Hi Mensana
Chemo is a bummer and I am sorry you have to experience it. But, it doesn't last forever. Picture your goals and the end goal (how you will be, feel, and what you are intending to do post-scourge) and remind yourself every time you stray and are focusing on the nausea - understandable but weakening and which plays into the mindless cancer blob. So quickly get back to visualising your goal and triumph. Yes triumph. You are dealing with a low-life 'parasitic' entity that you are fighting and overcoming. I don't let bastards win ever, they all lose out in the end any way! Sometimes we need help to fight the bastards ie support and services. "Kill the bastard" (visualise it!) with the poison targeted at him, and relish every step of the way.
1. See your GP immediately about the weightloss, nausea and dehydration. If you get no response or no assistance (he should be the problem solver on his fat salary) then you should see a lawyer about dereliction of duty of care down the track when you have recovered.
2. The GP should have provided you with electrolyte balancing sachets. Electrolytes are calcium, potassium, sodium and magnesium. These regulate our heart and all our electrical nervous system function - that's why you feel jittery and likely scared like everyone else. Electrolytes require water, liquid, hydration. Blood requires hydration. Nutrition requires hydration. Every single component in the body requires hydration.
3. Go to the Emergency dept of your local hospital. Dehydration is critical.
4. Take small tiny sips of liquid and make sure you keep cool in your climate! Take small bites - kitten-size : ) and chew to a liquid. Small is great. I would have thought the GP would give you Stemetil by injection or show you how to do self-injection. Stemetil is anti-nausea med.
5. As for weightloss, if you were overweight or obese - think positively. If you are underweight eat anything with calories - but preferably not junk which is anti-nutrition. Just remember added sugar is a cancer favourite food - it provides energy but has no nutrients whatsoever - if that turns you OFF from adding sugar to coffee/tea, eating junk for the rest of your life hallelujah.
6. EAT THIS. TAKE SMALL SIPS AND VISUALISE YOURSELF e.g. with your foot on the cancer blob holding him down while he's struggling to overcome you but of course you are not going to let him get away. Just keep sipping - stop as needed - recover and do not focus on nausea just stick to the goal of sipping, hydrating and putting on weight.
7. EAT THIS. Softened frozen yoghurt, good quality icecream, custard (2 c milk, 1 beaten egg, vanilla, cornflour/arrowroot stir till thickened, serve with tinned fruit or banana and sprinkle with cinnamon and or nutmeg) ,fruit purees and smoothies, scone with butter (grassfed if possible), milk and banana/mango/berry puree popsicles (just freeze liquid in plakky bag and suck on it) (you need calcium from milk/plant milk e.g. Vitasoy is an excellent brand).Make sure your water has been boiled before you drink it hot or cold.
>>>Vegetable soup made with a green veg like spinach/brussel sprouts/cauli/broccoli; an onion/leek/garlic; a tomato or juice; a potato with skin; a carrot/sweet potato/pumpkin/red or yellow capsicum; add water to cover, add olive/canola oil and if you can a teaspoon of turmeric, black pepper, iodized salt and any fresh herbs if you have them (basil, parsley, coriander whatever you like), dried is ok - cook until soft and pureed - eat this every day as a liquid sipped throughout the day. (Mix the veg up in each grouping because variety is critical to nutrition). These antioxidants and electrolytes kill the shit out of cancer and prevent cancer.
Eat mash potato, or potato and pumpkin mash etc.
8. Somehow manage to get into yourself some fresh orange/mango/kiwi; berries of any kind, or dried black currants if there's nothing else; banana; Even a small sip or bite/chew and hold is worth trillions!
9. If you can get some sultana bran or weetbix or porridge your stomach bugs will thank you - they are our natural born killer defence system producing the bugs that kill unwanted 'bugs' and intruders. THe soup and fresh fruit fibre and nutrients are also fibre that feeds them and us.
10. Do not char roast char grill or char pan-fry your meats. Only eat lean meat, chicken, pork, fish, eggs or beans that have been soaked 12 hours, rinsed and cooked (only Edgel brand soaks its beans). 100g x2 portions you need to rebuild your organs, bones and muscle. Suggest: a bean meal and one animal meal a day, or two bean meals a day.
11. Avoid fatty foods, deep-fried foods (never again) or any processed foods that have a long list of ingredient-additives.
12. Eat small frequent meals SLOWLY and rest before and after meals.
13. Exercising may be far from your thoughts, but a physio (get your GP to refer you) - just one session - can show you what you can do to stimulate endorphins which are important for well being and general health. It's not about playing tennis, or jogging, just gentle exercise - seek medical/physio advice for yourself on this. Everyone is an individual and care must be tailored to the individual.
14. If you are a smoker, stop. If you drink alcohol, stop. If you have bad teeth and gums, get this attended to since poor oral health leads to diabetes, heart disease, strokes, gut disease, and cancer. Brush teeth and gums gently on rising, after each meal and before bed. Rinse and gargle with lightly salted pre-boiled water from the kettle.
15. I can't think of anything else for the moment.
Eat small, sip small, rest, get some sun, keep cool.
Mensana, everything and everyone happens for a reason that is rarely apparent but it makes the world go round : ). You are in my thoughts and prayers!
