I appreciate reading the experiences of others, as it has given me a feel for what I might experience on my journey. I am posting this as a summary of my experience recognizing that everyone's experience is different:
on 17 Jan 2017 I received the news that I have ovarian cancer (clear cell carcinoma). 1Feb I had a hysterectomy to take the remaining parts and stage. The results confirmed Stage 1C. Oncologist said I could wait to see if there was a reoccurrence or do chemo as a prevention. Day 1 of chemo was 21 Feb. I am now day 4 of the first infusion. Day of infusion the steroids really got me jittery (a friend said I was talking a mile a minute). Other than tasting metal during the taxol, I had no issues during infusion. The benedryl, given by pill at the start, made me sleepy. I had fear of the port, but the chemo nurse did an injection on the port skin (rather than cream) so I didn't feel anything other than pressure when the needle went in. It took 5 days after the port was put in to feel I could sleep on my side. The first infusion lasted a little over 4 hours. the nurses brought me iced water throughout the infusion And I had brought with me a frozen can of pineapple that thawed enough to eat very cold.
I live in a state where marijuana is legal, and since I don't smoke, I have indica mints which I use as a sleep aide. I took 20mg and slept for 9.5 hrs the night of the infusion. I went to work the next day (day 2) and stayed in the office till late afternoon when I was thinking I was feeling nauseous, but I think it was hunger. During the 2nd night, with no sleeping aides, I woke up around 3am and took Compazine for nausea. I went back to sleep. Day 3 I worked until early afternoon as I was having trouble concentrating so I went home. I ended up taking zolfran before going to bed.
day 4 I didn't work, as I had a morning ultrasound on my thyroid, so I came home and rested.
My lessons so far: What the day 3 and 4 showed me was ... have crackers available at all times. Ginger candies dont do much for me. The publications I was given said to eat 4-6 small meals, but i didn't make the connection about keeping something in the stomach. I've determined that day 3.5-4.2 were not great (the lowest), but tolerable.
More to come.... as i am scheduled for 9 weeks of chemo. Thanks for listening.