Sickness post chemo and air bubbles

[Da1sychain]

Hi, I am 5 months post Ivor Lewis surgery. I finally completed reduced dose post adjuvant chemotherapy two weeks ago. I was quite sick with the chemo and had to take two different types of antiemetic. Now I have finished chemo I thought the sickness would go but I am still having these retching episodes around once a day about half an hour to an hour after eating. I bring up a clear fluid (no food in it). I am now wondering if this is part of the new normal and related to dumping (no diarrhoea though). Before the chemo I was not having this retching every day, just episodes of diarrhoea. Perhaps it takes longer than two weeks for the chemo to leave the body?

I am also experiencing some gurgly type air bubbles coming into my throat most mornings when I wake up. They go on for quite a while. It’s as if I have swallowed too much air. Sometimes the retching also feels like air is coming up with the retching. I am on omeprazole in the morning and am taking Gaviscon advance every night before bed. I just wondered if anyone else has experienced these problems? I have just been for a dilation and all looked ok down there, but it hasn’t helped with the retching. I really want to come off the antisickness tablets but daredn’t at the moment.

Thanks,

[kiddy]

Hi there,I would firstly say well done you’ve got through it. It does take a while to feel ok again. Sometimes it is psychological with foods that remind you of chemo. Things should get better and improve slowly. It is still early days.

Try to wean off the anti sickness. Take some exercise after eating(walk) .

Burping bubbling are quite normal. I was prescribed Sucralfate which I still take nearly 5 years on.

Best wishes

Debbie

[Da1sychain in reply to kiddy]

Thanks Debbie. I am glad the bubbling is normal. It only seems to happen first thing in the morning when I wake up. I spoke to my specialist nurse about the retching and she has suggested I come off the ondansetron antisickness and start taking the metaclopramide again. The only problem with that is that I didn’t think you were supposed to take metaclopramide long term. I think I will try stopping the antisickness altogether and try drinking more fluid and getting more exercise like you suggest. What is Sulcrafate? Best wishes

Nicola

[kiddy in reply to Da1sychain]

Hi Nicola, I was getting a lot of bubbling and gas burping. Sucralfate has stopped that.Hope you are improving daily. Yes aim for 6 small meals/snacks.

Best Wishes

Debbie

[Natchez]

My husband is nearly 6 years post esophagectomy (He had his chemo and radiation prior to).

He has the gurgly bubbles still - we call it the “froggy” - we just assume they are a result of air swallowing/trapping and physical positioning - just plain old physics - we don’t worry about it.

The nausea could still be a result of the chemo, but more likely I would bet it’s the esophagectomy itself.

My husband suffers from nausea nearly every day after a meal - 6 years out.

His drug of choice is Phenergan or promethazine - he takes it, sits or lays quietly for about 20 minutes and is good to go.

Personally, I think he eats too much at one sitting - it’s been his most difficult adjustment - his eyes remain bigger than his stomach.

I would suggest trying small, frequent meals and see if that works for you.

In addition find the antiemetic that works FOR YOU and keep it on hand. I understand you’d rather not have to take it so hopefully the small, frequent meals will help.

If not, an antiemetic may be part of your new normal.

I wish you all the best - it DOES get better.

[Da1sychain in reply to Natchez]

Hi NatchezThanks for your reply. I was doing the small frequent meals quite well until I got sick with the chemo and then couldn’t eat much at all. I now have small breakfast, lunch and dinner but seem to have forgotten the snacks in between and I realise I need to drink more. I have two children at home at the moment so quite often get caught up in their stuff and forget to eat/drink. Then when I do eat I sometimes get this retching and bring up clear fluid. I have been advised to come off my current antisickness and try metaclopramide again and to drink more fluid.

I’m glad the bubbling is normal though and I am pleased to hear that it does get better. Best wishes to you and your husband. Nicola

[Natchez in reply to Da1sychain]

Oh my, your plate is full. I wish you all the best. 💜

How about on the weekend take an hour or so to prepare a grab bag of snacks to have on hand during the week?

Maybe it will help to have something handy that you can just grab and nibble on when you’re so busy.

I admire your desire to keep powering through for your kids.

[Da1sychain in reply to Natchez]

Hi, Thanks for the grab bag of snacks idea. I made one up yesterday and I remembered to have one this morning. It’s nearly time for another one. What do you snack on? I usually revert to sweet stuff or fruit, but my dietician tells me I need to eat more protein- peanut butter, cheese or meat. Cheese quite often makes me feel sick so I avoid that and meat is an odd snack, so that leaves me with peanut butter which is fine sometimes but tbh I am not that much of a fan. Perhaps I should eat more nuts. Best wishes and Merry Christmas Nicola

[Janashlin]

Sounds like you are pretty much on track to most of the rest of us and our recovery process.

Personally I take CBd oil with thc and that really helps with the nausea. Takes about 80 percent of it away.

I still get dumping syndrome at least once a day and it is horrendous but overall my recovery is coming along.

I am now two years post op and it has been extremely tough but I had major complications.

I use an electric bed and sleep in the zero gravity position and find this really helps with the bubbles and gurgling. Good luck, keep going!

[Da1sychain in reply to Janashlin]

Hi, Thanks for the reply. It’s nice to know that I am on track in terms of recovery. What is the thc bit of the cbd oil? Is there any pattern to your dumping syndrome? I find sweet drinks does mine most often so no more hot chocolate 😔. I can however stomach sweet solid stuff like cake and biscuits as long as I don’t have it with a drink. Orange juice is a no though. Also high fat foods can bring on dumping for me. I think we are all different but it’s interesting to see if there are any common triggers. Hope you continue to make a good recovery. Sounds like you are doing well despite the complications. Best wishes and Merry Christmas, Nicola