Decadron use - Brain mets or other ??

[StephN]

Hi All -
Well, I am one week into the 4mg times 4 tabs a day of Decadron (dexamethasone) for edema in my brain from the two mets found last week.

So far doing well with STILL no visible signs or symptoms. Gamma Knife (Harvard calls it Gamma Unit treatment) set for next Tues.

The side effects from the steriod are ok so far, with exception that I am now having touble eliminating by bowel. I am eating normally, but the other half of the process seems to be stalled in spite of the extra intake of clear liquids, eating roughage and drinking the usually effective Detox teas. I am also active (exchanged a couple of gifts at the mall yesterday after my second opinion at the other Gamma Knife center here).

I took a stool softner to see if that will help. We may have some Metamucil around if I take a look. Rad Onc wants me on this Dex dose and says to keep him posted on this little problem.

Just want to see if others experienced anything like this or others - besides the slight noticeable shrinkage of mucus membranes in mouth and nose, the minerally taste in mouth, etc.

[*_juliej_*]

steph you are taking alot of decadron....be careful. My dr was very careless and I have been on it for along time because my adrenal glands shut down....after about a 6 month period of 8-12 mg daily for edema and wbr. now having to work with another dr to get them back in gear. As vfor constipation senna-s has worked for me. My husband "juices", if you have a juicer get it out of the pantry and have a nasty glass of green stuff daily...full of vitamens, and cleans the bowels!! I had gamma knife and it was a breeze, a bit stressful, take a seditive if they allow it. Take care,Julie

[*_juliej_*]

to answer your question :0) No I did not have symptoms, especially taking the dec. it is the edema that usually that caused me to have nausea. Its hard not to focus on little changes an worry about everything. try not to, worry is a waste of time! again, take care, julie

[*_Christine_*]

Constipation can be a problem taking decadron, but ifall fails take 2 stool softeners and try gycerine suppositories to evacuate the lower bowel. It works . Follow the directions. Continue to take stool softeners until you are comfortable. High fibor diet can help. Taking metamucil can be more bulk than you need right now and can compound the problem. Maybe you will be better off eating the higherst Fiber cereals on the market Kashi has , and Uncle Sam's w/flaxseed. Great fiber. i would not recommend prunes or roo much fruit, remember decadron raises your blood sugar level.

I hope you find this info helpful.
Warmest Hugs, Christine

[Jackie]

Hi Steph,
I had gamma last summer and agree that you shd ask about taking a sedative of some sort BEFORE you get there, so it's in effect when you need it. The halo attachment is the most stressful part, at least for me. You shouldn't have any trouble with the procedure. Anyway, I went on decodron afterwards for a little while because of headache. It's essential that you go off very gradually when that time comes, esp since you are taking a fair amount. It stimulated my appetite something fierce...to the point that I would wake up at night and go get something to eat. Another side effect was insomnia. If Tylenol PM or Benedryl doesn't do the trick, there is a new sleep aid out this month that is not supposed to be addictive (forgot the name). That's important because you do become hooked on the others, then you develop a tolerance to them after time passes. Even if you do take something that you become dependent on (like I did), it only took 2 or 3 nights to get back to normal. I hate not being able to sleep, so I would take anything to do so, and deal with the consequences! If your dr wants you on decodron, you need to take it, but make sure it's on the front burner for termination as soon as possible. Good luck next week...I'll be thinking about you!
Love, Jackie

[Janet/FL]

www.lunesta.com

This is the new one. I have a perscription for this sleeping pill, but it is not in the pharmacies. Supposed to be there mid-January.

Janet/FL

[StephN]

Thanks, Gals -

for all your tips and insight. Things are a little better tonight without much more intervention so this may be something I am adjusting to.

May have to try the new sleep aid as the "getting wired" is beginning.

I will have some kind of mild sedative - they told me that. Nurse said it will kick in quickly.

Dex Dosage - when I queried the rad onc last week about cutting - he said if the diffuse edema was down where they needed to see it on the procedure MRI, I would be cut to half at 2 x 4mg per day and maybe not that for very long. That sounded good to me. ;)

[Hope]

Hi Stephanie again. I am also on decradon for my brain met because of the edema. I am very senitive to it. I've been on 4mg. twice a day for a week now and I don't like the side effects atall. I haven't had agood night's sleep since then. I also take Ativan with it wich helps me sleep a little better for a couple of hours but that's all. I don't like to put anything in my body unless I absolutely have to. So I haven;t asked for a sleeping pill and I am slo allergic toBenydrl. They also put me on Prilosec to protect my stomach because my onc told me Decradon ia hard on your stomach. So far, no stomch problems. I am a little hungrier. but the sideheaded ness irritibility, agitation, just not feeling myself is what I don't like. I pray I will be able to taper off soon after the procedure. I will also take an Ativan before procedure. Let's wish us both luck abd prayers as it seems we are going through this priocedure very close in time to one another. Keep in touch. I'm very interested to see how it went and I will do the same.

[Michele in MD]

they prescribed a ton of Decadron for me after CyberKnife but I took only the stuff at chemo, plus a little sunday. Couldn't sleep Sunday Night I think they weanted to prevent brain swelling but I seem to be OK

Good luck Decadron is awful for me because I am hyper to being with

Cheers
Michele in MD

[StephN]

MICHELE -

Thanks for the post.

When/where did you have your cyberknife?? How many spots?

Will they monitor you the same with a 4 week brain MRI (like for G/K) or more often to check for the swelling, which can get to be a big deal if you get pressure on a bad place or headaches result ( as I have been cautioned)?