The last round of chemo Mike had was during the 1st. week of March. Today is April 6th, & he has been experiencing nausea for approximately 1 1/2 weeks now. Since a round (in his case) is typically 3 weeks long, AND during the 1st. 2 rounds he only experienced nausea for around day 4 to day 8, I figure his nausea isn't from the chemo (???) He has finished 3 rounds of carboplatin & taxol, & scheduled for a 4th. round today. He has been on pain meds. consistently, & constantly, since Oct. 30, 08 now, which is when his pneumonectomy was performed (currently those pain meds are Oxy IR 15 mgs, Morphine Extended Release 2x daily: 30 mgs in AM & 60 mgs in PM). He is also on the steroid Prednisone, which he did start about 2 weeks ago (I've wondered if this is causing the nausea due to the timeframe; but, just really concerned).
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Nausea Cause?
- By KathleenO
- Posted April 6, 2009 at 7:00 am · 9 replies
- In Non-small cell lung cancer - Stage IV
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Pneumonia Cancer Taxol Surgery Compazine Pain Prednisone Carboplatin Prochlorperazine Morphine
9 replies
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- By robinwd
- Posted April 6, 2009 at 7:57 am
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Kathleen, I would certainly relay this info to the Drs. I think it's most likely that the pain meds could be contributing to the nausea, but they certainly can give him something to counteract it.
- By Outrider1
- Posted April 6, 2009 at 10:57 am
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Kathleen,
I found that for myself it was the steroids. When I was doing my PCI (radiation: Mar 09) and had to take steroids again. I found all the side effects that I thought were caused by the chemo (last chem:Oct 08) were actually caused by the steroids(with the exception being losing my hair). Especially the being hot and the nausea.
The narcotics are also suspect if given by mouth on an empty stomach.
There are many anti-nausea drugs (compazine, ondoncatron (with also comes in a dissovable tablet)), that can help the nausea. They also come in suppository form if that would make administering them easier for him.
DAwn
- By cuddles53
- Posted April 6, 2009 at 11:59 am
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I too had chemo and didn't have that bad a time with nausea, and then much later had steroids with a case of pneumonia I had and I felt so horrible like throwing up all the time, it was worse I think than the chemo was. Call the doctor if you are worried about it but I believe it is the steroids too.
- By KathleenO
- Posted April 6, 2009 at 9:54 pm
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Thanks for replying, Robin, Cuddles, & Dawn! Yous have all really made me feel more at ease, with the understanding that others have experienced this horrible nausea feeling most likely due to steroids. We did pass this on (the nausea) to the nurses who cared for Mike during chemo today. Mike was already taking Prochlorperazine, a.k.a. Compazine; however, I guess it just wasn't "doing the trick" of combatting the nausea. The nurse called a different anti-nausea prescription into the pharmacy; but, I'm not sure what it is yet.
- By cuddles53
- Posted April 7, 2009 at 12:37 am
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Good, let us know how that one works for future reference.
From Sandy
- By claires
- Posted April 7, 2009 at 8:14 am
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The pain medication can be the cause of the nausea!
- By KathleenO
- Posted April 7, 2009 at 8:46 am
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Thanks for responding Claires.
I know that pain meds CAN cause nausea; however, Mike has been on pain meds. for over 5 months now, consistently, all that time, and never was nauseated before - other than for a handful of days during each round of chemo. This is the reason this topic is up for discussion, for would pain meds. all of sudden just start causing nausea about 1 to 2 weeks ago? Possible - yes...... likely? I don't know.
I also know that a possible side effect of Prednisone is nausea..... so, since this prescription is relatively new for Mike (he just started taking it approximately a week before the onset of the nausea), I suspect that may be the culprit. Although I knew it was a side effect of this med., because I read it in the pharmacy pamphlet, that alone doesn't make it believable reality; but, hearing personally of others experiencing nausea blamed on steroids puts my mind at ease that is very likely the blame for Mike's nausea.
- By claires
- Posted April 7, 2009 at 10:44 am
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It could be a combination. Everyone is different, but seems like he should be easing off of the pain medication from the surgery, not off, but going down gradually. I'd check with the doctor. Am only going by my own experience, but I recall needing pain drugs for a long time, up to a year, BUT less frequently, like instead of every 4 hours, every 5, then 6, and so on. A physician should review his drugs; sometimes they just write without checking what else is happening. Hope this helps.
- By KathleenO
- Posted July 3, 2009 at 10:27 am
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Claires,
Thanks for your concern; however, as you may already know, Mike passed away a couple hours after you left your last reply to this conversation. During an onc appt the prior week, Mike did discuss with the doc how he'd like to start weening down off the pain meds; but, Dr. told him, "no hurry; don't rush it... let's wait a little longer."
I'm currently trying to follow Michael Jackson's story since it's been strongly suggested pain meds may have caused his death. From what I gather, his death was very similar to my Mike's, even though it's not believed Michael Jackson had cancer. I believe, from what I witnessed, my Mike lost oxygen to his brain, which in turn caused his cardiac arrest.
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