Good Evening Harley;
I get mixed answers from the staff at the V.A. Hospital in Dallas as to how long someone will be required to stay with me while undergoing treatment.
The actual Tx. does not require anyone but hospital staff. Afterwards, if you're an inpatient, no one but staff is needed. An O.P. will require someone to draw blood, wake you to take your meds, assist you when the chemo kicks in.
Also, can someone tell me how long I will be nauseated following chemo and how long of a stay can I expect before being released to go home and return to normal activity?
Approx. 1 week after the SCT the chemo hits you. that's when the "fun" starts. Don't be a hero, take the meds to combat the side effects. How long they last is individual to each person. A big concern of the Drs. is the risk of infection due to all your immune defenses being killed off. Keep your environment clean and all that enter it. Especially those taking care of you. You will be released to go home after your blood counts rise to a "normal level", especially your white blood cells. As far as "returning to normal activity" I was D.C. on 4/3/08 and it's only been the last 2 weeks where I don't have to take a nap during the day. My strength and stamina are returning, but I am far from back to my normal activity. As a lovely lady once told: "Listen to your body, give it the rest it needs".(Right,Cath?)
If you go back into the archives around 3/26/08 or so, you can review my "diary" of my SCT. I tried to detail as much of it as possible as it seems like a very long time ago. Go in positive and focused and you should do fine! I'm certain if you survived basic training you will do well. Remember what you learned there.
Good luck and take care;
Kevin