3’rd of day interferon treatment

Way to go!! You are doing it!!! Just take one day at a time and get through each treatment. Good for you for getting the electric blanket…they really do help. Ask your oncologist about other ideas for some of your other symptoms like the headaches.

Vermont_Donna, stage 3a

stable after 4 infusions of Ipi

Way to go!! You are doing it!!! Just take one day at a time and get through each treatment. Good for you for getting the electric blanket…they really do help. Ask your oncologist about other ideas for some of your other symptoms like the headaches.

Vermont_Donna, stage 3a

stable after 4 infusions of Ipi

I remember those headaches very well – and I did interferon almost ten years ago.  Does your oncologist know about them?  Ask for some pain meds like hydrocodone – you should be taking tylenol anyway, plus you're going to be trying to sleep off the worst of the side effects, so it's not like the drowsiness caused by the pain meds is going to be a problem for you.

My headaches only lasted the first couple days; then I guess my body got more used to the drug.  I hope you find them easing up for you soon, too.

Hang in there, you can do it!  Weekend's coming…no interferon on the weekend.

KatyWI

I remember those headaches very well – and I did interferon almost ten years ago.  Does your oncologist know about them?  Ask for some pain meds like hydrocodone – you should be taking tylenol anyway, plus you're going to be trying to sleep off the worst of the side effects, so it's not like the drowsiness caused by the pain meds is going to be a problem for you.

My headaches only lasted the first couple days; then I guess my body got more used to the drug.  I hope you find them easing up for you soon, too.

Hang in there, you can do it!  Weekend's coming…no interferon on the weekend.

KatyWI

One day at a time.  Three days down. 🙂  I remember those awful headaches in the beginning as well.  They did seem to taper off as time went on.  Make sure you are drinking (or getting) plenty of fluids.  You can do this!

Stay Strong
King

Stage IV 7/05 Liver mets

One day at a time.  Three days down. 🙂  I remember those awful headaches in the beginning as well.  They did seem to taper off as time went on.  Make sure you are drinking (or getting) plenty of fluids.  You can do this!

Stay Strong
King

Stage IV 7/05 Liver mets

Your post brings back a lot of memories for me too. I would have my infusions during the afternoon and be in bed by early evening. The headaches were the worst the first part of the week — I went through a lot of tylenol that month. Depression was also a big side effect for me and I ended up taking meds for that too. You might find the worst side effects take place at the beginning of the week, after you've had the weekend off. Just in case, be prepared. Drink lots of fluids and be good to yourself and take it day to day. The 11 months injections of the lower dose were easier for me although fatigue was an issue some days. Keep the long term goal in mind — you can get through this!

Gwen in Maine

Your post brings back a lot of memories for me too. I would have my infusions during the afternoon and be in bed by early evening. The headaches were the worst the first part of the week — I went through a lot of tylenol that month. Depression was also a big side effect for me and I ended up taking meds for that too. You might find the worst side effects take place at the beginning of the week, after you've had the weekend off. Just in case, be prepared. Drink lots of fluids and be good to yourself and take it day to day. The 11 months injections of the lower dose were easier for me although fatigue was an issue some days. Keep the long term goal in mind — you can get through this!

Gwen in Maine

Hello, I did the interferon for almost the full month, I had headaches so bad I cried for two evenings but the dr told me to take IBproven.  I laughed to myself thinking are you serious.  I took them and it didn't work.  I went in the next day and told them and they said take them again tonight and it did work.  I took them everyday there after and never had a headache.  I had never used IBproven, always exedrin or tylenol.  All I was allowed was two tylenol during the injections, then two aleves at 6pm which was during the few hours you are talking about that you have before it all sets in.  But the added two IBprovens did the trick for me….Good luck to you and it will get easier as you go along, if the headaches continue or your eyes start getting blurry tell your dr right away.  Mine did and they had to pull me off of the high dose, had no damage to my retinas after several eye exams but was told that interferon can cause hemorrageing behind your eyes.  Scared me!  I went right into the self doses after that but they were 20 times worse for me than the high dose so I quit them and went back to work.  You take care and be strong…My treatment have worked so far, my first yearly pet scan was negative and my first 3 month check up for blood work was also negative for any signs so my dr said it must have worked.  I just stay positive and hope it never returns, of course I know it could…Teresa in Indianapolis

Hello, I did the interferon for almost the full month, I had headaches so bad I cried for two evenings but the dr told me to take IBproven.  I laughed to myself thinking are you serious.  I took them and it didn't work.  I went in the next day and told them and they said take them again tonight and it did work.  I took them everyday there after and never had a headache.  I had never used IBproven, always exedrin or tylenol.  All I was allowed was two tylenol during the injections, then two aleves at 6pm which was during the few hours you are talking about that you have before it all sets in.  But the added two IBprovens did the trick for me….Good luck to you and it will get easier as you go along, if the headaches continue or your eyes start getting blurry tell your dr right away.  Mine did and they had to pull me off of the high dose, had no damage to my retinas after several eye exams but was told that interferon can cause hemorrageing behind your eyes.  Scared me!  I went right into the self doses after that but they were 20 times worse for me than the high dose so I quit them and went back to work.  You take care and be strong…My treatment have worked so far, my first yearly pet scan was negative and my first 3 month check up for blood work was also negative for any signs so my dr said it must have worked.  I just stay positive and hope it never returns, of course I know it could…Teresa in Indianapolis

You can do this!  Just say that to yourself everyday, as often as you can!  You can do this!

Did the nurses suggest taking tylenol and/or ibuprofen before treatment?  I used to take 2 tabs prior to my infusions and I think (memories not too clear of that time period) they helped a little.  Might be worth asking?

YOU CAN DO THIS!

You can do this!  Just say that to yourself everyday, as often as you can!  You can do this!

Did the nurses suggest taking tylenol and/or ibuprofen before treatment?  I used to take 2 tabs prior to my infusions and I think (memories not too clear of that time period) they helped a little.  Might be worth asking?

YOU CAN DO THIS!

Heg,

25% done with the high dose… just think next Friday you'll be half way through and counting down to the finish!!  Are you getting IV fluids with each infusion?  My husband got 500ml of saline before each infusion, always took advil or tylenol before and after the infusions (except one time he forgot and had a fever and chills in the car on the way home so we know it was working).  Also, fill a gallon jug with water and make sure you get through it each day… crystal light helps.  Hydration is so important and you may get some headache relief from it.

Good luck on week 2.  Don't be surprised if your white blood cell count is down tomorrow.  Its very common. and supposedly is from cells sticking together rather than a true immune compromise. 

Kelly

Heg,

25% done with the high dose… just think next Friday you'll be half way through and counting down to the finish!!  Are you getting IV fluids with each infusion?  My husband got 500ml of saline before each infusion, always took advil or tylenol before and after the infusions (except one time he forgot and had a fever and chills in the car on the way home so we know it was working).  Also, fill a gallon jug with water and make sure you get through it each day… crystal light helps.  Hydration is so important and you may get some headache relief from it.

Good luck on week 2.  Don't be surprised if your white blood cell count is down tomorrow.  Its very common. and supposedly is from cells sticking together rather than a true immune compromise. 

Kelly

Don't be shy about using medication to help with the side effects. When our 14 year old son started high dose in December, the Oncologist on call didn't want him to take any Tylenol in case it would mask a fever from infection at the PICC site. Our son had a horrendous first night, followed by another horrible one. His Oncologist then returned from a family emergency leave and reviewed his case. They started having him take Tylenol during infusion, followed by Advil two hours later, followed by Tylenol two hours after that. It made a really, really big difference. He is currently sailing through his third month of low dose and has little/no side effects. Of course this has a lot to do with his age and level of physical stamina.

Hang in there! Talk with your Oncologist about meds to help alleviate your discomfort. 

Don't be shy about using medication to help with the side effects. When our 14 year old son started high dose in December, the Oncologist on call didn't want him to take any Tylenol in case it would mask a fever from infection at the PICC site. Our son had a horrendous first night, followed by another horrible one. His Oncologist then returned from a family emergency leave and reviewed his case. They started having him take Tylenol during infusion, followed by Advil two hours later, followed by Tylenol two hours after that. It made a really, really big difference. He is currently sailing through his third month of low dose and has little/no side effects. Of course this has a lot to do with his age and level of physical stamina.

Hang in there! Talk with your Oncologist about meds to help alleviate your discomfort. 

I have no experience with this but just wanted to cheer you on as it sounds like a tough few days.  I hope that you will find it gets easier and that some of the suggestions from others will help.  Hang in there and keep your eye on the finish line!!!

Blessings, Shari

I have no experience with this but just wanted to cheer you on as it sounds like a tough few days.  I hope that you will find it gets easier and that some of the suggestions from others will help.  Hang in there and keep your eye on the finish line!!!

Blessings, Shari