Need advise.

[Tbilly2]

Hello I just found this site and had some questions I hoped someone could give me advise for. I am 24 years old I had a left I/O on 8-10-2007 there was a 5cm mass that was determined to be a malignant mixed germ cell tumor with embryonal carcinoma, Chariocarcinoma, yolk sac tumor, immature teratomatous, and seminomous componants. The CT showed 3 enlarged lymph nodes in my abdomin measuring 23mm, 24mm, 35mm. My AFP was 1025 and HGC was 600. They determined it to be Stage II. It was determined that the best course of action would be 3-4xBEP. The determining factor would be where my tumor markers are after the first two cycles. I started my first cycle of chemo 9/10 and then my second cycle was 10/1. I am to start my third cycle 10/22. During my recovery weeks I am vommiting a couple times a day 3-4. They have tried kytril, Anzemat, reglan, compazine, zofran, marinol, decadron ativan, and phenergan. Nothing has helped, but I usually do not feel a stomach churning nausea. It will just be all of a sudden I get the urge that I am going to puke and I run to the toilet . Did anyone else have this sort of problem? Whats the best way to cope with it?

[Les' Mom]

No advice but love

I am so very sorry you having this awful side effect. You are taking all the meds my son took so I know of no others. I will pray that you rest easier.

Hugs From the South,
Pam

[Russell's Mom]

Oh yes!! Ask them about Aloxi. I may have the spelling wrong on that. It is expensive for them, but you deserve it. Sharon

[mstlyn]

Are you taking the anti nausea meds as a preventative, or are you taking them after the vomiting starts? Also, you say there is no nausea, you just start vomiting. My son did well on the anti nausea meds, but after he was done with all his chemo treatments he started having problems vomiting, with no nausea. He would feel something like a lump in his throat and just vomit suddenly. Sound similar?

If you are not taking them to prevent problems, please do. Aside from that, are you eating something before your treatments, and drinking a lot of fluids before, during, and after treatments? The fluids are extremely important.. but the food before treatment, may help too.

Sorry I can't help with any other ideas . Sharon, I was glad to see you had another option for him.

[RTC]

I will finish my 4 round of BEP tomorrow.

I had a lot of problem with vomiting during the first 2 rounds . .
but it mysteriously gets better . .

My feeling is that hydration helps a lot by getting those chemo toxin out
of your body . . . . . so I often drink as much as I can after the 5 days
cisplatin . . .

I also think Emend helped me a lot . .

[jaybird]

I got sick a lot as well after trying all the medications you mentioned. Although controversial and illegal in some states, my doctor gave me marinol and it worked great (it’s a synthetic form of THC). It really eases your stomach and your mind during the tough times. The only negitive is that it can sometimes falsely raise your markers, like it did mine. So if you have tried all the other options might be worth asking about since you have two more rounds of chemo.

[mstlyn]

My feeling is that hydration helps a lot by getting those chemo toxin out
of your body . . . . . so I often drink as much as I can after the 5 days
cisplatin . . .

I don't know if I am mis understanding this or not. It is vital that you are drinking a lot EVERY DAY while on chemo. Drink before, during, and after if you can. The chemo can cause kidney damage, so its very important to keep drinking to flush it out of your body daily.

I don't know exactly how much is necessary, but my son was told to drink around 10 8oz glasses of fluid each day while taking chemo, and he did just that. I saw to it

[Tbilly2]

I have been drinking plenty of fluids during and after about 10-12 8oz glasses a day. Yeah it is kind of like all of a sudden I get a lump in my throat and then start vomiting. They give me aloxi on my Bleo days and I have tried the marinol which did not do much. I take the meds on a regular schedual but to so avail. It is just so frustrating that nothing really seems to be helping. I just hope and pray that my vomiting to will mysteriously just go away.

[mstlyn]

I have been drinking plenty of fluids during and after about 10-12 8oz glasses a day. Yeah it is kind of like all of a sudden I get a lump in my throat and then start vomiting. They give me aloxi on my Bleo days and I have tried the marinol which did not do much. I take the meds on a regular schedual but to so avail. It is just so frustrating that nothing really seems to be helping. I just hope and pray that my vomiting to will mysteriously just go away.

Have you tried eating before chemo treatments? And what about snacking on toast or crackers during chemo, or here and there throughout the day? Not a lot, as I know it's not always easy to just keep eating, but to keep something in your stomach, along with the fluids you are drinking, which is GREAT!

[boyce]

Emend

I did not see that one in yor laundry list of tried (and failed) nausea meds.

They gave it to me for the first 3 days following the BEP cycle and it helped quite a bit. It may be worth askinga bout at least....

Hag tough, OK?! Your making real progress and it DOES get better

[RTC]

oh . . sorry I should be more clear on this . .

I mean during my first round of Chemo I didn't know any better.
I had a lot of vomiting so I didn't drink much. I thought it is easier to
vomit with too much liquid in my stomach.

I thought It was better to try to keep the food I tried so hard to eat inside.
and I felt terrible during the first round.

Then I was hospitalized for fever . . and got a lot of IV hybration .
something like 2 liters per day for 5 days . . . . then I felt much better.

So afterwards . . . I try to drink as much as I can . . almost to a degree that
I choose hydration over food . . for the 1st couple of days after 5 days cisplatin . . . . .

and my vomiting did mysteriously go way . . . . I vomit very little after the 3rd round . . . and I don't know the reason why . . .

[mk6439]

Another vote for Emend. My husband took Emend and Kytril on the last day of infusions and then for the next couple of days after that and his nausea was tolerable during the off weeks.

[Tbilly2]

The vomiting is fine during the weeks of chemo. It is during the "recovery" weeks when I am constantly vomiting. I get discouraged because I am loosing so much weight and am getting weak from this lack of food.

[Margaret]

The vomiting is fine during the weeks of chemo. It is during the "recovery" weeks when I am constantly vomiting. I get discouraged because I am loosing so much weight and am getting weak from this lack of food.

Emend is to be taken AFTER your chemo round in the weekend starting your recovery week. Should do wonders for you....ask about it if you can.

Feel better soon!!

[RTC]

hmmm I had a lot of problem with vomiting too . . . particular during the first round. I could barely eat or drink anything so the only thing I could do was to just try to drink as much Boost or Ensure . .

If it doesn't get any better maybe you can ask to have TPN
(Total parenteral nutrition) next time you have your chemo infusion?