What to take to chemo and tips

Hi there @Cab ...sorry you've had to join the "club" but welcome all the same. Remember, just like pregnancy and childbirth,, some people get mild and some  severe symptoms of various types. Some get heartburn, others not. Some get varicose veins and piles, some not. some get severe stretchmarks, others just one or two, or none. Some mums go into labour, breathe and pant the push out a baby with the greatest of ease...lippy and eyemakeup intact. Others end up with IVs, pessaries, god knows what else and end up getting their bellies attacked with a weedwhacker and the baby chopped out. Similarly with chemo, you won't know "till you start. Some breeze through with relative ease, and others are knocked sideways. As a general tip I'd say this. Take your own tea or coffee with you for the chemo. Hospital stuff is horrible. Take something to suck on or nibble on. My choice was boiled sweets, such as eucalyptus candies and salt a vinegar chippies. I found the sharp taste of the chips cut through the strange taste in the mouth.  A pair of comfy socks or Slumby slippers is also nice and comforting. I took my knitting (if she's sitting...she's knitting) and my kindle to keep me busy. At home, I had goodies for both diarrhoea and for constipation. Either or both can be a bother. I had mouth ulcers, and used an alcohol free mouthwash...even just bicarb in water works fine. I used various creams and gels used for teething babies in my mouth. Keep the fluids up, and remember, it doesn't have to be plain water, which can taste horrible (metallic), tea, juice, a bit of cordial, such as Bickford's lemon and lime, milo...whatever floats your boat, just drink plenty to flush out your system. Be kind to yourself and remember, this too will pass. Sending the biggest (((hug))), Ally.

AllyJay thank you so much   i have written your tips down and off to the shop I go.  Hopefully I will have the same as labour.  Lol.  45 mins for the first and 15 for my boy.  Bahahahaha.  Never tried to knit but maybe its something i should take up.  Thank you for your encouragement and words of advice.  Although its not the club i wanted to join at 36 its a better club than others.  Xxxxx

Hey lovely.  The hospital will have warm blankets and heat packs if needed.  Just take something to amuse yourself, music, crosswords, books etc.
 You may not need much at all the day of.  I had AC and then Taxol,  No herceptin though. 

Had no problems needing a spray bottle (apart from to spray my head for the cold cap)  AC makes your pee red but that goes quickly and there is no pain.  AC did not burn, no nose or eye problems.  Your head is sensitive about day 10 to a  couple of weeks after it.  If you are using the scalp cooler that can last for a number of weeks. Taxol (this is the T in ACT) was a lot easier for me.  Very few side effects.  Everyone is different though.  Can't help with the herceptin or hair falling out side effects sorry.

I would stock up on immodium (the dissolvable ones as they work quickly) and coloxyl for when it swings the other way.  When you need to pee, go straight away, there is not much time delay.

Ask for the good anti nausea drugs (ondansetron) not the cheap crap they give you.  Have a thermometer to check your temp and a bazillion mints and fruit tingles for the bad taste most people get from chemo.

You will be ok. There will be others with more info on the herceptin and hair loss.  Awesome group of people on here.

All the best.  Keep in touch.

xoxoxo

Kesmusc thank you hun.  Great advice about red pee.  I would have freaked out lol.  So you didnt lose your hair with the ac.  I have big curly hair so the cap probably wont work.  Getting a killer wig on monday. Lol.  Thanks for the advice re nausea meds.  I will ask them for it at my nurse sesh on thursday.  Xxx

No I didn't lose my hair. If you have big curly hair,  you will need to wet it down trice as much as what they say and plaster the conditioner on so it sticks to your scalp.  Push the cap down regularly so it's touching your scalp during your treatment..  Worked a treat for me.  Nobody would have ever known I was having chemo.

To be honest, I took my mobile and a book. I had A/C, then Taxol and Herceptin. I didn't spray, use a cold cap, have nausea, avoided any bowel problems by dropping the steroids (as I had no nausea) and also had no fatigue. I had a few other side effects, one unrelated to chemo, but watch out for finger tingling on Taxol. Most people find Taxol easier than A/C but I cheerfully loathed it. Peripheral neuropathy is usually not too severe and abates or vanishes after treatment but not always. If you get tingling in your fingers or feet, tell your oncologist and ask about how to avoid any long term problems. Mostly Taxol was not disastrous just very irritating. Had no side effects with Herceptin at all. High temperatures are to be taken seriously, see a doctor but mostly you will know if you have one. Have a thermometer in the house by all means, but you are unlikely to have to check frequently.
Hair loss affects people very differently. I didn't want it of course but wasn't floored by it. I worked through chemo, wore a light, easy to look after and totally convincing synthetic wig and was fine.
Best of luck, count the treatments down, you get to the end sooner than you would think. Best wishes.

Omg afraser i am having the same.  I am going to get something totally over the top.  Thank you so much for your knowledge and experiences   i so apprecoate it. Xxx

Enjoy! I got a lot of very complementary comments about my wig but it was relatively tame. I had dead straight hair originally, and enjoyed having a wig with a bit of curl. Which is just as well as my post chemo hair (5 years) has a bit of a curl too! 

That is wonderful afraser.  Well if mine gets curlier i will have an afro.  Bahahahaha.  Oh you have to look at the good things dont you.  I am just so blessed to have people like yourself who are happy to help others along the way.  Xxx

Welcome to the club. It sucks any of us have to be here. We’re close in age too (im 35)! To chemo I take my laptop, charger, headphones and wifi dongle and watch movies/Netflix, I also take a book to read, water bottle and fruit tingle lollies! Good luck with your journey