Nausea

My insurance wouldn't pay either, but Merck had a program to furnish it to patients in those circumstances. Don't think we ever had to buy a single dose - they mailed them to me before each scheduled chemo. Your doc should contact them for you an arrange that. First you need to ask your doc if there is anything that is a generic that's comparable to Emend. The price of Emend may be a function of its place on your Pharmacy plan's Formulary, and, as such may be in a Tiered Plan situation where certain inexpensive drugs are made more accessible, and as the complexity and expense of the drugs go up so may your co-pay. If there is no comparable drug to Emend, and if this is truly the only med to work for you, then you'd get a letter of medical necessity from your doc over to the PBM/Managed Care Org. with a request to keep the patient expense to a minimum. In the interim, I would call the Managed Care Org. and ask to speak to the CEO's office ("I'd like Joe Smithers office please.") Then you explain your situation to the assistant and ask for a remedy as it's an expensive drug. Also, I'd contact your company's HR/Benefits people to see if they can suggest a remedy for you as they took part in purchasing the plan. Use as much emotional leverage as you can here. I wish you luck.

Foods to eat when you are experiencing nausea and vomiting are:
-Bland foods such as:
- Scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, plain steamed rice, applesauce or pudding, water or juice, ginger ale, poached egg on dry toast, saltine crackers or bread sticks, clear broths, and jello.

- Foods to avoid are: fried foods, fatty foods, hot, spicy foods, greasy chicken noodle soup, fudgesicles, milk products and milk, strong smelling foods Foods to eat when you are experiencing nausea and vomiting are:
-Bland foods such as:
- Scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, plain steamed rice, applesauce or pudding, water or juice, ginger ale, poached egg on dry toast, saltine crackers or bread sticks, clear broths, and jello.

- Foods to avoid are: fried foods, fatty foods, hot, spicy foods, greasy chicken noodle soup, fudgesicles, milk products and milk, strong smelling foods

Somebody told me not to eat any meat the day before and the day I had chemo. Why, I had no idea, but it seemed to have helped. I did really well with soups and smoothies. Perhaps its because I stuck with foods that digest more quickly.

Crackers ARE great, but be careful. Believe it or not, most people gain weight with breast cancer chemo and this is the converse of what happens with chemo for other cancers. For most people, the goal in chemo treatment should be to maintain your weight - you don't want to fluctuate up or down too much. To help prevent nausea, here are some things to try:
- try eating bland, easy to digest foods and drinks that will not upset your stomach, such as plain crackers, dry toast, gelatin, and broth
- try drinking one or two lukewarm cups of peppermint tea
- try eating 5 to 6 small meals a day
- have foods and drinks that are warm or cool, not hot or cold
- drink carbonated liquid that is warm and has lost its fizz, such as ginger ale
- take small bites of popsicles or fruit ices.
- suck on sugar-free mints, tart candies, or chewing gum.
- when you feel like vomiting, breathe deeply and slowly and get fresh air.
- stay away from foods and drinks with strong smells.
- acupuncture is an alternative to try as well.

Some over the counter options include:
- Antihistamines may help prevent nausea and vomiting. These include dimenhydrinate and meclizine hydrochloride.
- Pepto-Bismol, Maalox, and Mylanta may calm upset stomachs.
- lo-dose ranitidine and famotidine

Some potential prescription medications you physician might prescribe are:
- ondansetron (Zofran)
- promethazine (Phenergan)
- prochlorperazine (Compazine)
- aprepitant (Emend)
- dolasetron (Anzemet)
- granisetron (Kytril)
- palonosetron (Aloxi)
- lorazepam (Ativan)
- metoclopramide (Reglan)
- dexamethasone (Decadron)
- famotidine (Pepcid)
- ranitidine (Zantac) Some over the counter options include:
- Antihistamines may help prevent nausea and vomiting. These include dimenhydrinate and meclizine hydrochloride.
- Pepto-Bismol, Maalox, and Mylanta may calm upset stomachs.
- lo-dose ranitidine and famotidine

Some potential prescription medications you physician might prescribe are:
- ondansetron (Zofran)
- promethazine (Phenergan)
- prochlorperazine (Compazine)
- aprepitant (Emend)
- dolasetron (Anzemet)
- granisetron (Kytril)
- palonosetron (Aloxi)
- lorazepam (Ativan)
- metoclopramide (Reglan)
- dexamethasone (Decadron)
- famotidine (Pepcid)
- ranitidine (Zantac)