I feel "yucky", temp is 97.3

[Soccermom1955]

Dear friends,
Yesterday was my 4th Hereceptin infusion, only Tylenol for premeds as I did fine on 12mg of Benadryl last week (am on weekly schedule) so I decided to skip Benadryl altogether. I finished AC/Taxol dose dense May 31st,2005.
I had the mosy awful chills last night and upset tummy this morniing. Went to work and felt progressively "yucky" alll day. temp is running very low (was 96.9 last night)... feel kind of "fluey" (lightheaded etc). I thought that I was passed the point of having a reaction?
Anyone else experience this?? Any suggestions???

ARGGHHH!
Thanks ,Soccermom

[triciak]

It's possible you are having an allergic reaction, although it could actually be the flu. Was this the first time you had gone without the benadryl? I tried doing herceptin once without the benadrylin the past year because it makes me so darn sleepy, but I didn't like the feelings I had. without it. So now I do the benadryl and just enjoy a little nap. If you can't fight it, join it! I really hope this is a one time thing, and wish you the best! Hugs, tricia

[LindaBL]

Soccermom:

I had a similar experience with my second treatment. I have only had two infusions of Herceptin, three weeks apart. It is interesting to see someone with the same symptoms.

With my first Herceptin treatment, I had chills and an elevated temperature on the same day.

At my second Herceptin treatment, it was suggested by the nurse that I take Tylenol. The first day I took the Tylenol and felt good. On the second night, I woke up with chills and a headache. Thinking I had a fever, I found out my temperature, similar to yours, was also below normal (97.6). I took some more Tylenol, went to sleep, and in the morning I also had that yucky feeling.

I am on the three week protocol and received Benedryl both times. The three week schedule seems to be new. I am the first one at the satellite chemo place to have these side effects. The nurse is going to check with patients who are on the three week schedule at the main hospital and see what is happening with them.

For the first three days after Herceptin, I feel yucky. I don't feel terrible but I'm not 100%. I was lucky and did well through AC. Figured I would be fine through Herceptin...

I am doing the three week schedule for convenience. My oncologist mentioned a study (don't remember which one) which said the results are just as good as getting it weekly.

Linda

[Soccermom1955]

Dear Tricia and LindaBL,
Thanks so much for your replies! Other than my Onc (and my friend Rozebud here),there is no one that I know here where I live (S Mississippi) to "whine" to or commiserate with in regards to Hereceptin.
I woke up this morning and had a episode of esophagitis and nausea (had that with the AC) and called out sick from work and went back to bed for the entire day. My temp rose to 98.3 and I actually felt like I had a fever at that point. Very strange...no other signs of an actual flu though.
I guess we are all "works in progress"??? Rozebud said that most of the "younger" folks taking Herceptin barely notice any symptoms. I am soon to be 50...hmmmmm.

Thanks again,Marcia

PS Linda, did I read that you live or go to the beach somewhere in one of your postings?.. I grew up at the Jersey Shore and was just wondering?

[Rozebud]

Sweetie - you ARE young. Keep us posted. Curious what your oncologist says, not the nurse, the oncologist.....

[*_mslinda_*]

Hi Soccermom

I live in S. Mississippi, in the Lumberton/Poplarville area. You can call me anytime. I am not on herceptin yet, still trying to convince my onc. to let me have it. I was node negative, stage 1, ER/Pr-, Her2Neu+++. You take care.

MsLinda

[Soccermom1955]

Hello again Rozebud! Very nice to meet you too Linda, I live in Ocean Springs. You can call me as well,if you'd like.Where are u going for treatments?
Took the day off today as I vomited this AM, was nauseous, and had some pain between my shoulder blades ..I slept most of the day. Stopped by my Oncs to get a sick note and the Nurse (yup ,I spoke w/ the nurse) didnt seem concerned. I "think" that they havent had many patients taking Herceptin...I should/will ask. I am wondering IF I should skip next weeks treatment? I will see how I feel as the week progresses.

Thanks for the concern Rozebud, your the BEST!

[LindaBL]

Soccermom:

I grew up near Sandy Hook and now have a shore home in Barnegat Light, NJ. My main home is in a suburb of Phila. Traveling home from the shore every three weeks, makes the Herceptin treatment even more of a drag...

Linda

[*_Cathy_*]

Hi Soccermom, I've been on herceptin for four months weekly. I also feel yucky and cough. Today they did a chest xray to see if I have pneumonia or anything. Did you see that video about the Jersey shore on PBS? It brings back so many memories of my childhood. We live in the Philly suburbs but always went down the shore in the summer.I sure did enjoy those Wildwood, Wildwood days! God Bless- Cathy

[Rozebud]

How ya feeling today Marcia??

[Gina]

Well,

at least you KNOW its working...smile...par for the course...I've taken herceptin since '99 and still get this every evening after the infusion, but usually my temp hits 101 and stays for a while..then breaks..I feel exhausted the next day and NEVER work --always rest up as the body has a lot to do in the making of the herceptin response....after a few days though, I feel GREAT..like I have just gotten over a cold or flu.

I personally think that letting the body go through this as a sort of healing reaction is a good thing and all these years, I have refused premeds and only on the most painful of nights do I occasionally pop half of an aleve...but that is just what has worked for me...Godspeed to you, Gina