JennJallen67 - With You

Skiffin16

Sending thoughts and prayers your way, along with some battle armor and warrior spirit....

Treatment is just the process that we all go through, you guys will find your way through it as well. If you haven't thought of it all ready depending on how long you're going to be there today, pack a lunch.

That is one of the things that we didn't think of our first day. Come around noon when we were there for a full day. All of the old timers, pulled out there eats, and I was starving smelling their food.

Another tip....sit close to one of the restrooms if you have the opportunity. You don't understand my reasoning at the moment...but you will. Especially as soon as they start hydrating you, and pumping lasix or similar in you to start flushing the kidneys.

Let's just day that I was labeled "The Pee King", my first day there, LOL....

Thoughts and Prayers,
John

longtermsurvivor

Second that
Good points you raise. You can always tell us old-timers. We're the ones with the perpetual bag beside us. Mine always had all my survival gear. Water. Ensure. Books, Kleenex, apppointment scheduler, cell phone, wriring materials. Heck, I looked like I was on my way to the beech.


Pat

Jennjallen67

longtermsurvivor said:

Second that
Good points you raise. You can always tell us old-timers. We're the ones with the perpetual bag beside us. Mine always had all my survival gear. Water. Ensure. Books, Kleenex, apppointment scheduler, cell phone, wriring materials. Heck, I looked like I was on my way to the beech.


Pat

Wow
Thanks guys. Your the best. How did you know I would jump on here before we left this morning?? His chemo starts at 8am. We were just talking about what he would be bringing with him. Didn't think about food.

Jenn

Goalie

Jennjallen67 said:

Wow
Thanks guys. Your the best. How did you know I would jump on here before we left this morning?? His chemo starts at 8am. We were just talking about what he would be bringing with him. Didn't think about food.

Jenn

Thanks a bunch!
The infusion ctr at Georgetown has food for free for all the patients. Of course, it is bag lunch including sandwiches. For the first chemo, not so bad. By the second, are you kidding me? I guess the percentage of head/neck folks is not that high or there would be a revolt. Doug

kimmygarland

Goalie said:

Thanks a bunch!
The infusion ctr at Georgetown has food for free for all the patients. Of course, it is bag lunch including sandwiches. For the first chemo, not so bad. By the second, are you kidding me? I guess the percentage of head/neck folks is not that high or there would be a revolt. Doug

Hope it is going well
I hope it is going well. Don't forget reading material, IPAD or some such something. When Bob did chemo in 2009 it was about a 5-6 hour ordeal. I think this time around it will go longer.

Prayers and good thoughts for a calming day and a good week.

longtermsurvivor

Goalie said:

Thanks a bunch!
The infusion ctr at Georgetown has food for free for all the patients. Of course, it is bag lunch including sandwiches. For the first chemo, not so bad. By the second, are you kidding me? I guess the percentage of head/neck folks is not that high or there would be a revolt. Doug

It's funny you should mention this
When I started chemo for my recurrence this fall, I had already had radical surgery. Between the surgery and my cancer, I couldn't get my mouth open more than 2 cm, nor chew, nor swallow. So they whip out these monster hoagie sandwiches....

Skiffin16

longtermsurvivor said:

It's funny you should mention this
When I started chemo for my recurrence this fall, I had already had radical surgery. Between the surgery and my cancer, I couldn't get my mouth open more than 2 cm, nor chew, nor swallow. So they whip out these monster hoagie sandwiches....

Humor.....
and you thought they didn't have a sense of humor...bawahahaha..LOL

JG

Hal61

Jennjallen67 said:

Wow
Thanks guys. Your the best. How did you know I would jump on here before we left this morning?? His chemo starts at 8am. We were just talking about what he would be bringing with him. Didn't think about food.

Jenn

Movie Infusion
Always took my laptop. I took a cd to watch the first time, but my treatment center had wifi in the infusion room, so I watched Netflix movies after. Also had a game I played.

best, Hal

Jennjallen67

Hal61 said:

Movie Infusion
Always took my laptop. I took a cd to watch the first time, but my treatment center had wifi in the infusion room, so I watched Netflix movies after. Also had a game I played.

best, Hal

We're home
We just got home and he's sleeping like a baby. Since this was his first day, they bombarded him with information. He never had a chance to do anything. Which, I guess is good. Kept him occupied. He did say that as he was leaving they brought in the most incredible sandwiches. Since his radiation in '06 he hasn't been able to eat sandwiches, too hard to swallow. I will have to remind him that he can watch Netflix on the laptop.

Thanks for all your well wishes and suggestions. On to tomorrow.

longtermsurvivor

Jennjallen67 said:

We're home
We just got home and he's sleeping like a baby. Since this was his first day, they bombarded him with information. He never had a chance to do anything. Which, I guess is good. Kept him occupied. He did say that as he was leaving they brought in the most incredible sandwiches. Since his radiation in '06 he hasn't been able to eat sandwiches, too hard to swallow. I will have to remind him that he can watch Netflix on the laptop.

Thanks for all your well wishes and suggestions. On to tomorrow.

if he can
In the infusion center I go to, the hot spot is password protected. Solved it by reading. Lately, more like sleeping. Oh, well, that's not wasted time.

CaKat

longtermsurvivor said:

if he can
In the infusion center I go to, the hot spot is password protected. Solved it by reading. Lately, more like sleeping. Oh, well, that's not wasted time.

Chemo
I read, but I also end up bringing liquid food for my tube...chemo always seems to be a a feeding time. I also try to do more water than normal...if they're giving me chemo, I'll try to do something good for myself and hydrate myself. I agree with Longtermsurvivor, sleep works! I see numerous folks under their blankets asleep.

Skiffin16

Chemo Center Perks...
Gee, I guess I was a little lucky then..

Not sure if my chemo center had WIFI, but it did have all recliners, each with it's own small perosnal TV with cable and headphones.

Also, free snacks and drinks, Ensure, Boost, Bottled Water an Sodas...

That reminds me, I have a load of Fishing Magazines I can drop off.

I could never sleep after my big cycles of cjemo. Steroids and hyped up I presume.

That was usually my work day when I came home. I'd be up until about 3 - 4 AM, so I'd do office work. Usually sleeping most of the next day.

Now during the time where I had weekly chemo and daily rads....affectionately known to me as "Ground Hogs Day", like the movie...same thing every day, after day, after day, after day....

The rads would tire me out, and I'd come home and sleep. On most days I drove myself, usually on the chemo days my wife would come with me.

Best,
John

Jennjallen67

Skiffin16 said:

Chemo Center Perks...
Gee, I guess I was a little lucky then..

Not sure if my chemo center had WIFI, but it did have all recliners, each with it's own small perosnal TV with cable and headphones.

Also, free snacks and drinks, Ensure, Boost, Bottled Water an Sodas...

That reminds me, I have a load of Fishing Magazines I can drop off.

I could never sleep after my big cycles of cjemo. Steroids and hyped up I presume.

That was usually my work day when I came home. I'd be up until about 3 - 4 AM, so I'd do office work. Usually sleeping most of the next day.

Now during the time where I had weekly chemo and daily rads....affectionately known to me as "Ground Hogs Day", like the movie...same thing every day, after day, after day, after day....

The rads would tire me out, and I'd come home and sleep. On most days I drove myself, usually on the chemo days my wife would come with me.

Best,
John

Thanks
Well, we are beyond day one. Finally a beginning to the end. Day two was just rads and hydration. He said he felt pretty good. But when I came home from work he was sleeping and he slept most of the night. I'm worried about tomorrow. He wants to drive himself to rads, but with him being so tired I'm nervous he'll fall asleep while driving. He is a little grumpy, but that is to be expected. I'm being the hovering caregiver who annoys him. But too bad, that's my job. To make sure he does what he supposed to. Like eat and drink and rest. He didn't eat enough today, however I couldn't get him to eat more. I'll do what I can tomorrow. Thanks for being out there and listening. It helps.

Jenn

longtermsurvivor

Jennjallen67 said:

Thanks
Well, we are beyond day one. Finally a beginning to the end. Day two was just rads and hydration. He said he felt pretty good. But when I came home from work he was sleeping and he slept most of the night. I'm worried about tomorrow. He wants to drive himself to rads, but with him being so tired I'm nervous he'll fall asleep while driving. He is a little grumpy, but that is to be expected. I'm being the hovering caregiver who annoys him. But too bad, that's my job. To make sure he does what he supposed to. Like eat and drink and rest. He didn't eat enough today, however I couldn't get him to eat more. I'll do what I can tomorrow. Thanks for being out there and listening. It helps.

Jenn

treat him like an adult
Your concern is very commendable. I am finishing rads tomorrow (actually today if you read this after midnight). I drove myself to rads each time, and to chemo each time. My wife came when she wanted to, or insisted on it. I otherwise left her home because I might have needed her to drive. Had I needed her to drive, I wanted her not to have squandered her energy driving when I could ddrive myself.

If that sounds a little scattered: I wanted her to save her energy in case of NEED.

On the calories: Get him to do the math on weight loss. That empowers him to take charge as well. I have known all along I need at least 2400 cal/day to maintain my weight through this ordeal. Therefore, since no one has to prepare my liquid diet, I made sure i got the 2400 cal.

Now if he really is tired enough to fall asleep at the wheel, then you'd better drive, ya know? These trials tax both patient, and caregiver.

Pat

Pam M

Goalie said:

Thanks a bunch!
The infusion ctr at Georgetown has food for free for all the patients. Of course, it is bag lunch including sandwiches. For the first chemo, not so bad. By the second, are you kidding me? I guess the percentage of head/neck folks is not that high or there would be a revolt. Doug

Thanks for Nuthin
I'm with you, Doug - my chemo lounge offered chips, pretzels and peanut butter or cheese crackers or cookies for patients to snack on. After day one, I knew to pack my own food.

Jennjallen67

longtermsurvivor said:

treat him like an adult
Your concern is very commendable. I am finishing rads tomorrow (actually today if you read this after midnight). I drove myself to rads each time, and to chemo each time. My wife came when she wanted to, or insisted on it. I otherwise left her home because I might have needed her to drive. Had I needed her to drive, I wanted her not to have squandered her energy driving when I could ddrive myself.

If that sounds a little scattered: I wanted her to save her energy in case of NEED.

On the calories: Get him to do the math on weight loss. That empowers him to take charge as well. I have known all along I need at least 2400 cal/day to maintain my weight through this ordeal. Therefore, since no one has to prepare my liquid diet, I made sure i got the 2400 cal.

Now if he really is tired enough to fall asleep at the wheel, then you'd better drive, ya know? These trials tax both patient, and caregiver.

Pat

Chemos have hit him hard
He has been extremely tired and unable to eat since the Chemo treatment on Tuesday. The nausea has been especially difficult. He's taking his anti nausea meds and they help a little. He's only been getting about 1000 calories a day. Mostly liquid. He is so tired, he is rarely awake to eat. I am getting worried. Any suggestions on how to help him? I did the math he needs 2400 cal/day.

longtermsurvivor

Jennjallen67 said:

Chemos have hit him hard
He has been extremely tired and unable to eat since the Chemo treatment on Tuesday. The nausea has been especially difficult. He's taking his anti nausea meds and they help a little. He's only been getting about 1000 calories a day. Mostly liquid. He is so tired, he is rarely awake to eat. I am getting worried. Any suggestions on how to help him? I did the math he needs 2400 cal/day.

just a few thoughts
Weight will drop like a stone on a thousand calories a day. well beyond what the math says it will. Not to panic. There's plenty of time to figure all of this out and addrress it.

The nausea needs better treatment. He should continue the current meds, but you need to call and get them to prescribe something more to add to current treatment. They've done this before.

Why is he so tired? The process is tiring, but shouldn't really be such that he doesn't wake up.

I realize it is the weekend, but the nausea should be dealt with even so,


Pat

nwasen

Jennjallen67 said:

Chemos have hit him hard
He has been extremely tired and unable to eat since the Chemo treatment on Tuesday. The nausea has been especially difficult. He's taking his anti nausea meds and they help a little. He's only been getting about 1000 calories a day. Mostly liquid. He is so tired, he is rarely awake to eat. I am getting worried. Any suggestions on how to help him? I did the math he needs 2400 cal/day.

nausea
Be sure he takes the meds before he feels sick. I didn't know that in the beginning and was sick all over the place. I learned to take a few hours after chemo and I never threw up again. If the meds aren't working there are others that may. Just be sure and speak up and ask!
Sleep helps you heal but he does need to have enough food in him (one way or another) to gain strength.
Peace to you both