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Looking for Answers

Forums General Melanoma Community Looking for Answers

  • Post
    smiller
    Participant

        My husband had his last opdivo/yervoy treatment (tolerated three) in June of 2017 for stage four melanoma. CT Scans still show treatment is continuing to work.  Scans look good and labs are good.  The thing is he stil has days that are not good at all.  I am wanting to believe that since scans and labs are good that all is well–or at least better to the point of "bad days" are behind us.  He get extremely fatigued and has stomach issues.  My question is do you think there are other types of tests that he needs?  I realize I need to ask the nurse but I have a job that keeps me away from my desk and it will be very difficult for us to connect, And I realize that this isn't an emergency so I don't need to bother her anyway.  Any insight anyone has on this will be most helpful!

       Thanks in advance,

      Jim's wife

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    • Replies
        marta010
        Participant

          Hi – even treatment was completed in June, side effects can still occur.  Whenever I see fatigue mentioned, I think of adrenal insufficiency.  Do your husband's lab tests include hormone levels?  Thyroid, cortisol, testosterone?  If not, I'd definitely ask that these be tested as these are often the cause of fatigue.  Take care.

          Ann

            smiller
            Participant

               He is taking Levothyroxine for his thyroid. I will ask for test for the other issuse you mentioned.  Thanks!

            ed williams
            Participant

              Hi Jim's wife, fatigue and stomach problems are normal for the combination or either of these on their own. How long the side effects may stay with us is a great question that only time will tell since we are still early in the journey of knowing long term side effects and what they might be. From a personal point of view, I have been on Nivo by itself and fatigue and stomach issues started right away in 2014 and I am still dealing with them. I am still on treatment so a little different from your husbands situation. Some have used a drug that is given to ADHD kids called Ritatlin which acts like a stimulant to help with the fatigue, I was not able to use it since it increases the risk of brain bleeds and having have cyberknife SRS radiation treatment to my brain, it would have been to risky. Best Wishes!!!Ed

                smiller
                Participant

                  Thanks for you reply.  I know I am asking alot—to me good scans and lab works should indicate  ALL IS WELL and we are only gettting better from here on out.  If only that was true!

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