Driving on the day of chemo infusion

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ellenkc
ellenkc Member Posts: 173
edited June 2014 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After


I am getting treatment at a major breast center 120 miles away. Definitely worth it for multidisciplinary team approach, expertise, etc.


Starting in November, I will get 4 rounds of chemo at 3 week intervals. Don't know yet which chemo. The medical oncologist thought I would be fine to drive back and forth the day of the chemo. What do you folks think?


Do the side effects tend to hit the day of the treatment? Or is it more like a day or two later?


Where possible, I am getting someone to go with me, but just want to know in case I need to go alone for some visits.


Thanks -- Ellen

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  • luckypenny
    luckypenny Member Posts: 150
    edited October 2013


    hi Ellen


    I think it depends on the chemo and pre meds that you get. I was fine to drive on the a-c but with taxol not fine as they gave me benedryl in my bag and I was sleepy. With all the chemos I felt like I had a stuffy head. The steroids helped with the a-c to give me some energy before I crashed a few days later.


    I will say that I didn't drive 120 miles though and that may have been too much Good luck to you

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2013


    I would have been fine driving while on AC, and except for the first 2 infusions, I drove myself for the rest of my 12 taxol. Since you're driving so far, I think it would be a good idea if you just had someone to ride along with you. What state are you in?


    Blessings


    Paula

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  • ellenkc
    ellenkc Member Posts: 173
    edited October 2013


    Thanks! I am in Colorado. I have a lumpectomy this Wednesday (10/9) and meet the medical oncologist on 10/22, at which point I will get more details. Meanwhile, I am rounding up friends who are retired and could take a day to drive to Denver.


    Ellen

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  • TifJ
    TifJ Member Posts: 1,568
    edited October 2013


    As Luckypenny said- be careful if you are getting Benadryl. Even if it is not a routine part of your chemo, it may be administered if you have a reaction to one of your chemos. After the first chemo, I did not feel the effects until the 4th day. Each treatment after that they seemed to hit a day sooner. I always had someone drive me. Best wishes Ellen!

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  • MsPharoah
    MsPharoah Member Posts: 1,034
    edited October 2013


    Hi EllenKC! First, best wishes for an uneventful surgery on Wednesday. Let us know how you are doing. As far as driving to and from chemo, your oncologist is right...you can probably do it, but it might be a good idea to have someone with you the first time so you can better judge how you react to the medication. I had 6 TC treatments and the day of the infusion was completely uneventful for me. Definitely could do anything, including driving. But everyone responds differently to the premeds that they give you...so having someone with you at least the first infusion makes good sense to me.


    Sending out calming hugs to you! Sandra

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  • encyclias
    encyclias Member Posts: 302
    edited October 2013


    As a thought, Ellen, I was told back when I was getting A/C x 4, 3-weeks apart, that if I got into a car wreck after that infusion,, my auto ins may not pay since I was technically driving under the influence of drugs; doesn't seem to matter whether they are legal or illegal. It is very important to find out exactly what they are giving you that may impair your driving. I didn't have a problem because all I got was A/C without any of the trimmings. But then again, I was less than 5 minutes from my cancer center anyhow.


    Please, try to find friends to help you make the drive for safety's sake.


    Carol

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  • Cougarlicious
    Cougarlicious Member Posts: 114
    edited October 2013


    For that long of a drive, I'd definitely get help or someone else to drive. You just never know how your body will react!


    FYI I believe the American Cancer Society may offer gas cards for your commute, get more info here: http://www.cancer.org/treatment/supportprogramsservices/app/resource-detail.aspx?resourceId=107124

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  • ellenkc
    ellenkc Member Posts: 173
    edited October 2013


    Driving these long distances is when I really appreciate my Prius -- about 5 gallons per trip.


    Had my lumpectomy/sentinel node biopsy/port placement yesterday, and drove from Denver to Pueblo today. Did okay, but tired. A friend stayed with me overnight, but I had gone up there on Tuesday for pre-op visits so I drove then.


    I am lining up people to go with me for future trips -- a second pair of ears for doctor visits, a driver after chemo.


    Two months since my husband's death, I am beginning to get used to a quiet house (but still playing tv and radios a lot), but boy, not having him there to support me during these health visits really emphasizes the loss. As I came out of anesthesia yesterday, I was crying and thrashing around because he wasn't there. I must have been making a scene before I was fully conscious, because there were 6 staff members in the cubicle with me! Yikes. Kind of embarrassing.


    Ellen

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  • SC60
    SC60 Member Posts: 416
    edited October 2013


    hi Ellenkc! My heartfelt sympathies to you on the passing of your husband! No reason to be embarrassed when you came out if anesthesia! Many of us have very different reactions to it and yours was very understandable. I wish I could control mine as I am labeled "combatant". LOL As for driving, I drive myself but it is only 30-40 minutes away and I have a reserve ride available should I need it! I wouldn't drive all that way alone. I believe buddies are best! Sending you hugs {{{}}} and healing wishes. Susan

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  • MsPharoah
    MsPharoah Member Posts: 1,034
    edited October 2013


    Ellen, you should never be embarrassed! I am so sorry about the loss of your husband. My husband has been a hero for me through my treatment, so I am very empathetic about what you are dealing with. I just want to hop on a plane and hold your hand through this whole ordeal. I am glad you have gathered an army of friends around you to help. I hope you see your sisters on BCO as part of your team.


    Hugs,


    MsP

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  • christina0001
    christina0001 Member Posts: 1,491
    edited October 2013


    Ellen, so sorry for your loss. I too would recommend having someone drive you. During my second chemo I started to have difficulty breathing so I too was given benedryl then, and during all my other treatments. I was definitely too sleepy to drive. And people react to chemo differently. You very well might be fine, but if it turns out you are not fine, you'll be stuck there.

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  • ellenkc
    ellenkc Member Posts: 173
    edited January 2014

    Just in case anyone new looks at this thread for advice, here's what my experience has been:

    I've had 4 infusions of Cytoxin/Taxotere at 3 week intervals. Each of those cycles has been different and unpredictable. I probably could have driven after infusions 1, 2, and 4 (though I would have been pretty tired) as side effects didn't kick in for a few days, and the steroids the day before and day of chemo kept me pretty wired.

    However, I would have been in real trouble on the 3rd infusion if I hadn't had someone with me. That infusion kicked my butt, including right away. I laid down in the back seat for a good part of the trip home, and headed straight for bed once I got home.

    So I guess the moral of the story is that for long distances, you better have someone there just in case.

    Side effects are supposed to be cumulative, but somehow my 4th (and final! Hurray!) infusion has gone much more smoothly.

    Ellen

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  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 1,216
    edited January 2014

    I had 3 FEC and 3 taxotere. For me, there was no way I could have driven with the FEC. Almost immediately during tx, I felt "spacey". This feeling would last about 2 -3 days and gradually wear off. I was lucky in that I had tx on wed. And would take wed -fri off of work, have the week ends off and go back on Mondays. With the taxotere I could have driven. I did not get that feeling and felt very clear. However by fri afternoons I started getting intense bone pain in my thighs and legs which I could not drive with. Thankfully by mon morning most of the pain had subsided. I think you should have someone with you until you know how you react?

    Ellen, I'm sorry about the loss of your husband. Please know we are all here supporting you in our hearts!

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited January 2014

    1st treatment I was too high on Benadryl, Emmend and Zyrtec for several days. After the first week my body got used to the Zyrtec (my onc had me on it the entire time). The real problem for me was the Emmend made my distance eyesight fuzzy for 3 days after treatment. I was fine to walk but not really for driving.

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  • MizMarie
    MizMarie Member Posts: 332
    edited January 2014

    I had TCH, and the pre-chemo meds included Benadryl, but I was also pretty ramped up on steroids so the sleepiness didn't last long - by the time I left the cancer center, I was fully awake.

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