Treatment “survival kit” recommendations

Hi MummaBearb8d2d7 welcome to the club although im sorry you have found yourself here. For me personally water wipes, mens baggy boxers, limbo sleeve and plenty of moisturiser were essential. Lots of people on here bought a sitz bath and found it helpful ( i didnt so dont actually know ). If you have time i would batch cook some meals for when you dont feel like cooking ,i wish i had. I lived on cheese and marmite on toast. As time goes on and if you can go comando at home. Overall i would say listen to your body, try and get rest when you need it, eat what you can i had to cut veg as it gave me bad wind and the chemo changed my sense of taste. If you can try and get out for a walk at least for exercise but be guided by your medical team i was told to stop the exercise i did because of my picc. We are all here for you, good luck with everything. Sending hugs

 Xxx

Welcome to the club you didn’t want to join! I’m 5.5 weeks post treatment and feel pretty much back to normal apart from some minor changes to bowel habits (more frequent) that I can live with. 

For me the best thing I bought was a peri bottle, which I use instead of toilet paper, which feels like sandpaper during treatment. I don’t think I’ll ever go back, as the bottle makes me feel so much fresher. 

I agree with the going commando at home. During the final couple of weeks of treatment you could find me mostly laying in the sofa in a sarong, legs akimbo, getting air to the sore bits

I’d recommend asking your chemo team on the first day of treatment (the only day you’ll see them) if it’s OK for you to take antihistamines. My biggest side effect was itching, particularly at night, and taking a ln antihistamine before bed worked wonders, but I did check first if it was OK. 

overall treatment wasn’t anywhere near as bad as I feared. Yes, I was sore and uncomfortable and tired, but i was able to carry on doing most things, and went to a rock concert 2 days after finishing treatment. 

You’ve got this! 

Hi,

Some great suggestions already, I would say I also found the peri bottle the single best thing. Trying to keep a sore and burnt bottom clean can be difficult so just running warm water on it was so nice. It can also be good to use whilst you are actually having a wee, if you find that gets a bit stingy. I did have - and enjoyed using - a sitz bath and I think again these can be really useful to actually wee or poo into if it gets uncomfortable and you can just throw it all down the loo and flush it away.

I wish I had been a bit better at planning what I was going to do whilst I was just hanging around, fatigued but not sleepy. I ended up watching rubbish day time TV, so you might want to have a look now at anything you think might cheer you up or distract you in terms of movies, books or even something crafty if that's your thing. You may find you just can't be bothered once you start treatment.

Also as has been mentioned, shop and cook for small meals you think you might like. I had chemo tablets and found I sometimes just didn't feel much like eating. And treats. You deserve treats! 

Finally some moisturiser - you will see some recommended here and the radiographers will give you some once you get started, but prepare all over your undercarriage before you get started. Oh, and nice shower gel. Some people go for unperfumed, but I just needed the pleasure of a long hot shower with lovely-smelling stuff.

All the best - let us know how you get on xx