Making a miserable Christmas less miserable..

[surveyor]

Our expectations for Christmas day this year are low. It will be 5 days after my wife's 4th Chemo treatment, which means she will be exhausted, perhaps with an appetite, perhaps not, but either way her food will taste odd. We won't be drinking, and likely won't have visitors....

I'd like to find some ways to brighten it up a little but have to be honest I'm struggling.

I'm contemplated a post mumsnet, for inspiration, then thought no, we can do better!

My wife is a 'young 56', strong independent woman. Not hugely into cosmetics/creams/pamper stuff etc..

Any ideas?

[stumpage]

With you on this, my wife's 5th Chemo session is due Christmas day, still waiting to hear what they will do about that.

Like you I have no idea how to make things better for the day.

[Douglas Quaid]

If you don’t have one then hire or buy a hot tub. I’m guessing you have a large garden with a fantastic view as you’re on pistonheads. Get them to install it at the highest part of your garden so you can look out at the scenery. Help her into it and get all the drinks/snacks etc.

[stumpage]

Douglas Quaid said:

If you don’t have one then hire or buy a hot tub. I’m guessing you have a large garden with a fantastic view as you’re on pistonheads. Get them to install it at the highest part of your garden so you can look out at the scenery. Help her into it and get all the drinks/snacks etc.

Nice idea but not easy with picc lines etc,

[Silvanus]

This was us last Christmas (and this Christmas to some extent). Just remember that Christmas day is just 1 of 365 days of the year so don't pressure yourselves into anything.

We agreed just to put Christmas on hold, although I bought her a few little things that I new would make life a bit more comfortable for her during her treatment. We just made the most of the downtime and me not being at work.

It's a pretty rubbish time to be honest, but try and look forward to when treatment finishes and you can get some normality back. I know you probably can't book anything like holidays or shows etc, but you can certainly promise yourself something for next year.

[bigpriest]

You've got each other, no visiting relatives, sounds like a great Christmas to me.

[surveyor]

stumpage said:

Douglas Quaid said:

If you don’t have one then hire or buy a hot tub. I’m guessing you have a large garden with a fantastic view as you’re on pistonheads. Get them to install it at the highest part of your garden so you can look out at the scenery. Help her into it and get all the drinks/snacks etc.

Nice idea but not easy with picc lines etc,

Agreed nice idea, but picc lines and infection risk means not idea. We've had one foray into Sepsis and not keen to repeat...

[Mobile Chicane]

You've said that she's not into 'girly' stuff, but how about a pedicure treatment?

Many wimmins will have feet like hooves after a summer where they've barely been out of wellies, and who doesn't like having their feet massaged.

I agree with other comments though: it's just another day, save any festivities for when you're feeling better. Though a few (non smelly) candles and the wood burner on might be nice.

[simon_harris]

Honestly when I was at that stage of my chemo I wanted little more than to be wrapped up on the sofa not thinking about anything very much at all. I rarely wanted to eat (not that anything I ate tasted great anyway) One thing I can say is that due to the way that tastebuds are affected different things tasted better/worse as chemo went on. so when I did manage to eat it was whatever was tasting good at that point.

Strong things like salt and vinegar crisps were a bit of a staple throughout due to the strong taste and good from a calorie perspective because I needed lots of calories to offset the massive weight loss from the treatment.

I wouldn't recommend bringing anyone in from outside due to infection risk, but perhaps a favourite movie/series marathon

[RowenaJenkins]

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Edited by RowenaJenkins on Monday 23 December 10:23