Driving self for Chemo

AnewBeginning

People (who have not had cancer) keep telling me about people they know that drive themselves back and forth for their chemo. I would find that to be a blessing but wonder how true that is for some. My sister from California is coming to stay with me for awhile but does not feel comfortable driving in NYC. My son has always taken me for my visits to doctors and tests but dont want to put him out as long as I have my sister with me. Anyone able to drive themselves? I know I have to wait and see what s/e I would get but just would like to hear your experience. The drive is 1 hour +.

readytorock

Hi, AnewBeginning-

My husband did drive me because he planned to stay with me the entire time, but I would have had no trouble driving myself afterwards.  I think that the only reason that you wouldn't want to drive is if they gave you Bendryl for an allergic reaction?  Maybe have someone with you the first time who could drive, but after that you will know if you will be fine to drive yourself.

Best to you.

AnewBeginning

Readytorock

My son will be with us the first time but Im hoping he wont have to come for every visit. I wasnt thinking about the Benadryl........I'll just have to wait and see. Thanks for heads up on that one

(((hugs)))

SpecialK

anew - I could have driven myself without a problem, but I have a very short drive.  In addition to Benadryl they will sometimes infuse Ativan, both to calm you and for anti-nausea.  Your doc may not use either, but you should discuss this with them and let them know if you plan to drive yourself. They need to know for their own liability purposes as well, and will either tell you they don't recommend it, or adjust your pre-meds accordingly and tell you it is fine as long as you feel up to it.  Keep in mind you will be getting a boatload of different drugs all in a short period of time - usually steroids, anti-nausea, sometimes Benadryl, a couple of different chemo meds, etc.  Also, you may be increasingly fatigued, so might be able to drive yourself in the beginning, but possibly not later.  If you have any friends who have offered to help - driving you is a good way they can pitch in.  When you move to Herceptin only you will have no problem driving yourself.

Scwilly

I had a lift from family or friends each time for my AC & T treatments so never drove. I don't know what chemo you are having. I personally feel it would be wrong to risk it as you don't know how you will be. Particularly after Taxol I know I was not safe to drive due to drowsiness from the side effect drugs (Benadryl) in particular and would not wanted forgo anything recommended to help. I hope you find chemo tolerable. I did and my 5 months was soon up.

WinningSoFar

I've driven myself 100% of the time, even including the Benedryl times. By the time I left chemo, the benedryl seemed to have worn off. I'm also in my middle sixties.

dltnhm

ACS Road to Recovery program might be an option for you if needed.

http://m.cancer.org/treatment/supportprogramsservi...

ElaineTherese

Hi!

I drove myself to and from chemo. But, a friend often stopped by to make sure I felt well enough to drive. (Also, it gave us the chance to gossip and catch up on our mutual acquaintances.) She volunteered to do it, and I appreciated the company.

Kicks

I drove myself to all my 16 chemos, 3 Neulastas and 25 rads with no problems at all.

Hubby and/or Son would have taken off work to take me IF I had wanted (or needed) them to. I did not want them to bee there watching the chemo being infused. I also did not want to have to talk/interact with anybody - just wanted to relax and just do whatever I wanted/felt like doing. During the 4 DD A/C, I tatted, read book, did Sudoki or just watched TV. On 12 Taxol, I slept as as soon as the IV Benadryl started I would go 'nighty-night' and would wake up as alert as I had been before starting it, 20 mins. before the end of infusion. It would have been incrediable uncomfortable,for anyone to go to the Taxol with me as not only did I sleep through them but I had to have one of the glassed in cubucles and have the heat run up as runh up as it would go because my body temp. was never above 96 usually 95 and occassionally 94. Got lots of warmed blankets too. Not all have such experiences but it is possible to. Luckily, a friend from my Church is one of the RN's there so I always knew that if there was a 'problem', she would call Hubby or Son.

The first Neulasta Hubby did drive me to as he was off that day anyway and wanted to go fishing in a lake near Ft. Meade area that we had never fished before. Learned that day that day that my reaction to Neulasta was a bit different - almost to the minute after injection, 2 hrs after injection I would go to sleep for 2 hrs and wake up fine -never had any pain with Neulasta.

I alsotook myself to rads as it was easiest to just go and get done as ii didn't take hardly any time so why have Hubby or Son take off just to drive me when I was perfectly capable of doing it myself.

I'm a tough old WAAC/WAC and spent 20 yrs as a Navy wife so I'm used to doing what needs to done myself (if at all possible). I could take myself so I did - was not about to let something so 'doable' take away my 'ME' - family agreed and supported me. (Hubby took over all house/cooking chores (dogs and my rabbit too) and Son took over all horse/barn chores so all I had to was fight the Monster and do what I wanted to do.

It is about 18 miles to the chemo/rads facility and depending on traffic and weatherit took 30 - 45 mins tto drive there. Ft. Meade (the VA Center I had to go to for Neulasta) is 45 mins to an hour (or more) away, again based on traffic and weather.

I did TX during fall/winter and our winters are brutal here. Son bought me a nice Bronco II he found in a pasture and the owner said it didn't run so he got it for 'crusher' price. As I remember now all it needed was a new alternator (or something else equally minor). I did have a GMC Sonoma that is small but it was a 2X4 and did not have power steering and was aa 5 speed, my F250 was power, an automatic, 4X4 but large. So he wanted me to have something smaller, automatic and a 4X4 - he found one and home it came.

I do tend to ramble - sorry!

Spookiesmom

I mostly drive myself for all of tx. I asked SIL to come one day, he was in nursing school, thought he might like seeing the chemo room, procedures, etc. he did. I also had 2 hours after the Nulasta shot. NAP ATTACK and I better been home close to bed.

Kicks

Spookiesmom - I didn't remember anyone else saying they went 'nighty-night' (NAP ATTACK works too) 2 hrs after Neulasta. Did you wake up 2 hrs later? I did with no lingering effects. It is amazing how differently our bodies react to different 'things'.

AnewBeginning

Special K

Unfortunately I am the only one of my friends who can drive in NYC.....my son drives me but now I have to go 2 days in a row because my insurance wont approve the self administered shots of Neulasta without a copay of $4,700.00 I just dont know how they think one can afford a 4,700.00 co pay. If I get it in the hospital I have no co pay but to give myself the shots at home thats the copay. I know I will be getting alot of drugs and my drive is 1+ hours. This is all too much for me.

(((hugs)))

AnewBeginning

Winning Im not sure if the type of chemo matters but I think so?

(((hugs)))

AnewBeginning

dltmhn

Thanks I may look into it. I always have someone with me but basically Im the only driver other than my son and I dont want him missing work 2 days a week

(((hugs)))

debiann

My center wanted me to have a driver plus I was very fatigued after chemo and slept the whole way home. I didn't even have benadryl,  lol, if I would have had that I would have been camping out overnight in the infusion room. I could drive myself for the neulasta shot and for the herceptin only tx.

AnewBeginning

Elaine

Im so glad so many of you are able to drive. That gives me hope for myself! I guess I wont know till I start my AC.

(((hugs)))

loriekg

Hi AnewBeginning—On my first chemo, I did have my husband drop me off "just in case" since I didn't know how I would feel afterwards. I felt perfectly normal and have driven myself ever since. Since you live an hour away, I would recommend having someone drive for the first time, just in case you are feeling drowsy, or nauseous, who knows. I guess you could always drive yourself, and if you aren't feeling well afterward, have someone pick you up, then you could pick up your car when you go back the next day for your Neulasta shot.

MsPharoah

Anew.....My husband drove me to chemo the first time and planned to stay with me through the treatment, but we learned that the chemo room was soooooo crowded (Sad, really), that it just didn't work. So he left, ran some errands and picked me up after. I really only needed the company and could have driven myself to and from easily, but my husband wanted to. I drove myself to my Neulasta shot appt, blood draws and other apprts. with no problem. I did well with chemo, maintained a very normal schedule. Everyone is different and reacts to medication differently. Probably a good idea to have a driver/friend for the first treatment at least and don't be upset if you need help through treatment with anything...transportation, housekeeping, etc. Your health and well being is most important. Take care, hon

MsP

MinusTwo

I drove myself to every chemo except the very first one - usually a 1+ hour drive. Chemo days were 8-9 hours but I started early in the morning to miss the rush hour traffic. I only had to take Benedryl the very first one since I didn't have any adverse reactions. I also had to do Neulasta after 24 hours. My son suggested I stay overnight in town. I found a place with a very reasonable "medical rate" and a shuttle to the clinic. It worked out great. Parking ws only $5/for 24 hours so it was cheaper than the med center parking. Since I took dexamethasone (steroids) the day before, day of & day after - I had plenty of energy. Also drove myself to all rads. Different location but also an hour drive. Good luck

AnewBeginning

Loriekg

My son can always take me for the tx but if I can drive myself I'd rather he be able to go to work. I am an hour+ from the hospital but do have a friend not so far from hospital in case I need someone you gave me a good idea for the Neulasta shot. Thanks a bunch!

(((hugs)))

AnewBeginning

MsPharoah

My MO told me this is an agressive tx so I guess Im expecting the worst. Was your tx much different than mine?

My sister is coming in from Ca. to stay with me awhile but she doesnt drive in NYC.

(((hugs)))

Kicks

Road to Recovery is a great place to go. For rides or to give rides. I did 35 rides for a yoing man with brain cancer to rads the summer after I finished rads. Because he was a veteran he was staying at the Lodge on Base and I have no problem getting on Base (Hubby is retired USN) I took him. We had some fantastic talks on the way to and from. Unfortunately he lost his battle.

Chloesmom

my cousin had to get chemo in NYC and be back the next day for more care. He said the hospital got a special rate at a nearby hotel. They just stayed over Its a lot cheaper than $4700 and less stressful if you can stay one night.

Everyone is different in how they handle things. I was exhausted more from fear of the unknown the first time and was ok day 2 when I went back to get the Neulasta. So would have had no problem driving home aft that We are 45 min from Baltimore where I got my TC and would have done as suggested if I had to drive self

AnewBeginning

MinusTwo

I hope I am lucky as you with the energy stuff, at least that I can drive back for the Neulasta shot. I hate to inconveniece people.

(((hugs)))

AnewBeginning

Kicks

Its great to be able to give back!! Sorry he lost the battle but Im sure he appreciated you driving him so much.

I will definately be volunteering when Im done!!!

(((hugs)))

AnewBeginning

chloesmom

I'll figure it out as I go I guess but I like hearing such positive things.

(((hugs)))

AnewBeginning

debbiann

I thought everyone got the Benadryl in case of an allergic reaction.

ShazzaKelly

I have been on weekly Taxol for 18 months. Fairly early on my Onc changed my pre meds so I could drive as I go straight to work after, so not everyone needs the Benadryl. I also had them reduce my dex dose significantly as it doesn't really agree with me.

debiann

Benadryl knocks me right out, so MO said we could try it without. All went well. I have one more herceptin only to go! I feel like I lost the entire summer to chemo. Its all one big blur now, but after that experience  I'm enjoying this summer so much more. I never loved cleaning and gardening so much! I'm sorry for anyone just starting chemo, but you'll get through it and life gets back to normal.

AnewBeginning

dltnhm

I know the ACS has many resources and I should take advantage of the opportunity. I will definately check it out

(((hugs)))

AnewBeginning

Spookiesmom

My MO nurse practitioner said the shot can be given anywhere from 24 - 48 hours.

(((hugs)))