I have my first follow up scan scheduled for Thursday. I'm really nervous. Lately, I feel tummy queasy constantly, and I've had pretty regular dizzy spells. Yes, my symptoms pretty much scream psychosomatic, but, still,... I don't think I could take any more chemo.
Janeen,
ReplyDeleteI was treated with Zevalin on Dec 23 and Dec 28, 2010. I found your blog and was so excited to find someone else that has been treated with Zevalin. The side effects you experienced were very helpful to me. I have experienced some of the same and the Dr told me that most patients don't have any side effects at all, and that the ones I am experiencing are either, very rare or are not side effects of Zevalin. I would love to hear from you and find out how you are doing no. Thanks so much for writing your blog.
Hi Shawn,
ReplyDeleteSorry you're in a position that you're searching the internet to find a little validation re: a really scary time. i'm even sorrier [or is it "more sorry"?] that you're in the position requiring Zevalin over the holidays [or anytime, really]. but-- almost congratulations. hopefully christmas 2011 will rock.
i'm doing really well. admittedly, spring and summer 2010 was a struggle [but you've read my blog, so no need to re-whine here]. snapping back from treatment was more difficult than anticipated, and there was many-a-ridiculously early bedtime. around halloween i started really feeling normal again. recently, i discovered i'm pregnant [insert misty tears].
regarding your symptoms--
For work I had to attend a training on domestic violence [hang in there with me, this is a tangent but i swear there is a point]. at this training, the instructors talked about "the wheel of dv"-- the concept being that we shouldn't just think about dv as just the stereotypical husband smacking his wife because she didn't get his dinner quickly enough, but that DV is rainbow of control and manipulation of one partner by another. one of the examples presented of dv was "crazy making." the abuser belittles and downplays the victim's opinions and recollections until the victim starts questioning her [or his-- let's be open minded] own validity.
CRAZY MAKING! that describes how i felt sometimes dealing with medical pros throughout treatment. Docs and nurses would list off [what seemed like] hundreds of possible symptoms, always with a "call if you have any questions" or "if you experience this, you need to tell us." however, when i reported concerning symptoms, i usually got "do you want me to prescribe something to... ahem, help you sleep?" CRAZYMAKING!
technically some of my symptoms may not have been from zevalin, but from viruses, etc, that i was vunerable to as a result of my compromised immune system that was compromised as a result of .... [wait for it] ZEVALIN. i'm telling you-- it's crazymaking.
Even with all the crazymaking, zevalin worked for me. i'm rooting for you.
go team shawn! janeen