working on opdivo

I'm coming up on 4 months of either Opdivo or Opdivo/Yervoy (blind trial).  I think I'm a little stiffer and itchier than when I began, but I've yet to miss a day of work (other than the time for the infusions itself).

 I am on my fourth month of Opdivo. I make sure to get my treatments on Fridays because I can’t do anything for two days after each infusion. I sleep most of the following 24-36 hours. Other than that, work isn’t a problem for me. 

I was on nivo from Dec 2010 – June 2013.  I worked 12 h shifts on mon, tue, wed.  My infusions were on Friday and I had to travel for my care.  I missed 3 days during those years.  It wasn't easy.  I am very stubborn.  Possibly should have taken more time off.  But my operating premise remains:  Melanoma will not take my life, until it TAKES my life.  That said, things are different for different folks.  Some in my trial had to be on disability.  Others got their infusion on their lunch break and went back to work once the infusion was complete.  I wish you my best.  Celeste

My husband is on Nivo or Nivo/Ipi and has not had to miss work. He scheduled infusions for Fridays just in case, but afterwards drives to an office not from from the malanoma center instead of his regular office that’s farther away. But that’s to be able to start working sooner than if he drove into the city, battling traffic, not because of feeling badly. 

He started getting gut side effects with the third or fifth infusion (blinded study so depends on which study arm), but with prescribed meds and planning it hasn’t interfered much, though his doc had him skip his last infusion. He does not think he’s experienced fatigue though since he’s a big napper, may have napped through some fatigue. It doesn’t seem like it though.

Welcome, good luck, and consider completing your profile so members can easily help down the road if you have questions or concerns.

Beth

Probably fair to say your mileage will vary.  Some folks have significant reactions and probably need some serious time off, some (like in here) have friday treaments and can handle work by monday and some, like me, have very limited reactions/side effects and go back to work the next day (or into work if I have it in the AM).

You best bet is to hope for the best but plan for the worst to the extent you can. I believe the percentages bear out that it's more likely than not you will be able to, but it's somewhat hard to predict.  good luck!

I've been getting it every two weeks since August 2017.  I have to miss on the infusion day for sure, but I've never had to miss because of the drug side effects.  It makes me tired sometimes, and I've been itchy occasionally, but nothing bad enough to skip.

I did 37 biweekly treatments on Opdivo and worked the entire time. I had some fatigue, but it was managable. Everyone has different impacts from the Opdivo, I found that having to get up and go to work made the treament impacts much more manageable. It would have been easy to veg out in front of the TV. My coping included getting a good nights rest – about 6 to 7 hours, taking vitaimin B, D and a probiotic. 

Good luck on your treatment.

I think the experience is different for everyone. I’m not on nivo but I am on keytruda/pembro and I can safely say that the side effects have become too much for me to be working. I currently am working 32 hours a week down from 40 but am looking into disability and taking off full time.

I’ve had what I would consider a really rough time on these meds. I don’t know what is normal but I am basically in pain all the time it’s just a matter of how much and I’m on so many pills to fight all my levels and side effects that I’m walking around in a daze most of the time and if I’m in a chair or laying down it really doesn’t matter, I turn into practically a narcoleptic and can fall asleep on a whim. I’ve already fallen asleep at my office desk a multitude of time since beginning treatment. I’ve been on keytruda/pembro for 14 treatments on just under a year of being out of radiation.

Another thing is that 33 radiation treatments is a hell of a lot of radiation. You may even have lasting side effects from that as well. I know my spine/neck radiation definitely caused some lingering effects for a month or two at least. It kinda becomes a blur after a while. I know my story is unique and has been one of the tougher melanoma roads but that doesn’t mean someone else wouldn’t react like me.

Anyway, good luck too you. I hope everyone has no side effects at all because it definitely sucks. But I just tell myself that I want to live more than I want to die and I’ve got too many things to do in this life to be giving up already.

I agree with kcmtnbiker on what was posted.  I am currenlty on treatment  19 of 26 bi weekly opdivo and have not had this impact my work schedule too much. I have tried to schedule my treatments early in the morning where I could make it to work by noon or 1pm.  I have found that if I am mentally and physically active at work the day of treatment I am able to tolerate it a little better and I bounce back quicker. Some B12 drops help boost your energy through the day on treatment days and dont be afraid to be in bed by 6 or 7pm that day.  There have only been one or two days where I am not motivated to do that and I stay home, the key is to listen to your body.  There is hope and always keep pushing forward!