HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - I'm a zombie...thanks Neurontin aka Gabapentin

StephN · 10-21-2014, 12:08 PM

Hello Bella -

Maybe you are taking a little too much to begin with.

Yes, Gabapentin WILL do that - increase the fogginess. I had to switch to Lyrica after my back surgery for just that reason. A few weeks on lowered Gabapentin dose, but the cumulative effect was too noticeable. The Lyrica has a rather costly co-pay, but it worked well for me, I needed less of it and I got my brain (such as it is) back.

I was lucky enough to get a surgeon who did not slice right through my main nerve while removing my lymph nodes. He took an extra five minutes to spare it. I did have some numbing, but had feeling at the back of my upper arm after the anesthesia wore off. Too bad this is not something that more women can insist upon, but they are not told how the surgeon will do the cutting, or what he will cut or leave intact.

This level of detail goes beyond what most of us can deal with when facing surgery and all the questions that are bouncing around. But it IS important.

10-21-2014, 12:08 PM	#2
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Re: I'm a zombie...thanks Neurontin aka Gabapentin Hello Bella - Maybe you are taking a little too much to begin with. Yes, Gabapentin WILL do that - increase the fogginess. I had to switch to Lyrica after my back surgery for just that reason. A few weeks on lowered Gabapentin dose, but the cumulative effect was too noticeable. The Lyrica has a rather costly co-pay, but it worked well for me, I needed less of it and I got my brain (such as it is) back. I was lucky enough to get a surgeon who did not slice right through my main nerve while removing my lymph nodes. He took an extra five minutes to spare it. I did have some numbing, but had feeling at the back of my upper arm after the anesthesia wore off. Too bad this is not something that more women can insist upon, but they are not told how the surgeon will do the cutting, or what he will cut or leave intact. This level of detail goes beyond what most of us can deal with when facing surgery and all the questions that are bouncing around. But it IS important. __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.