Aggressive Bladder Cancer: Tips to help hold meds in bladder?

I am receiving treatment within my bladder as well. I have gemcitibine for 1 1/2 hours, with the catheter still in. Then, they drain the bladder and instill the docetaxyl and send me home. I make sure I know the exact time it is instilled, so I can release it as soon as it has been in for 90 minutes.

What I do to help myself is geared toward having my brain create endorphins. Those are your natural pain killers.

For me, it is watching a happy movie. Not only does it make time pass faster, but it creates those natural painkillers.

Here is what else I have tried to make myself more comfortable. First of all, be sure to take the bicarbonate of soda. At first, the instructions were to take it the night before and the morning of, but it has changed to five days prior, twice per day. The increased dosage of that seems to help. You can also get it from Amazon if your doctor didn't prescribe enough. My prescription has the new instructions, but the quantity didn't change. Amazon was cheaper anyway.

The size of the catheter turned out to be important. I need a very small size and they had to order one, so at first, it was more uncomfortable than it needed to be. Be sure you don't have a size too big - if it hurts just from having the catheter in, ask about that. It is for your comfort, not for their convenience. Mine took a month to arrive, but now they have a supply for me. (I am now in once/month for a year, after completing the six weekly treatments).

Also, if you can stand being thirsty, you might find that limiting liquids for 12 hours or so prior to the treatment means less urine adding itself to your bladder while you are holding in the treatment. I find it helps, but isn't always worth it to feel thirsty. Personal choice...

Other cozy things that help my brain to release endorphins are cozy socks and a really fluffy 'blanket' in place of the doctor's office paper sheet! A chemo-survivor friend gave me a care package of hard candies, chocolates and a crossword puzzle book. I don't try to work puzzles - I would rather sit back and be entertained by a movie.

I take along my iPad and have movies that are happy downloaded. I watch a movie the entire time I am there. I am released after the first drug is drained and the second one is installed.

I drive carefully. Fortunately there are no bumpy roads. Then I finish out the rest of the 90 minutes of the second dose on my sofa while I finish watching the movie. I then turn on the TV - I also set an alarm when I get into my house and as soon as it goes off, I am headed to the restroom to release the chemo.

It is usually awhile before I get any side effects like a headache, and often I fall asleep for quite awhile.

I wait until the headache appears before I take some excedrine, which gets rid of it and it doesn't come back.

Just try things rather than putting up with status quo. Be inventive. Most of all, be patient with yourself. Listen to your body and try things that you feel will provide comfort. We are each different.

@bethcamp I only have gemcitibine, no fluids for 4 hours prior to treatment and two sodium bicarbonate the night before and two in the morning of. I needed the smallest catheter also and after 3 tries with 3 different catheters, the nurse checked for the smallest.

I completed the infusions and have a scope on December 17th. I’ve heard that I may have to continue once a month but won’t know anything until the scope.

If I do have to have additional treatments I will definitely take your suggestion and bring a warm blanket with me. I hated that sheet.

Thank you for the info. Very helpful