Neulasta

I was advised that there might be bone pain and my physician specifically told me not to panic if I should feel chest pain, it was likely the Neulasta was doing that voodoo it do so well...in my breast bone.  He warned me as to not waste an expensive afternoon in the emergency department.  Additionally, he mentioned that I might feel back and/or hip discomfort, again that would just be the medication pumping me back up.  

I was prepared for the worse and my experience...from the injection site to completion of chemotherapy...was not uncomfortable.

Hang in there, I hope that helps.

I did experience bone pain, a known side effect, the first time I got the shot (that evening - I'd had the shot in the late morning).  I had been told by my oncologist that it may happen so when it did I took a Vicodin and the pain subsided.  I didn't experience that pain again after my other Neulasta shots. 

Best,

Clementine

joannstar said:

I had a nuelasta shot

2 days after chemo for all 6 rounds. My chemo was on Friday and the office would open on Sunday for their chemo patients to get shots. The shot hurts less if you have time to warm it first (in your hands), but the nurse wanted to leave so my shots were given cold.

That day I would sleep. The next day I would really ache. My girlfriend was told to take Claritin 2 days before and 3 days after each shot and she had far less pain than I. I had trouble lifting my legs enough to climb stairs. The pain was really intense, but it was tolerable and it did keep me healthy. After my first round of chemo, I arranged to take off the Monday after each shot so that I could just shuffle around the house. The pain lessened the 3rd day and I would go back to work.

I also had to pay a 10% co-pay which was about $520 per shot...but the shot did what I needed and so all-in-all I would do it again if I had to, but I would definitely take Claritin in preparation.

Good luck,

JoAnn 

My oncologist prefers to try the first chemo without Neulasta -- in my case, my white blood cells tanked, so I then had Neulasta after all my remaining rounds of chemo.

As others have said, some women do get bone pain from the Neulasta, some do not.  For me, my legs were pretty achey for probably 24-48 hours after the shot -- it was uncomfortable, though not enough that I needed to take anything for it.

Hope that helps,

Traci

Rague said:

We are each so unique

As you have seen many of us had Neulasta and not all had the exact same reaction.  I did Neulasta the day after my 4 neoadjuvant DD A/C but not after my 12 adjuvant Taxol.  

My white cells had stayed so high on A/C that Dr T. did not think I need the shots on Taxol.  He was right - my blood work stayed good through Taxol with the exception of my K (potassium) levels which plummeted so had to go on mega doses of K to keep it in 'normal' range.  Even today, 5 years later, I still have issues with keeping K levels up - supplements handle it.

I had no pain from Neulasta.  My SE was different than most though - I went to sleep.  I would go to sleep an hour (almost to the minute) after injections.  Would sleep for an hour and wake up, almost to the minute, with no other issues.  I had no pain issues but I have heard that many have had good experiences with taking Claratin for pain if it happens.  I have been told that the 'regular' Claratin, not the long acting, is what should be used but I have no experience with it - just what I've read/heard.

Winyan - The Power Within

Susan

Major leg, hip & back pain.   I tried the Claritin  - I would start 2 days before and go for 3 after and that did seem to help a lot.  Elevating my legs helped as well.  Motrin.

The shot did the trick - kept those white cells up

Hello there, I have had the shot after my chemo and the first say 3-5 shots it was horrible for ME. Not saying it will be for you but the things I did experience were severe lower back pain so bad that I couldnt get off the couch or out of bed, it was eased a bit by using my ricebag in the microwave to soothe the pain. It dont last for long so dont worry my friend. I look at it this way....If you, we, I can deal with this awful beast....an Nuelasta shot aint got nuttin on us.........................You go girl...keep fightin this **** ! (oops) 

I had neulasta shots the day following chemo.  My numbers were always good.   At one point my onc considered not doing the shot, just to see; but he decided otherwise, which was good for me.  I wanted to finish chemo on schedule because I had out-of-town plans 10 days after I finished.  I did not want low numbers to set me off a week or two.

The last few weeks of chemo/neulasta, I found that towards the end of the week I had chemo and the shot, my hips and upper legs ached for a weekend.  It wasn't too bad, but I opted not to take anything for that because (1) it was not that painful and (2) I was not wanting to take anymore drugs than necessary.

camul said:

I had nuelesta shots to up my blood counts.
First time didnt know about Claritan. Called office bcuz my bones just ached, they assumed they told me about the claritan. Then I took the Claritan whenever I needed the Neulesta. It worked the best when I took it before the shot. not waiting til I already hurt!

I did not know about the claritin, but the neulasta gave me arm pain and across my shoulders but it wasnt bad lasted the weekend then gone.  I would say it was minimal and very tolerable.

It is my thought that your WBC still tanks, but the neulasta makes it so your bone marrow produce WBC  quicker so you will be ready for your next chemo. That way they can give it closer together.  I was inthe hospital and my wbc was really low and they said this was normal. I did not have neulasta with taxol. I dont think it has the same affect as other chemos on WBC. i had AC

I had the Neulasta injections the day after my 4 dd biweekly AC treatments, but did not have it after my 12 weekly Taxol treatments.  Since I have a lot of sinus issues anyway, I take Allegra and Singulair, so I didn't need the Claritan, but that was covered in my patient education.  Normally, I would have chemo one week, then see the oncologist the following week.  After my second treatment my white count started to get extremely low, but then it would be back up in time for my next treatment.  The worst I felt from what I assume was the Neulasta what that my hips and thighs would feel sore like I had just done a really intense cardio workout.

alabama_survivor said:

I had the Neulasta injections

I had the Neulasta injections the day after my 4 dd biweekly AC treatments, but did not have it after my 12 weekly Taxol treatments.  Since I have a lot of sinus issues anyway, I take Allegra and Singulair, so I didn't need the Claritan, but that was covered in my patient education.  Normally, I would have chemo one week, then see the oncologist the following week.  After my second treatment my white count started to get extremely low, but then it would be back up in time for my next treatment.  The worst I felt from what I assume was the Neulasta what that my hips and thighs would feel sore like I had just done a really intense cardio workout.

 

Well...way back when I did my chemo I was one of the first to receive Neulasta.......and to tell you the truth....I ached all over for over 6 months....maybe closer to a year and I just put it down to all the terrible chemo and radiation and stress etc etc etc........   I took Extra Strength Tylenol Gel Caps every 6 hours for a year and My Onc told me it was a good thing I had perfect kidneys.....but it was the only way I could function at all and prescription pain meds just knocked me out and I couldn't even work when I took those.

Neulasta is a wonder drug.........that costs a Fortune............but it works.  Thank God.

Lower wbc means there is no infection.  I believe that is part of the purpose of the Neulasta shot.  Typically whatever happens on each day following your chemo will fall into a pattern for the rest of your treatments.  So if your wbc dropped with the first round for about 10 days, you can expect that to continue.

With the lower wbc, I would be careful about exposure to anyone who may be ill for those first 10 days.  I had a sign on my door asking anyone who was sneezing, coughing, or generally not feeling well to please consider a visit after —-.  I also had a mega sized bottle of hand sanitizer that became standard procedure for anyone who entered.

   There is nothing wrong with protecting yourself, and those who care understand and respect your requests.

Blessings!

Kathy