Rituxan on Friday!

[ScreaminMeanie]

Oh that's great, Mike!

(And I agree with Leigh - MORONS! By delaying your 2nd infusion, they may very well have created a situation where you will have to do another round of treatments - how idiotic is that?)

[Chris G]

Meanie - How did your last infusion go?!?! How are you feeling today?

[ScreaminMeanie]

It went without a hitch - they finally went with the "weeks 2-4 protocol" because I'd gone two weeks without even a hint of a problem, so I was done in about 3 hours. Didn't feel as bad last night as I did the other three times but still went to bed early from feeling weary. Slept even less than usual. Otherwise, feeling so good today that I have to remind myself not to overdo it, because I know part of it is just the solumedrol, and the last time I overdid it on a steroid high (last Saturday), I paid for it for the next 4 days. LOL

[Sangye]

Glad it's over and you didn't have any problems!

[Chris G]

I had my 2nd rtx infusion yesterday (2nd of 2). The infusion went smoothly. I didn't feel great after it, but not as poorly as I did after the first infusion.

Question: Today, my face looks like I slept in a tanning (i mean burning) bed! It's bright red, warm to the touch, and puffier than usual. I took 2 otc diuretics yesterday, hoping it would counteract the puffiness from the solumedrol, grrrr. I'll drop a few more after I get my other drugs on board. This redness didn't happen after the first infusion. Anyone else have this happen? Is it from the solumedrol?

[jmmilliorn]

Chris,
I didn't have the symptoms you had. I had my 2nd RTX on Wednesday, but I didn't experience any side effects at all. I felt the same before and after. No redness or puffiness, and I didn't feel sick at all. I didn't the first time either. I guess I was very fortunate. I went in expecting the worst. I think they are going to put me on azathioprine now for maintenance.

I had my 2nd rtx infusion yesterday (2nd of 2). The infusion went smoothly. I didn't feel great after it, but not as poorly as I did after the first infusion.

Question: Today, my face looks like I slept in a tanning (i mean burning) bed! It's bright red, warm to the touch, and puffier than usual. I took 2 otc diuretics yesterday, hoping it would counteract the puffiness from the solumedrol, grrrr. I'll drop a few more after I get my other drugs on board. This redness didn't happen after the first infusion. Anyone else have this happen? Is it from the solumedrol?

[ScreaminMeanie]

My face is red and puffy most of the time anyway - I was told many years ago I have rosacea, but I think it's the WG. It doesn't respond to rosacea treatments. It's not extreme, but I do wear makeup to cover it up. Otherwise, everyone I encounter tells me my face is red.

The only thing in connection to that that I've noticed wrt Rituxan is that the evening after the infusion, I am NOT red and puffy. The next day it's back to the usual red and puffy thing. So I personally think it's part of the inflammatory response caused by WG. The solumedrol tamps it down for a day, and then it rebounds.

[Sangye]

I get the red face the day after. It's usually gone by midday. In my case I don't think it's due to the rtx. I took a benadryl to help me sleep the night of this last infusion and I still got the red face. I'm pretty sure Benadryl would have done something if it was an allergic reaction, and the 100mg solumedrol was definitely still working.

I actually get the red face thing a lot. I know some things that trigger it (eg hot showers) but sometimes I have no idea what caused it.

At any rate, make sure your doctor knows what happened since we're all so individual.

[Chris G]

I get the red face the day after. It's usually gone by midday.

Yep! Sure enough, the redness is gone. The puff is still there of course.....but it never really goes away.