9 Tips To Have The Best Infusion Day

When we think of medications we usually think of pills, or maybe even injections. There’s another option: intravenous infusion therapy. As someone with severe Crohn’s disease, I’ve tried almost all of the available biologics, most of which have infusion therapy as part or all of the administration. I’ve also had multiple iron infusions and some blood transfusions. Having had so many, here are my tips for having the best infusion day: 

1. Ask questions

If you’re going to be starting a new infusion treatment, make sure to fully communicate with your medical team. Ask every question you have, no matter how small, and voice any concerns you might have. 

It’s helpful to know in advance how you should expect to feel, what’s normal and what’s not, how long it will take to have full effect, and what risks are there long term. Knowledge is power, and that knowledge can help make the whole process feel a lot less scary and intimidating.  

2. Plan ahead

Typically infusion therapy is scheduled ahead of time, especially if you need prior authorization and for insurance to approve it. Some medications also have a schedule to follow. Since you know ahead of time when you’ll have to go in for an infusion make sure to have it in your calendar and plan around it. 

Some infusions can take hours, not including the time for pre-meds, to get the IV or recovery. Some places also ask you to stay for some time afterward to ensure that you don’t have any adverse side effects. It’s hard to know exactly how long you’ll be at the infusion center so if you’re able to, clear the rest of your day, or at least give yourself a lot of leeway. 

3. Make it a rest day

Infusions can be draining and leave you tired and weak, or at least that’s usually my experience. While there have been a couple of times that it has left me more energized, it’s been rare and I never know when it will happen. Expecting that it will make me tired gives me the chance to have a planned rest day and focus on my health. 

For a planned rest day, I suggest telling everyone to not have expectations of you (or have very little) for the whole day. Take the day off of work, don’t check your emails, and try to relax. Your body is working hard to process whatever medicine is now coursing through your veins. Some medications can also have side effects, so a rest day gives you a chance to deal with them.  

Everyone is different, so it’s also possible that it could take more than a day to recover. If you’re able to, planning an extra rest day afterward could be beneficial to ensure proper rest. If you’re not able to even have a full rest day, do your best to take it easy and not push yourself too hard. 

4. Stay hydrated

Getting an IV is so painful. It’s a big needle piercing your skin into your vein! So make sure to drink plenty of water, or your liquid of choice, starting from the night before. Being properly hydrated when going in for your treatment will make it easier for them to find your veins and prevent you from being a human pin cushion. 

5. Dress comfortably 

You’re going to be sitting in a chair getting chemicals pumped into your bloodstream, probably for hours. So you don’t need to dress fancy or to impress anyone. If you want, you can even go in your pajamas, and then you’re really ready for a rest day. 

6. Bring entertainment

Again, you’re going to be sitting there for hours. It’s a good idea to take something to entertain you. It can be a book, tablet, laptop, hobby, or even just some headphones to listen to music. 

Don’t take something that you have to do, just what you want, because it’s not guaranteed that you’ll even have a chance to do it. Some medications can make you drowsy and then you spend the whole time sleeping. If you’ve done it a couple of times and know how you’ll feel, then maybe you can plan something light during that time. 

7. Comfort items

If you need some sort of infusion therapy, odds are you probably have a serious medical condition. Otherwise, you’d just take some pills and move on with your day. So this process can be very emotional. 

Feel free to take comfort items with you if you need a little extra emotional support. This can be a blanket, pillow, stuffed animal, sweater, or anything that you can hold to make you feel better. You’re there to take care of yourself, and part of that is emotional.  

8. Get a ride home

It’s a good idea to have someone else drive you home, especially with treatments that can cause drowsiness. Plus, driving can be extra tiring after a treatment. If you don’t have someone to take and pick you up you can also use a ride-share app, like Uber or Lyft, to get home. After some medications, you can drive yourself home, but always discuss with your doctor and medical staff about your specific medication beforehand to ensure your and others’ safety  

9. Be kind to yourself

Your body is processing a new foreign substance that got injected through your veins. On top of keeping you alive and functioning. It’s doing a lot and you should be patient and kind with yourself. You’re not alone in this process and you can get through it.