Herceptin, Dizzy, Lightheaded, Sinus Pressure

RhondaH · 10-17-2005, 10:12 AM

Hello everyone! I was dx 2/1/05, Stage 1, Grade 3, No nodes, ER/PR-, Her2+. I had a partial mastectomy 2/7/05, finished 6 rounds of dose dense TEC (Taxotere, Epirubicin and Cytoxan) on 5/18/05, 33 rads on 8/1 and began every 3 week Herceptin 8/18/05. One week after my Herceptin I began having dizzy, lightheadedness and for the most part it came and went (oddly, other than being tired I felt fine the day of my treatment and 4-5 days later). I had my 3rd infusion on 10/6/05 and 4 days later my dizziness began, came and went and when I talked to my onc (my onc nurse told me to talk to him about going on every 2 weeks) he said to wait a few more as he only had studies on the weekly and every 3 weeks and didn't want to move me to every week right away, unless needed. The day after I saw him, my dizziness increased (has been bad all weekend), moving my eyes makes it worse, I feel a "sinus" pressure over and under my eyes, my vision is somewhat blurry (if I strain my eyes I get a headache, but when I stop or close my eyes, it goes away), twice I felt like I was falling out of my chair, my head feels like there is a vice around it, my eyes get tired easily (my mother says it looks swollen under them) and I feel "airy" at times. Any comments, suggestions, input? Thank you.

Rhonda

BonnieT · 10-17-2005, 11:02 AM

Hi
Did you have a MUGA scan done before you started herceptin??
It checks your heart, I only ask because mine dropped drastically when I started herceptin, so I saw a cardiologist who then put me on heart meds. Coreg. and lisinopril , my scan results went back up into the 50's which is normal and I am now back on herceptin.
I know some people on the board have had sinus problems .I was feeling lightheaded and would lose my balance when I would get up really fast when my heart scan had dropped.
hope this helps
God Bless
ps- I am now trying herceptin weekly with a lower dose , I was on a higher dose every 3 weeks.
BonnieT

10-17-2005, 11:10 AM

Rhonda,

I cannot believe what I am reading! I am having the same symptoms. My symptoms seem to come on about 3 - 4 days after I have my infusion. I also have a very strange eye problem. My eye (only one) on the same side I am having the sinus pressure and ear pressure, dilates and becomes very blurry. I also have a headache, that tends to be over and under my eye as well. I had to have a brain MRI to rule out any, "pathology" and I am going to see a neurologist, at the request of my onc. I think the docs are going to see a lot more symptoms associated to herceptin use in early stage women. It is being more widely used now, so therefore, more symptoms. I am also, stage one, node negative. You can pm me at: karen@thunderbay.net, if you would like to.

My husband just said to ask you if, your pupil dilates when you are experiencing the blurry vision?

Look forward to talking to you.

Karen

MCS · 10-18-2005, 09:12 PM

I have been feeling all those symptoms as you Rhonda. And I have the dx as yours ( just 7/05)

Except, I am still going through the first set of chemo ( citoxan and adrymicin).

Eventually I will go into herceptin. So I am concerned about these feelings you have.

They symptoms you described, I am gettting just on AC rounds. Yes I get a sinus pressure. last week at Target, all the letter on the signs were doubled! I get headaches just like you described. sometimes just moving eyes hurts. I don't feel our of balance yet.

It does get a bit better when I close my eyes.

Let me know your progress.

MCS

al from Canada · 10-18-2005, 11:03 PM

Dear Rhonda,
This sounds like it could be as much a stress / autoimmune reaction as anything else. Whenever symptoms are all over the map such as yours, it's probably not just one thing. Maybe try a low dose of ativan to take the edge off and see if the situation improves. If it is the herceptin 100% (which I doubt) it may be something you just have to live with.
Take care,
Al

RhondaH · 10-19-2005, 03:05 AM

Thank you all for your responses. My onc nurse told me to take Tylenol Sinus for a day or 2 and then call them (I have my Herceptin tomorrow so we will talk then). It seems to have helped a little, but I still feel a great deal of pressure in the passages under and over my eyes and I'm draining quite a bit (I'm beginning to think I may need something stronger) and Al I agree with you that it may be a few things, as my ears are hurting too so I'm thinking sinus infection, ear infection AND maybe a few Herceptin side effects. Thank you again.

Rhonda

Eileen in Michigan · 10-19-2005, 09:38 AM

I received Herceptin 4 years ago with my 1st chemo. treatments. I started Herceptin treatment again 1 week ago as a precaution (no recurrence). Since then, I've had 2-3 migraine headaches, which is untypical for me. I'm wondering if headaches are a common side effect with Herceptin.
I would like to hear from others.

Thanks

10-19-2005, 10:47 AM

I posted above regarding the symptoms I get a few days after my Herceptin infusion. What I forgot to mention, is my eye doctor thinks they are ocular migraines.

Karen

mts · 10-20-2005, 06:31 AM

Hi Karen-
I too had the dizziness and blurry vision- I could hardly move my head without getting that "I am drunk and I just got off the roller coaster" feeling. I got a MUGA and brain MRI- everything was fine.

My doc immediately put me on every week dose. That really helped. The following week I was at every two weeks and now I am back to every 3 weeks.

I found that taking Effexor (for my hot flashes) helped my stress level go down too. In the end, I think my Effexor has helped me more than anything else.

The effexor is given for depression. For cancer patients, its given for the hot flash control. The side effect for me was feeling less stressed.

Hang in there!

Maria