Controlling risk of infection on treatment

I tended to avoid crowds (don't like them, anyway) due to possibility of colds, etc.  But I went swimming at an indoor pool with my onc's blessing.  Did the same as @zoffiel regarding GP waiting room on the GPs advice - it did confuse a couple of the receptionists though.

Yep  @Penny001  doctors surgeries are the worst places.  I always wore a mask and they would always take me to an empty room to wait.   Bacterial Hand Gel was my best friend.  I avoided supermarkets for the first 2 weeks of chemo then on my last week before my next chemo I always made a point of going out with a friend for coffee.    No sick friends or family were allowed through the door at home though but generally people are pretty good and understand.  I had the pets around the whole time I couldn't have not had them around they always made me feel better. xo

I have 3 dogs, 20 to 30 horses depending on the day, 5 teenagers at home at that time, my house is always full of cowboys, work in a public hospital (lot's of handwashing and phone wiping down)  refused the neulasta injection after the first one and never got sick once.
 I didn't really do much different, I did do the trolley wiping down thing and avoided handrails in shops and the hospital but that's about it. Actually I think I kind of forgot about the whole thing half way through chemo :smile:

Avoid waiting rooms during chemo if you can, particularly if you need to go to your GP or anywhere there are likely to be, or have been, people with bugs you don't want to catch. I trained all the medical receptionists I had to deal with to give me a call immediately before the doctor could see me and I'd wait outside or in the car (probably not the most hygienic place on earth either) I met a bit of resistance from what I describe as Door Bitches but in the end they came around to my point of view. 
It's all a bit of a lottery, just be as sensible as you can and don't let anyone or anything slobber on you. Mxx

really,that makes me feel better that i can have my babies around

I work at vet clinic and worked through chemo. Everyone around me get sick at work and I was fine. I just avoided doing certain risky things like handling cranky cats but apart from that I just carried on as per normal. 

I was told most of our risks come from our own bacterial stuff than outside risks.
I had my animals with me during chemo...I spent a lot of time lying down and it wasnt unusual to wake up with 3 cats surrounding me and a dog at my feet. To be honest their presence really helped me cope.
I was fastidious about toilets. ..especially when out...just wipe  the seat etc....mostly when we travelled on roadside loos. 
Really I just was more cautious in my low neutropenic time..always wiped down the shopping trolley and just carried hand bacterial gel with me in case no soap. Never got sick once.

I tended to not kiss people when at gatherings especially if people had colds etc. Havibg said that flu went through my household twice...and I never got it. I wondered if the chemo killed the virus. 
Kath x

@Penny001, you need patience, determination & a lot of self care and you will get through it. It seems never ending in the beginning but then it is done. Take one day at a time & accept any help people offer.  When you feel well do things that make you happy & other days rest. Take care xx

you guys sound amazing, will i be ok, how do i stay strong

I also had my 2 schnauzers in the house, one sleeps in our room. I worked 3 days a week in a doctors clinic & never got sick once during my six months of chemo. I used a sanitizer at work & didn’t kiss anyone. I didn’t use public transport but still did normal things like shopping & going to gym.