Can’t catch a break
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Can’t catch a break

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Can’t catch a break

  • Post
    • October 11, 2015 at 8:22 pm
    Tracyd715
    Participant

    Well, my husband went in Friday for his gamma knife treatment. On the new MRI on the more advanced machine they found 13 pea sized lesions along with the original one he was there for. They treated all of them with no problems. Then early Sunday morning I was women up by him having a seizure in bed. Got him to the ER by ambulance and shortly after getting here he had another shorter one. They found swelling from the procedure and the main lesion had bled. I guess the bleeding isn't uncommon with melanoma mets on the brain. So hopefully with the medication he's getting this should straighten out. Ugh! Was hoping the gamma knife was going to be easy.

Viewing 8 reply threads
  • Replies
      • October 11, 2015 at 8:28 pm
      Jubes
      Participant

      Hope they zapped them all and all smoothe sailing from here!!!

      anne-Louise

      • October 11, 2015 at 8:28 pm
      Jubes
      Participant

      Hope they zapped them all and all smoothe sailing from here!!!

      anne-Louise

      • October 11, 2015 at 8:28 pm
      Jubes
      Participant

      Hope they zapped them all and all smoothe sailing from here!!!

      anne-Louise

      • October 11, 2015 at 8:52 pm
      kylez
      Participant

      Going to the ER by ambulance is the right thing to do, I've been told, in a situation like that. Hopefully the steroids will get the swelling under control until it can ease on its own.

      In my case they found 2 brain mets by the time I had Gamma Knife, that I think weren't detectable at the time I had surgery 17 days prior. They were either in, or got added to the GK plan. 

      I don't remember if his doctors have him lined up to start a new systemic therapy now. I know he had just completed interferon. I was fortunate enough to start IPI 2 weeks post-GK in 2011. My doctor believed that helped with no brain mets coming back post-IPI, for several years now. If it were today, they'd probably start me on Keytruda or Opdivo in place of IPI.

      I'm permanently on an anti-seizure medication. I hope he's experiencing relief from these post-GK issues now.

       

       

       

      • October 11, 2015 at 8:52 pm
      kylez
      Participant

      Going to the ER by ambulance is the right thing to do, I've been told, in a situation like that. Hopefully the steroids will get the swelling under control until it can ease on its own.

      In my case they found 2 brain mets by the time I had Gamma Knife, that I think weren't detectable at the time I had surgery 17 days prior. They were either in, or got added to the GK plan. 

      I don't remember if his doctors have him lined up to start a new systemic therapy now. I know he had just completed interferon. I was fortunate enough to start IPI 2 weeks post-GK in 2011. My doctor believed that helped with no brain mets coming back post-IPI, for several years now. If it were today, they'd probably start me on Keytruda or Opdivo in place of IPI.

      I'm permanently on an anti-seizure medication. I hope he's experiencing relief from these post-GK issues now.

       

       

       

        • October 12, 2015 at 2:02 pm
        Tracyd715
        Participant

        He's supposed to be starting Keytruda soon.  We have an appt with the oncologist next Monday.  That will be 4 weeks of getting the Interferon out of his system.  That stuff was brutal on him. 

        Still waiting to talk to the neurologist here to find out what's going to happen when he gets out of the hospital.  Had gamma knife in Pittsburgh so I'm hoping they contacted the dr there as well.  If not I will be calling them.  Not taking any chances with this.

        • October 12, 2015 at 2:02 pm
        Tracyd715
        Participant

        He's supposed to be starting Keytruda soon.  We have an appt with the oncologist next Monday.  That will be 4 weeks of getting the Interferon out of his system.  That stuff was brutal on him. 

        Still waiting to talk to the neurologist here to find out what's going to happen when he gets out of the hospital.  Had gamma knife in Pittsburgh so I'm hoping they contacted the dr there as well.  If not I will be calling them.  Not taking any chances with this.

        • October 12, 2015 at 2:02 pm
        Tracyd715
        Participant

        He's supposed to be starting Keytruda soon.  We have an appt with the oncologist next Monday.  That will be 4 weeks of getting the Interferon out of his system.  That stuff was brutal on him. 

        Still waiting to talk to the neurologist here to find out what's going to happen when he gets out of the hospital.  Had gamma knife in Pittsburgh so I'm hoping they contacted the dr there as well.  If not I will be calling them.  Not taking any chances with this.

      • October 11, 2015 at 8:52 pm
      kylez
      Participant

      Going to the ER by ambulance is the right thing to do, I've been told, in a situation like that. Hopefully the steroids will get the swelling under control until it can ease on its own.

      In my case they found 2 brain mets by the time I had Gamma Knife, that I think weren't detectable at the time I had surgery 17 days prior. They were either in, or got added to the GK plan. 

      I don't remember if his doctors have him lined up to start a new systemic therapy now. I know he had just completed interferon. I was fortunate enough to start IPI 2 weeks post-GK in 2011. My doctor believed that helped with no brain mets coming back post-IPI, for several years now. If it were today, they'd probably start me on Keytruda or Opdivo in place of IPI.

      I'm permanently on an anti-seizure medication. I hope he's experiencing relief from these post-GK issues now.

       

       

       

      • October 11, 2015 at 9:47 pm
      Patina
      Participant

      Was he on a anti-seizure medication after gamma knife treatment?  I don't know if everyone prescribes Keppra after gamma knife radiation surgery, but my Mom's radiologist oncologist does this prophylactically on the off chance of a seizure.  You might ask about this if there are future surgeries.

      Since your husband had a seizure you need to be aware that he will likely need to go through a re-certification process to drive again. If you contact your local DMV Ombudsman they can walk you through the process once his doctor says its okay to drive. Don't assume your car insurance will protect you without DMV re-certification.

       

      • October 11, 2015 at 9:47 pm
      Patina
      Participant

      Was he on a anti-seizure medication after gamma knife treatment?  I don't know if everyone prescribes Keppra after gamma knife radiation surgery, but my Mom's radiologist oncologist does this prophylactically on the off chance of a seizure.  You might ask about this if there are future surgeries.

      Since your husband had a seizure you need to be aware that he will likely need to go through a re-certification process to drive again. If you contact your local DMV Ombudsman they can walk you through the process once his doctor says its okay to drive. Don't assume your car insurance will protect you without DMV re-certification.

       

        • October 12, 2015 at 2:04 pm
        Tracyd715
        Participant

        No he wasn't on anything except the low dose steroids that they were weening him off of.  If he has to do gamma again I will definitely be asking for it.

        I'll have to check into the driving thing.  Thanks for letting me know!

        • October 12, 2015 at 2:04 pm
        Tracyd715
        Participant

        No he wasn't on anything except the low dose steroids that they were weening him off of.  If he has to do gamma again I will definitely be asking for it.

        I'll have to check into the driving thing.  Thanks for letting me know!

        • October 12, 2015 at 2:04 pm
        Tracyd715
        Participant

        No he wasn't on anything except the low dose steroids that they were weening him off of.  If he has to do gamma again I will definitely be asking for it.

        I'll have to check into the driving thing.  Thanks for letting me know!

      • October 11, 2015 at 9:47 pm
      Patina
      Participant

      Was he on a anti-seizure medication after gamma knife treatment?  I don't know if everyone prescribes Keppra after gamma knife radiation surgery, but my Mom's radiologist oncologist does this prophylactically on the off chance of a seizure.  You might ask about this if there are future surgeries.

      Since your husband had a seizure you need to be aware that he will likely need to go through a re-certification process to drive again. If you contact your local DMV Ombudsman they can walk you through the process once his doctor says its okay to drive. Don't assume your car insurance will protect you without DMV re-certification.

       

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