Colace, Biotene, Extra Strength Tylenol, what am I missing for my Mom's Chemo care package?

You are doing it by just being ther for her
Dearest Lisa, how wonderful of you girls to be there for moral support and love ~ that is the best gift anyone can give.

I'd maybe not do flowers unless they have little odor as scents after chemo are usually pretty bad for most of us. Maybe paper flowers or a picture of a bouquet. She is probably going to sleep for a few days and you many want to make mini meals ahead that can just be heated up and not a lot of prep or odor to them. I know my first chemos were taxol/carbo and I could not stand the smell by the 2nd day after chemo. First day was still okay but after that it was tough. Things like rice or a potato were things I could tolerate or good old campells chicken noodle soup eventually.

But we are all different and she may not suffer any ill side affects. Just be there for here and yes call to see if she needs anything or just to say hello I love you. She may not talk long but it gives comfort to know others are thinking about us.

Prayers ♥ Hugs to you both Bonnie

Water
I have found a slice of lemon in the water really helps to get it down. I preferred mine iced. If she has nausea (and there is no way to tell) gatorade might help. I very seldom had nausea and when I did went right back to the table to eat some more. I pray she will be this way too!!!

Saundra

chemo supplys
You may want to send some small snacks with her to have on hand during chemotherapy. Maybe crackers,some fruit{ no sweets }. Sometimes people get hungry during treatment or just need something to settle their stomach. Also,when she is on her way home she should have something available for nausea. It helps a lot to keep crackers on her bedside or offer her some plain toast before she gets out of bed. I'm just taking for granted that the Dr. has prescribed something for diarreha, such as Loperamide. Hopefully she won't experience nausea but best to be prepared. Some people experience nausea on their first treatment and then seems to subside. Give her the nausea medication on a regular schedule for the first few days, it is harder to control if she waits until she is actually sick. Hope everything goes well...and of course these are suggestions,clear everything with her Dr.

bigragu714 said:

2 things not mentioned that helped my mom
pepemint life savers and milk of magnisia

Other stuff
If your mother's oncologist hasn't prescribed Emend, an anti-nausea med that is taken prior to chemo and then for the following two days, ask for it. The N.P. at my doctor's clinic says it's a miracle - and she's right!

Ditto on the Milk of Magnesia. I've found that Miralax and Citrucel also help along with the colace for potential bowel problems. You may have to experiment if this turns out to be a problem for your mother. A mixture of oat bran, applesauce, and prune juice heated in the mircrowave with a small amount of butter can be helpful, too. Drinking lots of water is critical; I mix up a big pitcher with Crystal Lite added but fresh lemon is good, too. I've also found G2 (a Gatorade product) helps perk me up somewhat. I keep ginger ale with a straw next to the bed the first couple days, which helps settle my stomach. Vernors is best but not widely available outside Michigan. Canada Dry ginger ale works, too.

My doctor prescribed Darvoset for me and I've found in the first week after chemo it's useful since I tend to get pain in my bones and joints. Motrin seems to work better for this than Tylenol once the pain dies down somewhat. I was also prescribed a generic version of Valium, which I use for the first few days after chemo. It not only helps me sleep more comfortably but is also has the added benefit of reducing nausea.

I, too, have noticed the heightened sensitivity to smell. There will also be changes in food preference. I can't tolerate some of my favorites any more and I find my life-long sweet tooth has finally been conquered - the thought of anything sweet and gooey makes my stomach turn! My oncologist told me to "listen to my body" which was very good advise. I find that starchy foods, such as potato soup, baked potatoes or toast with peanut butter, taste good those first few days after chemo. The first week after treatment, especially, cater to your mother's food cravings since she really won't feel like eating. Most likely, she won't have much of an appetite throughout chemo but after the first round she will probably have an extra hard time as she learns to adjust to the demands the chemicals are making on her body.

I haven't had a continual problem with the metallic taste chemo can leave in your mouth but some do. Make sure there are some plastic utensils available for your mother to use, just in case this is a problem for her.

Chemo is not easy and is very demanding in many ways, both on the patient and her caregivers. Your upbeat attitude towards this will be both helpful to you and your family and also to your mother. I'm hoping her treatment goes well and the end results are positive!

Lyn