What to bring - 1st chemo

So sorry you have to go thru this (((Hugs))) for you and your little one...I took some small snacks, water, my cell phone, a book, and my lap top to my chemo sessions. They had nice recliner chairs in private rooms and small lap quilts to keep us warm so sometimes I was able to catch a nap:) I did not use cold caps, (MO didn't approve of them) so I did lose my hair after the 3rd chemo but it did grow back. I did ice my hands with frozen water bottles to keep the neuropathy from affecting my fingers and that worked for me. Hang in there, you're in my thoughts and prayers...Maureen

The first time I went to chemo I took a few 'snackies' and some fruit juice, a puzzle book, a book I was reading, some tatting or crocheting (don't remember which). The next time I did not take any snackies or drinks as the facility had juice, soup, fresh fruit and crackers for you. For the 4 DD A/C (neoadjuvant) I had a private cubicle (walls on 3 sides and a curtain that could be pulled across the 4th side (if wanted). There was a recliner and a chair if someone came with you, a TV was in each cublicle that you could get whatever cable channel you wanted (included music channels). As I am often cold, they always brought me a warmed blanket. When I started 12 weekly Taxol adjuvant, The IV benadryl , would send me 'nighty-night' - the nurses would tell me 'Nighty- night' as soon as they would start the IV benadryl. I would 'wake up' 20 minutes before the end of infusion as rapidly as I went 'nighty-night'. I also developed very low temperature so I was given a cubicle that was glassed in across the 4th side that had it's own thermostat to control the temperature in it. It also had a 'hospital bed' in it and it took cranking up the heat to as high as it would go and continually adding/changing the warmed blankets - I did drop below 94f one time (that I know or). I was always hooked up to a monitor that was seen at the Nurse's Station so was continually monitored and more warmed blankets were brought in as needed.

So as I am always 'cold' and my 'normal' temperature is low, 'freezing' my head, hands and feet which woild have lowered my temperature more and would have only caused problems - possible life threatening. My nails did great throughout Chemo (actually they got better than had been ever). I used OPI Nail Envy which was suggested at the Look Good-Feel Better class. I have had no issues with neuropathy either.

Get all the information you can - BUT do not think that you will experience everything that someone who says you will experience what they did what they did. There are no 'set in stone rules' that each of will experience - we are each so unique. Get all the info you can to be prepared for all the possibilities - BUT do not assume that you will (or won't) have the same experiences that anyone else has experienced. There is NO "One Size Fits All"!

You will be given so much information in your Chemo class before first infusion.

Will you be getting a port for infusion. access? If you do, be sure to ask if your Facility has numbing spray or get EMLA cream to numb.

Know yourself and do what makes sense to you - not what anyone dictates.

OAJ2013 - While it seems counterintuitive, make sure you have something to eat (until you find out if your center supplies it) as not eating can make the nausea much worse. I always drank water until the nausea hit about 3/4 of the way through and then switched to a ginger ale or coke. Have something to do like a book, iPad, etc., and if you have a cozy blanket that you like, I would recommend bringing that as well.