Tips, Tricks and How to get through this Chit!

if you are doing any kind of treatments in summer, if you can afford it, go to the sleep number store. there is some amazing sheets and pillowcases they have there, they actually DO and FEEL as advertised: stay much much MUCH cooler! and what they dont advertise, is how xtremely SOFT they are!!!  they are like your grandmothers sheets: beyond compare! like she had washed them many many times, so soft and cool! i have had mine for two summers now, i love em! this is a great thread!

My surgeon said not to take a shower until my drain was removed.  For that time, I bought some adult size Certainty wet wipes.  They are sold at Walgreens.  There are 48 12" x 8" washcloths in the package which contain aloe, chamomile & vitamin E.  It's not as good as a shower but less messy and easier than taking a sponge bath and they do help you to feel refreshed.   

The local Breast Friends group gave me a wedge pillow before I left the hospital.  It helps to keep your back elevated which aids with drainage. 

Hi Smarrty, much needed ideas, but just found the thread. I have a history of locking myself out of the car. Particularly, when I'm thinking. Also, with the hearing loss I can't hear the car running. Solution: I have a very dressy, but simple chain, that I have a car key and a house key on it. The keys are on one of those extendable pull things. I put the chain end under the top. I call it my chaos chain. Between Dh and I we had 258 doc/ medical stuff visits in 2009. Basically, wore it the entire year. Now it's in purse always, depends on a given days circumstances if I wear it. Saved me innumerable times. Hugs sassy

I'm 1 week after my first chemo, and my regular lip balm (Bert's Bees) started stinging, no wonder, it has peppermint oil in it. Pharmacist suggested Nivea's "The Kiss of Smoothness" with spf15, aloe and shay butter. It is sooo soft, not thick and sticky. I'm loving it.

When evaluating lip balms, pharmacist said I should stay away from anything that said medicated, had menthol or peppermint in it.

Is it ok to do massage after BC surgery? That would be awesome! I used alcohol wipes to strip my drain tubes and it really worked well. I also used a heart shaped pillow my mom made me under my arm to help with pain and comfort. I also took a laynard to use when I was in the shower and pined my drains to that.

I sure wish I had read this before I experienced the burn. This is common sense. Something I would have thought the MO or nurse would have advised before starting. Thank you for all future patients. 

I use L glutamine powder for neuropathy.  Take four tablespoons mixed in 8-10 oz of water the day of chemo (about 2 hours before my chemo session) and later that evening and everyday for three days.  Make sure to get the 100% L Glutamine powder.  You can get it from Super Suppliments or any health food place.   Its very chalky so I mixed in MIO with my water.  My Naturopath (who works with the Cancer Center)  recommended I take it so that my quality of life wasn't effected.  She was right on with this recommendation.  The L glutamine works great and keeps the neuropathy away. 

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I just remembered something I was going to post here. Someone may have already said it but I don't remember seeing it. Chemo messed with my taste buds and made my mout so sensitive, especially the tip of my tongue, that I couldn't tolerate sharp flavors, like vinegar and such. I am 5 months PFC and still have trouble with it. The worst was toothpaste, since there's only so long you can avoid it. I've started using Oragel children's toothpaste, in berry flavors. Much better.