Intravenous treatments for chronic conditions take time to administer, but you don’t have to spend that time in a hospital setting or just sitting around waiting for the treatment to end. You can receive intravenous immunoglobulin therapy and other treatments at home and invite friends and family over while you do so.
IVIG at home is possible with a simple referral process that connects your doctor with the home infusion company of your choice. Once you get the referral, understand the process, and feel comfortable receiving treatments at home, you can use that time to catch up with friends and family. If you have any questions about what to expect and how to plan for this kind of gathering, you’re in the right place.
Plan Ahead
Trusted IVIG home infusion companies will schedule your treatments in advance, ensuring you receive the medication you need on time. This allows you to create a plan with friends and family for gathering at your house.
Create a Group Text
Group texts can get convoluted, but as long as it’s a smaller group of friends or family that you use just for planning these get-togethers, it’s a great place to discuss things. You’ve got enough going on with IVIG treatment at home. A group text also gives your friends and family the freedom to share more ideas for taking things off your plate and making it more fun and stress-free for you.
Keep Friends and Family Updated
Use the chat to keep friends and/or family updated about your infusion sessions and how you’re feeling. This is the place to go a week, a day, an hour, or even 30 minutes before your sessions to make sure you’re feeling up to having people over. When you have a chronic condition, good friends and close family may not want to bother you with too many messages. You can send them a quick, “Still on for today!” to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Cancel If You’re Not Up to It
Trust what your body is telling you about how it says you feel. If you wake up on the day of a treatment and decide you’re not up to having people over, you can let them know and maybe get together later. Everyone responds differently to infusions, and depending on the symptoms of your condition and your state of mind, it’s not always the best time to hang out with others.
Discuss IV-Friendly Activities
Before you receive IVIG at home and have some friends and family keep you company, consider planning an IV-friendly activity for the day or afternoon. Your friends and family can help with the “heavy lifting” for this step, too. You just have to give it a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down. IVIG home infusion sessions can take several hours to complete, so having an activity or two is a great way to pass the time.
Book Club Meetings
If you’re in a book club, you can have the meeting at your house. Book club meetings usually aren’t too long, so this is a good option if you get tired easily during IV infusions. These are also great if you have a condition that limits how much time you can spend outdoors, since you can spend several days reading the club’s books. Make sure it’s a small number of people, between three and five, including yourself.
BYO Craft Sessions
Crafting will make the time pass in a flash. Receiving an IVIG infusion at home may feel a little uneventful (less so than an in-office treatment), and having an absorbing pastime is ideal. Invite your friends to bring their own supplies if they want to join in.
Movie Nights
Everyone loves a good movie night. If you have a family member administering your treatment (which is sometimes an option for subcutaneous infusions for nutrition supplementation), you don’t need a nurse to administer the medication. If you’re receiving an IVIG or other intravenous infusion, you should have a trained IV nurse present to administer the treatment, so your movie “night” may just be a movie afternoon.
Mocktails and Snacks
You can always keep things simple and have friends over for mocktails and snacks. With certain chronic conditions, drinking alcohol is not recommended. A mocktail event can still be fun for everyone and give you a chance to catch up with friends.
Activities at a Glance
| Activity | Duration in Hours | Number of People | Energy Level(s) | Options | Planning Requirement |
| Book Club | 1-2 | Less than 5 | low | romance, mystery, science fiction, fantasy, fiction | low |
| Crafting Club | 2-6 | Less than 5 | moderate | crochet, embroidery, replica-making, quilting | high |
| Movie “Night” | 2 | 3-6 (good for family time) | low-moderate | rom-com, drama, slice-of-life | low |
| Mocktails and Snacks | 1-3 | 3 | high | N/A | moderate |
Be Open with Your Friends and Family
Being open with close friends and family about your condition can help you feel more comfortable. Not only does it give them a chance to be there for you, but talking about the condition may take some of the weight off your shoulders. It also ensures everyone is on the same page when you spend time together.
How You’re Feeling
Talking to friends and family about your condition may be just as therapeutic as an actual therapy session. People who have recently been diagnosed with their condition may have especially strong feelings.
About Your IV Infusions
IVIG at home is a great option for you, but others may not understand why you decided to get a referral for at-home care. You can talk about the process of receiving IV infusions, including traveling to a medical facility, discomfort, frequency, and how getting at-home care has changed the process for you.
Updates on Your Condition
You don’t have to tell everyone about your condition, but it can help your family understand how much support you need at home and anywhere else. Trustworthy friends may also want updates on your condition and are just waiting for you to open up to them.
Final Questions About Hosting During IVIG Sessions
Is it safe to do IVIG and other infusions at home?
Absolutely! Your IVIG home infusion company will send a trained IV nurse to administer your medication, and they should have a 24/7 pharmacist support line for questions.
How long is the infusion?
It depends on your medication and treatment plan. IVIG at home can take several hours.
Will I feel okay during the infusion?
If an infusion is administered too quickly (over a shorter period), some patients experience nausea and other discomfort. However, most patients feel fine throughout the infusion.
Should I worry about whether my friends and family are comfortable?
No. Your only “job” during your treatment is taking care of yourself. Your friends and family should be comfortable enough in your home to take care of themselves. And you.
How much work do I need to do to prepare?
You don’t have to do much to prepare for an infusion. Avoid heavy, greasy foods just in case of nausea. If you’re having friends over, let them handle most of the prep work.
When should everyone leave?
When you’re receiving IVIG infusion at home, you can ask any visitors to leave whenever you need space. You might get tired or feel worn down due to your condition. Your friends and family need to be understanding of that.
About Medrx Infusion
Experience the comfort of at-home infusions with Medrx Infusion. This home infusion service delivers IVIG and other infusions to your home, enhancing your medical treatment and helping you return to your life sooner. Medrx Infusion works with your primary medical team to ensure you receive the correct dosage at a doctor-approved frequency. When you have regular access to high-quality care, you can infuse your life with comfort, improving your quality of life without spending hours in a medical facility.
Find information about IVIG at home when you visit https://medrxinfusion.com/