How to help multiple myeloma patient with nausea and eating problems?

Hi Derek. There are anti nausea medications that really help with nausea. Has she been prescribed any? Jello, broths, ginger tea may help. Hope she feels better soon. Cheryl

Thank you Cheryl. Yes she has several nausea medications. A lot of times she says her stomach hurts; not nauseous. It is really frustrating 😤.

Hi Derek. Sorry to hear that she is so uncomfortable. That’s got to be very difficult to handle. Sounds like you’ve both had a lot to deal with her health issues. Hope she can some way to feel better. 🙂

Hi Derek. I was diagnosed with MM in June 2025 as well. I'm at the end of cycle 3. It seems my stomach was always hurting after I ate. My doctor lowered the steroids, DEXAMETHASON, and that has helped with so many of the issues I was having. The doctor did that because my lab work has shown that treatment is working, so we'll see how I do at this lowered amount of steroids. The DEXAMETHASON really affected me in a lot of not good ways. I hope this helps.

Hi, I was diagnosed in Oct 2023 and when my stomach hurts the only thing it will handle is chicken broth / soup. I even take the anti nausea pills with the broth not water. If I take it with water I get sick all over again, so I stay away from water on those days. Hope that helps her.

I am a diabetic 2 heart patient (AFIB) patient with MM named Don. I was first diagnosed with MGUS IN 2003. They just kept checking for prostate cancer (PSA tests) which showed negative. In 2015, I got a new doctor. He was upset at the treatment I was given. He gave me a PET scan and found Multiple Myeloma! Started on Revlamid and Dexamethasone, I got AFIB and 3 laser heart ablations before I convinced them that the Dexamethasone was causing the heart issues. He switched me to infusions of Darzalex with just one Dexamethasone 4mg an hour before the infusion and one pill the following day with no infusion. GREAT results. BUT Dexamethasone is like a “speed”. After infusion I could cut the grass, dig a ditch and paint a fence … then end up in the hospital with AFIB. No good. So, knowing I take the Dexamethasone with a 25mg Benadryl, and it makes me sleep during the 90 minute infusion, I take another every 4 hrs (4 total) and SLEEP all day … and I take another Dexamethasone on the second day with the same 4 a day Benadryl and SLEEP ALL DAY again. Works great. No nausea. I sleep through the side effects. The doctor took NOTES and thanked me! Nausea, huh? How often is her treatments? Is she on pain meds? That Can do it if she takes “cheap” Norco. Ask for Hydrocodone Bitartrate instead. Check it out and good luck.

Hi Don. Sorry to hear about your heart issues and being a diabetic too! I was diagnosed in 2020 during Covid to boot! And then retired a month later. I started on IV darzalex but my veins barely held out for 3 treatments. My oncologist changed me to subcutaneous (an injection in the belly) and it was much better. I also took dexamethasone before and after each injection and Benadryl before the injection. I was on revlimid for 21 days each month. If you read my previous posts I had CAR-T cell infusion in March and my bone marrow biopsies are negative! No cancer cells. I feel great 😊. Continue the fight and be well.

I was diagnosed with MM in 2022 my experience with Darxalex wasn’t good it caused a lot of neuropathy and I retained a lot of water I would bloat on my feet and legs. My oncologist took me off of Darzalex and symptoms got better. I was stage 2 had the stem cell transplant in January of 2025 been in remission since February of 2025 I still get nauseated and my appetite isn’t good but it’s getting better with nausea medication and I use THC products which helps with appetite and nausea.

What are they giving her? I have MM and lead a fairly normal life for the past 10 years. I’m on Darzalex infusions once a month ($36,000 for the insurance) and I take a Dexamethasone 4mg 1hour before infusion with Benadryl 25mg. Monthly blood tests look stable but not perfect. As a diabetic 2 heart patient (AFIB w/ right bundle branch blockage) and MM, I take 58 RX pills and supplements a day. I MAKE myself walk the dogs once around our acre and ride my 3 wheel motorcycle (no clutch handle to squeeze) to stay fit. Move around if possible. Pot stops nausea dead in its tracks and makes you hungry. Use “gummies” that contain THC 5mg and CBG in it. Cut it in half at first to “see how it’s tolerated”. I don’t have nausea but the “dispensary” (if legal in your area) has a list of what CBN, CBD, CBG, CBDA and such help you with. If you are in an unenlightened state where THC is illegal for even cancer patients, they make the gummies without the THC and just the nausea fighting CBG and it’s legal in all 50 states. BUT the THC will help her feel better, make her HUNGRY and put a smile on her face! Give “Tommy Chong” a call at (480) 372 3755 or (833) 667 3223. Yes, the movie star sells cannabis products but they are pricey. Ask for my advisor, “Erica” and she gives discounts to cancer patients like me! Some legal states also give discounts at the dispensaries as well. Tell her Don Shively says “Hi.”

Hey, Anonymous User! I’ve been successful with Darzalex and Dexamethasone but I must sleep after the infusion and Dexamethasone or it affects my heart (AFIB). You think Darzalex caused leg swelling? My 9 doctors think it’s my heart. But I’m wearing a heart monitor to see if that is the cause. I wear pressure socks and knee braces for the Edema and arthritis in my knees. But remove them regularly or your legs will turn black. Do you have a pain management doctor ?

No I don’t have a pain management doctor yet but I take pain meds

@Derek, your wife's situation sounds like mine except the colostomy was reversed after 4 months. Ask the oncologist for an anti nausea med, Ondonsatran (generic for Zofran) and make that sublingual. Works fast to alleviate nausea! She needs to keep up her strength so make sure she supplements with protein shakes if she's not eating.

Managing nausea and eating difficulties during multiple myeloma treatment is incredibly challenging, and many patients in this community face similar struggles with appetite and keeping food down. Consider discussing anti-nausea medications with the oncology team, trying small frequent meals with bland foods, and working with a nutritionist who specializes in cancer care - they often have helpful strategies for managing eating challenges during chemotherapy treatment.

Have you had her try to at least keep broth in her just make sure that she keeps her electrolytes up by taking PediaSure. I hope that she gets better soon.