Daily hydration

dunny

My hubby will be beginning chemo treatments some time in the next two weeks along with 5-a-week rads. Our medical oncologist tells us that after (or before) each rad session he will take a short walk down to the chemo area for IV fluids which sounds like an outstanding idea. Have any of you had this done? Is it pretty standard stuff?

Beth

Skiffin16

Every Day...?
Hydration is always good....

But I've never heard of anyone having it everyday during radiation.

As for the days of Chemo, or day after, that definitely is good. But that is pretty much standard.

Best,
John

longtermsurvivor

staying hydrated is highly recommended
however, since you asked, the plan for your hubby is pretty over the top. I have had radiation treatment twice, for a total of 69 sessions. Neither time was I hydrated routinely, and in fact my REQUIREMENTs were for no extra IV's at all. I did just fine with oral intake. My point in saying this is that water is water, whether it is tap water, which cost essentially nothing, or IV fluids, which cost a lot, especially when given every day.

The plan won't hurt him, but it likely isn't necessary either.

Welcome to the board.


Pat

Billie67

Well I am 2 weeks finished
Well I am 2 weeks finished with chemo and rad and while I didn't do IV hydration everyday I did get hydration after the last 4 chemo trts. Radiation is very dehydrating to you. I did end up in the hospital for 3 days due to dehydration. Now that I'm finished with trt I still go 3 times a week to the short stay unit at the hospital for hydration because swallowing is still hard to do. It really helps a lot! I think daily might be quite a bit but I'm not your husbands doctor. There are many things that may be a factor, age, over all health, type of chemo and rad
If you have questions just ask the dr, he should be happy to answer your questions.
Good luck to you both.

phrannie51

I got daily hydration, but that
was because I was getting amiphostine everyday before rads....Is that possibly why your man is getting hydration daily?

p

Paintslinger

Hydration
Beth,
It sounds like Hubby is getting essentially the same treatment I had. I'm sure that your docs know what they're but I just wanted to bring this to your attention. Unfortunately it's part of my genetic make-up to take everything to the extreme. When I started my treatment I kept hearing horror stories about what can happen if you don't stay properly hydrated during this treatment. I have about two years of organic chemistry under my belt and looked up this molecule (cis-platen) that would be running amok through my circulatory system. My first thought was "Oh my GOD, this puppy could really do some damage if it becomes concentrated in any of my organ systems". I then started to "turbo-hydrate" (this, of course, was when I could keep even water down). You don't even want to KNOW how much water I was drinking. It was kind of like a chinese water torture from the inside out.
I went to my chemotherapist after suffering through one of the worst nights I have ever had in my life. Couldn't sleep, atrocious headache (I mean HEADACHE), ringing in my ears, hyper-sensitive to ANY stimuli, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that I was almost hallucinating. I went to see the chemotherapist the next morning and told him what I had just been through. My bloodwork was ridiculous with some really crazy sodium numbers (very, very low).He checked me for a syndrome that I can't remember the name of, and the test indicated that I didn't have it. I then told him how much water I was drinking and he laughed (yes, laughed). His reaction was basically: "Seriously?...How can someone even DRINK that much water? Stick to the program, Bucko (I think he muttered "moron" under his breath), that's why we recommend a specific volume of daily liquid intake". Needless to say, I went back to that recommended volume and things got better (in this context,of course, that's a relative term) pretty quickly.
I just thought I would bring this to your attention.In your situation, however, they'll probably be doing bloodwork immediately after hydration, so he'll be o.k.
Good luck and take care,
Paul

dunny

phrannie51 said:

I got daily hydration, but that
was because I was getting amiphostine everyday before rads....Is that possibly why your man is getting hydration daily?

p

Planning not complete yet but...
the doc said that he will do everything he can to keep him out of the hospital and the biggest cause of hospital stays is dehydration. He said he will get some fluid thru his g tube but that the nausea can make it impossible to keep anything down.

We are still trying to decide on 3 high-dose Erbitux/Cisplatin treatments or 6 lower dose. It will depend on the results of a biopsy that needs to be done on some nodes in the chest. Tiny nodes, and not very hot but they will determine the treatment. Either way, it sounds like fluids 5 times a week.

Paintslinger

Last Post
Hey Beth, were you able to read that last post (about hydration)? It didn't show up on my computer as a response. Some info there that you might find helpful.
Paul

fisrpotpe

like
i like the idea of at the minimum every other day. i have in my mind figured out after following several getting cisplatin should get fluid on day 3 and day 4 after dose. i feel those getting chemo can not get enough fluids to flush the kidneys.

my thoughts of must haves when doing radiation and chemo are

1. get iv fluids
2. get speech pathologists on board and active
3. maintain positive mental attitude
4. accept help... don't be proud and think you can do self
5. use pain meds to deal with pain while doing treatment
6 get prescription from doc for suction machine for when phlegm takes over in mouth & throat
7. wait to get feeding tube until needed and have taken out soon after last treatment
8. get physical therapist active within week after last treatment
9. accept the fact that all your friendships will change either for the good or for the bad
10. the survivor has the win the war against cancer and the caregivers help the fighter win the daily battles

again i like the idea of daily iv fluids with the idea of trying to keep fighter out of hospital, good start to your plan of attack

john

osmotar

Hydration
Prior to the start of each chemo infusion, I was given IV fluids,benodryl, lasiks and anti nausea meds..the chemo came after all of that.

Linda

osmotar

Forgot to Add
My one chemo nurse also said I should be drinking 2-3 qts of water daily to main hydration...still do it today after all treatments ended in Dec 2012.

CivilMatt

I'll have a glass of water
Hi dunny,

It’s a good thing to be hydrated, make that your goal. Anyway, good luck figuring it all out. I am still drinking a ½ gallon (of water) a day minimum.

Best,

Matt

hwt

dunny said:

Planning not complete yet but...
the doc said that he will do everything he can to keep him out of the hospital and the biggest cause of hospital stays is dehydration. He said he will get some fluid thru his g tube but that the nausea can make it impossible to keep anything down.

We are still trying to decide on 3 high-dose Erbitux/Cisplatin treatments or 6 lower dose. It will depend on the results of a biopsy that needs to be done on some nodes in the chest. Tiny nodes, and not very hot but they will determine the treatment. Either way, it sounds like fluids 5 times a week.

I was on the 3 dose
I was on the 3 dose Cisplatin plan but had such a hard time with 1st treatment that I returned daily for more than a week for fluids. My ONC changed me to low dose weekly and, in my opinion, it was the best decision for me. I too had a G tube, which they left in after my surgery, just in case. I didn't use it often. The ONC gave me adequate medication to prevent any nausea. Hope your husband's journey is free of side effects.

hwt

dunny said:

Planning not complete yet but...
the doc said that he will do everything he can to keep him out of the hospital and the biggest cause of hospital stays is dehydration. He said he will get some fluid thru his g tube but that the nausea can make it impossible to keep anything down.

We are still trying to decide on 3 high-dose Erbitux/Cisplatin treatments or 6 lower dose. It will depend on the results of a biopsy that needs to be done on some nodes in the chest. Tiny nodes, and not very hot but they will determine the treatment. Either way, it sounds like fluids 5 times a week.

I was on the 3 dose
I was on the 3 dose Cisplatin plan but had such a hard time with 1st treatment that I returned daily for more than a week for fluids. My ONC changed me to low dose weekly and, in my opinion, it was the best decision for me. I too had a G tube, which they left in after my surgery, just in case. I didn't use it often. The ONC gave me adequate medication to prevent any nausea. Hope your husband's journey is free of side effects.

tuffenuff

I'm getting hydration every
I'm getting hydration every day and it's worth the time invested. Everything tastes so bad and feels so weird I can't get enough down on my own. Hydration protects the kidneys and increases your overall sense of well being. I say go for it.