Side effects-- how bad is too bad?

[Spiffy1993]

Sitting here tonight, hubby in triple tx having had a bad week and gone to bed by 8 p.m., and find myself really unsure if I should load him up and head to the emergency room.  His side effects up til a week ago were milder than we expected overall, but the last week has been horrible.  He takes 5th shot tomorrow.
Hard deep cough, initially productive but less so last couple days.  Deep, deep cough.
Cannot eat.  Hungry, but unable to eat more than a couple bites of anything.
Weak.  Nauseous.
Horrible, relentless, severe headache.  
Fever on, fever off.  But not yet over 100 degrees.
Eyes watering, burning and slimy (but says vision clear when he clears the slime out of his eyes).  
Burning stomach (probably from not eating enough, not sure)  Aching, dull, miserable all over.  

Guess my question is, how bad is too bad?  Is there a point at which symptoms are more than expected side effects?  I don't have anything to measure this against, I think that's my problem.  I find myself thinking, "This is bad, but is it worse than it should be?"

[Spiffy1993]

I just had a light-bulb moment. Wondering why this past week has suddenly been so bad.  He had a doctor visit last Friday, and he took a cream with him that the dermatologist had given him for his groin-area rash prior to diagnosis w/ hep c.  It's ketoconazole 2%.  He stopped using it about a month prior to starting tx, because he didn't want anything else in his system starting tx.   The nurse told him he could use it (very itchy & rashy in groin area), but could not take ketoconazole pills.  He actually went into the restroom and applied it before he left Dr. office, and has been using it since.
Anyone have experience w/ ketoconazole oitment?  Just hit me as odd that his side effects have worsened so much in the same time frame as he has been using this ointment.
Don't get me wrong-- he hasn't eaten as he should for 5 weeks (he never does), but just this past week has been sooooooo bad for him.   I just wonder if there's a connection.  I think I'm going to see if he'll drop the cream for now and see what happens.

[pooh55811]

Wonderful to hear he was able to eat this am.

The idea about eating the crackers before he gets nauseated is a good idea.I have found that I often get nauseated toeards mid afternoon. If I eat something, usually nuts or cottage cheese or rye crackers or toast or even some herbed green olives, the nausea dissipates soon after. I don;t have to eat much to feel better. This happens even with the Zofran so being hungry somehow does make a person more nauseated. I have heard others say the same.

[Spiffy1993]

Thanks to all-- he fixed & ate his whole bowl of oatmeal this a.m. and then out the door to work.  Took crackers w/ peanut butter for snack.  Hope he eats them and all of it stays down.  I've told him several times that he should probably try to eat a couple of crackers BEFORE his stomach gets empty, whether he wants to or not.  Hopefully he will do that today.  
Anyway, have tried ice cream, different flavors, was a no-go.  Ensure in fridge.  Have not thought of trying an Ensure milkshake, but will give it a go.  
Going to try the potato pancakes tonight with something.  I think that might be a winner.  
I agree he needs to force food down whether he likes it or not and have pointed that out, just hoping he comes to the same realization.  
He seemed determined this a.m., with yesterday being about his worst day so far.  He ate oatmeal really slowly, but he did eat it all, making faces the whole time but he ate it.  

[Dee1956]

I forgot to add, ensure is good has vitamins and if you add ice cream it is pretty good.

[Dee1956]

Hello, all good information above.  He has to do what he has to do to get through treatment.  That was my mantra during tx, that and this forum who helped me get through it.
Have you tried milk shakes? ....ice cream?  flat coke?  If you feel, in your gut that he needs help, then you need to take him to the ER or call an ambulance.  He may be dehydrated which as everyone above says will compund the problems from the tx and not eating.  If he is not eating that is very bad.  I had to eat some things that I hated during tx but my other mantra was I would eat mud if I had to to get better
I wish you and your husband the very best
Hang in there
Dee

[Idyllic]

Nausea compounds all the other symptoms. Don't ask me why but I can attest to that it can.

A 24-hour clinic or walk-in clinic might be able to help with something. Meanwhile if you like your Dermatologist, ask him for a referral to a GP (Internist or Family doctor). Referral from one doctor to another is how I ended up with most of the docs I have now.

I noticed he is on week 4 and if you start addressing some of his side effects now he may be a lot more comfortable in the weeks to follow. Sorry this is happening as I realize it can be very distressing and leave you feeling quite helpless. Hang in there!!