A "funnish" thread: What do you do to relax/pass the time during chemo treatments?

Fun
I usually take my lap top to Chemo with me. They usually stick me in a chair with no television so I take the lap top and movies . Most places I go to have a visitors site you can log on to. This really helps me to get my mind off of the chemo going into my port to my body. time is up before I realize it.

Kgirl said:

fun during chemo treatments
I usually bring a book (usually medical/scientific), a book of New York Times Sunday crossword puzzles. I am learning to crochet and I do some beading as well.

I do have to admit that the Benedryl premed absolutely knocks me out for at least an hour or more - so I nap as well.

I have become very creative in the last year or so - It brings great joy and satisfaction to my life. My children will have things to treasure from our life together. I am finishing up a set of three felt pillows that are turing out nicely. I made Chrissy a dress and a resin necklace that contained a self portrait of her favorite artist - Frida Kahlo. I consider these 'new' talents to be a gift of cancer.

Im even considering making up baby layettes for my future grandchildren that I probably will not get to see and enclosing notes that I was sorry had not meet then and thoughts about what they would be like.

kathy

I get teased by the staff about all the stuff I haul to chemo!
Great thread idea!

My oncologist teases me about all the stuff I bring along to chemo: a fuzzy leopard 'diva' blanket; a fresh crunchy spinach salad; a bottle of water; a book.....I told him I pretend I am spending the day at a SPA and that my chemo is some kind of beauty treatment! (HA! Only if you think a bald head and no eyelashes/brows are BEAUTIFUL!) Once my benedryl kicks in, I close my eyes and pretend my chemo lounger is set up on the sparkling white sand of a beautiful beach, and try and get in a hour's sleep. There are always snacks and drinks and heated blankets provided at the chemo lounge, and the nurses are so kind to offer to bring me anything I want, and that pampering also has a vacation-y aspect if you let your imagination expand the fantasy. I know it's a stretch, but I have always been good at creating a 'happy place' in my mind.

Having my own business, I always have to work every spare moment I can find, and reading for pleasure is something I always reserved for vacations (usually trying to squeeze in 3 to 5 books over a week's vacation; I enjoy reading that much!) So, chemo for me is a chance to indulge in reading books, and my family (all readers) send me all of the books they enjoyed the most. They have Wi-Fi at the chemo lounge, but I feel I should have SOME down time in exchange for what I am going through, and so have never brought my work laptop with me to chemo. (I continue to work full-time since I've gotten cancer.)

I admire Kathy's industriousness with those creative projects. I guess I could be more productive during chemo infusions. But I am productive almost 100% of my non-chemo time, and I admit to making chemo-time "ME-time", a personal indulgence to offset the horror of what I;m lettung them pump into my veins.

kayandok said:

Leesag, it sounds like you are planning ahead for relaxation. I read, listen to my ipod (podcasts and music) AND sleep a lot!

Take care,
kathleen:)

Wow!
I want to go to the hospitals you guys are going to! At Rush University Hospital in Chicago it's just a big room with lots of windows for a great view with a bunch of recliners. No TVs. Every once in a while you might get a little juice if you're not feeling well. But that's about it. Everyone brings their own stuff. They do have heated blankets. And the nurses are very nice.

With the carbo/doxil, I don't get the benefit of the Benedryl, but I still get the Decadron, so I don't relax all that much. The steroids do a number on me.

I do crochet, play computer games on my little computer, and sometimes read, but, like Saundra, it's hard to read novels. It's easier to look at magazines.

Marty

Mawty said:

Wow!
I want to go to the hospitals you guys are going to! At Rush University Hospital in Chicago it's just a big room with lots of windows for a great view with a bunch of recliners. No TVs. Every once in a while you might get a little juice if you're not feeling well. But that's about it. Everyone brings their own stuff. They do have heated blankets. And the nurses are very nice.

With the carbo/doxil, I don't get the benefit of the Benedryl, but I still get the Decadron, so I don't relax all that much. The steroids do a number on me.

I do crochet, play computer games on my little computer, and sometimes read, but, like Saundra, it's hard to read novels. It's easier to look at magazines.

Marty

Yes,
I'm with you Marty, I would love to go to a cool chemo room some day! We do have recliners, but that is it, no windows, no food or even juice. We have to bring our own stuff. We do have wonderful nurses, here though, and for that I am grateful!

The decadron does a number on me too. I completely cut it out with my cisplatin/gemzar, it gave me such bad migranes. This last time, with the carbo/doxil they reduced it to 60mg, but I still had a dull headache and was wound up for a few days. Since I have no nausea, I'm going to cut it out this next time.

kathleen

leesag said:

Evanovich
I'm on Ten at the moment! I love Stephanie Plum!

My doctor didn't say anything about steroids, I do have prescriptions for Reglan and Zofren. Not sure what to do with them, though!

Steroids
usually come in the IV you get before the chemo. I was given decadron pills too to take home, but I never used them. They help with all symptoms, but will stimulate your appetite too and were the culprit for weight gain for me on carbo/taxol. I used a different steroid for the 2nd line chemo, but ended up not using them at all towards the end. They really don't help me and cause headaches, although that seems to be an unusual side effect.

kathleen

audiobooks
I swear by audiobooks that I put on my MP3 player... they go everywhere with me and they lull me back to sleep if I wake up in the middle of the night.
((((HUGS)))) Maria

leesag said:

Evanovich
I'm on Ten at the moment! I love Stephanie Plum!

My doctor didn't say anything about steroids, I do have prescriptions for Reglan and Zofren. Not sure what to do with them, though!

I have reglan for my acid reflux. I had it so bad when I ate I would end up throwing up. I have no idea why someone wouls chose to be bulimic. It really helps

groundeffect said:

My road show
Of the three days of each of my six recent chemo rounds, two were given in a private room and one in a chair. The room had a bed on which I was comfortable laying down or sitting up, and cable t.v.-something I don't have at home, so I was pretty happy if I could find an old cowboy or detective movie on it!

The things I brought to the center were a warm quilted blanket, my little cooler with drinks, lunch, and snacks, and magazines. I found it difficult to read books when I was there because of the benadryl and ativan (if I took it), so magazines were most of my reading material. My iPod was always handy, and I did listen to it a bit, also.

When I first had chemo in 2002, I quickly learned that the snacks that were provided at our center were largely salty crackers and cookies, and juices or water. It wasn't hard to provide myself with something better from our refrigerator.

The center has warmed blankets available, but I liked having my own personal blanket. The nurses were all very attentive and were always asking if they could bring me something, but I really didn't feel that I should add to their work that way. Sometimes the volunteers would bring me coffee, but that's about all I wanted "served" to me.

Great suggestion for a thread!

Although my doctor's
Although my doctor's infusion center has ice pops, peanut butter crackers, etc, there is always room for improvement. One of the other patients suggested champagne and strawberries the other day.

chemo days must haves
I always packed a lunch with a variety of things. never know what you might get in the mood for. I always took my crocheting and a book. But luckily for me I never had time to do any of those things. My friends and family never let me go through chemo alone. I am so lucky to have this great support system. But they tell me now that I am cancer free that my Queen status is getting a little old. I love them all.