some Ritz crackers that are low sodium and have snacked all day. What a relief.
I had phenergan suppositories left from biopsy n tried them the last 2 nights n couldn't sleep. Felt like ants were biting me. Dr. is gonna call in the Zofran, I just missed her call this afternoon.
Happy bout the crackers. Loso, high fat is NOT easy. I think my wonderful inhibbie friends are the culprits. But I love em so much for not letting the virus find a hospitable cell to live in. 1/2 way thru Telaprevir! Sigh... Karen :)
Ondansetron/zofran worked best for me. no nausea and no sides.
-Dave
Karen, The nausea was initially terrible but got better over time. I hate to sound like a broken record but I ate little bites of SOMETHING all day - just a bite here and there. Even just a small spoon of ice cream, a sip of a milk shake, a handful of Cheerios really helped. And hot baths. I think it was important to make sure I ate whatever I felt like at the moment and didn't worry too much about the nutrition part. I really fely pregnant again.
I didn't take meds since I really just didn't want to take anything else. The nausea did go away and I hope yours will as well. It is particularly nasty.
Anne - Ive kept ur advice in mind all day. I'm a snacked anyway. But I stocked up on quite a few loso snacks to get me thru the day. Today was a lil better. Thanks..gnite hep warriors. Karen
Get some zofran from the doctor. It is for nausea for chemo and radiation patients. It really helps.
This is really starting to get harder. 7th shot not 8th as stated before (mistake). I don't have the nausea ( thank God) but can't get out of bed so tired and feeling sick a lot. The mornings are the hardest, it does get better at night. I can't eat anything but the 20 grams. of fat I have too. Gingerale helps me but getting out to get it seems like a day trip.Hoping this lightens up when stopping the incivek, I have no idea how you are working through this. I admire your determination. It is Wednesday the day before my shot. I swear there is a correlation to feeling bad and the day of the shot coming up.
Feel better Karen and I fully understand not wanting to put another med in you system. (hugs)
Hi Karen - I hope you know I didn't mean to say it would work for everyone. I just know it worked for me so well - I was still very nauseous but at least I didn't continue throwing up. It also helped my bet friend when she was going through chemo and radiation. There must be something out there you can eat that settles you a little - and then it changes to something else.
I just hope it goes away. I think the nausea was the worst of the sides - oops - maybe the bone pain was.
Soon enough you will be done!!!! Sweet dreams, Anne
My husband doesn't like to take the meds for nausea either -- I try to remind him that it's an easier choice to go for the medicine cabinet than to go for the porcelain bowl, but he often resists... oftentimes even when anemia makes it difficult to make it there!
In any case, however and whatever works for you, I hope it resolves and you feel better soon. ~eureka
Anne, the loso ritz have been my best friend all day. It HAS helped. I was in meetings. lol. I had some phergan suppositories left over from liver biopsy n took part of one 2 nights in a row. Lots of stinging in my skin. Allergic to it? I took vistaril about 3 A.M. w/ children's benedryl. I was OUT.
Dr. got me some odansetron 40 mg. for nausea. Dixiechick, I think it's generic for Zofran. I may try some tonight if I need it, but so far so good. I hate to add a new med when I'm home alone.
Streamline, good for you Miss Big Shot 8! I somehow manage to walk out the door in full make up. idk how. It's a new school system so I get my pic taken every day. Name badge, year book, department photos, Building ID. Help me TBJ! Love you girls.
We're gonna do this. xoxo Karen :)