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.