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New to Nivo–caloric restriction?
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New to Nivo–caloric restriction?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › New to Nivo–caloric restriction?

  • Post
    • September 11, 2018 at 4:01 am
    lkb
    Participant

      Hello, all. I'm having my first infusion this week and am open to any tips for the newbie. What do you wish you had known for your first? Also, anyone have results–good or not–with fasting or caloric restriction for the day before/of infusions?

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    • Replies
        • September 11, 2018 at 2:09 pm
        RichInLife2
        Participant

          I just started nivo treatment last month. I was not advised to fast or restrict diet beforehand, so I didn't. I've actually been trying to put on a few pounds as I lost about 8-10 pounds over the summer. The only thing I was advised to do was drink lots of water, but that is good advice for any blood draw or infusion.

          Good luck!

          • September 11, 2018 at 6:13 pm
          MelanomaMike
          Participant
            Hi ikb, hope yer well, you will be fine for your 1st infusion, if your into “music” bring your Walk Man/Portable radio with Headphones, my Phone works great with my awesome headphones, magazines, snacks, beverages, buy a nice BackPack for your infusions! If your doing just Opdivo (every 2 weeks) youll be in & out in like an hour (maybe a bit longer on your first introduction) first they hook yer IV up and run Sodium Chloride for like 10/15 minutes (to make sure their in a vein & to clear your system) then your Opdivo (30minutes) then a last flush again with Sodium Water (ocean water) and BLAM! your out of there! Maybe get a ride the first time just to be safe, chances are you wont be alletgic (Toxicity) to Nivo!!…Mike
            • September 11, 2018 at 8:22 pm
            bjeans
            Participant

              No food restrictions for my husband before/during/after infusions. He eats his regular breakfast and they have snacks and drinks. Afterwords he stops for lunch on his way to work.

              Mike’s suggestions are great – bring stuff to do. Maybe because my husband is in a study, he’s never done in under two hours. On days with one infusion (Nivo) it’s 2 to 2.5 hours. With two infusions (Nivo/Ipi or Nivo/nothing) it’s longer. Nurse or PA check, doctor check, blood work (sometimes), wait for results, doctor gives the go-ahead, and only then are the drug(s) mixed at the pharmacy. 

              Hang in there and let us know how it went.

              • September 11, 2018 at 8:52 pm
              ed williams
              Participant

                Hi IBk, I bring snacks and a bagel and buy a big coffee and chocolate chip muffin to each and every treatment. You never know how long you are going to be there for, the last two treatments they mixed the drugs wrong and had to start over, so I was there for 3 to 3.5 hrs. Try to drink a lot of water the day before so the veins are easy to find. 

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