Vomits after 1st chemo: Hello Dr... I... - Breast Cancer India

Breast Cancer India

3,176 members1,464 posts

Vomits after 1st chemo

Tanay profile image
40 Replies

Hello Dr... I finished my first Chemo yesterday by 6.30 pm , on

my way back home I started vomiting in car itself ,took Emset 8mg by 7.30pm (although I was told no need to take as emset injection was given before chemo ) but no help, vomits continued every 5 to 10 mins ,then again on Dr advise I took one more Emset by 10 pm vomits continued till 1130 pm , after which I got somewhat settled but could not eat or drink anything

Even today morning I was having nausea. Tried drinking little lemon water but again vomited in 5 mins , after few hrs tried watermelon one bite every few mins , but again vomited .

Dr I know vomiting is one of side effects of a chemo , but it's not getting settled even after medicine , I have also read you should keep yourself hydrated and drink at least 2 litres of liquid , but I am unable to do it .. Even if I drink few sips of water ,I end throwing out more then what I consumed.. Nothing is staying inside & I m feeling very weak with no energy..

Dr pls advise should I take any other medicine , as of now I am taking 3 emset in a day

Written by
Tanay profile image
Tanay
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
40 Replies
kontak profile image
kontakTeamBCI

Hi Tanay - its disturbing to know the pains you are suffering.

Doctor - pl advice

tiger72 profile image
tiger72

Dear Tanay:

Even I used to take Emeset 8 one tablet a day. Along with it, I used to keep 2 cloves in my mouth and it used to help me. Just take the juice of the same, do not chew it and eat it. Then I would not get the nausea or vomiting. Please try it if u feel comfortable. I used to drink lots of water. Even if u vomit, please keep drinking water.

I hope you feel better. Take rest and drink as much liquids as you can. You can also have buttermilk if that helps.

Regards,

Tiger72.

greenbear profile image
greenbear

@Tanay,

Sorry to hear that you have been so unwell. I think you should ask your doctor for stronger anti nausea medication. In case you are not able to retain any food or liquid I feel you should get in touch with your doctor immediately so that they could give you intravenous fluids. Atleast that is the instruction I have received from my hospital.

Hope you get well soon.

sumeet_shah profile image
sumeet_shahAdministrator

I wish to know, what chemotherapy protocol are you taking?

Continue Emeset 3 times a day. However, sometimes, due to vomiting, it may not be possible to swallow a tablet (it may come out with vomit). In that case, mouth dissolving forms of the same medicine are available, you must take them. Continue this drug to stop vomiting for at least 5 days, whether you have vomiting or not.

If vomits do not settle, please get in touch with your Medical Oncologist or at least the nearest doctor, so they can assess and help you out in this situation with changes in medicines, if need be.

You will surely settle down, don't worry. Keep us posted if you need any help.

Richa25 profile image
Richa25

I just had a word with her...she is in the hospital on a drip...from what i could understand she took FEC....she will confirm once she gets home...but still complaining of nausea and vomiting

Tanay profile image
Tanay

Hello Dr , my wife got admitted yesterday ,she is on IV fluids and vomit INJ ...

Her Chemo details are

1. FLURACIL

2.ADRIMYCIN

3.ENDUXAN

Are these drugs ok?

Now she is better but still oral fluids have not yet started...she still has nausea...

Dr is this common situation? Does it usually happen after chemo?

Pls advice... As we are really worried?

Will this happen after every chemo now.

sumeet_shah profile image
sumeet_shahAdministrator in reply to Tanay

Hi, welcome to the forum.

These drugs are absolutely fine.

Adriamycin is a strong vomiting inducing drug.

She will settle down, definitely, do not worry. Such nausea and vomiting are common after Adriamycin, and every person behaves a bit differently. Some have less vomiting, some have more. If there is more, from next cycle, we take some more precautions before starting chemo (add some medicines) so that vomiting does not cause much of a problem.

Now that vomiting has settled, and now that doctor has allowed soft diet, once she tolerates it fine and no more vomiting, they will discharge her by tomorrow.

Let this episode of vomiting not bother you much, as it is fairlycommon to see and most patients settle down by the second cycle.

Also, read other members posts on vomiting and you will find a lot of useful tips.

Tanay profile image
Tanay in reply to sumeet_shah

Thanks Dr for your reply... It's a big relief when we have a Dr. Replying to all our doubts..

Even we are hoping that It does not affect her on her next cycle...

Dr they gave her injection called Neulastin 6 mg costing 10386 Rs... After 24 hours of her chemo... So that she won't have fall in her counts... Dr is it good to take this injection on next day of chemo?

greenbear profile image
greenbear in reply to Tanay

Neulastin could also give some body pain. So u could probably keep some pain killers handy after consulting your oncologist.

sumeet_shah profile image
sumeet_shahAdministrator in reply to Tanay

Different oncologists give Neulastin at different times; some give on 2nd day, some 3rd and some even 5th. So let your Oncologist decide. As for price, request the oncologist to allow you to procure it from a distributor, the price will reduce a lot.

And like greenbear mentioned above, it does cause bone aches, so a pain killer will be helpful.

Tanay profile image
Tanay in reply to sumeet_shah

Thanks Dr for your reply...

She got discharged and feeling much better now...

manish_vkg profile image
manish_vkgTeamBCI in reply to Tanay

This is a kind of pegfilgrastim drug which help in increasing wbc and same inj if u buy from dr. Reddys it will cost u around 8500/-..so just check about it...pharmacy guy can tell at the same hospital...

Tanay profile image
Tanay in reply to manish_vkg

Thanks Manish_vkg, will check on the price....

kontak profile image
kontakTeamBCI

Hi Tanay - this will happen after every chemo with more or less - only thing is to see that she gets good medicine to manage all the side effects. Request your Doctor to give medicines - she should not suffer and be in such a pain

roops profile image
roops

Hi Tanay

Don't loose your confidence, these side effect settle in few days... I know you'll be tired after vomiting, without fail take medicines prescribed by your Doctor. Hope now by this time you feel better....Which hospital in kochi are you taking chemo?

manish_vkg profile image
manish_vkgTeamBCI

Tanay, we know its not so easy to manage, but gradually you will learn, how to manage these side effect...everyone will have side effect few people effected for stomach upset and few people vomiting it depends on chemo regime and how our body respond to chemo..so i can say have faith in god...all will be fine and these side effect will be settle down in a week..keep drinking water/coconut water...

Tanay profile image
Tanay

Thank you all for your support...

She is better now with IV fluids... Dr has advised to start with some soft diet... She is worried if she eats she might again vomit.. We r in lakeshore hospital Kochi...

roops profile image
roops

Happy to hear she is better....she will be all fine after few days. Keep drinking tender coconut. I went through sevier body pain on my last chemo... Tomorrow I am going for my 5 th chemo. After that one more....

Tanay profile image
Tanay

Hello roops, So did u take any medicine for body pain?

And how did first 3 chemos went in ur case, if I may ask?

greenbear profile image
greenbear

We have heard of lakeshore hospital. it is renowned in kerala. this is usual regimen. Now that doctor has replied i think you will be less worried. hope she has started her soft diet and is feeling better. I am sure the hospital will take adequate precautions for the next cycle. so do not worry and take care.

greenbear profile image
greenbear

Are all your six cycles with the same drugs. Then most probably you may not get body pain. Body pain usually happens with another drug paclitaxol/docetaxol. I am also taking the same drugs as you except that instead of andriamycin I take epirubicin which is similar. I had my first cycle on the 5th. Had nausea but did not vomit. I was given inj Palnol before the chemo. I was also given aprecap125mg capsule before start of chemo. I took aprecap 80mg for two days after that along with domstal 10mg for 5 days. these are all to prevent vomitting. ofcourse you will need to consult your oncologist about the medication.

take care.

roops profile image
roops

For me first 3 chemo was FEC other than hair loss and tiredness no other side effect. My 4th chemo was Docetaxel same is going to be for 5 th and 6 th .Body pain is the main side effect of Docetaxel. 5 days I was taking pain killers. Other wise everything is going well. My appetite is good through out the chemo. Any thing more you wanted to know?.

Tanay profile image
Tanay

For body pain Dr has given her Dolo 650 , which pain killers you used to take? As you all said keep pain killers handy ? Which pain killer is best ??

Only first 3 cycles wil be same drugs then from 4th they will change , name of drugs not yet known...

greenbear profile image
greenbear in reply to Tanay

The drug from 4th cycle onwards will most probably be docataxel like roops is taking as that is the usual protocol. I am not being given neulasta and had a slightly different drug regimen as I took chemo before surgery also. So I had no body/bone pain. Roops may be better able to guide you about the pain killer or maybe you could ask Dr. Sumeet if dolo 650 does not help at that time. Take care.

roops profile image
roops

Hi greenbear,

I don't think every one they change medicines , I know few who had FEC through out 6 chemo but for me the protocol given by Dr. is 3FEC + radiation + 3 Docetaxel. I am taking Dolo 650. But Docetaxel gave me full body pain, with Dolo it was not going then my Dr. Asked me to take Movon tablet twice a day.. Some what like our Dr. Sumeet even my Dr. Always available in phone with medicine prescription rather than going and meeting him as you all know how difficult 3, 4 days immediately after chemo.

greenbear profile image
greenbear

Hi roops, I would like to clarify that since Tanay mentioned that she would be given fec only for 3 cycles I wrote that most probably docataxel would be the drug from the 4th cycle. I am not sure how it is in lakeshore hospital but in Mumbai we find it difficult to contact our oncologist over phone and since the hospital could be far away we usually keep medications handy.

roops profile image
roops

Ok green bear...I understand. I am getting ready for my 5th chemo..its going to be today evening.

Take care .

greenbear profile image
greenbear in reply to roops

good luck roops for your 5th chemo

Tanay profile image
Tanay in reply to roops

Hi roops, how was ur 5th chemo? Hope u r doing well....

roops profile image
roops in reply to Tanay

It went well...I am good . For me the body pain start after 3 days then it will continue for 3,4 days after that I will be back to normal. Now I am used to these changes. If every thing goes well my last chemo will be on 14 October. Thinking that this chemo I was more confident. :-)

Don't worry you will also become like this after 2 chemo.

Take care.

PK53 profile image
PK53

Tanay

I am on TCH- Docetaxel, cyclophosphamide and Herceptin. Also I was given NEUPOGEN to increase my WBC,since my oncologist felt that I am at risk for developing febrile neutropenia (neutropenia with fever).The injection was given 24 hours after the chemo session for seven days. I experienced terrible body pain and muscle pain and I was given very strong narcotics to manage the pain. I live in Canada so the protocol could be different from India.

Irrespective of that, I did not sort for narcotics, rather I took Tylenol 500mg extra strength two times a day to manage the pain for first three days and from fourth day took Tylenol regular once in four hours.I tried to stretch my muscles by doing small muscle exercises through out the day and hot water pad helped me little bit as well. If you wife can walk for 20 mts (purposeful walking, like swinging and stretching the hand) inside the house that will really help with pain. I felt like I was carrying 50 kgs of rock on my body all the time....still trust me, with little bit of movement to the body and pain killer it is manageable. If she can feel the outside fresh air...it will help too

I did have severe nausea for a week after my second chemo.....I did not vomit but my tongue tasted bitter and I could hardly drink any water or eat anything. I had this reaction within 10 hours after my second chemo. I did not had nausea for the first one, but suffered with different side effects and I landed in emergency during my first chemo

The tongue tasted so bitter, all I could taste is bitterness.....I don't want to end up in emergency as first time,so the only food or drinks I had for first five days were as below

1. Lemon juice with salt (Squeeze half a lemon in a glass of water and add half teaspoon salt and half teaspoon sugar). This will keep the body dehydrated and will taste better for the tongue and this drink will clean the toxic from the liver quickly so that the she will feel better

2. Watermelon Juice with lemon

3. Coconut water

4. Idlies

5. Lemon Rice

6. Powder, 1 teaspoon of Jeera(cumin seeds), 3 mint leaves and boil with 1 glass water. When it reduce to half glass strain it and drink twice a day. It will certainly bring the nausea under control. So eventually stops vomiting.

7. Ginger Tea (I bag tea steeped in1 galss water). Don't add milk. Just drink plain.

With all those seven items, I survived the second one. Nausea was persistent even after all nausea medication, however the above noted things helped. I kept my diet simple and remained dehydrated through flavored juices instead of water.. I was damn hungry....so managed with idlies (can eat only one idly at a time). I had all these things in rotation, every one hour....i could not get up or raise my head as I was suffering with severe muscle pain and Nausea.....So i told my husband to give me any of these seven foods, once in two hours or one hour.....so i regained my strength and today is the 13th day after my second chemo....i am back to my normal food since day 12 and nausea is gone and tongue palette is getting better....

Getting ready for 3rd chemo on October 1st.

Rgds

PK

PK53 profile image
PK53

Tanay

I am on TCH- Docetaxel, cyclophosphamide and Herceptin. Also I was given NEUPOGEN to increase my WBC,since my oncologist felt that I am at risk for developing febrile neutropenia (neutropenia with fever).The injection was given 24 hours after the chemo session for seven days. I experienced terrible body pain and muscle pain and I was given very strong narcotics to manage the pain. I live in Canada so the protocol could be different from India.

Irrespective of that, I did not sort for narcotics, rather I took Tylenol 500mg extra strength two times a day to manage the pain for first three days and from fourth day took Tylenol regular once in four hours.I tried to stretch my muscles by doing small muscle exercises through out the day and hot water pad helped me little bit as well. If you wife can walk for 20 mts (purposeful walking, like swinging and stretching the hand) inside the house that will really help with pain. I felt like I was carrying 50 kgs of rock on my body all the time....still trust me, with little bit of movement to the body and pain killer it is manageable. If she can feel the outside fresh air...it will help too

I did have severe nausea for a week after my second chemo.....I did not vomit but my tongue tasted bitter and I could hardly drink any water or eat anything. I had this reaction within 10 hours after my second chemo. I did not had nausea for the first one, but suffered with different side effects and I landed in emergency during my first chemo

The tongue tasted so bitter, all I could taste is bitterness.....I don't want to end up in emergency as first time,so the only food or drinks I had for first five days were as below

1. Lemon juice with salt (Squeeze half a lemon in a glass of water and add half teaspoon salt and half teaspoon sugar). This will keep the body dehydrated and will taste better for the tongue and this drink will clean the toxic from the liver quickly so that the she will feel better

2. Watermelon Juice with lemon

3. Coconut water

4. Idlies

5. Lemon Rice

6. Powder, 1 teaspoon of Jeera(cumin seeds), 3 mint leaves and boil with 1 glass water. When it reduce to half glass strain it and drink twice a day. It will certainly bring the nausea under control. So eventually stops vomiting.

7. Ginger Tea (I bag tea steeped in1 galss water). Don't add milk. Just drink plain.

With all those seven items, I survived the second one. Nausea was persistent even after all nausea medication, however the above noted things helped. I kept my diet simple and remained dehydrated through flavored juices instead of water.. I was damn hungry....so managed with idlies (can eat only one idly at a time). I had all these things in rotation, every one hour....i could not get up or raise my head as I was suffering with severe muscle pain and Nausea.....So i told my husband to give me any of these seven foods, once in two hours or one hour.....so i regained my strength and today is the 13th day after my second chemo....i am back to my normal food since day 12 and nausea is gone and tongue palette is getting better....

Getting ready for 3rd chemo on October 1st.

Rgds

PK

Tanay profile image
Tanay in reply to PK53

Thanx pk53 will keep all 7 things in mind.. Good to hear your nausea is gone and you are back with normal food now... Good luck for your next chemo...

Richa25 profile image
Richa25

Dont think about the side effects of the next medicine right now...we will cross the bridge once we are there...right now stay focused on what is...everyone wishes you well and hope u are feeling better too...take care

Hugs n love Richa

shirdi profile image
shirdi

Hi Tanay.

All the side effects of chemo will go within 5-6 days of chemo and after first week try to take good and healthy diet cause will have to be ready for next chemo

Tanay profile image
Tanay in reply to shirdi

Thanks shirdi... You r right... In fact now I m feeling better and normal like before... Although I hate the thought also of going for 2nd chemo, but yes I will have to prepare myself...

5 more chemos to go... I have heard that 4,5,6 are usually bad since they change drugs... I just hope that I will b fine...

greenbear profile image
greenbear in reply to Tanay

You will be fine Tanay even if they change drugs. They will give you meds to relieve you of whatever side effects you might face. In case some more meds are required that also will be provided. So dont worry about 4,5,6 chemo from now only. Take each day as it comes.

MsLockYourPosts profile image
MsLockYourPostsTeamBCI

Many who receive Neulasta or Nuepogen injections for low neutrophils have found that taking Claratin (loratadine), an antihistamine, starting the day before and continuing for about three days after helps with the bone pain. Ask you doctor if it would interfere with any of your other medications.

One friend discovered that his nausea was caused by the anti nausea medication he was on, not by his chemo. Ask about changing medications if what you are taking isn't working. Also, stay ahead of the nausea. Take the meds whether you feel nausea or not.

I hope round two is much easier!

Pat

shirdi profile image
shirdi

I had the same drugs from first to last chemo. I dont think in every case they change. But if it is changed still u will be given drugs to control and just remember that once the treatment is started it is going towards the end of treatment. Very soon all the chemo will finish and with that radiation will also.

I know it is very tough time but be positive and think of the time when the treatment will be over and u will live normal life

Take care

Tanay profile image
Tanay

Thanks richa25, greenbear, pkenn , shirdi for such motivation.... This is really toughest time of life and such encouraging words really helps....

I really thank this entire team for all ur support.... And being with me during such tough times....

Regards,

Aarti.

You may also like...

Vomiting after first chemo

had her frst chemo on 9th feb till afternoon.nurse adviced us to start taking emeset 8mg from next...

White blood cells dropped after 1st chemotherapy

Dr 1st chemo was given on last Monday. Yesterday checked WBC - they are 1700. Any precaution or...

Chemo over...Happy me :-)

My last chemo done yesterday, was waiting for that day.... Now I have to come back to my normal life

effects of chemo drugs

hi ,i finished my chemo on 2ndjuly2014,radiation on aug 26 2014.now i am 4 months pregnant.my worry...

is a port necessary for giving chemo?

removed. prior to surgery she underwent 4 cycles of chemo n now another 4 cycles are to be given to...