| Author |
|
nutter New User
Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 4 Location: Bedfordshire
|
Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:50 pm Post subject: advice on first chemo. |
|
|
How am I going to feel after my first session of chemotherapy? The day of and the day after - how soon is it going to effect me. If people could reply to this with their personal experience immediatly after their fist session and at what speed you deteriorate during the course.
They are questions I forgot to ask my specialist and my first session is on Tuesday of this week -- 3-4 days away. Please _________________ If my dogs says yes then it's alright with me! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
thearmenian53 New User
Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 7
|
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:06 am Post subject: first chemo...what to expect |
|
|
Hi,
My name is Armond Ohanian. I survived Hodgkin's almost two years ago. The doctor told me to expect tiredness, nausea, pain and so on. I didn't. The day of I came back home and ate 2-3 plates of my dinner. I hadn't felt so energized in my life. The next day I started off okay in the morning, but by afternoon it hit me. It was a weird feeling...not nausea or pain or tiredness, but a little bit of them all. It was NOT that bad. Everyone said that it will be bad and take care of yourself, but it wasnt for me. it's differnet for every person. But i did shortly find out that greasy and heavy foods are not what you wanna stuff yourself with. Find a balanced diet those few days of and after chemo. Rest if your body tells you to. Make sure you stay away from sick people so you dont delay any of your chemo treatments. Overall keep a positive attitude and before you know it chemo will be long gone! Please Email me if you need ANY additional information.
Armond Ohanian _________________ "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." --Philippians 4:6-7 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
shelldizzy New User
Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 4
|
Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 1:03 am Post subject: rest |
|
|
| I just finished my last chemo 12/29 and the best advice I can give is get plenty of rest. The first day you may feel fine but the 2 or 3 day may hit you hard. Stay away from greasy food eat small meals. If they have you on medicine for the nasua oops on spelling make sure you take it. I know you are probably scared but try and not let your nerves get to you the day you have chemo sometimes that made it worse for me. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
shelleyk New User
Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 1
|
Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 6:27 pm Post subject: advice on 1st chemo |
|
|
| Please dont be too anxious about what you are about to go through , I wont lie to you, some things are not nice but its all worth it in the end . I felt fine after my 1st session , even drove myself home from the hospital that day. I had very bad nausea for the 1st night and 2nd day but I realised that it was the anti sickness tablets that was causing it and once I stopped taking them I was fine. Eat light meals and make sure you have plenty of fluids ( i didnt and had severe constipation because of dehydration) . I did have a lot of ulcers in my mouth for the first 2 weeks and I found that pineapple in its own juice was a good natural antiseptic and I did take a few painkillers half an hour before I ate. (this only lasted for a few weeks) . It wasnt as daunting as I thought and now it seems like a distant memory... I have enjoyed 6 years free of NHL now . I wish you good luck ....be strong and keep smiling .... heres to a speedy recovery |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
jfkbluecircle Experienced user
Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 69 Location: Indiana
|
Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 5:46 pm Post subject: Re: advice on first chemo. |
|
|
| After my first chemo (ABVD) I went to my mother's retirement party that evening. I was tired, but I'm not sure if it was from the treatment or just a continuance of the lethargy from the illness that I had been experiencing for months prior to diagnosis. One thing my oncologist did not tell me was that the side-effects of my treatment type would be cumulative (a kind oncology nurse told me in my third month) and I noticed I got progressively more tired as months passed. Chemo was not as bad as I imagined it to be, but that made it no less pleasant. I found I would get nauseous the night before my treatments as if in anticipation. The days I received treatment, I was sure to eat a little something as soon after as possible, drink lots of fluids (water mostly). I slept all afternoon after returning home, waking only breifly in the evenings to get a nibble, take the Zophran and drink more fluid. I have been in remission for almost ten years now (May 2007 will be the 10th anniversary of my diagnosis with Stage IIIB HL). People might say THE dumbest things you've ever heard in your life, but the way I handled that was just to smile and not worry about making them feel better about what I was going through. Cancer is one of life's greatest teachers. Stay strong and know you are not alone. . . |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|