August 16, 2016

Symptom Management

SYMPTOM ALERT

If you have any of the following call your doctor;

    • Temperature of 101 degrees or higher, shaking or chills
    • Diarrhea more than four times per day
    • Unable to drink for 24 hrs
    • Vomiting even though you have taken your nausea medications
    • Difficulty swallowing or sores in your mouth
    • Blood in your urine stool or vomit
    • Coughing up blood           
    • Unusual bruising

 

REMEMBER TO NOTIFY THE DOCTOR BEFORE:

    • Having any dental work or minor surgeries
    • Receiving any immunizations or vaccines
    • Traveling long distance or leaving the country

 

NAUSEA AND VOMITING MEDICATIONS:

Sometimes you may be prescribed additional medication to control the side effect of  Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) from your treatment;

    • Zofran or Kytril: take one tablet the morning after chemotherapy
    • Compazine 10mg take one tablet every 6 hours  for 3 days following your chemotherapy treatment even if not experiencing nausea
    • Phenergan suppositories 25 mg, insert one rectally every 6 hours as needed, to be taken in addition to oral medication when nausea and vomiting persists   

TAKE THE MEDICATIONS AS DIRECTED FOR THE SPECIFIED NUMBER OF DAYS WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING NAUSEA. DO NOT SKIP DOSES.

COPING WITH SIDE EFFECTS:

If you have questions about side effects you are not alone. Before chemotherapy starts most people are concerned about what side effects they will have and what they will be like. Once treatments begin people who have side effects want to know the best way to cope with them. Remember that every person doesn’t get every side effect, and some people get few, if any. Whether you have a particular side effect, and how severe it will be depends on the kind of chemotherapy you get and how your body reacts. The doctor and nurse will discuss which side effects are most likely to occur with your chemotherapy, how long they will last, how serious they might be, and when you should seek medical attention for them.

Always remember if you have any questions please discuss them with your nurse or with your doctor.

Dr. Gabrail is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Please call with any questions at any time. Please feel free to call the doctor at 330-492-3345 for any concerns you may have if the office is closed, the answering service will forward a message to the doctor.