More Tips (and a Shopping List) for Getting Through Chemo

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  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited January 2014

    Bump for the January chemo starters.

    Happy New Year to all.  ♥ 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2014

    Bump

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  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited January 2014

    bump for Warrior_Woman.  Good luck with chemo!  ♥

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  • Nico1012
    Nico1012 Member Posts: 1,492
    edited January 2014

    Happy New Year to all of my bco sisters!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2014

    BUMP

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  • Warrior_Woman
    Warrior_Woman Member Posts: 1,274
    edited January 2014

    I finally got through my 3 page shopping list.  I purchased things I've never heard of.  Well prepared like a good girl scout!

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  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited January 2014

    Warrior_Woman, have you heard about Murphy's Law of Chemo SE Management?

    "If you don't have something on hand, you will need it exactly when you cannot go out and get it."

    Corollary: "If you buy it in advance, you will end up not needing it at all."

    Hope that brought a smile to your face!  ♥

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited January 2014

    Badger - love it.  My son makes fun of the "pharmacy in the closet" - 95% of which I've never had to use - thank heavens.  So when their dog had mouth ulcers and needed pain pills, he joked about me checking my "pharmacy" for Tramadol to mail off to them.  They had to pay $3.00 per pill for the dog.

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  • RhodyMMM
    RhodyMMM Member Posts: 455
    edited January 2014

    Warrior Woman, I keep part of my "pharmacy" in the car. Badger mentioned "Murphy's Law of Chemo SE Management...." Last fall I ended up in the hospital twice with febrile neutropenia (low blood counts). They had given me EMLA cream for whenever my port needed to be accessed, but I had it at home. I went to the ER straight from work, and they admitted me. I got stuck multiple times before they could get venous access. I really wished I had the cream with me! So after that I kept a little bag in my care. With the EMLA cream, hand sanitzer, toothbrush and toothpaste, nail file, chap stick, clean underwear, and slipper socks. That way, if I had to go again to the hospital unexpectedly, I had all the immediate needs covered until my hubby could bring what else I needed. I keep that in my "chemo" bag now, so I can put on the EMLA on the way to the MO office for chemo or if I need blood draws. I am working through all of this, so I find that helps me to have what I need right at my fingertips.

    I found that the premeds really help with the chemo effects such as nausea; I have never really had a problem with it. I have also found that with each round I have different food cravings/aversions. I would suggest that you have high protein foods available that are tasty to you (I like cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt....can put them all on crackers; and cereals). Initially I drank a lot of seltzer water but that does not work so well for me these days, the carbonation bothers my hypersensitive tongue. I have found Peroxyl mouthwash very helpful for helping to keep my mouth clean and prevent mouthsores. It can be a bit irritating but I personally think it is worth it. I ran out a few days ago and am now having some hypersensitivity on the sides of my tongue. Biotene mouth rinse helps too because it is moisturizing and soothing.

    When are you starting chemo and what will you be getting? Good luck to you!

    Martha

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  • Warrior_Woman
    Warrior_Woman Member Posts: 1,274
    edited January 2014

    Badger - Based upon Murphy's Law I should sail through chemo.  I guess I am afraid of having a bad SE and feeling too sick to go out and get what I need.  

    Martha - Smart thinking.  I can add supplies to the emergency pack I keep in my car.  I really hope I don't have unusual reactions.  I expect SEs but I know you must have been frightened when you were hospitalized.  I have the Biotene products for my mouth along with salt and baking soda.  I start Tuesday and it is Cytoxan, Taxotere x 4 which is not as intense as the ACT from what I understand.  

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  • RhodyMMM
    RhodyMMM Member Posts: 455
    edited January 2014

    Warrior woman, you are correct. It's the Adriamycin that is/was so brutal. I continue to have issues with neutropenia now that I am getting Taxol, but the MO says that is because my bone marrow is so beaten up from the Adriamycin (red devil). Good luck to you!

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  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited January 2014

    MinusTwo, and here I thought vet meds were cheaper than people pills.  Guess not always the case.

    Warrior_Woman, I did six rounds of TC chemo (taxotere & cytoxan).  I didn't use most of what I'd packed in my chemo bag.  I did use facial tissues (they supplied them but I wanted the kind with lotion), an extra large plastic cup for ice water (which they supplied), a paperback book, and snacks (trail mix, to which I now have an aversion).  I got advice from another ca pt to not bring any food that I loved with me to tx because I'd associate it with chemo and not love it anymore.  I hardly ever eat at McDonalds but I'd hit the drive-through on my way back home (yes I drove myself) for a QP with cheese and wolf it down in the car.  So I've had six in my life and have no desire for another.

    The clinic where I had chemo used a warmed towel to bring up the veins for better access.  They also had warmed blankets which was so nice since I was chilly from guzzling cold water and sucking on ice cubes to protect my mouth.  You will be there for several hours and get a lot of fluids so if you're like me, you'll need to pee several times while you're there.  They unplug the infusion machine (it has battery power) and you take the pole to the bathroom.  Wear pants that you can pull down & back up with one hand in case the cannula is in your hand, sweats or PJ bottoms with an elastic waistband are good. 

    The night before an infusion, I took a stool softener.  Took one when I got home from tx too.  Chemo can turn your poo into concrete so I wanted a pre-emptive strike.  

    The first time is the scariest because you don't know what to expect.  Wishing you good luck, smooth sailing, and few SE's!  ♥ 

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  • Nico1012
    Nico1012 Member Posts: 1,492
    edited January 2014

    badger ~ Soteria205 . . . . .  you are THE BEST ! !

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  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited January 2014

    Nico1012 - back'atcha!  ♥

    Bump for the newbies.

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  • Warrior_Woman
    Warrior_Woman Member Posts: 1,274
    edited January 2014

    Badger - I should bring all the fattening foods I love with me tomorrow so that dieting will be easier in the future.   Good advice about the pants to wear.  It seems I've lived in stretchy pants since my BMX.  

    Rhody - Thank you!

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  • Nico1012
    Nico1012 Member Posts: 1,492
    edited January 2014

    le bump . . .

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  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited January 2014

    bump!

    Warrior_Woman, thinking of you and hoping you're doing OK.  ♥

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  • Warrior_Woman
    Warrior_Woman Member Posts: 1,274
    edited January 2014

    Hi Badger - I'm oddly OK.  I keep waiting for something awful to happen.  My muscles are achy in the evenings and mornings and so far so good.  Thank you, Sweetie!

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  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited January 2014

    attawoman!  ♥ 

    bump for the newbies.

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  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited January 2014

    bump it up!

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  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited January 2014

    bump for the newbies!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2014

    Bump

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  • Nico1012
    Nico1012 Member Posts: 1,492
    edited January 2014

    bumping !

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  • NWArtLady
    NWArtLady Member Posts: 360
    edited January 2014

    bump!

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  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited January 2014

    bump it up!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2014

    bump

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  • Nico1012
    Nico1012 Member Posts: 1,492
    edited January 2014

    bumping

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2014

    Bump...........I wish I could bump winter out of here!

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  • Gardengirl66
    Gardengirl66 Member Posts: 93
    edited January 2014

    love all the tips from everyone...will be starting chemo in a couple weeks... All this info makes it a little less scary and a little more prepared. 

    Thanks ,gardengirl66 

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  • Sunshower
    Sunshower Member Posts: 43
    edited January 2014

    bump...started chemo today...love all the suggestions. They have been very helpful.

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