|
|
06-18-2006, 02:03 AM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
|
What to drink after chemo? Ugh...
I was curious as to what most of you drink after chemo? Long before my nightmare of bc...I was a BIG water drinker. You couldn't catch me any where without a bottle of water. I don't like soda's to speak of...and other then that tea is the only other thing I can drink.
But since chemo...I was told to drink LOTS or water as I am sure you all were. I thought to myself "No problem...I love water.". Well...that changed quickly enough after almost my first chemo. Water tasted TERRIBLE! I mean BAD.
It takes EVERYTHING I have and then some to FORCE myself to drink water after a full cycle of chemo. (Usually by the second week when I am only doing the herceptin...the water is fine.) But that first week after the taxotere, carb & herceptin...my mouth and taste is so messed up.
I KNOW I HAVE to drink something and I have become so concerned that I finally broke down and got some Power Aid. The red and orange flavored. Now strange as that is for me...it tastes GOOD. But what I don't like is the fact its full of suger pretty much.
But my thinking is...any fluid in the body is better then NO fluid. (Right?) I do manage to get SOME water down..but just a few sips. Its just gross.
I never asked my doctor what she would think of this? But don't you think drinking at least one bottle of the power Aid has to be better then nothing?
I didn't want to become totally dyhdrated. I am just NOT use to drinking anything sweet...let alone power aid. It does have potassium and stuff in it though..so maybe its not all bad. I find after I get a bottle of it down...I get a better appetite back. Not sure why? I have lost 33 pounds since I was DX...I hear people gain weight...I have LOST...I can't eat or drink much to speak of.
Do ANY of you have problems with the NORMAL things you USE to drink before you started chemo? Do you think the power aid would be better then nothing? Or should I FORCE myself to get more water down rather I like it or not? What do you guys all drink? Am I the only one with this problem?
Thanks...
chelee
__________________
DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs.
Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06
Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07
3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07
9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV.
9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa
9-29-09 Power Port Placement
10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head.
11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed
12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa.
3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed.
4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone.
5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy.
Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time.
7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
|
|
|
06-18-2006, 04:44 AM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: LI, NY
Posts: 660
|
Yes, after chemo water tastes terrible. I do drink it with TONS of ice and that seems to help me. My girlfriend uses good old kool aid - you can control your sugar with that. I make my own green tea iced tea adding fresh spearmint. Be creative. Better to drink a power drink than nothing at all. Keep trying things until you find the one that works best for you. I find that as I get further from the day of chemo, water gets easier to keep down. Good luck....
__________________
Maryann
Stage IV Inflammatory BC 1/00
Mod Rad Mastectomy 24nod/5+
Adriomycin Cytoxin Taxol
Tamoxifen 4 1/2 yrs
Radiation - 32 x
Metastatic BC lung/liver 10/04
thorocentesis 2x - pleurodesis
Herceptin Taxatiere Carbo
Femera/Lupron
BC NED 4/05
chemo induced Acute Myeloid Leukemia 5/06
Induction/consolidation chemo
bone marrow transplant - 11/3/06
Severe Host vs Graft Disease of liver
BC mets to lung 11/07
Fasoladex Herceptin Zometa Xeloda
GVHD/Iron overload to liver
Avascular Necrosis/morphine pump 10/10
metastatic brain tumor
steriotactic radiosurgery
|
|
|
06-18-2006, 04:53 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 230
|
Chelee,
I couldn't drink water for about 3 days after treatment so I had lots of popsicles and/or milkshakes.
|
|
|
06-18-2006, 05:40 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 80
|
I too am a huge water drinker and have a bottle with me at all times. It tasted aweful after chemo as well. There are Crystal Light To Go packets that are sugar free that you just put in your bottel of water and they are very good. Tons of flavors. Try them maybe? They also have the to go packets in various tea flavors. Good luck.
Bobbi
|
|
|
06-18-2006, 05:47 AM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
|
While I was going through chemo I had a terrible craving to drink soda - Sprite in particular - and I was never a soda drinker. Now that I am finished (as of 5/17/06) I no longer drink the sprite. Go figure.
__________________
Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
|
|
|
06-18-2006, 06:05 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Newton, MA
Posts: 951
|
Different kinds of tea work for me. I have always wondered about the the theory of drinking so much water after chemo. Should it really be washed out so quickly, or should it be allowed to stay in the blood to do its job? I only drink at meals or when I'm thirsty. I don't force myself to drink.
Best regards,
Barbara H.
|
|
|
06-18-2006, 07:24 AM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: northshore suburb of chicago
Posts: 1,093
|
try half crystal light any flavor you chose and water with lots of ice, worked for me
__________________
~Rina~
Dx:3/06 had a lumpectomy April 19, 2006
Her2+ er/pr- Stage I Grade 3 tumor size 1.4 cm, node negative
AC 4 dense doses
34 radiation treatments including booster doses
receiving herceptin every 3 weeks since late August 2006 for 12 months
|
|
|
06-18-2006, 09:44 AM
|
#8
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 13
|
"Emer'Gen-C" is great, and it not loaded....msg/link
with sugar. Stay away from any sodas, Kool Aid, etc.
I am posting a link for you to the Vitamin Shoppe, so you can see what it is and what is in it. Emer'Gen=C" can be purchased at health food stores (is in individual packets) and comes in various flavors, plus it's good for you. I use this a lot, particularly when I am spending a lot of time outside so I don't dehydrate, and also drink green ice tea, (or hot green tea when cooler.)
http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/e...jsp?id=AL-1147
Hope this helps!
Sue
|
|
|
06-18-2006, 11:27 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Norridgewock, Maine
Posts: 778
|
I am with Maryann and drinks lots of water with ice. The nurse told me the reason to drink lots of water is to move these drugs out of the liver and kidneys because you do not want them to set there and damage these organs. Now, as for them being moved out of the body and not do their job I don't know the answer to that. I feel so much better drinking the water otherwise I get that awful sick feeling, with weakness. hugs, Sandy
|
|
|
06-18-2006, 11:58 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Newton, MA
Posts: 951
|
Sandy,
That makes sense about the liver and kidneys. I always wondered if there was a problem washing the chemo out.
Thanks for enlightening me.
Barbara H.
|
|
|
06-18-2006, 12:38 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: .
Posts: 87
|
Hi,
Try some fresh ginger and mint with ICE. That should disguise the taste. Also try Perrier or sparkiling flavored water that doesn't have any sugar.
Anne
|
|
|
06-18-2006, 02:47 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 274
|
Staying Hydrated
Hi all,
I know its not a beverage, but might as well be. I had an enormous craving for Watermelon. You will stay hydrated and still get vitamins and minerals. Eat tons of it if you can. It really does help.
Sincerely,
Liz J.
|
|
|
06-18-2006, 03:17 PM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Michigan
Posts: 98
|
I never was a BIG water drinker, but like alot of you, water tasted terrible to me.
I always thought that we HAD to drink WATER. I tried one of my favorite flavored waters (Fruit2 0). That tasted funny to me too.
What I ended up doing (and I still do): I bought different flavors of drinks (grape juice, cranberry juice, all the diet "Splash" drinks). I would fill a glass with water (about 8-10 oz), then I added about 2 oz of the juice drink. It was great! It had a mild flavor and did not have all the sugar from the actual juice! I still drink my water like that today.
Hope this helps!
|
|
|
06-18-2006, 03:34 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 62
|
I would also eat alot of watermelon and other fruits tht have a high water content, when I felt I just couldn't drink anything.
Laurie
|
|
|
06-18-2006, 04:32 PM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Posts: 127
|
Cut up lemon slices, lime slices, mash up berries. That is what I did to get water to taste better. It worked wonders!
One cycle was lemons in my water, next was rasberries, you get the picture. Good luck!
|
|
|
06-18-2006, 04:36 PM
|
#16
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
|
At least I see its not just me having a problem drinking water. That alone is a relief. All of you have given me some great ideas as what to drink. I have found MaryAnn is right when it comes to adding ice to your water...I can get some down that way. I am just use to drinking water at room temp...but not anymore...ICE for me from now on.
Bobbi, the Crystal light to go sounds REALLY good. I forgot about Crystal light. I USE to LOVE that...drank it all the time years ago. That stuff tastes good. I haven't heard of the Crystal light packets to go that you mix with your water bottle...that sounds pretty neat. (Now we are talking.) Plus you said they have tea flavors....that would WORK for me.
All of your suggestions are good ones. I can't thank you all enough. I have been so concerned about getting enough fluids down...but found it almost impossible to drink after chemo. Its not to bad about the 7th day after chemo...but until then...YUCK. I like to keep my major organs working...thats why I felt it was important to drink something...anything at this point.
I also like the idea of watermelon to hydrate with. Very good idea. I have had some popsicles...but I didn't feel like that was enough to keep the kidneys going if you know what I mean. I was told to drink at LEAST 2 liters per day...but it got near impossible.
Now I a loaded with great ideas...THANKS to ALL of you.
Chelee
__________________
DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs.
Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06
Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07
3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07
9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV.
9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa
9-29-09 Power Port Placement
10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head.
11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed
12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa.
3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed.
4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone.
5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy.
Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time.
7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
|
|
|
06-19-2006, 09:23 AM
|
#17
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 30
|
Try "Roarin Waters" by Capri Suns
you can find them by the juice boxes in the supermarket. They're new. I bought them for my kids instead of regular Capri Sun drinks - too much sugar and calories for the kids - but they really like these new waters. So, I tried one...they are REALLY good. It would be change from Chrystal Light to go (which is great by the way - I like the pink lemonade flavor).
Good luck
Only postitive thoughts
Cathy34
|
|
|
06-19-2006, 09:41 AM
|
#18
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Indiana
Posts: 123
|
I found that lemon in about anything seemed to help. I couldn't stand water then either. But lemon seemed to cut that awful taste and like some of the others ice seemed to make things taste better. I was always a tea drinker but even tea tasted bad to me. Patty H
|
|
|
06-19-2006, 10:53 AM
|
#19
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Valley, CA
Posts: 73
|
I also had the same problem of difficulty drinking water for about a week after chemo. Lemon slices in my iced cold water helped.
Helen
__________________
- Diagnosed May 2005 8 months after giving birth. Stage IV due to a single liver mets.
- Carbo/Taxotere/ Herceptin combo for 6 months
- Herceptin/ Navelbine
- Recurrence on the same liver spot in 7/07
- Liver resection 9/07
- Tykerb/xeloda 10/22/07
- NED since 9/07 and continued Tykerb/xeloda
- PET/CT in May 2009 show small spot in lungs. Continued Tykerb/xeloda
- PET/CT in Aug 2009 shows progression on lung nodules (slightly bigger)
- Onc considering Taxol/avastin
|
|
|
06-19-2006, 06:17 PM
|
#20
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 64
|
I would suggest you try diffent things and things your really didn't like before, it might surprise you. I never liked root beer but the only thing I really enjoyed drinking during chemo was diet root beer. I finished chemo a year ago but I still love the root beer. I think its ok to drink the power aid. anything to keep from being dehydrated. Any weight you gain, you can deal with later, at least thats what they keep telling me. I've gained a lot of weight while on herceptin. Don't know if its the herceptin or just that I'm a stress eater but either way, I think the power aid is good if its the only thing you can get down. BERTA
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:02 AM.
|