Chemo

Hello again .

My mum stayed with me during chemo so I will address this from a different angle and hopefully others will pop on and share their experiences.

If you are going to isolate mainly in your room particularly just now one thing I encountered with my mum was relating to posture . She sat for long periods of time compared to her normal and developed some back pain . I would consider an adjustable back rest roughly £20 from Amazon but will support you semi reclined and upright but give you a wee bit of support during the day . I would not normally suggest this but am aware social isolation is creating new hurdles .

Access to Netflix etc . A lot of fatigue. 
Long cable charger ( Kareno62) always recommends .

Lounging wear . Something easy to slip on and off but comforting to wear . Not too many zips and buttons as your fingertips might struggle a bit .

My mum has stomach cramps on chemo and found buscopan helpful . It’s just over the counter med . Also the main supermarkets have complan  soups . They have all the nutrients and things you need in one small drink so a wee supply might be handy . Again the above I would not normally say in advance but given the corona virus it might be best to be prepared .

Nice music and something to read .

My mum also liked a wee throw handy .

Not sure what chemo you are having off the top of my head but some can affect your skin so some lotions to keep your moisture .

I used to just have a small bowl of homemade soup ready on the day of chemo and a slice of toast .

The other thing I would watch is your fluid intake . My mum was terrible and it caused dehydration and a few hospital admissions just because of it . I then kept bottled water . She found it hard to drink loads but kept it beside her bed and took small sips frequently.

Although you need to isolate in your room remember to force yourself to walk round it a little .

If I think of more I will add to it .

Take care 

Court 

Court you are such an angel. My list is getting longer and told my husband he has to make sure to get the soups and Ensure drinks and buscopan. The list of the chemo I’m going to have is already in our rental house and I am still in my in-laws place. I will check tomorrow and let you know. Keep the list coming. Love this community we have here. 

Thanks again Court. Look forward to hearing from you again.️

Hi

Just wanted to wish you all the very best with your chemo . I know it will be a busy weekend getting ready and I hope you are safely settled in your home with some furniture!! 

Keep in touch and here’s to significant shrinkage . It’s incredible what it can sometimes achieve .

Take care ,

 Court 

Thank you so much Court. My anxiety is building up. I will be having Raltitrexed (tomudex) and oxaliplatin. Do you know if the side effects of these are quite bad? I know it depends on each person but my stomach is easily upset nowadays so I’m a bit scared. Day 1 oxaliplatin is going to be given by drip over 2 hours and raltitrexed by infusion over 15 minutes and will be repeated every 3 to 4 weeks for 8 cycles. 

I hope everything goes well and will be updating you every so often.

Ana

Totally understandable . It’s all so different and the unknown is hard . My mum had the oxa part but not the 15 minute infusion part . She had it by cannula over two hours for the first one . Then tablet chemo for two weeks .The thing about the oxa I think it is metabolised within your system quite quickly . My mum’s first one was a complete non event . You would never have known she had it . She was 67 and 68 when she had it . The second one she had more side effects but after about twelve hours her strength returned and she was more able to see to herself after that . To get honest she just slept the first one off . She did not have really bad bowel issues more colic type issues . The first year she had her bowel tumour still during chemo but she managed well . She had the tingling so I made sure she had gloves so she did not touch anything cold and made sure all fluids were at room temperature.

We took a big cover for her to wrap up in on her return journey from chemo and we also took a flask of tepid water ( not boiling nor cold ) that she could sip on her way home as she sometimes had a tingling in her throat . 

But she managed it two years in a row and it was a big hitter when it came to the cancer side of things .

Also make sure you have a scarf wrapped right around your face when you come out of chemo as the cold air can affect it . Not a Covid thing but might help also !!

It was manageable and I think you will get into the routine and get on top of the side effects .

Take care ,

 Court 

Thanks Court. I am packing some stuff as I type this. I am a bit worried about my bowels as I have had really bad and good days. The bad days I can hardly manage and the good days I feel like I can’t go but feel alright. I guess I’d just have to make sure. I will let you know after tomorrow.

Ana

Stay in touch and all the very best tomorrow. Hope it all goes smoothly and look forward to hearing you are safely home .

Court 

Hi Court

everything went smoothly today. I got home around 2pm (was there from 8:45 a.m). Got home and went straight to my room. Ate and Slept a bit. Woke up feeling a bit nauseated but it disappeared soon enough. I am hoping it doesn’t get any worst. I really wish my bed could be delivered already as this air bed hurts my hipbones and coccyx. Just want to be as comfortable as I can get. 

I know I sound like I’m complaining, I guess I am lol. Sorry about that.

Ana 

will update again tomorrow 

Ana , you are so not a complainer . A bed is kind of basic comfort in my book ! Hope it arrives soon .

So pleased it went well today . Always a comfort to know it’s turned out ok .

Rest well and hope it keeps going this way . I used to like to think of those cancer cells getting a right blasting after an infusion . 
Take care ,

Court 

Oh Court I woke up exhausted and have no energy. I have to inject myself to boost my immune system so I don’t get infections or catch the virus. I’m on steroids too. I was able to eat a wee bit of breakfast but had to run to the bathroom a couple of times. I guess chemo does that. Either diarrhea or constipation. I don’t feel nauseated, thank God! Just no energy and feel like sleeping all day which I think I will be doing.

Catch you later 

Ana