The night before chemo?????

Hi Alibeths,

The treatment itself is not bad. As I have said on other boards...I think of it as a "spa day" as I'm stretched out on a heated recliner with warm blankets, offered food and drink, fussed over by the nurses, and get to watch netflex movies on my computer. Even get a nap in! At our cancer center they infuse you with the "pre-meds" before the chemo drugs and they usually include anti-nausea meds, steroids, benydral and ativan which is also an anti-nausea drug but also an anti-anxiety med. Believe me, you are feeling pretty floaty during the procedure - that is why they want someone else to drive you home afterward. I asked them in subsequest infusions to lower the benydral as I showed no allergic reaction to the chemo and I wanted to be clear headed enough to drive myself home. They were happy to do that.

My onc had me start taking pre-meds that he perscribed the day before chemo. These included a steroid, claritan (for bone pain from neulasta shot given day after infusion), and an over the counter anti-acid (Prilosec or Zantac). I take the steroid the day before chemo and then for 3 days after chemo.I take Zofran starting the day after chemo for 3 days for nausea to be piggybacked with ativan and or compazine if I need more nausea control. Honestly, the Zofran worked great and I was never nauseated so I didn't need additional meds for that. I did take the Ativan (my new best friend) at night to help me sleep. The steroids can have you wide awake all night otherwise. Indigestion was my one of my worst SE and rolaids took care of it but I'm now taking the anti-acid daily to try and beat it to the punch. I also took stool softeners starting the day before chemo and for a week after to counter any constipation and had immodium on hand when I had a couple of days of diarrhea. After a week I was able to stop all the meds except claritan which I kept using due to my allergies.

I know it sounds like a lot of pills and a confusing regimine...but its really not bad once you've been through one round. Everyone is different to how they react to chemo and the pre-meds but it is doable and I've found not nearly as scary or horrible as I was anticipating. You can do this!

Ask you onc about pre-meds - he should be perscibing them for you with a schedule of what to take when. Make sure he gives you ativan! As good as any xanax I've taken!

Good luck!

Hi Alibeths

Your poor love, it's scary to contemplate, but please don't panic.  I had my port put in four days prior to the first chemo, and was so worried about the whole chemo thing and how it was going to hurt when the port was accessed, I actually had a siezure as they were prepping me for chemo.  Spent the day in ER instead.  Was so angry and frustrated with myself.  When I went back in two days later there was no hitch and it all went very well.

As Annie said - you are usually pampered a bit - lovely recliner to sit in, warm blankets, food, water etc and the nurses fussing over you.

My advice would be to take the Xanax (is that diazapam?) before you go in.  For your port - I'm usually not too bad with needles, but was pretty terrified about the needle they use to access the port (it's really not that bad) and I got some Emla cream.  Not sure if it's called the same thing over there - but it's an aneasethetic for your skin.  I'd put a pretty good dollop on the skin over the port and cover it with a plastic "bandagey type of thing" lol - don't know how else to describe it - sort of like Glad Wrap - Saran Wrap I think you guys call it? And left it for at least 3 hours before the port was to be accessed - and I never felt a thing :-)

The main thing is to drink lots of water on the day you get chemo - as well as the following days, but as you are getting it to keep your bladder flushed - some chemos can be harsh on the bladder.

Apart from that - depending on the type of chemo you are getting there's not too much to do to prepare.  If you are getting a taxane - ie taxotere, taxol etc you can ice your fingers, paint your nails black etc to minimise nail loss.  Some women have this happen - I never did.  I didn't ice, but I had lovely black polished fingernails for a couple of treatments lol.

Make sure you bring something to keep you occupied - a movie to watch, a book to read, knitting or whatever you are into.  Chemo infusions can take a while.

I was never allowed to have an infusion unless there was someone to drive me home.  My DH came with me, but as the treatments went on - I sent him out to do other things while I was there so I could relax and not worry about him being bored.

Good luck with it - keep us informed, and ask if you have any questions at all.

I'm over 2 years past chemo - and doing very well, feeling wonderful and on top of the world.

(((((hugs))))

Trish

Yes, I got a perscription from the doc for the steroids, 3 anti-nausea meds including ativan the week before my first treatment. I bought over the counter meds myself for indigestion, claritan, immodium, and stool softener. Saline spray is also good because your nose dries out.

Hope that helps!