Questions on bone pain and hot flashes

[kari]

Hi Kriss,
Happy to hear you are finished with AC. Sorry to hear of your Taxol pain. I did AC every three weeks for 4 cycles, started Feb '06. I then did Taxol every three weeks for 4 cycles. The joint and muscle aches and pains I had with it were just terrible--felt very deep and severe. They set in about 48 hours post-treatment, and lasted for about 4-5 days. My feet and legs were the worst--hobbled around like I was eighty! I tried Oxycocet, but that made me nauseous. I finally got onto a pain control regimen of 1/2 Oxycocet and two extra-strength Tylenol with Zofran, every fours hours at first. Start the pain meds before the onset of symptoms to get a handle on it. Talk with your Onc nurse or doctor about your symptoms, and maybe they can recommend something for your pain management. I still have joint and muscle stiffness and aching sometimes even now (finished Taxol Aug '06) and wonder if it is remnants of Taxol or part of the Herceptin effects?
I started with hot flashes about 6 weeks after I began AC, and still have them. Haven't had a period since April '06. Onc also suggested low-dose anti-depressant if I found the flashes to be unbearable, but so far I've avoided adding any more drugs than I have to.
Hope you can find some comfort from the Taxol pain. It's just another round of this fight we are going through. Hang tough.
Peace and Blessings,
Karen