Opdivo side effect????? question
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Opdivo side effect????? question

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Opdivo side effect????? question

  • Post
    • August 2, 2019 at 5:30 pm
    Sylvia Strobel
    Participant
    Had 3rd treatment of Opdivo three weeks ago. All has been going great, a little fatigue for a day or so after the first two. But nothing after the 3rd. The last two nights I have had very bad night mares, almost hallucinating. Also I wake up with numb fingers. I rub them and it goes away. Anyone know if these are side effects? I just called my Oncology nurse and waiting for a call back. Thanks for shedding any light on this. Best of luck to all you Melanoma Warriors.
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      • August 2, 2019 at 7:11 pm
      Sdmotorcop
      Participant
      Hi Sylvia,
      I recently had my second dose of opdivo. I haven’t had any nightmares but have had the numb fingers/hands. I’ve been fatigued since day 1 (doesn’t go away) and have been dealing with PMR like symptoms (treating with pain meds). I’ve been trying to research if the numb hands is related to the PMR (polymyalgia rheumatica). I’m dealing with a hematology oncologist who is not a melanoma specialist. I’m attempting to get switched over to OHSU (Portland, OR) to deal with a melanoma specialist that has had dealings with the different side effects that come along with Opdivo treatment. Melanoma sucks round spheres
        • August 2, 2019 at 7:49 pm
        Bubbles
        Participant
        Hi Bruce (and Sylvia),

        Made me laugh with your “round spheres”!! My go to is: Melanoma sucks great big green hairy stinky wizard balls. Anyhow… I’ve lived with and followed the reports regarding side effects to immunotherapy for years and years. Haven’t seen much of anything related to nightmares…other than the nightmare that melanoma and melanoma treatment is generally! Not making fun….the stress if fo realz!!!

        However, we have long known that the most common side effects are rash, fatigue and arthralgias. But, immunotherapy side effects can do a little bit of everything. Immunotherapy (with ipi being the bad boy) can cause inflammation anywhere. Colitis in the gut, pneumonitis in the lungs, problems with liver function, mess up endocrine glands, and certainly cause neurological effects like the numbness you have both described. That is usually referred to as “neuropathy”. Neuropathies occur more often with a lot of the old school chemo’s but they can certainly occur with immunotherapy as well. Here is one report: https://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2017/05/neurologic-side-effects-to.html

        You can find lots more related info by putting “neuropathy” or “side effects” into the search bubble if you really want to gross out. Anyhow, as with everything, how you deal with the side effect you encounter relates to the degree to which you are affected. Those who are severely affected may need a holiday from the treatment drug and even steroids. Some can push on. So…it is important to talk to your doc about any side effect you think you may be experiencing sooner rather than later. Even when a drug holiday is needed – most patients can resume treatment once the side effect is under control.

        Hope this helps. Wishing you both my best. Celeste

        • August 3, 2019 at 2:53 am
        Sylvia Strobel
        Participant
        Bruce and Celeste. Thank you so much for responding. I did call the ocologist and my nurse said numbness in fingers is a side effect and it should go away. Nightmares no!!! Who knows maybe something I ate. As far as fatigue it has gotten better after the third treatment. My hubby is stage 4 and had ippy four years ago, two rounds and tolerated it very well. Just a small amount of diahrea. He is such a support to me and with him having melanoma too, I kind of know what to expect. A crazy life. I go to his oncologist. Doc said “you this is not contagious” and we all laughed. What else can you do but laugh. Thank you again. Looking forward to a good nights sleep. Best of luck to both of you. Sylvia
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