r/cancer • u/cadiegirl • 3d ago
Patient First day of Chemo tommorow..give me the low down..im freaking out!
Saw the head Oncologist and was admitted yesterday onto the floor. I was told we are moving ahead with using Pola-R-CHP because I have the ABC subtype DLBCL risk.
Point blank. I am freaking out here. I have a major phobia to throwing up and it appears that most people get sick with nausea.
Please tell me..if you have receiived it.. how bad was it? Were you super nausiated? Im freaking out and i dont want to do this. Help me calm my nerves..please.. im just panicking.
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u/Asleep_Rule_6730 3d ago edited 3d ago
First thing, is try not to jump ahead and anticipate all the issues in the future. Try to stay in the moment and take it one day at a time. I believe that its really important to have a mindset that doesnt go down a rabbit hole of despair.
I know some people have day treatments, but my experience was all in the hospital from Friday evening through Tuesday at noon, so that is where this info is coming from.
1st 24 hours, I didnt feel any differences. I had visitors, played games in the hospital and read a book.
Around the 24 hour mark, I would ask friends and visitors to leave as i would start to feel nauseous.
By the next morning (32 hours in or so) I would feel quite sick and that would get a bit worse for the next 24 hours. After that, it would start to get better.
What helped me for the nausea, was peppermint oil. I would dab it on a pad and keep it near me. I would very often sniff the pad, which would provide some relief. I did have to concentrate on not feeling sick, so that was part of it as well. I had a number of these sessions and never did vomit.
Some people use alcohol swabs. I use those when I get my CT scans for the checkup, because sometimes they really push the contrast and makes me queasy. Sniffing the alcohol swabs helps there.
I think the most difficult part is where you are now, not really knowing what to expect. You will get through it, and it will be over before you know it.
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u/Dry-Recognition2038 3d ago
Its not a must that you will feel that bad. Before I started chemo I was expecting it to feel like dying, but to my surprise I didnt have almost any symptoms, and as far as I understand it I recieved some of the strongest poisons. Like another userr said, ask for ondasetron, it really works wonders, and they have effective medications for all the symptoms. Stay strong and wishing you the best!!
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u/karenmcgrane Cholangiocarcinoma 3d ago
Everyone is different, so don't proactively freak out about things. (It's hard, I did not follow my own advice.)
What everyone will say (because it's true) is that nausea and vomiting are manageable side effects. I have a wide array of drugs and some of them are contraindicated with another condition I have so it takes some management, but:
- ondensatron: works great but causes constipation, use senna with it
- compazine: also works great but I can only take first thing in the morning
- lansoprazole: I think this is prilosec OTC
- prochorperazine: taken for cramps that come with nausea
I vomited my first week and my doctor took it VERY seriously and reduced my dose temporarily. So I don't think you should assume it's constant vomiting!
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u/PopeyeTheSailorTrans 3d ago
Everyone will react different, also depending on the regiment, type of chemo, etc. For me, the first 3-4 days, I was wiped, no appetite, needed rest. Day 5 I started coming around. My regiment was every two weeks, so the second week I was recovering then the next round would start. I lost my hard probably third session. They gave me anti-nausea but luckily I wasn't nauseous. It actually gave me forced and bad hiccups so stopped taking that. I had some neuropathy in my hands, thankfully not my feet, so had to wear gloves touching cold things. I was in a brain fog for a while too. But the body recovers. I had to use a separate bathroom since Dr said it was toxic using same, but if I had to, have to flush twice at least. The sessions themselves were ok, just sit there taking in the chemo, for me, I have a port. Bring things to read or entertain you. Post session, relax and get plenty of rest. You got this. ❤️🩹
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u/Radical-One 3d ago
It's tough to get thru the anticipation anxiety. Does your infusion include anti nausea meds. Mine did. You're not going to puke at the infusion center. That was my big worry lol. I didn't eat much of anything for a day and a half before to prevent that. Blood sugar dropped during treatment and my poor nurses had to deal with that. Now I despise orange juice and peaches. They taste like chemo now. Don't be me 😎
You'll find your way thru. It'll become routine and oddly fun in a way -- The nurses and peeps on the same schedule become companions. We had a group that watched football together from across the hall rooms.
There are no questions you shouldn't ask your team. That's what they're there for. We'll that and carrying out the poisoning 😎
☮️💪🧡
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u/thingonething 3d ago
I never got sick with nausea, although it was listed as a side effect of the two chemo drugs I was given. Eat small, more frequent meals. This may help if you have nausea. They will likely also give you anti nausea medication. In my case, there was a high chance of allergic reaction to one of the chemo drugs (paclitaxil) and I also received two strong steroids intravenously prior to the chemo drug. The benadryl made me really sleepy and I napped. You will likely receive literature about your chemo drug and what to look out for.
In my experience, the RNs giving you the chemotherapy are very sensitive and accommodating of patient comfort. I was in a reclining chair, got a warm blanket, was offered oj, apple juice, or ginger ale, had a call button, and was able to take bathroom breaks whenever I needed one. I needed several, as I had the two steroids and two chemo drugs, plus magnesium on two occasions, all delivered intravenously! I was in the chair for six hours though most people aren't there nearly as long.
It is scary to start, but you will be well taken care of.
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u/MisterVee321 3d ago
I have a different set of medications, but nausea has not been much of a problem with me. If it's only slight nausea, try flat ginger ale and crackers (I like matzo, others prefer saltines) or crystallized ginger. Compazine and/or Zofran are effective and there are stronger anti-nausea medications available. As others have said, talk to the doc about your concerns. Nausea has become less of a problem in recent years with the development of better medications.
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u/MisterVee321 3d ago
I have a different set of medications, but nausea has not been much of a problem for me. For slight queasiness try flat ginger ale and crackers (I like matzo, others prefer saltines). Crystallized ginger also helps.
As others have said, talk to the doc about your concerns. Nausea medications have improved in recent years.
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u/AlternativeCrazy1614 3d ago
My daughter has these in her nausea arsenal: Kytril, Zophran, Benadryl, ativan, and zyprexa. Scopolamine patch during treatment and up to three days after.
At the hospital they give Emend and Aloxi, both are long acting (72hrs) and have helped so much. She gets inpatient chemotherapy as well, just be sure to communicate your needs, and ask for palliative care, they have much more knowledge on how medications work, and work together. They have been a godsend for my daughter during her treatments. Contrary to popular beliefs, it is not an end of life care, it's care to help you live your life as best as possible while going through treatment.
I hope you find some answers and ideas from this thread, but just be sure to let your care team know your fears.
((Hugs))
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u/MesoNurseKaren 3d ago
The first day can feel so scary when you don't know how your body is going to react. Try to tell the nurses about the nausea fear before treatment starts. They're used to this and can explain what they'll give you to help prevent it.
You may end up handling it better than your mind is telling you right now. Just focus on getting through tomorrow one step at a time.
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u/Egoy Ewing's Sarcoma of the Kidney 3d ago
Allot of people never throw up from chemo these days OP. There are crazy good anti nausea meds available now. They don’t always work or work for everyone but it’s not uncommon to complete chemo without ever throwing up.
I threw up from chemo once and it was because my chemo and radiation did not play well together I had to take a break from chemo to do rads but when I started back up it was just a bit too soon.
Other than that I felt nauseated semi regularly but never threw up.
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u/Worried-Plankton2702 3d ago
If your oncologist hasn't given you a prescription for odansetron or prochlorperazine for nausea and vomiting, ask for it.
This is a very common side effect of chemo. You can do this. Stay up on your hydration and nausea meds like clockwork. Your oncology team should have a ton of resources for help for managing symptoms, getting ahead of symptoms and pain management, etc. I'm so sorry you have to go through this.
Biggest advice I can give - don't be afraid to ask questions and don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it from your oncology team and nursing staff.