The good news is that there are medications available to combat these illnesses. There are also a few techniques and tips that can help manage the side effects.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is the passage of loose or runny stools. Frequent diarrhea can irritate the skin around the anus, making sitting or laying down very uncomfortable. It can also result in weight loss.
Tips to Prevent and Manage Diarrhea
- Drink plenty of liquids. Try clear liquids like water, Gatorade, Jell-O, or ginger ale. Drink them at room temperature and ingest them slowly.
- Avoid high fiber foods. Try to eat foods like chicken or turkey without the skin, skinned potatoes, white rice, noodles, pureed vegetables and yogurts without the seeds.
- Eat several small meals instead of three large meals.
- Avoid very hot or very cold beverages. These liquids can make diarrhea worse.
If diarrhea persists, talk to your doctor about using an over the counter anti-diarrheal medication, like Pepto Bismol, Immodium, or Kaopectate.
If symptoms persist, your doctor can prescribe a medication such as Lomotil, to combat diarrhea.
Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy can cause severe loss of appetite, which in turn, causes nutrient deficiencies.
Odors and certain smells can cause nausea as well. Usually this is from the smell of a food cooking, or laundry detergents, and sometimes even shampoos or perfumes.
Tips to Prevent and Manage Nausea and Vomiting
- Avoid drinking liquids at meals. Wait at least one hour to have a beverage.
- Drink lots of liquids. Most chemotherapy patients need at least two quarts a day. Ask your doctor if this applies to you. Liquids are necessary to replace the liquids lost from vomiting.
- Avoid large, heavy, fatty or fried foods before and during treatment.
- Eat small meals several times a day as opposed to three large meals.
- Do not lay flat for at least two hours after you have eaten a meal
Doctors usually prescribe an antinausea medication if it is likely you will suffer from nausea or vomiting from the medications. Common medications to fight nausea and vomiting are:
- Ativan
- Zofran
- Pepcid
- Zantac
You can still continue to experience nausea and vomiting after taking these medications. There are several medications for your doctor to prescribe. You might need to try a few different ones before you find the right one for you.
