Forum Discussion

GinGin's avatar
GinGin
Member
2 years ago

Ice gloves - ideas needed please

Hello ladies,
I am starting chemo next week. AC (4x every fortnight) and then Taxol (12x weekly).
 I have been using the search and came across posts shared by @shs14 and @poodlejules about ice gloves during chemo for PN preventative measures. Have literally just placed orders to purchase socks for the feet and plan to DIY with fingers ( using ice cubes and plastic container).

Unfortunately, the socks will not arrived in time for my first Chemo next week.

Can anyone please help me with what other feasible DIY ideas are there for the feet. 

P.s. I spoke to the oncologist nurse and she said it isn’t ‘standard of care’, 😭 and no evidence it works. But if I don’t do it, I will totally regret not even trying taking preventive measures.

once again, thank you in advance! 

xx
Gin
chemotherapy
side-effects
support
  • GinGin's avatar
    GinGin
    Member
    2 years ago
    Good to hear your centre subsequently provided hand ice packs. Mine has confirmed they don’t provide as it’s not proven to be effective.
    @jennyss, out of interest, what is the ‘overall’ method that you used at home?
  • jennyss's avatar
    jennyss
    Member
    2 years ago
    @GinGin, I was having a problem with the skin on my hands and feet blistering, as well as hoping to prevent nail problems. I used an 'overall' method, and treated at home. I seem to recall that after a few chemo sessions, the staff at the centre provided hand ice-packs during chemo. See, I have forgotten the details - Good old time!
  • GinGin's avatar
    GinGin
    Member
    2 years ago
    Thank you @jennyss, @shs14.
    Can I confirm how I should be doing this? do I sandwich my fingers between two cold pak, similarly with my foot, I should sandwich between two cold paks focusing on my nails? Or my whole hand?

    I saw another lady(in this forum) where she had photos showing that she only dips mainly her fingers in bowl of ice.

    P.s. We plan to bring esky with ice to ensure the paks stay cold. 
  • jennyss's avatar
    jennyss
    Member
    2 years ago
    Dear @GinGin,
    Five years ago I believe these home made ice mitts, and similar funky footwear, helped to prevent loss of nails, and also may have helped to reduce blistering on my feet and hands. 
    Best wishes from jennyss in Western NSW.

  • GinGin's avatar
    GinGin
    Member
    2 years ago
    😊 thank you @shs14. Look forward to hearing from you.
  • shs14's avatar
    shs14
    Member
    2 years ago
    I think the socks mostly keep the underside of the foot cold. My husband reminds me we bought soft ice packs, in kind of fabricky material from the chemist I think. I’m in transit just now, till tomorrow, but I’ll see if I can find their name. So glad my tips have helped. 
  • GinGin's avatar
    GinGin
    Member
    2 years ago
    @shs14, thank you for writing to me. 
    I have read your posts very thoroughly and make notes of them. 🤗
    With the ice bricks, should they be on top of my foot nails as well as under my foot?
  • shs14's avatar
    shs14
    Member
    2 years ago
    Ps I gave another post with tips for chemo. You’ll go well, walk!  X
  • shs14's avatar
    shs14
    Member
    2 years ago
    Hi GinGin,
    really glad to hear you are trying this. 
    There are trials that showed it works but no money in it so not supported well. your comment came up in my emails. You could try ice bricks to rest your feet on. we brought an esky to every chemo and I have no residual neuropathy. A friend going through chemo had bad symptoms and started icing the next week and has kept feeling. Good luck!