New to the group

Hi there my Dad also has struggled with horrendous chemo side affects . The only advice I can give you is that it will pass and you will feel so much better soon . Let people help you and dig in . It will pass 

xx

Hi Annita

Chemo can be a brute. And everybody responds differently. im just coming up to my 5th of 6 cycles of chemo (carboplatin and etoposide) and immunotherapy for small cell. After my first cycle, I felt just as you describe. I was really nauseous and exhausted. Because the nausea was so awful, I phoned the chemo advice number and they told me to take more domperidone which made me feel a lot better.   I felt much better in subsequent cycles - I take the domperidone for longer and continue to take it if I feel sick. My first cycle was definitely the worst as far as nausea was concerned and the fatigue has changed as well. Initially, I was completely exhausted for three days. Following subsequent cycles I have been less fatigued but the fatigue has lasted longer.  Other things that help me are drinking a lot of water also mint tea, camomile tea and weak earl grey tea with lemon. I understand that this helps flush out the excess chemo. Also eating helps nausea for me. I have some dry crackers, water and a banana next to my bed so that if I wake up nauseous, I try to eat  and drink though I know many people can’t, I try to treat chemo nausea like morning sickness.

I was very depressed too, and spoke to my GP who prescribed anti depressants which took the edge off the depression enough for me to get done counselling through my local Maggies Centre, which has helped me to deal with the emotional issues of my diagnosis  

I was diagnosed I. December 2019 and initially felt there was no poicarrying on.  The anti depressants and counselling helped me to get some perspective and try to live each day.  

I hope this helps you a bit. In my experience it does get better but there is help out there

all the best

anna

Hello Anna,

thank-you so much for your reply, it helped me very much to think there are other ways that I can deal with this nausea.  I think I was trying not to take too many sickness tablets in case they made me constipated which I was told they do. I hated being constipated after the first round of chemo that I think I over compensated.  

I have tried different drinks and tea but the they taste so awful to me, even water which I usually drink a lot of tastes funny.

I will take more of Domperidome and see if this helps me feel better.

I have also started counselling today at Maggie’s and hoping this will help too.

thank you so much for you kind words and help.

i hope you soon feel so much better.

lots of luck for the future

Annita

Hi Annita

Welcome to us. Sorry to hear that the treatment is making you feel low, it is 'normal' however sadly. I would suggest trying to talk to a counsellor or an understanding friend about it and planning some easy enjoyable things you like to do where you can, to try and lift yourself a little. Along with of course posting on here.

I hope you start to pick up a little soon.

Hello Ginajsy,

Thank you so much for your kind words, it does help so much to know that other people care. I have had one session with a counsellor and I know it is early days but hopefully I can change the way I feel, and look forward to life and  to doing things with friends and family again.

I hope everything goes well for you too.

Annita

Hi linz80

thank you so much for you reply and help, yes your right it’s something that will pass., And to take all the help we can.

I do hope your dad is feeling a lot better now, and his nausea has passed. 

kind regards 

Annita

Love your quotes, how very true, xxx