Nulasta shot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi All

 

I just had to write about this subject. I had no problems with my 2 surgeries and my first chemo was last Thursday. When I was done they said I needed to come back the next day for a Nulasta shot (no problem) WRONG. This is the first time I have been able to sit up for more than a minute or two. If I have to have those after each chemo NO WAY. I ached from head to toe plus having an upset stomach from chemo. Did anyone else have such bad side effects? I felt like someone had used me for a punching bag. Is there something they can give you to counteract it? I hope so because otherwise Im not sure if I can do it again. I hate to sound like such a baby....any advice?

 

Hugs :)

 

Bernadette

Bernadette: I have never taken that shot but I did some research on the web. One gal referred to it as "Mike Tyson's punching bag". The one thing that everyone seemed to find that helped was making sure that advil or whatever form you use, was taken at least one hour before the shot was given as well as continuing every 4-6 hrs. One individual said that they used the advil arthritis med and it helped. I would check w/ your onco and see what he/she thinks. Try a nice hot bath w/ some good bath salts. That should help relieve some of the aches. Call your onco today and tell them the side effects that you have been experiencing and have them call in a prescription for nausea meds and something for the pain. My onco made sure that I had all of the needed meds before first chemo.

Gentle hugs...Deb

Bernadette: yikes here I am again. Yes, I ached from head to toe too. I also was very sick to my stomach and felt like a truck hit me. It usually lasted 4 days after each chemo. I felt like this when I was taking A/C. I took Emend for 3 days once a day starting the day of each chemo. I also had zofan tabs I took them under my tongue. These 2 med were for nausea. I also had compazine that I could take when needed but never really uses it much when I was taking A/C. These 2 meds I took on schedule for 3 days right after chemo even if I felt ok I think that is what made me so tired but I felt it was better to feel tired then nausea and pain. I never worked the week after chemo and was able to go back to work part time the next week but work put me on light duty and I sat at a desk those weeks. I drank plenty of fluids while I was on chemo so my kidneys wouldn't shut down, had to make sure what I drank had flavor so I didn't taste the metallic taste (like my recipe I sent you). Used plastic spoons to eat with, not metal spoons. My symptoms got better after  4 days but about the time my next treatment time came around I started to feel better and then was time to start all over again. So remember after about 4 days after each chemo you feel better so just need to get through those 4 days is all. I think the nausea and tireness isn't from neulasta its from the chemo itself. I think your WBC drop so low that is what makes you so tired along with the nausea med.

When they started me on taxol instead of A/C my symptom were tons better. I had aches in my joints and the calf of my legs hurt terrible. I took norco then for the pain but usually after about 3-4 days the pain did get better, but I never got so sick to my stomach with it and felt better just very tired. I took compazine for the nausea then and only when I needed it which wasn't alot. The A/C was what made me nauseated so bad. Still had the metallic taste though, but think felt better with this med then A/C. How many A/C do you have left?? I took 4 of them and 4 of taxol. So you probably don't have many more A/C left and once they are done you will feel alot better. As you progress to each new kind of chemo you start to feel alittle better and soon before you know it you will be done like me. I finished everything last week, now my legs ache a little in the mornings when I first get up but other then that I feel fine now, and that is getting better each day now too.

You will figure out what works best for you with each chemo and how it affects you. Just remember how you feel will usually last only about 4 days and then you start to feel better, so gear up for each chemo figure out what works for you, keep your spirits up and remember it will get better and soon you will be done with it.....skeeter1

 

Holy crap! I wonder if this is the same shot I will be getting the day after too? All I remember them saying was something about bone marrow as to why I need the shot. My 1st treatment is on a Thursday. If this is the same shot, should I get this on my way home from work, provided I may it to work the day after chemo? So if it takes about a week to kick in, are you in pain that whole time? Well, not necessarily pain, but pretty uncomfortable? Oh, gosh, I am so not looking forward to this.

I had the Neulasta shot the day after my chemo each time.  Yes, it does make you hurt.  I also ran a low grade fever.  I ended up taking pain pills during the couple of days that I ached like the ****ens!!!  That really did help!  The shot is important for your WBC so talk to your doctor about a pain medication and nausea medication.  It stinks doesn't it?  Seems like after all this time, they could find a way to treat bc without the major side effects.  Although, the first time I had bc was in 1996 and the nausea was horrible.  Last year, with my recurrence, the nausea was non-existent but, of course, I had the bone pain....

Talk to your doc and Good Luck with your treatment!!!

Bernadette: I had my monthly checkup w/ my onco today. I asked her about the nulasta shot. She had nothing but praise for what it does but said the most of her patients that have taken it are in a great deal of pain and she doesn't hesitate to prescribe pain meds. She does NOT believe that any of her patients should be in pain. She explained that the bone marrow doesn't reproduce white blood cells as quickly as the red bloods cells reproduce. This shot causes the white cells to gather quickly in bone marrow area. She said that it is like a balloon that suddenly has too much air and it pushes and pushes until it pops. The white cells are doing this against the bone and that it what causes the pain. Once they out and in your system, the pain levels out and will leave. In fact, she is presenting a paper on this in 2 weeks.

Please ask for those pain meds.

Gentle hugs...Deb

Bernadette: I know you don't want to feel like you did this last time, and I know I didn't want it either when I was going through it, BUT I strongly hope you take the shots cause the results of low WBC is far worse on your body then the feeling you have with the shot, see if you get too low you open up your body to all kinds of infections.. severe ones, that could end you up in the hospital. I hated the way it hurt and how sick I felt with the chemo and shot for 4 days too, but I made it through all my treatments without complications. I was ready to throw in the towel alot too and got very discouraged but my fiance and this board kept me going. Gear up for next treatment. Get on board the nausea meds, pain meds if needed, ect. Think once you know what to expect each time makes it easier to handle it. I just know I would feel really bad those four days and took my nausea meds on schedule for 3 days no matter how I felt. I was so bad that I couldn't go up and down stairs those 3 days, our bedroom was upstairs so in the day time my fiance put a twin bed in the livingroom during the 1st 4 chemos so I could relax and not have to climb stairs while I rested during the day. I know it sounds terrible and know your hate how you feel but its worth it if it cures you and gets rid of the cancer. Like my fiance says anything thats strong enough to kill cancer has to make you feel bad too, but its worth it for your future. (he always said "but its worth it for our future") That helped to keep me going cause I know I was doing it for us and our future and you are doing it for you and your future with your family. Hope you don't get too discouraged, now that you know what to expect, have a long hard talk with your onc doc, explain you need nausea meds and pain meds to help you get through k... and by no means give up on your future cause its worth the battle to have one kkkk.....Here are the meds they put me on... EMEND (3 tabs once daily) zofran sublingal every 8 hours as needed (but I took it for 3 days on schedule no matter what) and compazine as needed ( only took it a few times) I never took pain meds but if you need them have them give you Norco or something simular. This is what I took with A/C when I was on taxol I just took compazine and norco...... Sorry so long I do that... lol when I was little my dad called me windy cause I talked to much... do post and let us know how your doing k.. and I will keep you in my prayes and hope the best for you k.... never give up!!!!!!...skeeter1

Hi Skeeter, Katt, Deb, Theresa, Rita, Cathy & Tammy

Thanks to all who wrote to CHEER me on Im finally feeling about 60% better, but this is after 5 days of being flat on my back. I did not think I would ever feel normal again. My Husband stayed home the first couple of days and then my sister came up to take care of me. This is hard because Im such an independant person I hate having to have someone wait on me. But on the other hand I believe one of you told me to let them help because they feel so helpless. I hope Im able to go back to work tomarrow Im missing the interaction.

Katt The Dexamethasone is a steroid be prepared to stay awake...but its all good. At least you wont hurt from it. Im sorry if I scared you with my post I didn't mean to but maybe you will go into this more prepared than I did and wont have the pain I did.

And thanks to everyone I will continue.....because I want to see grand kids some day, that is what keeps me going OH and you guys too.

Hugs :)
Bernadette

Katt:  Please be careful about planning on going back to work the day after your chemo. Your body is going to need time to rest and recuperate. There is a chance that one of the premeds, if it is a steriod, might cause you not to sleep very much the first night. Why not give yourself this first treatment and see how your body reacts. Don't put unnecessary pressure on yourself. If you feel good the next day, then work but if you don't, then give yourself the option of staying home. Your reaction to the remainder of your treatments will probably be the same as this first one. Remember, you need to be careful of being around large groups of people. Esp anyone that has even a simple cold.

Remember, the anticipation is much worse than the treatment itself. We are here to help you thru this.

Hugs...Deb

Gals, I never had a shot of neulasta or neupagen or anything, and I was just fine. I had no problems with infections or sickness at all. I worked throughout chemo, even during the low WBC count days, I just stayed out of malls or movies for those days, but I felt fine. Maybe you can ask if you can try it once without it and see how it goes? Others do end up with serious illnesses as a result of low counts, but I think it is not that common.

As for sleeplessness from the steroids, consider asking for a small dose of ativan to counter the steroid jitters. I also used ambien for sleep during chemo and would recommend it to anyone with sleep difficulties.

Lori

Gals: I don't know that age has anything to do w/ how your body reacts to the treatments. I know some gals in their 20's that had problems and others the same age had none. I was 51 when I had my first round of chemo (a/c, taxol and rads) There isn't one of us that is on this board that wasn't afraid before and during as well as after treatments. That is just human nature. But I also am a very strong believer in your mental attitude. The more positive that you can stay (which many times is very, very difficult) the better you will feel. I was scared to death before my first chemo but there wasn't a time before or during that I didn't believe that I would beat it. It just never entered my mind. When I was rediagnosed, I had some problems accepting the fact that the cancer was back but w/ the help of family and friends and the gals on this board, I am able to keep a positive attitude most of the time. Don't get me wrong, there are days I don't want to get out of bed or all I can do is cry but those aren't every day. I refuse to let this darn disease make an invalid out of me. So, hang in there. Meet your fears head on. Talk w/ others that have been where you are now. Be honest w/ yourself, your medical team and others that you are with.

Deb

Hi Kathy, Lori Deb & Chantry

I just got off the phone with my Dr and she said I must have had an alergic reaction to it and that NO I do not have to have that shot again. I have an appointment with her in the morning that hubby will have to drive me to because Im still too sick. She said she will probably put me on IV fluids for awhile too. I dont know why I hadnt called her earlier, I just thought this was one more thing I had to go through. If you look at the ingredients in the Neulasta shot it has a strain of E-Coli in it!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I see why people call it the Mike Tyson one two punch!

Kathy I really dont want you to go into your treatments scared to death. My first chemo was a piece of cake no pain lots of support from the nursing staff. I really think the shot wold not have been so bad if I had not reacted to it. Please talk to your Dr about side effects and what they will give you, I like a dummy thought I just had to take it. Get everything and anything you can, just in case.

Deb & Lori thanks for your help too. I wish this disease were more cut and dry so that a person could know exactly what the side effects would be.
Lori did your WBC stay high the whole time? It must have if you didnt have any shots. Lucky for you. Deb I too have kept a good attitude until being so sick for 6 days now. I have actually sat and cried a couple times because I dont understand why I have to be so sick. But I still love life and know that God will get me through all of this and I will be stronger for it.

Thanks all!

Bernadette

Bernadette,did the doctor say what they could give you for the WBC if you cant take the shots?I hope you feel better soon...Tammy