first chemo done...

mimiflower07 · 11-30-2007, 08:44 PM

had my port and first tx done, all went well through out day. when i did finally get home had some post op(lightly sedated) nauses..barffed once that seem to rid me of my problems. added gravol to my regime of antinausea meds. Now today have contiued to take my pills but at about 3pm started with jittery jumping out of my skin feeling...felt stoned, did not want to sit stand read...walk just did not enjoy this at all. is this the steroid high others refer to ? i ended up asking for ativan just to calm my inner self. help...do i need to be on ativan till i get through the decadron?
oh yea the port is doing well.
thanks in advance...but i do like the ativan
suzanne

Mary Jo · 12-01-2007, 05:23 AM

Hi Suzanne,

I'm happy you got your first tx out of the way. That's always a great feeling to move forward and know what to expect. I remember receiving my first chemo - oh geez - the moment she "turned the drip on" I thought - "here I go" - "I'm probably going to die!!!!!!!" LOL! I didn't. I sit here now 2 years out since chemo and all is well.

I can't speak to the "jittery" feeling you are experiencing as I didn't experience that. I remember the "stoned feeling" or as I called it "foggy brain" syndrome and that came and went as chemo was administered. I think after a while you just kind of get use to the way you feel while going through chemo. I remember thinking it wasn't just that bad but my husband reminds me that it wasn't as "easy" as I often make it sound. But, like I said, after a while it just "seems" normal to feel like you feel and I'm the type that pushes myself through most things. So, it just was what it was.

Sending you prayers for successful chemo cycles. May it treat your body kindly but do the "work" it's suppose to do.

God Bless you Suzanne and thank you for sharing your first experience with chemo with us.

Love & Peace,

Mary Jo
Romans 8:28

nitewind · 12-01-2007, 06:57 AM

Hi Suzanne, number one is under your belt now, I think that's the worst one to get thru. I remember that I got the jitters really bad and the nurses said it was from the steroids. I used Xanax, don't worry about taking the ativan, just be glad that it works for you. So glad that you got the port, they are the handiest little things!
Keeping you in my prayers
Hugs

mimiflower07 · 12-01-2007, 08:16 AM

thank you mary jo and susan, i feel much better today not jumping out of my skin. I think i will continue with the ativan just for those moments.
thanks for your thoughts
best wishes suzanne

Sheila · 12-01-2007, 09:09 AM

Suzanne
The steroid buzz is no fun, so whatever relieves it is what you need to take...mine usually hits late night the night of chemo...before that the benedryl seems to keep it in check...but then I am wide awake...I get mine IV push...do you get it IV or pill form...it might make a difference! Glad your port experience went well..lets hope for smooth sailing from here on!

tousled1 · 12-01-2007, 09:40 AM

Suzanne,

Glad to hear that your first chemo session went well. The first one is the hardest and I think that's because you don't know what to expect. Hang in there it gets better. And don't worry about taking the Ativan -- I take it myself.

dhealey · 12-01-2007, 10:26 AM

I would get that jittery feeling midway during the chemo treatment. They started giving me ativan IV first and that helped. I also took 1 ativan at bedtime the night I had chemo and then 3 more nights. It was a great help. Just remember you have 1 down. It will be over before you know it. Best of luck!

DonnaD · 12-01-2007, 12:42 PM

Suzanne,
Yep, I know what you are talking about. My legs would get so jittery, couldn't sit, lay or stand. Ativan really helped me. I would take one before chemo and then before bed. I still occasionaly need it to help me sleep.

One down, you can do this. Don't hestitate to ask any questions. We are here for you.

Donna

Believe51 · 12-03-2007, 10:36 AM

Ah,Your first chemo under your belt, now you are not a novice anymore. How are you feeling now?? Just thinking of you and sending you our warmest regards and best wishes. Hoping the treatment blasts those bad cells away for good>>Believe51

12-03-2007, 10:59 AM

Susanne,

Please check to determine what type of anti-nausea medication you were given. I took a form of compazine when I first started chemotherapy and it had a very bad effect on me (as it does on a substantial number of women). Here is a description of this side effect from one of the medical websites:

Compazine may cause tardive dyskinesia--involuntary muscle spasms and twitches in the face and body. This condition may be permanent. It appears to be most common among the elderly, especially women. Ask your doctor for information about this possible risk.

In my case, it was not the steroids that caused this reaction. I couldn't sit or stand in any one place for more than a few minutes. I stopped taking it a few days after chemo and the problem resolved itself, but it wasn't until a week later that my doctor's office called to tell me it was a result of the anti-nausea medication that I had taken. I would say check with your doctor on this one to be sure you were not given compazine. There are other, better, anti-nausea medications available if it was compazine. I had no issues with steroids.

mimiflower07 · 12-03-2007, 12:45 PM

hi everyone...well i can now sit long enough to write. Yes in fact i was reacting to my anti neausea medication metoclopramide. Made me want to jump out a window(a low one...still a window none the less!) So i get high on steroids acutely alert then want to leave my skin on my antineausea meds...grrr. I did get it sorted out fast...very fast. started gravol stopped the metoclopramide. my husband took me into urgent care for ativan. The female dr i saw was so wonderful to me as i was so anxious and crying like a baby. She took my hand, told me she has a double mast a yr earlier. She just reassured telling me i could get through this. If ever there was perfect intervention it was then. i felt so relieved after talking with her(with my ativan perscription in hand). It was like talking to one of you wise..women. All is well now...still alittle elevated but the meds are done now. I can breath, smile and sit all at the same time.
thanks for all your help and ears!
suzanne

mimiflower07 · 12-03-2007, 12:48 PM

ok just reread my post i think i'm still speeding away...by the looks of my spelling mistakes...sorry
suzanne

12-03-2007, 01:22 PM

Suzanne,

A very good description of what I went through, only in my case I think my husband wanted to throw me out a window as I had him helping me up every other minute, first a chair, then the floor, then a chair, then the floor, etc.

I hope we can get the word out to as many women as possible about the dangers of certain anti-nausea drugs. In my research I found that 40 mg. of compazine per day (which was prescribed to me) can create this reaction in as many as 40% of those taking it, which is a very high number, assuming the website is correct. Lots of people, including my nurses--and I assume my doctor--attribute this early reaction to the steroids and not to the nausea medication, which it often is.

So happy that it's resolved for you and good luck with the remainder of your treatment.

Debra · 12-03-2007, 02:53 PM

Suzanne -

Glad the first one is done. Yes, the steroids can cause that real "restless" feeling but it didn't last too long for me. Maybe the first evening and tapered off the next day. Ativan did seem to help but made me very sleepy!! With kids, it is kind of hard to sleep away that first day!

Glad the port worked fine.

Keep us posted and hope the nausea stays away!

P.S. I only through up once and that was after my first treatment. After that, just some nausea but no vomitting for the remainder of treatments.

Vanessa · 12-04-2007, 11:43 AM

Glad you got through your first chemo. The decadron makes me eat (a lot). It also keeps me awake at night and that is when ativan helps me. I hope the rest of your chemo goes smoothly and the naseau gets better. Best wishes.

mimiflower07 · 12-04-2007, 12:01 PM

vanessa..i understand the eating...i just want potato chips!! crazy. everything is going well now. thanks
suzanne

MJo · 12-04-2007, 03:01 PM

I became a motor-mouth with decadron. Also vaguely remember doing yoga positions in the recliner chair during my taxol infusion and the nurse looked concerned. I thought I was just fine and wanted to drive myself to my appointments. My sister in law said "not on your life, you are acting weird." I can laugh about it now. Yes, you will get through this. Glad you are through with the first one. God bless.