Not Going Out!

[Lymetree]

I getting really fed up with being restricted to one week in three when it is "safe" to go out due to infection risk post chemo. I have had to temporarily give up various groups I used to attend and am quite isolated. Am I taking things too far, and are any of you ignoring all the dire white blood count warnings?

[izzybruce]

I went out and about alot on my good week, just carry hand sanitizer, and I put Vaseline around my nose, I read somewhere that it was quite good at preventing germ's going up your nose,I went on the bus and train, just don't go by anyone coughing.xxx

[Yoshbosh]

I never stop going out! I avoid big crowds, have excellent hand hygiene and avoid people who I know are actually poorly, but if I didn’t go out because of treatment, I would never be able to leave my house.

I also have young kids, so I can’t avoid bugs coming into my house!

[Coldethyl]

I went out loads on treatment - I was wary first cycle but after being stuck in waiting room in a and e by consultant for hours with the great unwashed and being coughed on by oncology staff I figured that my going out to meet friends for tea or having drive to walk somewhere wasn’t any worse !

[keeponkeepingon]

Was not restricted in anyway,just advoid people with known infections and colds etc. Hand sanitizer and avoid large crowds

[Juleswhee]

Hi , I have never not done something because of the risks .I too carry hand sanitiser and wash my hands while out when needed.I drink papaya tea as it’s supposed to help with your white cell count , I have no idea if it really works .I also have never stopped my 20 month grandson from coming round , he is what keeps me going .xxJuliaxx

[Hidden]

I would go out most days except the yuck days would carry hand sanitiser and be ok

[Katmal-UK]

Having had treatment three times I didnt restrict going out only the days when I was too poorly to do so. Avoided crowds and ran a mile if anyone coughed or sneezed but basically got on with life .

[Manchesterlady]

Hi , I stuck to what they told me and kept away from supermarkets and crowded places . I felt dreadful on the chemo and didn’t want to risk catching anything that would make me feel worse. But I’m a wimp .😳

[tara108 in reply to Manchesterlady]

Not a wimp! Highly sensible in my book! Hugs from Australia

[Cynthia18]

There were times my white blood counts was very low.then I needed to avoid public and crowds.

[Lindaura]

I stay pretty restricted, but when I feel great, I do go out. That said, I did catch a nasty cold last month and took antibiotics for a week just in case.

This month, I went out to dinner, shopped a bit and had a drink in a pub, but then felt poorly, fluish, 2 days later and decided to avoid people in general. Fortunately, the weather is so dreadful, it is easy to stay inside!

Best wishes,

Laura

[delia2]

I don’t restrict my activity as long as I feel okay. I go to the cinema, restaurants, etc. I use hand sanitizer and wash my hands frequently. Xoxo

[January-2016-UK]

I use hand sanitiser and wash my hands frequently. I go to wherever I want but do try and do things like the supermarket and shopping early in the day so not many children. I travel in crowded trains for treatment so it’s inevitable I will get a cold sooner or later. The last two winters, the cold has turned into a cough which has hung around for months which is a bit debilitating but I feel would have happened regardless of me going to the cinema, theatre, restaurants, etc.

I call lifts, open train doors etc with my knuckle rather than my finger tip (knuckle less likely to find its way to my mouth, eye, etc.) and use hand sanitiser after entering my pin number in credit card machines / cash points and the like.

[Perthgirl]

Hi there! I also avoided big crowds and sick friends or grandchildren but otherwise carried on as much I could. I even did a few overseas flights, wearing my beautiful face masks 😷😷😷

[27-359]

I went out to my various groups whenever I felt up to it, and didn't even think about it. I made a point of asking people with colds etc not to visit, and washed my hands well before eating, especially when out. As long as you consciously use public transport at less busy times, and make a point of not touching your face with possibly contaminated hands, I think you should be ok. I didn't catch so much as a cold when on chemo, and I have five germy little grandchildren!

Jenny

[harpist_UK]

When on chemo I have my rules about hand-washing and staying away with people with infection. I avoid touching really germy things like lift buttons and the handles of supermarket trolleys if I can - but if I do then a handwash is essential! I do go out and meet people - it's essential - but in small groups. I made a decision to give up my choir because I got a cold there a couple of times - people come with an infection and all the breathing out with singing spreads it around! I was sorry to do this as singing is good for you, but I put my welfare first. I always reckon hospital outpatients and chemo rooms are prime places for picking up infection - so you can risk other places! The time of year you have your chemo is also important - obviously there's more going around in winter. I had my last lot in July/August and infection didn't seem much of a risk then.

[Numi]

I've been on chemo last year and the year before, and neither time did I stop going out. I just took common sense precautions - avoiding crowds, particularly in enclosed spaces, and anyone who was unwell. I got one minor infection during the first course of treatment which was treated quickly with oral antibiotics - and that was probably picked up in hospital. Last year, I just carried on with 'normal' life and didn't so much as catch a cold - and normal life last year included my daughter's wedding. Try not to worry over much, listen to your body and enjoy yourself - feeling isolated and out of things makes you feel depressed and anxious, which itself isn't good for you.

[tara108]

Hi Lymetree. I have had 2 Winter "retreats" as I call them for both frontline and 1st recurrence chemo. My immune system collapsed especially on recent chemo and I felt terrible on 1st chemo. I wear a mask if I go out and use heaps of hand gel. Just couldn't bear the thought of catching something and being sick on top of everything else! I had my social life on the phone, WhatsApp and Skype!

Do what feels right for you. Hugs from Australia

[bluepeterella]

One of the nurses on the chemo unit told me to go home and just carry on exactly as normal, so I did, pretty much.

I had different advice along the way from different nurses, but I liked the first advice better so stuck with it

[Di16]

I have known people who followed advice & stayed away from people in certain weeks of chemo. I'm afraid I did what I felt up to doing. Di

[coksd]

I did that the first time around and was so paranoid of germs and I still ended up getting the flu anyway I was sicker going into treatment the first time but the second time around I am in chemo every two weeks so can't handle staying alone for my good week too, I even flew to london and went around windsor and managed the airport I keep a light scarf around my face and put vaseline around the outside and under my nose and lips as a barrier and take lots of fruit with vitamin c I could still get sick. I have young kids and didn't want to miss their christmas shows just get plenty of rest in between and stay dry in the weather. And avoid direct contact with sick people in small spaces.

[Coldethyl]

Ive just remembered what my CNS said about getting ill - she said it was mostly our own bugs that cause the problem on chemo - so the bugs we have in our bowrkw and bladder naturally go amok or we get thrush from the fungal things we harbour - so really it’s more about good bathroom hygiene and oral hygiene and boosting our immunity systems with good quality food as much as we can ( though I know the lure of fish fingers and pickled onions was immense during chemo !) x

[Lymetree]

Thank you for all your helpful comments. I really wasn't sure what to do as ordinarily I do tend to go down with things quite easily. You have all given me plenty to think about! X