Hodgkin's Lymphoma Support Group

Hi Gretchen,

I think that side effects and their intensity varies greatly with each individual and also within the same person from time to time. I, too, had the metal taste but it was most prominent the first 3 days after a treatment. I took a medication for acid reflux and found that helped a little. As far as the fatigue goes, I only had 3 bouts of it during my treatment and it did not follow any particular pattern. For me, the fatigue was not worse at the end than the beginning, but like I said, I was fortunate and only had 3 occurrences. I did not have any nausea but did have what I described as a disturbed stomach. I took Compazine, Zofran and Ativan very regularly the first 3 days after my treatment and I also found the medication for acid reflux helped my stomach. I did not have radiation after therapy. I worked full time and on those occasions when I felt very fatigued, I just went with it and took it easy. You can't push yourself, your body will tell you when it's ready to be actived.
Hope this helps.
Mary Ann

Thank you Mayann. I too am on the same 3 anti-nausea medications. Your info helps a lot. I greatly appreciate the feedback. Take care!

So far with my ABVD treatments I have had some fatigue for 4-5 days after treatments and then it gets better. I usually end up spending a few days on the couch and then gradually do more, like go to the store real quick, nothing too exhausting.

I also get the metal taste, it lasts about a week after my treatments and it is really gross and annoying. I feel like I always need to have a mint or chew some gum to help get rid of it.

Good luck on your treatments!

How your blood counts maintain during treatments will most of the time directly coralate with how you are feeling.. and EVERYBODY is different.
As for the metallic taste.. try some cinnamon red hots. I know most candy doesn't mix well with it, but for some reason red hots, fireballs, and the super hot mike and ike's always did the trick for me!

Good Luck!

Thank you both. I really appreciate any input so much. I'll try some of those things for the metal taste. Take care!!

I think it depends on your body because the 1st treatmeant I got I was sick and had to push myself to go on. i had the same problem with the metal taste but it went away after treatmeant was over. it's only natural to feel a bit worse each time you get chemo b/c it's killing good cells and cancer cells ask your doc about giving you a different type of anti nausea medication through your port b4 chemo and for when you go home i was on compazine that helped alot.