Forum Discussion

Brenda5's avatar
Brenda5
Member
10 years ago

Ideas to remedy next chemo visit.

Researching why they couldn’t find a decent vein the other day:

I had to get out of bed early in the day before 6am to get a lift into town for the chemo and wait again at my sister’s place for a lift to the chemo building and then wait again for my appointment time to come up. Lots of sitting, lots of waiting, lots of sitting under cold air conditioning and no exercise, warmth, or drinking of water, just one coffee.

I was also waiting ¾ hour alone in the chemo building with no one to sit with me for my chemo dose this time and I was worried and frightened. Not even my McGrath nurse put in a visit and my favourite wards lady had the day off as well. After an initial appearance by a Dr who didn’t even speak to me, she then disappeared for the rest of the day as well.

Tips to remedy next appointment: Drink lots of water. Have my usual morning walk. Have a nice warm shower afterwards. Get a ride straight in to the chemo appointment, no messing around and drink a water bottle on the way. Have a bit of a walk down the road before I go in. Hang my arm down when walking (involves wearing a glove to keep the sun off my nails). Swing my arm around a bit to send blood into the arm extremities and widen the veins. Even stand beside the chair and do some swinging arm exercises before sitting down and waiting maybe half an hour to get tended to.

Make my husband come with me next time for moral support or at least try to arrange my McGrath nurse or main chemo building Dr to be present for the first bit. A combination of all three would be nice as I am still traumatised from that 3rd dose of chemotherapy. There’s an interesting word, chemo + therapy. What a laugh; try chemotrauma! End of rant.

 

chemotherapy

3 Replies

  • Brenda5's avatar
    Brenda5
    Member
    10 years ago

    Only one more chemo to go in a couple of weeks. I will put the darn needle in a vein myself rather than have surgery.

  • louiseg's avatar
    louiseg
    Member
    10 years ago

    If you've still got a lot of chemo to have, it may be worth getting a PICC line put in.  I sort of wish that I had had one when I had my chemo but I only had 4 rounds.  My mum is currently having 12 rounds of Taxol and had one put in before she started.  It makes it sooooo much easier and less stressful.  There are risks of blood clots but this is pretty rare.  The procedure to put it in was easy and the only down-side is that she has to keep it completely dry and have the dressing changed once per week.  That's not too much trouble though as they do it when she goes in for her weekly chemo.

  • KristyE's avatar
    KristyE
    Member
    10 years ago

    Some good tips there! I have shocking veins, so not looking forward to chemo at all in that respect.