So your doctor just told you that they are going to get you scheduled for infusions and so many things start running through your head. Typically the very first one is NOT going to be “What will I need to take with me?” However, after the fear and all the questions about the medication you will be receiving has died down you will probably start thinking about what you will need to take with you to said infusion. How long will you be there? Will you want things to do while you are there? In General most infusions receive last anywhere from an hour to as long as 8 hours or more depending on what medication they are receiving. But you also have to include the time it takes for them to ask all the questions, get your IV started/port accessed and pre meds give so you can easily add about another 30-45 min on to your total time. That being said you will likely want to take a bag of some sort with them.  So that is exactly what I want to talk about today, things you may want to take with you when you go to your infusion appt.
I actually talked to several of my friends who receive or have received infusions in the past about their list of things that they take to their appts. The common thing among almost everyone was that almost everyone takes a blanket. Everyone who has spent any time in a drs offices or hospital know that they are ALWAYS cold. Also many times part of the protocol for many infusions include Benadryl, which makes most very sleepy so having a comfy blanket when you get sleepy just feels good.  Some people even said that they take a pillow with them. I personally found that it was to cumbersome to take a pillow with me for a two hour appt. The facility I went to always had pillows available if I needed one. I did think about buying one of the small travel size pillows to take with me but never did. But I may do that in the future if I go back to getting infusion.

The other common thing among most of the people I talked to was entertainment. Since the appts last so long you will need things to keep you “entertained.” Yes, we aren’t children, but sitting in a chair hooked up from an IV for hours on end can get very boring. Most people said they take a computer, iPad, cell phone, or some sort of electronic device that they can use to surf the internet or watch Netflix. Netflix or something similar is a great way to pass the time. That being said if you do plan on streaming some kind of movie or TV show make sure that you take headphones (ear buds) and a charger for your device. Most infusions centers are set up with everyone in one big room or in a big open space. Not in single patient rooms like when you are in the hospital. So taking headphones is good for you and for everyone around you. Other things that people said they take with them to infusion appointments to keep them entertained were things like coloring books and colored pencils, a book or magazines to read, crossword puzzles or Sudoku. There are a million and one things I could list out, but the point is you will want something to keep you entertained when you get bored.

The final common thing that many people said they take to infusion appts was food. Many times as I have said before you are at these appts for hours and hours so you may get hungry. Most facilities will not feed you, if they do have food on hand it is most likely to be something like crackers and juice or something small. So taking your own food is important. You will probably not want to eat a lot before of during your first infusion just to see how the meds make you feel and if you will get nauseated. But after that you should know what to expect. If it were me I would take a protein bar  and water or something small that doesn’t take up a lot of room in my bag and isn’t super smelly for those who are around me that may be feeling sick.

I hope this helps you all. Infusions can be a scary thought but if you can know a little about them going in it will help. Take time before you go to your first appt to research the medication you will receive and see what the possible side effects are. Also research how long it may take to start feeling better from the medication. My recommendation, for what its worth, is to make sure when you are researching to only use well know sites. Like the Mayo Clinic,  The NIH,  or the drug company website. Never use sites like Wikipedia. Wikipedia can be updated by anyone, anytime therefore the information may not be totally accurate. When living with a chronic illness knowledge truly is power, so taking the time to learn about your condition and the medications you will be receiving is a MUST.

With Love,

Amber