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Posted 10/20/2011 6:20 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry I need to throw a fit because i think some doctors can be absolutely insane

He wants to switcheroo me to Rituximab. So I look that medication up... well why on earth would a doctor want to actually prescribe something lethal and has a high death rate is beyond me. There are high death rates in women on this medication suffering from heart or lung problems. Well I have both heart and lung problems.  I don't kknow what to do. Any ideas?

Posted 10/20/2011 12:38 PM (GMT 0)
I'd start by asking the Dr what his logic is.
Posted 10/20/2011 1:28 PM (GMT 0)
Because it has been proven very benefical for lupus treatment.
Posted 10/21/2011 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
I don't have Lupus. Lupus is the closest forum to my auto immune disease, and the treatment is the same. The lupus group welcomed me in years ago, when I first got ill. In fact, many of you have been extreemely helpful even to the point of telling me what something was. I feel honoured to have you all understand and how we bind as a family and offer support. I have family, but we are not close at all, like we are here. Believe it or not, the only thing I have ever wanted from my parents was to be there for me and say they love me. My own mother refused to even take a day off when I had to have emergency surgery. I had to call my friends parents and tell them I wanted someone there, whom I always considered as my parents. Before I went under, I told the doctor to make sure they got back to me in recovery. He said of course they can. I told him that he didn't get it, and they are Americans from African backround. So he told me he'd make sure they got to me. In recovery, they had a hard time waking me up. I responded more to my friends mom then I would the nurse so they kept her with me to keep getting me up. Anyhow the point of the story is that I really appreciate how I feel welcomed and loved here, because I don't get it from my own family and have turn to others.

Oh, I go today to the Hospital for my appointment with the Oncologist. I definately plan on asking questions!
Posted 10/21/2011 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, you weren't kidding about those side effects! The wiki page was pretty serious:

Adverse eventsSerious adverse events, which can cause death and disability, include:[22]

Severe infusion reactions
Cardiac arrest
Tumor lysis syndrome, causing acute renal failure
Infections
Hepatitis B reactivation
Other viral infections
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)
Immune toxicity, with depletion of B cells in 70% to 80% of lymphoma patients
Pulmonary toxicity[23]

A small number of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus have died in the context of being treated with rituximab.[24]

I'd ask a lot of questions! And perhaps get a second opinion?

Hugs,
Brandi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rituximab
Posted 10/21/2011 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
Here's the kicker.... I am on heart medication (have been ever since I tried to die in July but the good news is I did it while I was on the table at the hospital so I had one heck of a fast response) and I also am asthmatic.

Given my medical history and seeing those side effects... which I cna't believe they actually list it as a side effect....

like I really want to take a chemo that can litterly kill me. I think the whole point of chemo is life not death. Also, I am thinking with the medical conditions I'd be more prone to death. Like my heart beats fast now, cardiac arrest is when your heart beats way to fast. I already am on a med to lower my heart rate, so like I really want to take something that will make my heart beat faster? Sounds like I'm setting myself self for a casket..

I highly think I will get a second medical opinion and try to stay out of being 10 feet under for now
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