Tips for ipi/nivo infusions?

I went through a year of ipi/nivo infusions.  Sometimes I would snack, sometimes I would read, sometimes I played games on my phone, and sometimes I napped.  It's really pretty relaxed.  I didn't do anything different as far as what I ate.  I wish I had kept up an exercise routine to help offset some of the fatigue from the medicine.  It's really wasn't as daunting as I expected it to be.

Did you get a port implanted? If not they will do an IV. The ipi is 1 1/2 hour infusion, then they made me wait 30 minutes before the nivo which was an hour infusion. I think before the ipi they gave me tylenol, couldn't say I needed it. For the first one they had a bag of drugs next to me in case I had an allergic reaction to the drugs and after the first time they made me hang around for 30 minutes or so to ensure I was ok. They had little tvs at our chairs but I always napped or watched the many shows going on around me(had mine at the VA). I had a 2 1/2 hour drive afterwards and while on the combo usually let my wife drive while I slept. The fatiuge is worse while on the combo but it was also one of my side effects that after 2 years I still have. I still worked full time, I had my treatments on Friday so I had a couple of days to recover. Once on just ipi things were better, I had a total of 57 doses. They will tell you to drink lots of water, they had warm blankets and if you were there during lunch they would provide a sack lunch so as long as your stomach is ok you can eat and drink during it unless they have rules. This was the VA so wherever you go it may be different. I was able to get up and role my IV stand to the restroom or take a short walk around the room.

They always say it's different for everyone, so speaking just for myself, it was not a big deal.  They did said I had slightly difficult veins, just in that they (the nurses) usually started out saying: oh, we'll have no problem with you, and then three attempts later, they'd say that it's tougher than it looks.  I started to get good at telling them where was an easy place to try, and where was not.  I'd try to read, but I'd get so relaxed, I'd be fighting to keep my eyes open. They'd check my pulse after every infusion, and – even though I always have a low pulse – one time it was 32.  Normally, they'd pull the IV and I'd be out the door in 20 seconds, but time they wanted me to sit there for a second.

I read a book while receiving an infusion of Opdivo.   If I receive immunotherapy around noon, I accept a lunch.  At other times I usually decline offers of snacks.  

After I received my first Yervoy + Opdivo immunotherapy, I should have, but did not, weigh myself every day.  I lost too much weight. I should have stocked my refrigerator with high calorie food.  I had skim milk in my refrigerator; I needed to switch to whole milk.

Just checking in to see how you are doing?

Our diagnosis are very similar (depth, location, etc). Just wondering how your treatment is going. Are you still going to MD Anderson?