Brain Rads Tykerb not feeling great
 

I just had 4 brain lesions appear after 15 years of quiet breast & lung control. Got 10 zaps and the steriod dexamethasone screwed me up with a feeling of no control(weird)! Now off dex. and feel more control but very weepy, fatigued, and blue! Appetite is all screwed up, dont have a lot of attraction to many foods. Have a hollow feeling in the middle of the night and need to munch on something. I have been on zoloft for 15 yrs and I am wondering if the rads could have stopped or interfered & caused it to stop working or if I can be immune! Never ever have I felt this way during the 15 years I have been dealing with Cancer. Love for feedback or advice.Thanks Di

Re: Brain Rads Tykerb not feeling great
 

I got the rads in July & started me up on Tykerb plus the old reliable Herceptin which i have been on for years !! Tykerb seems to be kicking me while I am down as well!

Re: Brain Rads Tykerb not feeling great
 

I don't have any solutions for you, but I stopped by to say hang in there and take good care of yourself.

Re: Brain Rads Tykerb not feeling great
 

mjones, have you been dealing with lung mets for 15 years? You are understandably feeling low after 15 yrs and then to have it come back like that. I find tyverb very tolerable, maybe you will begin to feel better soon, I would think its the shock of what you've been thru rather than tyverb that has you feeling low. You will get good advice here. hang in there. You could check up Courtney's posts. She is an inspiration. Check out what she says about Boswellia.

Re: Brain Rads Tykerb not feeling great
 

Dexamethasone has all sorts of side effects, which are not light ones. When I took it, I had appetite, sleep disturbances and there is such a thing as a steroid "crash." Also, weakness in your legs which takes a while to build up from.

I experienced all those myself. Work on your eating to gain strength, and try to walk a little more each day. Between the brain zaps and the dex, what you are feeling is to be expected. Although the docs don't usually tell you that!

BTW - congrats on a long life since diagnosis!

Re: Brain Rads Tykerb not feeling great
 

I was started taking seven dex. last August and had a very hard time quiting the drug. It helped me eat and gave me the energy I needed to deal with my five year old daughter.
Ive been on Herceptin for three years, and Tykerb about a year. I take diphen/atrop to control side effects (freq.bathroom breaks) Im on Tykerb in the amount of 5pills. I take a d/a the first five min Im awake, than five min after taking Tykerb at night. If I miss it by five min it does me no good

Re: Brain Rads Tykerb not feeling great
 

StephN, I did the U of W trial also, wonderful professionals, a real treat to be in their care. Not feeling very hopeful at the moment, I do not understand how anyone affords Tykerb. The co-pay on medicare is $1,600 a month. Lindy

Re: Brain Rads Tykerb not feeling great
 

I admire your courage. This is a tough journey we are all on, but just being here, means we are winning. I took Zoloft for years, and then a few years ago it stopped working for me. My physician switched me to Cymbalta and it has made all the difference. I take Tykerb and Xleoda, and just stopped Herceptin, and none of these have interferred with the Cymbalta. Good luck to you.

Re: Brain Rads Tykerb not feeling great
 

Thank you everyone for your courage and sharing, makes me feel the fight is worth it.

Re: Brain Rads Tykerb not feeling great
 

Ah bummer. I'm so sorry you are feeling so crappy. I don't have advice I just want to say I hope you are feeling much better soon.

Re: Brain Rads Tykerb not feeling great
 

mjones, Oh I am so sorry. Whenever we get mets results, they are so traumatic to the total body and emotional system. It's a horrible feeling being in that position and feeling so blue. I'm there now with news I just received....It's only been a few days but I'm trying hard to accept the shocking bad results and taking it one day at a time. I'm trying really hard not to think of it so much all the time. I watch a little TV or read a little to distract myself. Think of your comfort foods or which foods seems to taste better now, and snack and sip often. Take small walks even if only to the kitchen, living room or mailbox, and nap when you can. Hope you feel a bit better and have continued improvement. Keep us posted. Sending Squeezing Hugs to You, Jo
All, I have been on Zoloft since 1994 (had a few very traumatic life events & history of depression & anxiety). I have often wondered how many of us have been on anti-depressants prior to dx??? and if any of you think they could have possibly contributed to getting cancer??? Has this every been surveyed or thoroughly researched???