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Having my 1st Intrapheron treatment tomorrow.
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Having my 1st Intrapheron treatment tomorrow.

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Having my 1st Intrapheron treatment tomorrow.

  • Post
    • April 13, 2014 at 11:18 pm
    lisamariehenry
    Participant

      What should I do to prepare for this?  I know I have to take 650 mg Tylenol and 50 mg Benadryl 30 minutes to 1 hour before.  My appointment is for 2:30 p.m.  Should I eat lunch before?  Any info at this point would be greatly appreciated.

      thank You!

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • April 14, 2014 at 12:29 am
        Fen
        Participant

          The trouble with interferon, Lisa, is that everyone is so different.  Food made me really sick but other people on the board sailed through with no problems.  My suggestion would be to go slowly until you find out how you respond.  Drink lots of water, don't push yourself, and your own particular response will become clear over time.  Best of luck!!  Fen

          • April 14, 2014 at 12:29 am
          Fen
          Participant

            The trouble with interferon, Lisa, is that everyone is so different.  Food made me really sick but other people on the board sailed through with no problems.  My suggestion would be to go slowly until you find out how you respond.  Drink lots of water, don't push yourself, and your own particular response will become clear over time.  Best of luck!!  Fen

            • April 14, 2014 at 12:29 am
            Fen
            Participant

              The trouble with interferon, Lisa, is that everyone is so different.  Food made me really sick but other people on the board sailed through with no problems.  My suggestion would be to go slowly until you find out how you respond.  Drink lots of water, don't push yourself, and your own particular response will become clear over time.  Best of luck!!  Fen

              • April 14, 2014 at 2:32 am
              bj63
              Participant

                Unless your doctor told you otherwise, eating lunch should be fine.  I'd keep it on the light side, though.  I didn't have any nausea when I went through Interferon treatments – just flu-like symptoms of fever, chills, and fatigue, but everybody is different.

                Good Luck!

                bj63

                  • April 14, 2014 at 4:39 pm
                  patobs01
                  Participant

                    Lisa,

                     

                    I took the "high dose" interferon for 30 days (mornings) in 2010. I used Tylenol every day  prior to the treatment, and then received a bag of saline ( contained something to prevent the nausea) as a pre treatment before the interferon. After the first week some of the side effects started and found that I was mildly nauseous prior to treatments, but once I received the pre-treatment I could eat something light like toast and coffee, and later, I would eat lunch. Pretty much every afternoon I had mild fatigue and chills, so I ended up taking a hot bath and resting. By supper time I was ready to eat again. As the treatments advanced I found myself more fatigued for longer periods in the afternoon and generally went to bed early, but slept well. One caution while taking the treatments, and everyone is different, but my dr. prescribed an anti-depressant prior to starting the Interferon. I was glad that he did that, as towards the end of the 30 days, I did experience some significant depression – and it took a while to realize it as I had never had a history of that issue before. After some research I found that Interferon  can actually cause depression as a side effect – but as you will find – everyone has a different experience. As mentioned in the previous posts, do drink lots of water!

                     

                    Pat O.

                    • April 15, 2014 at 2:06 pm
                    Cooper
                    Participant

                      If you have history of depression, do not do the interferon.  I was very sick from it and also got off it when I was told the depression can be lasting.  Be sure to look at other threads here about it as it isn't proven to do a heck of a lot to live longer without recur.

                      • April 15, 2014 at 2:06 pm
                      Cooper
                      Participant

                        If you have history of depression, do not do the interferon.  I was very sick from it and also got off it when I was told the depression can be lasting.  Be sure to look at other threads here about it as it isn't proven to do a heck of a lot to live longer without recur.

                        • April 15, 2014 at 2:06 pm
                        Cooper
                        Participant

                          If you have history of depression, do not do the interferon.  I was very sick from it and also got off it when I was told the depression can be lasting.  Be sure to look at other threads here about it as it isn't proven to do a heck of a lot to live longer without recur.

                          • April 14, 2014 at 4:39 pm
                          patobs01
                          Participant

                            Lisa,

                             

                            I took the "high dose" interferon for 30 days (mornings) in 2010. I used Tylenol every day  prior to the treatment, and then received a bag of saline ( contained something to prevent the nausea) as a pre treatment before the interferon. After the first week some of the side effects started and found that I was mildly nauseous prior to treatments, but once I received the pre-treatment I could eat something light like toast and coffee, and later, I would eat lunch. Pretty much every afternoon I had mild fatigue and chills, so I ended up taking a hot bath and resting. By supper time I was ready to eat again. As the treatments advanced I found myself more fatigued for longer periods in the afternoon and generally went to bed early, but slept well. One caution while taking the treatments, and everyone is different, but my dr. prescribed an anti-depressant prior to starting the Interferon. I was glad that he did that, as towards the end of the 30 days, I did experience some significant depression – and it took a while to realize it as I had never had a history of that issue before. After some research I found that Interferon  can actually cause depression as a side effect – but as you will find – everyone has a different experience. As mentioned in the previous posts, do drink lots of water!

                             

                            Pat O.

                            • April 14, 2014 at 4:39 pm
                            patobs01
                            Participant

                              Lisa,

                               

                              I took the "high dose" interferon for 30 days (mornings) in 2010. I used Tylenol every day  prior to the treatment, and then received a bag of saline ( contained something to prevent the nausea) as a pre treatment before the interferon. After the first week some of the side effects started and found that I was mildly nauseous prior to treatments, but once I received the pre-treatment I could eat something light like toast and coffee, and later, I would eat lunch. Pretty much every afternoon I had mild fatigue and chills, so I ended up taking a hot bath and resting. By supper time I was ready to eat again. As the treatments advanced I found myself more fatigued for longer periods in the afternoon and generally went to bed early, but slept well. One caution while taking the treatments, and everyone is different, but my dr. prescribed an anti-depressant prior to starting the Interferon. I was glad that he did that, as towards the end of the 30 days, I did experience some significant depression – and it took a while to realize it as I had never had a history of that issue before. After some research I found that Interferon  can actually cause depression as a side effect – but as you will find – everyone has a different experience. As mentioned in the previous posts, do drink lots of water!

                               

                              Pat O.

                            • April 14, 2014 at 2:32 am
                            bj63
                            Participant

                              Unless your doctor told you otherwise, eating lunch should be fine.  I'd keep it on the light side, though.  I didn't have any nausea when I went through Interferon treatments – just flu-like symptoms of fever, chills, and fatigue, but everybody is different.

                              Good Luck!

                              bj63

                              • April 14, 2014 at 2:32 am
                              bj63
                              Participant

                                Unless your doctor told you otherwise, eating lunch should be fine.  I'd keep it on the light side, though.  I didn't have any nausea when I went through Interferon treatments – just flu-like symptoms of fever, chills, and fatigue, but everybody is different.

                                Good Luck!

                                bj63

                            Viewing 5 reply threads
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