Rituximab Round Two

[Sangye]

Lola, I've been getting pretreated with 25 mg Benadryl and 100mg Solumedrol (equiv 156mg oral pred). No allergic-type reactions, thankfully. I'm so sensitized to pred-- each mg acts like 10. So each IV is like 1,560 mg pred. Who knows what part the rtx itself plays!

My Wegs doc had said he was willing to drop to 80 mg solumedrol, but no lower. I haven't wanted to mess with a good thing (ie, no allergic reactions) even though it's so rough. I've now witnessed 2 anaphylaxis reactions to iron infusions. One was today and quite severe.

As saddened as I am that you've had such a hard time after each rtx infusion, I'm comforted that your symptoms match mine exactly. I haven't heard many people describe how they feel after rtx since it's so new. Of course it's highly variable among each of us, but it does help to see commonalities at times. This round is WAY worse than October. I wasn't like this until the last 2 infusions. So it's even variable within the same person.

[elephant]

Thanks for describing your symptoms after each infusion. It kinda reminds me of when people go through IV chemo, but yours sound more violent! Wishing you a better day.

[Sangye]

[elephant]

That is a good one! Sangye you amaze me, even with your" teknical diffikulities". Keep them coming.

[DEE]

thinking of u DEEx

[Sangye]

If I were able to work, this would be me today.

[elephant]

Too funny Sangye.....I feel like that today....I went to my pre op for gallbladder surgery and the nurse took my temp with the new temporal that scrapes across my forehead and it was 100.1. Then I asked to take the normal oral ( to take my temp) and it was 98.0F what is up with that??

[Sangye]

Wow, that's terrible reliability! What explanation did they offer? Do you feel feverish?

I'm sorry you feel bad today. I hope it clears up by your surgery. Will they still do it if you feel lousy or have an elevated temp?

[JanW]

When I was in recovery last week they did temporal (forehead) and then on the ward they did the old under the tongue -- so even in the same hospital it varies. Have no idea which is more accurate though.

[elephant]

I feel hot ( hot flashes) especially after drinking coffee. No I don't feel feverish, just stuffy, but no yellow or extra drainage. It is 15% humidity in our house. I think I will stick with the oral one. I think they would do surgery, as long as it is not 100.5.