The dexamethasone crash

Swanee50
Swanee50 Member Posts: 5
in Breast Cancer #1

I don't know about anyone  else but this was my first round of Taxotere/Cytoxin and the dexamethasone kicked my ****. I already have ADD and take Ritalin. So the premed started Tuesday and I finally fell asleep at 2AM. Then comes chemo day and slept by 1:30, the day after was back to 2AM. I was stupid at work Friday and Saturday was an ugly crash. the acne on my face is bad! Had the urge to take a bike ride Friday eve and ended up with a bad rash on my butt to top it off. Appetite went south, diarrhea started, body aches etc. 

Fortunately I have a good friend whose an onc nurse. She has helped me get through this weekend texting back and forth each day. I'm a psyche nurse. The nurses at the onc office gave me the impression that work was doable and that chemo was nothing like what it used to be. I was given the  impression that I was going to get through this with no major problem. 

I had a wonderfppl surgeon in New Haven, Dr. Kaye Zuckerman who said to me Tuesday, when I went in tot get drained for the last time and told her how geeked I felt on just one dose of dexamethasone, " you're taking Thursday and Friday off right?" When I told her how they said I should be ok she turned and said, "Honey, you aren't going to sleep." I immediately felt alarmed and have no idea why I didn't call out for the rest of the week because she's been straight with me from the start. I called her office Friday to say Thank you for bing the only honest person regarding the steroids.

So here it is Sunday eve and I'm about to head back to bed. I've called out for tomorrow because the crash was so bad and I need to see a dermatologist about the effects of the steroids on my face. It looks awful. I just wish that nurses especially could be straight with patients. Why sugarcoat something that's so awful. Tell it like it is so we can be prepared. I don't mind going through something difficult, really.

Perhaps, however, I need to take the advice of my surgeon in all areas of my life, especially now since my sister in law, who has triple negative breast cancer doesn't want to hear about my journey and my own sister hasn't even called because she wrapped up in her own crap. she told me Tuesday that she learned to lower her expectations of everyone. Expect nothing and be pleasantly surprised. I need to work on this aotherwise especially since I can't afford the negativity. I have amazing friends, most family and a wife that tolerated me this whole weekend. I'm grateful that my prognosis is very good and I only have ttreat cycles left. A few more days off from work is doable if I need them. I am so very lucky in the end.

Comments

  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #2
    I get the crash every week
    I have been on weekly chemo for so long that I know, treatment Thursday, little to no sleep Thursday night, totally wired and the steroid flush Friday, really clean house! Sleep sometime between Friday night to Sat a.m. Then total sleep Till Sunday night/Monday. Thrn still tired Monday but totally functionable, good Tues, Wed. E
    I was lucky, my nurse told me a little of what to expect but no one thought it would be this extreme. Now it is expected, I can tell immediately when I have an infection as I actually sleep on Thursday and Friday!
    Glad that you only have a few more treatments left.ven Ativan does not slow the steroid effects, but now I am use to it.
  • telecomjd
    telecomjd Member Posts: 66
    #3
    Same thing with skin issues

    I just finished with four rounds of T/C chemo in March.  During my first cycle in January, I had horrible acne.  I'll tell you what worked for me (it did not come back on subsequent cycles):

    • Neutrogena Rapid Clear cleansing pads.  Started using them on my face twice per day.  They really helped.  
    • A Clairsonic, which I used to clean my face with my regular gentle face cleanser once per day.  (You could also buy the cheaper, Olay version of this device, which I hear works very well.)  
    • Neutrogena Rapid Clear body wash.  Again, very effective for the body acne.

    On the sleep front, I would take two twenty minute walks per day after week one of chemo.  It tired me out a little.  I'd also take one or two Benadryl to help me to sleep.  Plus, I drank a ton of water to flush that nonsense out of my system.

    Hope this helps.

    M

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