HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

rituxan question...

Support Forums
>
Rheumatoid Arthritis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/9/2014 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hey I am just wondering if any of you that have taken the rituxan infusion experienced and dizziness and nausea several weeks later? I had no symptoms like that the days after the infusion. But in the last week I have been nauseated and today I am a little dizzy. But I also have sinus drainage which may be the problem. Just thought I would ask if anyone had any delayed reaction to it. Also I am still having weak spells/fatigue and it has been 4 weeks since my last infusion. Any thoughts on this?
Thanks for any comments and advice.
Peggy
Posted 7/10/2014 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
Called doctor yesterday and they didnt think that nausea would be a factor this late in the game. Maybe sinus drainage then? Told them fatigue/weak spells were still going on and they said that was to be expected? Anyone have anything to add about how long it might take for this to go away?
Posted 7/13/2014 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
I had the dizzy and light headed.  Doctor had me stop the methotrexate since the last rituxan infusion.

Seemed to help but I have not noticed any diff yet in effectiveness of rituxan.  I have only been on it for a month after leaving 2 years of remicade. Gabapenten and wine :-) !! helps.

Posted 7/14/2014 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
Jaxwax thank you for your response. Please keep me posted on how you do with your rituxan. Need to ask what is gabapenten. Lol. I got the wine part. The weak spells and fatigue are not near as bad for me as they were. So I am hoping I'm going to do good on this.
Thanks for your response.
Peggy
Posted 7/14/2014 11:43 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks for the reply back.  Gabapentin is used mostly for neuropathic pain which I have in my feet do to the RA.  They would not give me the prescription for RA but would for the neuropathic pain. Fatigue is bad at times now with this darn RA!  Today I got shortness of breath which is one of the symtoms of Rituxan.  I think I have a chest cold but it's 90 + degrees out :-) .  Will keep you informed.  Same with you if you can.  Thanks Doug

Posted 7/21/2014 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Jaxwax just wanted to let you know that I am doing much better. Still having a few weak spells but overall much better. I hope you are doing well also. Please keep me informed as to how things go and symptoms are with you. I will let you know if I develop any new symptoms... only thing I have going on right now is a cough and heartburn at night for the past two nights... this has kept me awake and hurt really bad. I am also have a cold coming on. Wait and see I guess.
Peggy
Posted 7/23/2014 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
Howdy,

This week has been the worst since my last rituxan on the 18th.  The pain was 8.  Took 3 gabepenten, 6 ty, during the day and finally gave up and took valium.  This morning was better but by 2 pm I am at that great foot burning and major fatigue.  To top off everthing we had a major storm at 6 pm and it took the electic out all night and downed trees which I will have to work at when I can.  I also feel like a chest cold with chest pain.   I hope this stuff works better for us than this.  All we can do is hope and pray!  Take care and let me know how you are doing.

Doug

Posted 7/23/2014 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Doug,
JUst wanted to tell ya that I guess I told you too quick I was better..... very weak again really bad. Couldn't work a full day today had to come home and go to bed. I went yesterday to my family doctor to make sure I didn't have a cold or something and he said what I had was viral and gave me a script for an antiobiotic in case I start presenting with fever. Also gave me cough meds. Thank goodness I had no congestion in my chest. I go tomorrow for my checkup with my ra the first after the rituxan infusion I had in May. It has been better but I just wonder if this rituxan is even going to help at all. Im so scared its not. The bloodwork will tell when I have it done will let you know what he says tomorrow so maybe it will give us both encouragement...lol Bloodwork will be back on Friday so maybe I will know then how well it is working. Hoping for better days for us..
Peggy
Posted 7/24/2014 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
Jaxwax just wanted to let you know that I went to RA today... not much to tell except he thinks the rituxan is maybe not going to work for me. WE will have to wait and see what the bloodwork shows. Had to go get xrays and bloodwork done at hospital and gotta have a pulmonary test and echocardiogram done to see what else might be goingon. He says that the ra can cause lung problems and that may be what is going on with the shortness of breath. Will update as soon as I get results. Praying that the rituxan is still working.
Peggy
Posted 8/3/2014 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Peggy,  The wonderful thing about RA and infusions are the up and down days.  One never knows what is going on.  Then the doctor asks "Is the infusion working for you"   How the hell do I know-figuring the 20 things that are going on ith my body.  LOL  After I spoke with you last I started feeling some better but the problem you are having with lungs is one I have especially when I get in bed.  Then it leaves after an hour. Feels like pressure and of course pain.  I don't go in for my checkup until Sept. 18th.  This week I started getting mouth sores which happens with both types of infusions.  Hyd. Proixide again.  I have not been on lately because computer virus.  I set puter back to factory settings 3 times before it finally took.  Take care and hope you have a good day and month.  Doug
Posted 8/13/2014 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
Jaxwax sorry about your computer....they are crazy things sometimes... I wanted to let you know that I am soooo much better. I had a rough go for a week and half after coming back from a week at the beach. But I am now just about back to normal... however I don't know how normal I ever was...lol.. But I do feel so much better and the weak spells I was having have pretty much left now Got my Vectra score back and it was much improved. I hope that you are doing well and that the rituxan is working good for you as well. When do you have to go back for another treatment? I'm not scheduled until dec. for mine again. I hope it holds out that long. Keep me posted on how you are doing.
Hugs
Peggy
Posted 8/18/2014 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Peggy,  Glad to hear you are better and hope it holds.  I am up and down.  Yesterday was really up and today so so.  We are going to move into Billings, Mt so we can be closer to doctors and moving to an community apartment with pool and different things to do.  This is to far out.  Will keep this house until next year and then sell.  Keeping house to be on the safe side-never know how things will go with those apartment deals.  I have increased fish oil to 3,000 mg.  Using straight fish oil instead of pills.  Being doing this for 3 weeks and seems to have helped some.  Doing this so I can get off of melixcam.  Melixcam has a tendency to cause kidney problems.  Hope things keep going uphill for you.  Keep posted.  Jaxwax
Posted 8/18/2014 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
Jaxwax thanks for the update. I am still doing really good. I feel almost normal again. Went back to work today and made it ok. I hope things get better and better for you. I have my next infusion in December. When will you have your next one? Glad to hear that moving may be good for you. Keep me posted please.
Peggy
Posted 8/18/2014 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
Oh forgot to tell you that the energy is much better but the back pain I have is still bad. I had not had any back pain to speak of in probably 20 years but since the infusion I have back pain that causes me to only do something physical for about 10 minutes at the time then I have to rest to calm it down. Not quite sure why that has happened but has MRI and it shows several budging discs in my back. Ohh well at least overall I am better.
Peggy
Posted 9/4/2014 1:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Peggy,  Next infusion also in Dec.  Last two days has been the first that pain has let up.  If it would stay like that I would love to say the infusion is working.  On Sept 18th I will know for certain if the infusion is still on for Dec.

They always depend on steriods for the pain but I will not go that route any more.  Hope things continue to go well for you.  Keep informed.  Jaxwax

Posted 9/4/2014 12:20 PM (GMT 0)
Jaxwax I am so glad that the pain has let up for you. I understand about the steroids. I am weaning down off of them I was on 20mg a day and have been able to go down this week to 10mg. I hate those things but at one point that was all that was helping somewhat with my pain. I am still having weak spells and cant do anything much without resting if it involves physical activity. Going next week for a 2d echo and a pft test to make sure that the RA has not affected my lungs / heart in any way. Dr. wants to rule out that being the reason for any fatigue that I have. We will see I guess. As far as I know at this point my infusion is still on for dec. Keep me posted on how you are doing.
Hugs
Peggy
Posted 9/29/2014 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
Jaxwax how are you doing? I know we took our rituxan infusion about the same time. I am quite a bit better but still having some issues with pain. Most of it is coming down on the predinisone. I have weaned myself down to 5 mg. a day from 20 mg. a day. So that being said I know that a lot of the pain is from this. I am doing it in two week intervals as told by my rheumy to do. I also have had to have several tests done lately due to the fact that I have shortness of breath while trying to do anything strenuous... wanted to see what was going on with you. I have to see a cardiologist next month cause they found diastolic dysfunction when I had a 2 d echo done. So we will see if that has anything to do with shortness of breath. I would love to hear from you or anyone else out there that is on the rituxian and to know how you all are doing. Hope you are much better. Please keep in touch..
Peggy
Posted 9/29/2014 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
Peggy,  I am coming done from 40mg pred and it is not helping that much.  I have 2 more infusion sd for Nov.  I still take gabapentin 3 times a day and now red wine in evening.  Anything that stays pain anymore. Moved into an apartment in Billings and am selling house.  It does make things much better.  1 check includes everything, pool, hottub, bar, rec room, theatre, wifi and so on.  Talk to you later. Hope things improve for you.  Best of luck  Jaxwax
Posted 10/2/2014 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
JaxWax great to hear from ya and happy for you about the move. Hope things are much easier for you now. I am now down to 5mg. a day of the pred. so I was hurting pretty bad. Today makes two weeks I have been on the 5mg. everything started easing up today. Felt much better upon waking up and moving around. Crazy how much a day makes. Anyway I am going to wait two more weeks to wean down to 2.5 mg. just to let my body continue to adjust to this level. I am so happy to be coming off of that mess. I just hope I don't have to go back up. I have my next infusion in December. How do you think the rituxan is working for you? Someday s I feel as though it is working and someday s I wonder.
Hugs to ya
Peggy
Posted 10/2/2014 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
Peggy,  I don't think its working but I have to give it 2-3 more months to really tell and then move on to another drug.  I am still on 20 mg pred and will wean down over the next 2-3 weeks.  Started this time on 40 mg.  The gabepenten is the only thing that I can say helps with the pain.  Good luck on your Dec. Infusions.  I have my second two retuxens in Nov.     Take care Jaxwax
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply