Hi Ruth,
What great advice the ladies gave you, I can't add much but I'll tell you what I do.
My oncologist has always given me pre meds, Benedryl and Decadron in an IV 30 minutes before I start getting my chemo drug, Topotecan, he did the same when I was on Carbo/Taxol.
That night I take a Zofran and I haven't had any problems with nausea, I do need a sleeping pill to counteract the steroids or I'd be up all night.
For constipation I take 2 Colace tablets daily and Miralax that's what the nurses recommended. I drink prune juice every morning and that combo has worked for me.
You can't fight the fatigue, you have to just go with it and let your body dictate your level of activity.
Absolutely call your doctor if you are having any problems, I did several times when I was on my first chemo, and I'd get a call back with instructions about what to do, or what to take.
Your hair will definitely come back, mine was thicker and wavier than before I lost it.
Good luck, feel well and be sure to keep in touch with us.
Jane
Judy's advice is right on the money.
I only want to add that you should watch out for constipation as I had huge problems with that. I finally figured it out on my last treatment though everyone is different. I just doubled up my constipation meds (doubled the Colace stool softener and doubled the Senokot which I thought helped more as it pushes the stool through). If I was really constipated, it made my nausea worse. Oh yeah, and start the day before the chemo to loosen things up.
The first 2 days are ok, but the next 3-4 are tough so you might not feel like going in to work those days. I had chemo on Wed. so my weekends were the worst so you might schedule something like that if you can.
Good luck with the chemo, you can do it. And if you're having problems, let your doctor know right away but this site is great for advice.
Wendy
They told me that Aloxi would be the drug they would be using. And they did tell me to drink as much water or juices or whatever as I possibly could. And also to always keep something in my stomach. They didn't mention Emend. I will ask about it and Zofran. They did make it very clear that if the nausea medicine didn't work to speak up right away and they would give me something else.
Thanks for responding to my post. I can use all of the information that anyone can provide that has been through this. The only thing I have to go on is that my mom went through chemo 15 years ago and they didn't have the nausea medicine they do now. She was VERY sick. I know they have newer and better drugs and that makes me feel a little better. But I also know that everyone reacts differently to them. I'm hoping that I won't have a lot of problems with this. But I want to be prepared. My experience with just over the counter drugs is that if it says it may make you sleepy or dizzy or whatever, that's how I react.
Thanks again.
Ruth
Here are the list of nausea drugs you SHOULD get:
Emend...a 3 pill package taken day 1, 2, and 3 the first week of chemo. I would not take the first pill until you are actually in the MD chair ready for chemo just in case one week your counts are low and they have to hold up the chemo. Since it is a 3 pill pack, you would have wasted a pill (if you took it at home) and they are $$$. Insurance usually covers them, but you can ONLY get them refilled every 21 days. This is the way I take my pills at the instructions from my MD.
Aloxi .. given in the bag with the other chemo drugs first day. It helps with nausea for several days post chemo. Don't let them substitute for another drug .. Aloxi !!
At home: have Compazine ready for the tiniest sign of nausea .. pop one of those babies!
At home: have Zofran ready in case Compazine does not hold the nausea at bay. I've only used one of those. They are $$ so I would only have a few on hand at a time .. and you may not need them.
HYDRATION, HYDRATION, HYDRATION ... flush those chemicals out of your kidneys. Mix cranberry juice with water ... cranberry is good for the kidneys. Drink lots .. if you stay hydrated, it helps with the nausea as well.
Eat often .. anything you like .. anything ... just eat .. even if it's only a few bites. Keeping something in your stomach helps with hausea.
You may not have a horrific time with nausea .. but if you are prepared, it's easier to handle. I didn't have a bad time on carbo. Other than a couple days ... like the 4th and 5th day post chemo, I think I could have worked. I'm retired now.
Good luck and God Bless .. Judy