Started Rituxen !

onlytoday
onlytoday Member Posts: 609 Member
edited March 2014 in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1
Hi all!

Started my treatment yesterday. Rituxen. Had allergic reactions to it so lots of prednizone and benedryl throughout the day. Had bad chills/shakes and lots of hives. But (this is the important part) I got though all of the planned treatment although it took until 630pm (we got there at 7:30am and the infustion started at 10) Wow long long day. Tired today and pretty achy but very very relieved that the healing has begun! And I love my team, nurses, doctors and everyone at Jefferson in Philadelphia. They are amazing and I am so comfortable with being in their care! Thank you all for your support, comments and good thoughts along the way. You all are the best! And you are all in my prayers.

Comments

  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    #2
    rituxin
    I can't remember how bad your tumors are but with me I could feel a shrinkage in my abdomen the night of the rituxin. You'll have to tell me the stage again. I lay on the bed and felt the difference in the stomach. The tumors were melting that fast. I mentioned it to the onc. nurse and she said that is perfectly normal. I had a small reaction to the infusion too. It was not serious. I felt like my sinus in the upper part of my nose was burning. Never had any chills. They just slowed it down for a few minutes. They speeded it back up later and all was fine. Good luck with the chemo tomorrow (chop ? or cvp ?). You will do just fine. John
  • onlytoday
    onlytoday Member Posts: 609 Member
    #3
    COBRA666 said:

    rituxin
    I can't remember how bad your tumors are but with me I could feel a shrinkage in my abdomen the night of the rituxin. You'll have to tell me the stage again. I lay on the bed and felt the difference in the stomach. The tumors were melting that fast. I mentioned it to the onc. nurse and she said that is perfectly normal. I had a small reaction to the infusion too. It was not serious. I felt like my sinus in the upper part of my nose was burning. Never had any chills. They just slowed it down for a few minutes. They speeded it back up later and all was fine. Good luck with the chemo tomorrow (chop ? or cvp ?). You will do just fine. John

    rituxen
    Hi John,

    I'm stage four Marginal Zone with involvement in nodes and bone marrow. The doc is only planning four infusions of Rituxen right now and then will re-evaluate when that's done. She called me earlier today and explained that I may have the same rough reactions next week but they are just going to go as slow as they can and really pre medicate me with a lot of prednizone and benedryl. I'm praying that this miracle drug will work! I remembered about you saying that your ab tumors shrunk so fast but so far I haven't see that in my visable nodes. But it can still happen, it's early. Although I'm under the weather tonight I am so happy to begin the healing!

    How are you feeling these days? Where are you with your treatment?
  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    #4
    onlytoday said:

    rituxen
    Hi John,

    I'm stage four Marginal Zone with involvement in nodes and bone marrow. The doc is only planning four infusions of Rituxen right now and then will re-evaluate when that's done. She called me earlier today and explained that I may have the same rough reactions next week but they are just going to go as slow as they can and really pre medicate me with a lot of prednizone and benedryl. I'm praying that this miracle drug will work! I remembered about you saying that your ab tumors shrunk so fast but so far I haven't see that in my visable nodes. But it can still happen, it's early. Although I'm under the weather tonight I am so happy to begin the healing!

    How are you feeling these days? Where are you with your treatment?

    rituxin
    I just finished round 4 of r-cvp. My blood counts stayed up pretty high. They did drop a little this time around but still high for chemo. The first treatment knocked me on my butt. It was due to the rapid killing of the cells,good and bad. Had a lot of pain in my kidney area and actually did not pee for 24 hrs. The kidneys were so over loaded. It straightened itself out, luckily. The next 2 rounds went great. A little tired this time thought. they said my suv(sugar value uptake) was a 9 before treatment and after midway scan it is down to a 3. Dr. seemed happy about that.
  • merrywinner
    merrywinner Member Posts: 626 Member
    #5
    Congratulations!!
    Glad to hear you are on your way and made it through #1. The reactions you had are all within normal limits. Everyone is different. Also happy to know you like your team, that is half the battle. Wishing you continued success and sending you good thoughts and prayers. Mary
  • allmost60
    allmost60 Member Posts: 3,178 Member
    #6
    merrywinner said:

    Congratulations!!
    Glad to hear you are on your way and made it through #1. The reactions you had are all within normal limits. Everyone is different. Also happy to know you like your team, that is half the battle. Wishing you continued success and sending you good thoughts and prayers. Mary

    One down...
    Hi Donna,
    Glad to hear round one went ok! With every post of someone starting their first round, my confidence sours! Now if only I could get going...UGH! Please rest and take good care of yourself so you will be ready for the next round. Love and prayers to you...
    Love....Sue
  • allmost60
    allmost60 Member Posts: 3,178 Member
    #7
    allmost60 said:

    One down...
    Hi Donna,
    Glad to hear round one went ok! With every post of someone starting their first round, my confidence sours! Now if only I could get going...UGH! Please rest and take good care of yourself so you will be ready for the next round. Love and prayers to you...
    Love....Sue

    SOARS!!!
    I ment to say my confidence "SOARS"...not sours...ha! It's been a rough day!
    Love...Sue
  • merrywinner
    merrywinner Member Posts: 626 Member
    #8
    allmost60 said:

    SOARS!!!
    I ment to say my confidence "SOARS"...not sours...ha! It's been a rough day!
    Love...Sue

    LOL
    Freudian slip??
  • onlytoday
    onlytoday Member Posts: 609 Member
    #9
    merrywinner said:

    LOL
    Freudian slip??

    All of you
    You guys are great. Thanks for the support (and the laughs!) I'm feeling a bit better today- still pretty tired but not as achy as yesterday. Not much of an appetite but I'm eating some.

    Sue when does your treatment start?
  • onlytoday
    onlytoday Member Posts: 609 Member
    #10
    onlytoday said:

    All of you
    You guys are great. Thanks for the support (and the laughs!) I'm feeling a bit better today- still pretty tired but not as achy as yesterday. Not much of an appetite but I'm eating some.

    Sue when does your treatment start?

    Sue
    So sorry, I missed some posts and didn't realize that you had the annoying port delay.. I hope they can help you with that soon. Doing home projects really does help. When I was waiting for treatment to start I created a little sanctuary for myself in an extra bedroom. I cleared out the treasures (junk) and got a new area rug, chair, etc. It's my quite place. I read, rest and pray and meditate in there. Lovely.

    Good luck. Hope they have great news for you tomorrow!

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