Need help with cancer nausea issue before Skinner closes the group

My grandma is facing chemo (no radiation) SERIOUS chemo, and allergic to most of the anti nausea meds. Without them, she will probably not survive the chemo as the nausea could kill her since she is at less than 80% POX....She cannot "inhale" anything as she has emphysema...so suggestions?

What about pill form? Is it out there? Are there other alternatives that are oral that could help her?

Thanks everyone. If you feel it is better to do so, you can PM me.

(Hopefully, Skinner will not do that though...go with the disclaimer)

it is great for nausea and upset stomach and has been used in medically supervised trials.

http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/1,1525,787,00.html

* Relieve nausea. Standard anti-nausea medications often work through the central nervous system, causing drowsiness. Ginger isn't likely to cause this reaction, however, because it acts directly on the digestive tract. In studies of women undergoing major gynecological or exploratory (laparoscopic) surgery, those who took 1 gram of ginger before the procedure experienced significantly less postoperative reaction to anesthesia and surgery--namely, nausea and vomiting--than did those who were given a placebo. Ginger also may be useful in easing the nausea that frequently follows chemotherapy treatments.


http://www.cancernorth.nhs.uk/living/living02_nausea.asp
(many other helpful hints here as well)

Many people find ginger helpful. You could try sipping ginger ale, or nibbling crystallised ginger or ginger biscuits.



http://my.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/tv3801.asp
The wrist accupressure works on me!!!

Try acupressure:
* Place the tip of your right index finger on the underside of your left wrist, about 1.5 in. (3.8 cm) from your hand.
* Apply moderate pressure for 2 to 3 minutes.
* Repeat as needed.
* Acupressure bands, which are available for motion sickness, may help reduce nausea.
* Suck on peppermint candy or chew a stick of peppermint gum. Peppermint is an antispasmodic that will help decrease the stomach contractions that may be causing your nausea.
* Try candied ginger or ginger tea.


general info on the benefits of GINGER
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=72
Google.. cancer - nausea - ginger


Good luck to your Granma....

:hug:
DR

My Grandma's prognosis is NOT good. She is 80, her pulse ox even on O2 is awful (below 80%), she now has cancer in both lungs, not a surgical or radiation candidate, she is also starting to show the effects of the low pulse ox, i.e. forgetfulness, etc. It is a matter of time before her organs die from the lack of O2.

Plus, she is tired tired tired....tired of being sick, tired of not being able to make it to the bathroom, tired of not being able to eat much without it tearing through her....Plus, my mom (her daughter)died suddenly and tragically 4 months ago, so she misses her daughter as well. I do not know if she will even chose chemo, or just "death management". But, my grandpa asked about the anti nausea issues (he specifically asked about cannibis) and I told him I would start researching...this is Day 1

My Mom was 91 and had a very large tumor in her abdomen...we were lucky to find an MD who would perform surgery on her (high risk- age & heart & other complication) She came out well from it and had a wonderful year and got to see her grandkids again, but within a year the cancer had spread and she chose nothing but to be made comfortable.

For my Mom, it was the best solution...she was ready to go and it was, all in all, a good way to go.

I hope you and your family can come to the best solution for her.Sounds like she has had some rough emotional blows recently (You too for that matter...so sorry about your Mom). I sure can't tell you what to do but it sounds to me as if she is ready to just let that tired sick body go......

Blessings & :hug: to you all
DR

PS we're here if you need to talk :grouphug:

eventually.

I have no idea what she will chose, her choice only.

What comes to my mind:

Ginger - also as Ginger ale

cannabis

Nux Vomica homeopathic remedy - ask a professional for advice.

I wish you all strength and peace, and a lot of love at this time.

:hug:

DemEx

and bones before she passed. That was in '81. They tried the chemo and radiation, but it had spread too far. She couldn't tolerate medicines for pain or nausea and in '81, they didn't have that many options to give her anyway. A wonderful nurse that cared for her would put ice packs on her neck, the front of her neck, and that helped her nausea tremendously. Apparently there are never endings that can be numbed by the cold. :shrug: I use the method to this day when I am nauseated, I don't like taking meds if I don't have to.

My prayers go out for your grandmother and you. :hug:

or whole foods. I take a couple teaspoonfulls whenever I get nauseated and it helps.

she won't have to inhale those.

thanks for refreshing my memory...was trying to find a way that it was not inhaled.

:)

Marijuana in the LA Times yesterday. Our state- California - voted to legalize it for medical purposes but AShcroft wanted none of that.

here is the article:

http://www.latimes.com/features/printedition/magazine/la-tm-marijuana46nov14,1,2586116.story?coll=la-headlines-magazine

This also might interest you...just googled and found it.

http://www.greencookbook.com/

Hope your grandma pulls thru OK.

Coincidence? Or is he afraid of a well armed populace hell bent on being practical instead of in awe of his narrow ideology? :D

but I found the accupressure wristbands helpful...they sell them at most drugstores as "seabands" i think...i have soooo many drug reaction that my chemo nurse suggested them as an alternative

she also might want to take allergy meds and try the anti-nausea meds...freedom from the nausea cam make all the difference in the world on a day to day basis... I found that by taking benadryl I could tolerate zofran and compazine

available at any health food store

milk thistle...otherwise known as Silymarin. It really helps the liver and other organs deal with the chemo and radiation, and has been tested and used quite a bit for these problems in Europe and elsewhere with very good results. Start here: http://www.google.com/search?q=milk+thistle%2F+radiation%2Fcancer&btnG=Google+Search

If you purchase some be sure it is a 'standardized extract', such as "Thisilyn" by Nature's Way. I don't know if your cancer doctor would have info on this, though I'd certainly mention it to him/her. A good nutritionist/herbalist might be able to counsel you as well.

The Cancer Alternative Information Bureau (CAIB), which provides comprehensive advice on complementary therapies for cancer patients (020-266 1505), introduced PC-Spes at its recent annual conference in London. The CAIB ethos is not ‘either’ conventional treatment ‘or’ alternative, but aims to simply help patients make truly informed treatment choices by telling them what is available.

http://www.theecologist.org/archive_article.html?article=184&category=35

http://www.whale.to/cancer/advice.html

A few states and Canada have already given it the blessing for such treatments. And it has been proven to be effective - better than a pill form substitute.

Of course, asscrack has said it was illegal, no matter what the states may decide.

But it is a proven remedy - ESPECIALLY against nausia.

I've never needed it, nor have I ever used it this way (however I ussed to be quite a stoner in my early 20's - came up with some of my best and most creative architectural designs while stoned - unfortunately, they took a long time to draw-up for some reason! Haven't touched the stuff since the mid to late 80's).

All of the evidence I has is from second and third hand and reading about annecdotes.

Take it for what you will.

doctor's approval to counteract the nausea. She should talk to her doctor about this and see what he recommends.

If she is an older person who has issues with "funny brownies" or ANY of "those drugs" have her ask her Onco Doc for a scrip for Marinol. It is a prescription version of MJ (synthesized by a drug company) and it does work to help with the nausea. It is also legal to prescribe here in the US.

A buddy of mine has been thru chemo and has personal issues with the idea of using MJ. He had his Onco write a scrip for Marinol and it helped him a huge amount--he finally got some relief from that nausea.

On a side note, he reported it was also a very nice mellow high--without any paranoia! He thought it was every bit as good as Ativan for the anxiety :)

Laura