Just wondering if anybody knows why during R-CHOP they make you take such high doses of steroids then cut you off cold turkey. The treatment itself didn't bother me as much as the second day off the prednisone when I could barely put one foot in front of the other because of the headache & lightheadedness & weakness. I felt like I had the flu & just felt like crap. The worst day so far. I was so emotional crying all the time which was hard to control in front of my kids wondering why I couldn't do anything. This was only my first treatment, but is there anything to ease this side effect? Hoping for better days ahead. Gina
Gina
I have no idea but I'm sure there is a good medical reason.They warned me....so I was expecting it.....I make sure I take it easy those days..lie around...work on my computer.....gradually you'll feel better. I have been through 2 cycles so far and the have been pretty much the same....for me 2 days of nausea....next 2-3 days constipation....come off the prednisone...crash...then start to feel better until the next treatment.I hope your next crash isn't as bad :)
Take Care
Mike
Ahhh yes the prednisone crash...Talk to your MD he will taper you off of it more slowly if you ask however you will have to take it longer than the standard 5 days after your treatment. I hated being on it so bad I opted to be done with it in 5 days (I took 100mg daily for 5 days post treatment). It does take me about 2days sometimes 3 to feel half human. Yes we women get emotional and men do to sometimes. Just tell the kids it is due to the medicine you have to take they will understand better than you think.
I just finished my last treatment on last Monday so I happen to be on prednisone as I type this and I can't say I will miss it at all when I am done!
Talk to the MD it can be tapered out quite far and you may not want that either depending on how you feel when you are on it. Everyone is different. ((HUGS))
good old Prederick F. Zone. He's a sneaky one.
I didn't care for the bloated, awful feeling in the gut, topped with nasty taste in the mouth,
A necessary evil as it helps the treatment...and actually helps YOU feel better, although I am trying to figure that one out.
drink drink drink lots and lots and lots of water and peppermint tea.
and ask yer Dr.
Thanks guys I do feel better today without the headache & lightheadedness & feel stronger and thought wow maybe I'm gonna do ok, but there is always something else to ruin the day. Last night I couldn't sleep very well cause of abdominal cramps & yea bloated feeling which continued all day today. Makes it hard to eat or drink anything feeling like your full to your eyeballs. I used to love to eat & now have to force myself to eat & nothing tastes good. This stuff is all new to me so don't know for sure what all to expect.
You got it, for me this goes on with nausea for the first week then I crash then my mouth breaks down and I eat mushy stuff all week and get constipated and on the 3rd week I start to feel better and then by Friday I want to do something and Monday (as someone here said ) it's whack a mole time and you start all over. My worst is the prednisone week with bloating and cramping and diarrhea ect. Fun, fun, fun!
PS I am on prednisone right now and I have one dose to take tonight guess what I threw it away! My little rebellion, I refuse the last dose. I am sure it won't kill me. If I can do it you can, it's not a fun ride but one we all can do. Take care and keep us posted!
I am so happy for you that you are in remission & finished with treatments. I just hope that my lymphoma goes into remission after going through all these bodily changes & feelings cause this is not how I wanted to spend my summer. Next week I'm gettin my hair cut off waiting for that next fun thing to happen. I have thick, curly hair so my head is gonna get cold. I think I can deal with that part of it. I'm just a very active person & to sit some days & do nothing is very hard for me. I'm trying to walk as much as I can which hopefully gets the old bowels moving too. It is just so comforting talking with other people who are or have gone through the same thing. The Drs & nurses tell you possible side effects that you are gonna experience but they haven't personally had all those drugs injected into them.
I just remembered something else. I only had the cardboard taste the first treatment or two. Really. It went away and I feasted on ice cream for the balance.
Popsicles became my favorites the cheaper the better. And I didn't share. Ice cream was good too but not on the first week because of all the GI things the meds do yo you. And I had mega amounts of phlegm. 7UP also worked to clear it.
I would keep as active as you can your body will tell you when to slow down. Then listen and rest because you have to rest to heal too. I continued to work a vary busy job physically until I hit #3, but I am 57 you may be younger and be able to continue all the way thru some do. It all depends on your job and age and how your body responds. Everyone is different! Take care and keep us posted!
Hi Gina,
I am so sorry that you have had trouble with prednisone. I think that it was invented by the devil! I had the CHOP so I had to take it for 5 days. My internist thinks that I am allergic to it, but that did not get me out of taking it since it is part of the chemo. I don't know but my guess is that prednisone is supposed to keep down the allergic reactions from the other drugs. It was the worst part of my chemo. I had it for poison ivy once or twice and it did not bother me except for the temporary weight gain. Then I taped off the prednisone--must be something to the tapering off. I should have thought about that earlier!
This wonderful stuff woke me up about 3 pm and I barely made it to the bathroom. My face and neck were terribly swollen and the last dose made my ankles swell. Things always get better after a few days--sleeping, etc. Ask your oncologist if you can take benadryl; that does help. Geri is right; drink lots of liquids! I hope that things get better for you.
Prayers and hugs,
Ann
Hi Rascal,
I don't blame you for throwing your last dose away! For some reason the pharmacy gave me an extra pill. Throwing it away gave me a feeling of POWER!
Prayers and hugs,
Ann
Yes and my ankles swelled up and my footsies swelled, and my belly ballooned and I ran to the bathroom all day and night, in a hurry I may add. I had special Prederick F. Zone clothes and shoes for those days.
hang in you can do this. and you will laugh about it later.