Help Asap ,Cisplatin Yestersay Can't Eat /Smell Anything Without Heaving

stage IV tonsil/ tonuge ssc also in 2 lynph nodes.Had the surgery 4 weeks ago.  Had 2 radiation and last night was given the chemo/cisplatin.  was able to eat dry toast this morning so they let me out of hospital.  Now if I even put something in my mouth -jellow-mashed potatoes -or anything I start dry heaving.  I am scared. I am taking ondansetron, ativan,metoclopramide and also have suppositorys.  Will this get better? I am able to drink water.  Can't have a feeding tube due to past gastric-bypass 8 years ago.  How long can I go without eating .....Someone please write me back........Julie

Hello Julie, I am 2 years out of treatment for SSC of Tonsil, base of tounge , throat, and bottom of sinus. I underwent 40 rounds of radiation and 12 rounds of chemo so far scans clear.. Following protcol I had a PEG but never used it, It is a life saver for many, for me it was too wierd to use and could not wait for it to be removed. Treatment is possible without a PEG but you must be determined to keep fluid intake and nutrition, diligent ! Most folks I have found to be using thier PEG due to later effects of radiation treatment. For me feeling the nausea from chemo was best handled through staying ahead of the sick feeling with meds as you were given, it seemed once it crept up on me it was to late, take your nausea meds and once things simmer down instead of water perhaps gatorade would be a better source of of nutriants/electrolites, further would be juvin and or boost/ensure for a meal based replacment.  Also the hightened sence of smell was very profound to me, when my wife would be cooking I had to leave the house and or go in a closed room. We made changes in cooking habits by making prepaired meals once a week and freezing them to be able to heat up small portions for our family while I was in that state of escalated smell. Also please contact your onocologist and he/she could give you a injection of anti-nausea meds if what you have does not work for you, stay ahead of the game is best. You will get through this, keep your chin high. I am new to this site and wish I would have known about it while I was undergoing my treatment as there is a wealth of information here. Good luck , I hope this is of some help, and if I can help further please write.

 

glowworm

Oh yes to add, before your chemo infusion of cisplatin your DR should have ordered infusion of anti-nausea meds for you along with steroids, do you know if this was done ? If so diligence with the meds for home should be taken if you are feeling sick or not, so it does not get unbearable.

my s.o. had cisplatin along with taxotere, erbitux and 5fu...he managed his nausea with a combination of reglan and zofran (onadestrin) and he stayed ahead of it by following a regimen precribed by his doctors...he took the reglan regularly the first few days after treatment and if he started to feel nauseous added the zofran.  there were only a few times that he complained of things smelling bad...guess he was lucky there.  he ate mostly blender drinks throughout chemo...made them with carnation instant breakfast, protien powder, ice cream, milk and fruit - threw in a tblsp of canola oil for added calories.  after 9 weeks of chemo he had 35 radiation treatments along with carboplatin...he had a feeding tube put in prior to radiation starting.

don't hesitate to call your doctors and ask for guidance or different drugs...they should be able to manage the nauseousness for you.

it is tough but hang in there!!!

~meesh

 

Hi, Julie, sorry to hear about your problem with the cisplatin. I had the same problem you do. I had the same drugs you do, but they also gave me Emend and Zofran for my last 2 rounds.

 You do have to keep ahead of the nausea. I was rotating my anti nausea drugs, staggering the doses instead of a handfull all at once. It seemed to work better that way. That way something is always at close to full strength. Talk to your oncologist about this, there is no need to suffer thru that, there are all kinds of drugs available to help you, dont be too shy to ask for them.

 Best wishes, and good luck.

Mike

hi julie,

i was given kytril for the nausia from my cycplatian  took it 2x/day and it worked well i needed it for 7-10 days after the treatment then would be ok till the next one.

the meds are very good now adays for the nausia from cycplatian so call the Dr as soon as you can and get.

I had a Rx for the kytril and used it as many days as I needed it.

you will be able to get it ubder control I know how you feel after the IV meds wore off and i started to get sick I was crazy with fear but got it under control and finished my treatment a month ago

john 

Thank you for all of your encouragment..I am feeling a little bit better.Julie