Nervous about 1st Chemo
Comments
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I was very nervous when I
I was very nervous when I went for my first chemo. It's not really something you can prepare for, but it will probably be must easier than anything you might have imagined.
The pre-meds will make you sleepy. Take advantage of that and just nap thru as much of it as you can.
Most places have WiFi, if you have a laptop. They may also have snacks and drinks, TV sets, etc. Is someone going with you? This will take hours, so you might want to have a friend or relative who can bring you lunch.
I always took my own blanket and fuzzy slippers.
Carlene0 -
Hi. Sorry we have to meet
Hi. Sorry we have to meet under these circumstances. I had my first chemo on June 28. I too was very nervous. My clinic does not have wifi but does have have tv. The chemo nurses were very kind and helpful. Other patients were also very friendly. I took my lunch (subway veggie sub). I go back for number 2 on July 19. A good friend is bringing lunch so we can eat together
I also took a change of clothes. Since I have IBS diarrhea is always a possibility. I was amazed at how quickly the day passed.
I handled treatment number one very well. I had some diarrhea, a small amount of body aches. On day 4 following treatment I was extremely fatigued. My appetite has remained very good (almost too good at times.) The pre-meds made me sleepy, but I never could fall asleep for some reason, but I was relaxed.
Best wishes to you. I have found the ladies on this board to be most helpful and re-assuring. Don't be afraid to ask questions or even vent.
Keep us updated on your progress.0 -
My dad will be with me andHissy_Fitz said:I was very nervous when I
I was very nervous when I went for my first chemo. It's not really something you can prepare for, but it will probably be must easier than anything you might have imagined.
The pre-meds will make you sleepy. Take advantage of that and just nap thru as much of it as you can.
Most places have WiFi, if you have a laptop. They may also have snacks and drinks, TV sets, etc. Is someone going with you? This will take hours, so you might want to have a friend or relative who can bring you lunch.
I always took my own blanket and fuzzy slippers.
Carlene
My dad will be with me and possibly my son. I hope it is easier than what I imagine. Thanks!0 -
I hope the day passesmom2greatkids said:Hi. Sorry we have to meet
Hi. Sorry we have to meet under these circumstances. I had my first chemo on June 28. I too was very nervous. My clinic does not have wifi but does have have tv. The chemo nurses were very kind and helpful. Other patients were also very friendly. I took my lunch (subway veggie sub). I go back for number 2 on July 19. A good friend is bringing lunch so we can eat together I also took a change of clothes. Since I have IBS diarrhea is always a possibility. I was amazed at how quickly the day passed.
I handled treatment number one very well. I had some diarrhea, a small amount of body aches. On day 4 following treatment I was extremely fatigued. My appetite has remained very good (almost too good at times.) The pre-meds made me sleepy, but I never could fall asleep for some reason, but I was relaxed.
Best wishes to you. I have found the ladies on this board to be most helpful and re-assuring. Don't be afraid to ask questions or even vent.
Keep us updated on your progress.
I hope the day passes quickly for me too. When my doctor said about 5 hours I nearly fell out of my chair. I don't know what I expected but 5 hrs! Glad to hear you handled the first treatment well. I hope I do also because I'm hoping to go back to work the Monday after the treatment since I've been sitting at home for almost 5 weeks!
I hope your second treatment goes as well as the first.
I'm already starting to feel better about this. Thanks to you and Carlene!0 -
Skeeterskeeter1002 said:I hope the day passes
I hope the day passes quickly for me too. When my doctor said about 5 hours I nearly fell out of my chair. I don't know what I expected but 5 hrs! Glad to hear you handled the first treatment well. I hope I do also because I'm hoping to go back to work the Monday after the treatment since I've been sitting at home for almost 5 weeks!
I hope your second treatment goes as well as the first.
I'm already starting to feel better about this. Thanks to you and Carlene!
Looking back my first chemo was really the easiest for me. I was eager to conquer the beast that was trying to take over my life. I remember the first dose of benadryl. It felt so good, I said to the nurse, "You could get a lot of money on the street for this stuff." All I wanted to do was close my eyes but my son had brought his ipod and was showing me comedy bits. I know he was trying so hard to help me get through the day. The staff was wonderful and they tried to fulfill any need I had. I got the "ickiness" about three days after the infusion. It is not the most pleasant part of my life and although I pray I won't have to, I would go through it all over again. Life is so precious. My best to you. I know you will be fine.
Karen0 -
1st chemoskeeter1002 said:I hope the day passes
I hope the day passes quickly for me too. When my doctor said about 5 hours I nearly fell out of my chair. I don't know what I expected but 5 hrs! Glad to hear you handled the first treatment well. I hope I do also because I'm hoping to go back to work the Monday after the treatment since I've been sitting at home for almost 5 weeks!
I hope your second treatment goes as well as the first.
I'm already starting to feel better about this. Thanks to you and Carlene!
More than likely, you will receive Atavan, and not remember most of it...
that is what my first chemo was like...
i did have a very tough time of it, within 3 days... many do, because your body isnt used
to the chemo meds... the health care people will not tell you what to expect, because
they do not want to create more anxiety, plus, you may not have a lot of
problems...i was stage 2c, so my meds were more potent
my onc doc recommended to treat the nausea as "sea sickness"
he said dont wait until the nausea overwhelms you, take the meds as
prescribed on the bottle, and if you cant keep the oral ones down, there
are suppositories that can be prescribed
i sincerely hope you have an easy time of it!0 -
1st. chemo
I was scared before my first chemo too, really scared. After they got everything started, I calmed down. My treatments were all IV and I had hardly any side effects. I brought a book and read or listened to music on my ipod. I got benadryl and atavan through the IV so i slept for a couple hours each time. Make sure the doctor prescribed anit-nausea medication and take it as directed. I ate several small meals, ate lots of soup, warm, flat gingerale and lots of crackers. You will do fine and you are lucky to have family with you too. You will meet lots of nice people, the oncology nurses at my clinic are wonderful and the other patients were friendly as well as inspiring. Keep us posted on your pogress. Oh, and bring a blanket, it is usually cold in the clinic/hospital.0 -
LOL! Everyone gets coldcfont11 said:1st. chemo
I was scared before my first chemo too, really scared. After they got everything started, I calmed down. My treatments were all IV and I had hardly any side effects. I brought a book and read or listened to music on my ipod. I got benadryl and atavan through the IV so i slept for a couple hours each time. Make sure the doctor prescribed anit-nausea medication and take it as directed. I ate several small meals, ate lots of soup, warm, flat gingerale and lots of crackers. You will do fine and you are lucky to have family with you too. You will meet lots of nice people, the oncology nurses at my clinic are wonderful and the other patients were friendly as well as inspiring. Keep us posted on your pogress. Oh, and bring a blanket, it is usually cold in the clinic/hospital.
LOL! Everyone gets cold during their treatments apparently, except me. I had a hot flash during my first treatment. Oh well... I stayed warm (sometimes a little too warm the whole day).0 -
My first Chemo is July 18
I was diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian cancer on May 17th. I had a total Hysterectomy on June 10th and now looking at my first Chemo July 18th. I have a spot on my Liver that could not be removed because it's on a major blood vessel that goes into my pancreas. I have been watching this discussion board and have learned a lot from you ladies. I too am a little nervous, I've had my port for a week now and it's still tender. Don't want anyone to touch it,hopefully, it won't bother me on Monday. I'm also looking forward to getting to know everyone and will keep you posted and be leaning on you as my treatment progresses.0 -
I think you are going to do very well
Skeeter: I just wanted to say that since your cancer is considered as caught at an early stage, you should do very well over all. The chemo shouldn't be bad but the "after chemo" can kick your butt.
I think a lot of people feel "icky" on the 3rd to 5th day after chemo. I don't know what kind of work you do. Some people like the distraction that they get from being at work but there was no way that I could continue to work for about a week after chemo.
Don't be surprised if you cry a lot--it just happens. I think it is a side effect of chemo. Chemo can give you night sweats. I found out too late that acupuncture could have helped me with that.
This is gonna be really hard for your dad, son & family to see you go through this but I'm sure they are gonna be happy to be there for you. Let them do whatever they can for you. Keep a puke bowl near where you plan to hang out during the day just in case you need it...and maybe you won't need it.
(((HUGS to you and your family, too)))
LQ0 -
numbing creamMiss Mona said:My first Chemo is July 18
I was diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian cancer on May 17th. I had a total Hysterectomy on June 10th and now looking at my first Chemo July 18th. I have a spot on my Liver that could not be removed because it's on a major blood vessel that goes into my pancreas. I have been watching this discussion board and have learned a lot from you ladies. I too am a little nervous, I've had my port for a week now and it's still tender. Don't want anyone to touch it,hopefully, it won't bother me on Monday. I'm also looking forward to getting to know everyone and will keep you posted and be leaning on you as my treatment progresses.
Both of you newbies might want the numbing cream to use on your ports. The cream needs to be put on the site an hour before you get stuck. It is on prescription from your doctor.
LQ0 -
welcome to the boradLaundryQueen said:numbing cream
Both of you newbies might want the numbing cream to use on your ports. The cream needs to be put on the site an hour before you get stuck. It is on prescription from your doctor.
LQ
and you will be fine. I to could't wait to start and kill those nasty cancer cells. You will have your good days and your bad days. Don't be afraid to ask questions....val0 -
I was also so scared
I was really scared too. My first chemo tax/carbo was June 23rd and my second July 14th. My dad went w/me also. I took a Xanax for my nerves. Bring a pillow and blankie. They will start an IV in your hand and you will sit in a very comfortable LazyBoy recliner. The chemo nurses are very nice. They will start you out with anti-nausea and anti-hystamines. That will make you very tired and dry mouthed...bring water. Then they will pump in the steriods. This all will go very fast. Then they start the Tax drip...this takes 3 hours and you will probabaly fall asleep. When you wake up you will have to pee. I suggest you wear a pee pee pad cause you might leak. You will also be really hungry from the steroids, so bring some food or have your family go get you a light lunch. Once the taxol is dripped in you will get the carbo. This only takes an hour or so. Hang in there...i assume since you are Stage 1C you are getting 3 treatments.....
Hang in there!0 -
Feeling BetterSusan777 said:I was also so scared
I was really scared too. My first chemo tax/carbo was June 23rd and my second July 14th. My dad went w/me also. I took a Xanax for my nerves. Bring a pillow and blankie. They will start an IV in your hand and you will sit in a very comfortable LazyBoy recliner. The chemo nurses are very nice. They will start you out with anti-nausea and anti-hystamines. That will make you very tired and dry mouthed...bring water. Then they will pump in the steriods. This all will go very fast. Then they start the Tax drip...this takes 3 hours and you will probabaly fall asleep. When you wake up you will have to pee. I suggest you wear a pee pee pad cause you might leak. You will also be really hungry from the steroids, so bring some food or have your family go get you a light lunch. Once the taxol is dripped in you will get the carbo. This only takes an hour or so. Hang in there...i assume since you are Stage 1C you are getting 3 treatments.....
Hang in there!
Wow thank you for all your comments. I'm feeling better about this already. It's comforting, in a way, to know the pre-treatment meds should help me relax and maybe even sleep. I was worried about trying to relax for 5 hours. Now I have a better idea of what to put in my tote bag. I think I'll take a book and see if I'm able to read since that's one of my favorite things to do.
You ladies are the best! Thanks for the encouragement, tips and kind words.
Wenona0
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