I begin my chemo next Tuesday (28th) any advice?

mom2greatkids

What should I take with me? I am SO nervous about this. I will have my port put in Monday morning. Thanks in advance for your help

poopergirl14052

I have a chemo bag
and I brought a snack, Ipod, sweater and something to drink.Chemo day is long and you will fall asleep. Maybe a neck pillow would be nice and a good book. Also bring you chemo meds with you. Maybe bring your hubby for the first time, sometimes you need to have some one there to drive you home as you maybe kinda groggy. Good luck and let us know how it goes...val

Radioactive34

The port is great. It
The port is great. It really helps save veins. If it is a long drip, take portable stuff to do. Snacks for hunger. I have my laptop while I am dripping. The clinic has WiFi and I can log on to Facebook. I sit and chat with family members. They are states away. It helps them deal with the seperation.

The first day, I started out alone. My friend got there about half way through the drip. I was scared initially and cried a bit when they started hooking me up. The nurse thought she was physically hurting me. She stopped when I said I was scared. She said they were there to help me. She was very patient.

Take someone with you. Take someone whom you connect with and is practical. Someone who can help you through the rough spots. We can talk about our own experiences until we are blue in the face, but each is unique.

I start my next round the 27th, so on the 28th imagine someone sitting next you who has a smile and a hug if you need it.

PS, try to get the numbing cream for the port site. Use it an hour ahead of time. It is one less prick of pain you have to feel.

mom2greatkids

Radioactive34 said:

The port is great. It
The port is great. It really helps save veins. If it is a long drip, take portable stuff to do. Snacks for hunger. I have my laptop while I am dripping. The clinic has WiFi and I can log on to Facebook. I sit and chat with family members. They are states away. It helps them deal with the seperation.

The first day, I started out alone. My friend got there about half way through the drip. I was scared initially and cried a bit when they started hooking me up. The nurse thought she was physically hurting me. She stopped when I said I was scared. She said they were there to help me. She was very patient.

Take someone with you. Take someone whom you connect with and is practical. Someone who can help you through the rough spots. We can talk about our own experiences until we are blue in the face, but each is unique.

I start my next round the 27th, so on the 28th imagine someone sitting next you who has a smile and a hug if you need it.

PS, try to get the numbing cream for the port site. Use it an hour ahead of time. It is one less prick of pain you have to feel.

Where can I get numbing
Where can I get numbing cream? Where I am taking my chemo no one is allowed back in the area with the patients. My sister is taking me and someone else will pick me up. I think I'll take me a Subway Veggie Delite sub for lunch I'm becoming addicted to those things. I'll call and see if they have Wifi. hadn't thought about that.

Thanks for your encouragement. I've been told that you form friendships in the chemo room.

Best wishes to you.

mom2greatkids

poopergirl14052 said:

I have a chemo bag
and I brought a snack, Ipod, sweater and something to drink.Chemo day is long and you will fall asleep. Maybe a neck pillow would be nice and a good book. Also bring you chemo meds with you. Maybe bring your hubby for the first time, sometimes you need to have some one there to drive you home as you maybe kinda groggy. Good luck and let us know how it goes...val

Chemo meds? I don't have
Chemo meds? I don't have any, or not yet anyway. Unfortunately I am widowed. I lost my husband last yr. to a massive heart attack. Oh how I miss him now!! As I was telling the other lady, where I take my chemo, no one is allowed back in the room with the patients. Thanks for your encouragement and advice. Good ideas.

carolenk

mom2greatkids said:

Where can I get numbing
Where can I get numbing cream? Where I am taking my chemo no one is allowed back in the area with the patients. My sister is taking me and someone else will pick me up. I think I'll take me a Subway Veggie Delite sub for lunch I'm becoming addicted to those things. I'll call and see if they have Wifi. hadn't thought about that.

Thanks for your encouragement. I've been told that you form friendships in the chemo room.

Best wishes to you.

First chemo
@R34: You sound like an old pro at this! Just look at how well you have done in such a short time.

@mom2greatkids: The numbing cream in on prescription--ask for the prescription from your doctor. I used to sleep through chemo and waiting for the chemo took about as long as the treatment itself. I always had someone with me when I went for chemo which I really appreciated and it was more for "distraction therapy" while I was waiting than anything else. The chemo nurses do a good job of taking care of the patients.

Carolen

jadav1956

carolenk said:

First chemo
@R34: You sound like an old pro at this! Just look at how well you have done in such a short time.

@mom2greatkids: The numbing cream in on prescription--ask for the prescription from your doctor. I used to sleep through chemo and waiting for the chemo took about as long as the treatment itself. I always had someone with me when I went for chemo which I really appreciated and it was more for "distraction therapy" while I was waiting than anything else. The chemo nurses do a good job of taking care of the patients.

Carolen

Hi Mom2. I just had my first
Hi Mom2. I just had my first one yesterday. I got carbo/taxel. I brought a bag of goodies, but found out they have snacks, puddings, yogurts, and drinks already there. I drink tea, but they also had juices. And above all nice warm blankets. They gave me ativan,pepcid,claritin, and zofran before any of the chemo.I had to wait 30 mns after all that. I got taxel first and it takes longest about 3 1/2 hrs or so. I haven't had any problems as yet. I came home and ate, and took a long nap. I can't believe you can't have any one with you. That is just crazy !! Take some books, music, puzzles or whatever you like. I did sleep through about the first hour or so. I just had to get up several times to go to the potty. All that fluid !! The chemo rns are great. I too have a port, but I didn't use any numbing cream and had no problems. I don't know how I will feel when I wake up, but am very optimistic. I was also told to take stool softeners and/or milk of magnesia. I read that here on this board. Keep reading and learning here as these ladies have answered so many questions for me!! Find a local support group if you have one near you. It does help. Big hugs to you !!! You will do fine !! Jackie

Tethys41

mom2greatkids said:

Where can I get numbing
Where can I get numbing cream? Where I am taking my chemo no one is allowed back in the area with the patients. My sister is taking me and someone else will pick me up. I think I'll take me a Subway Veggie Delite sub for lunch I'm becoming addicted to those things. I'll call and see if they have Wifi. hadn't thought about that.

Thanks for your encouragement. I've been told that you form friendships in the chemo room.

Best wishes to you.

Ice
I was advised to put ice on my fingers and toes, and to suck on ice chips during the Taxol infusion. This is aimed at preventing mouth sores and the common side effect of numbness in your fingers and toes. I would take a few chill packs with me, as finding ice in that quantity seemed problematic. But the ice chips were no problem. I don't know if it helped, but I never experienced either of these side effects.

Hissy_Fitz

I have never heard of an
I have never heard of an infusion center that does not allow anyone to go "back" with the patient. The place I go doesn't allow children, but everyone is encouraged to have someone with them the first time.

I kept a gym bag packed with a neck pillow, my own plush throw (a gift from my husband), fuzzy slipper socks, and a bottle of water, which I put in the freezer the night before.

I took my iPhone, and my iReader, as well. My place has little snacks and drinks, but my husband always went out and got lunch for us.

I swear by the numbing cream, although I have had my port accessed several times "cold turkey" and it wasn't too bad.

I had 18 infusions of Taxol and 6 of Carbo (Carbo/Taxol first line treatment, plus a year of Taxol maintenance). I tolerated it very well - no mouth sores, no neuropathy. But my first infusion was pretty bad. I passed out, all my numbers (BP and blood gas) tanked. It was scary. They turned the drip way, way down and I did fine after that.

Best of luck to you!
Carlene

eward

Hissy_Fitz said:

I have never heard of an
I have never heard of an infusion center that does not allow anyone to go "back" with the patient. The place I go doesn't allow children, but everyone is encouraged to have someone with them the first time.

I kept a gym bag packed with a neck pillow, my own plush throw (a gift from my husband), fuzzy slipper socks, and a bottle of water, which I put in the freezer the night before.

I took my iPhone, and my iReader, as well. My place has little snacks and drinks, but my husband always went out and got lunch for us.

I swear by the numbing cream, although I have had my port accessed several times "cold turkey" and it wasn't too bad.

I had 18 infusions of Taxol and 6 of Carbo (Carbo/Taxol first line treatment, plus a year of Taxol maintenance). I tolerated it very well - no mouth sores, no neuropathy. But my first infusion was pretty bad. I passed out, all my numbers (BP and blood gas) tanked. It was scary. They turned the drip way, way down and I did fine after that.

Best of luck to you!
Carlene

I agree with Carlene
Request a sllloooowwww drip. That seems to be helpful to people receiving chemo. My mom had a "reaction" to her 2nd taxol treatment and I think it could have been avoided if they just infused it slower.

anicca

Carlene already mentioned
Carlene already mentioned the bottle of water (sipper cap, if you have one) and warm socks, and I second those suggestions. Also, bring an extension cord so you can be sure of plugging in your phone, laptop, etc. A hat, especially one that you can pull down over your eyes if you want to sleep.

jbeans888

Not too bad
I agree with the socks, food, a book and whatever entertains you. I too cried on my first infusion it's scary because you have to go thru it bit you will find it's not what your thinking. It's just a long process and hopefully you will sleep. Ialoao get Ativan for anxiety, you can ask for it, along with 50mg of benadryl so I can sleep. It knocks me out fpr about 3 hours. I have chemo on the 28th at 11am also so when you are nervous just think that another teal sista is with you in spirit. I have a port and recommend the cream just so you have it if you want it. Good luck. I will think of you.