The most newbie question ever?

Hi,

You dont really feel the drug going in. A portion of it just does a slow drip. In ac they use a syringe into the canula or port or whatever to deliver sone of the treatment. Again you dont really feel it. 

I was a little bit headachy and nauseas in AC. If it happens nurses will give you something if you ask. I had a metal taste. They give you an icey pole to eat and i enjoyed the challenge of making it last till the syringes were gone. My head was sometimes a bit swimmy. 

On paclitaxel i had to visit toilet regularly, think it was the saline. I ate nuts in this chemo and found it reduced nausea. 

If you feel nervous take something to keep you hands or your head busy. Ive had a needle and blood phobia for about 35 years and found crochet great. Sometimes during ac i had to redo the crochet after as my head wasnt quite right and i repeated rows or decreased too many stitches!

Thank you so much @Afraser - at least lockdown is something I’ve done before and can do again! 💪 

Now we are in lockdown, don’t get too worried if your husband can’t accompany you. If he can take you there and home again that’s a good start. The nurses are used to recently diagnosed, anxious patients and are mainly excellent. A sandwich and a cup of something is usually offered. You’ll be carefully monitored, particularly first time round. It’ll be fine. 

Thanks @AllyJay - got it. Kind of why I’m only thinking about what will happen on the day. Currently hearing on the news that Melbourne might be about to go into a 5 day lockdown - selfishly hoping they don’t take away my husband coming with me. x

Just to clarify....my above comment pertains only to the day of the chemo treatment...what followed for me was a whole other story (or saga) for another day. One bite at a time....

@AllyJay I hadn’t even thought of snacks!! Good one. My husband is allowed to come with me for my first one thankfully so I can send him off to find whatever my heart desires! After that due to COVID it’s a solo endeavour. And yes, I generally enjoy a very dark sense of humour!! But I will be honest and say I absolutely howled at the moon and cried my eyeballs dry in the shower this morning, so it’s not nonstop LOLs by any means  🥺 like everyone else just drawing on whatever I can find to cope with this very sudden situation.

These descriptions are really useful in having some idea of reality (or multiple realities). I guess I didn’t realise how many tropes from movies and TV I have in my head around treatment - even though I do have sibling that’s gone through extensive chemo, it was 22 years ago and I wasn’t there all the time at the hospital.

I’ve forced myself to do a 15 min yoga video to calm myself down which really helped, along with walking my dog for an hour this morning. Putting on a brave face when my children are home is so hard, but that’s a whole other thread no doubt.

I didn't feel much at all but like AllyJay I had a funny taste but mine only lasted for a few minutes. I did get a headache part way through but found panadol was enough to send it packing. I also got cold part way through. My friend cannot stay awake through her treatment and spends her time in the chair happily snoring away. I got the munchies.

I did my chemo back in 2016 and 2017, as as our very wise @Afraser says...one step at a time. My take on it is "How do you eat an elephant"? ..."One bite at a time". Hear goes the tip of an ear. I had a port put in on the morning of my first chemo and so "hunt the vein" wasn't a problem. They found it, poked it...ans we were in business. Aside from a strange taste, sort of at the back of my throat, top of my sinuses area, as well as in my mouth, I had no other effects. I found nibbling salt and vinegar crisps(well chomping really, but nibbling sounds a tad more ladylike), very good at cutting through the burning plastic, acrid taste. By the time I got to the paclitaxel part of things, I knew to have very fast removal pants on and a clear run to the loo. (I also took spares with me in case of a total disaster, but fortunately they weren't needed. Montezuma's Revenge...big time. I did purchase a plastic bucket from Kmart to puke in, and it remains a puke virgin to this day. It now spends its days as a mere laundry bucket. When you get to eating the trunk, or other bits...ask away. Nice to see another member with a ...shall we say...different sense of humour....I like mine black...

The first chemo infusion I had, I distinctly recall a gripping pain in my lower spine where I already have osteoarthritis.  It was quite distinct and lasted a couple of seconds, sort of like spasms.  Other than that I just felt a sort of feeling as though I had severe jet lag.  Nothing more, but just not pleasant, but doable.  The subsequent chemo sessions were just a feeling of jet lag and I felt very tired, and would not have been driving home.  I am told that also if an accident did occur and I was driving home that perhaps I would not be covered by insurance, so I never took the risk of driving my car home.  I had a friend or family member take me to all chemo, except when I continued with Herceptin, I drove myself and also for the 6 weeks of radiation therapy I drove myself there and back also.

In addition I did feel a sort of weird out of body experience, but nothing too weird.  The unknown can be frightening.  Overall I would just say that often I felt a severe case of "jet lag".  

I never had anyone describe the experience of a chemo infusion to me before I had my first infusion, so I hope my description helps you somewhat. 

Ask any questions and I hope I will give you an honest answer on my experience.

As @Afraser says try to not worry about what may not happen.

I got through 4 AC's 12 paclitaxol and continued for 12 months of Herceptin, and 6 weeks of radiation therapies (both boobs), and now on AI's.  All this and having a couple of heart conditions to be considered.  The oncologists know their stuff and you are in good hands.  

Excellent decision! Enjoy your day!