Rituxan Use

[Sangye]

Sam, when I took the metro to DC to see the Dalai Lama last summer I wore a face mask if it was really crowded. Since I have almost no hair everyone probably thought I had cancer of course. Oh, the stares! LOL

[Al]

And Al - thanks for the suggestion but i dunno if 1) thats a little extreme and 2) how uncomfortable the other people on the bus would be with me having a mask on! Tho it would improve my looks no end!

Sam, it's not your looks I'm concerned about; you're beautiful as you are, and I'm sure you'd look just as good if you fell asleep into a plate of spaghetti. But making other people on the bus uncomfortable is precisely the point: It keeps their philandering microbes further from your face. I use the technique on the plane all the time.

Al

[freakyschizogirl]

Sangye and Al - you guys crack me up!

After writing the last post i was on a bus and a woman was coughing and not even bothering to put her hand to her mouth. Charming. So glad i had my scarf on!

[mishb]

I catch the train every work day, an hour there and an hour back. I also use a scarf and/or lean my elbow against the window and use my hand to cover my mouth and nose.

A funny thing happened last week and my daughter and I couldn't help laughing.
This lady sitting opposite me was sniffing to the extent of being really annoying and then started sneezing without covering her mouth, then the sniffing again.
A lady sitting next to this germy lady reached into her handbag and pulled out a little packet of tissues and said (loud enough for everyone to hear) "here use these".
The germy lady didn't take them and look deeply offended, especially after we all laughed, but it did the trick, we didn't hear another sniff or sneeze from her for the rest of the trip.

I'm with you Sam, I just don't think I can go as far as wearing a mask, I know I probably should and all of the Japanese visitors to our Country seem to have no problem wearing them.
...... sometimes after getting off the train, I really feel like I need a shower though.

[Sangye]

Ten points to the woman with the tissues for being direct and hilarious all at once.

[Palmyra]

My daughter had RTX as primary therapy along with prednisone in 2006 immediately after diagnosis, initially treated with a series of four infusions, two weeks apart. She had no maintenance drugs between infusions or after, and was able to tapper pred very quickly. Since that time, I think her medical specialists at Mayo have changed protocols for subsequent dosing/intervals.

She initially made it 12 month+ between infusions. More recently her infusions have been every 6 months, with two treatments/two weeks apart. B-cell repopulation/return of original symptoms were the previous index for need. Now it appears to be a bi-annual event regardless.

Her primary disease was pulmonary/joint/skin issues..... now she has additional sinus involvement and secondary infection complications, but does not fully flare on the 6 month cycle. She does not tolerate immuran, and methotrexate was of no benefit.

Good luck!

[freakyschizogirl]

Ten points to the woman with the tissues for being direct and hilarious all at once.

Indeed! Maybe i need to become more direct??

[LisaMarie]

Anyone who wants to come tow the mack truck away is more then welcome.
I do feel better than Tuesday though and the nausea is about gone.....next dose the 24th....I read yall post about the mask...I have been blessed to have to wear one most of the time...per my ID doctor...I finally have almost normal IGG before this dose RTX....It disappeared after my last RTX round and that wonderful 14 day stay in the hospital....I am on prophalytic bactrim DS and acyclovir daily and when I want to live dangerous and take my sons out to eat I double up for a day or two....DR specks says I will be fine just washing my hands...but I am out too much and see people cough and sneeze without covering up ...so better safe than sorry...I have to wear a N95 at the hospital when I work ....right now it is just when I leave my office....I only have 11 lonely B cells last could and the beast is waking up so I may have to do cytoxin and RTX...I do not tolerate imuran or cellcept or MTX...so pray this works...I have a new spot in my left bronch.....I really don t want CTX....I am moving to a smaller home with mostly wood floors so it will be better for me and my youngest son ....life is full of changes...but as i see it I am still living and after hearing about the young lady that has had 73 surgeries with WG...i push hard to go to work and get out of bed and live day by day...she is truly an inspiration....