Anxiety or the drugs???

susan13

Ladies,

Had my 3rd treatment of CAF yesterday.  I insisted that this time I was going to drive myself and let my husband go to work and my daughter go to her daycare so they could have a normal day. I always see the other ladies going by themselves so I thought hey I can do it too.  Plus I needed to feel a little independent on this now.  I took Ativan the first 2 treatments, but this time I couldn't seeing that I was driving myself.  So after the AC went in I felt a little funny, a little lightheaded sort to speak.  Then I started thinking to myself oh great here I am alone something is going to happen and my husband isn't here and he's just going to flip out.  WELL... those thoughts esculated into my heart rate going up in to the 130's, blood pressure thru the roof and they had to put me on the oxygen tank.  OIE!  It all calmed down in about 10-15 minutes.  They assured me that it wasn't the drugs and that I should have taken the Ativan for my anxiety... which honestly I really never thought I was that anxious during the treatments anyway... except the first one of course.  My doctor came in to see me and said that it could be that I didn't take the sedative, and the steroids were just taking over, he said the sedative cancels out of some of the highly stimulating effects of the steroids.   Does this makes sense?!?  I know how harsh Adriamycin is on the heart so I'm kinda worried about that now.  My rate was still just under 100 when I left and it has been a little high since I got home. Plus I'm up in the middle of the night, it's 330am here, So thank you steriods? I guess?!?!  But on a good note, last nite when my hubby and daughter got home I was able to have dinner with them, play with my daughter AND put her to sleep.  That is something that I had not been able to do after the first 2 treatments when I had the Ativan.

Sue

jas

From the experience I had with cytoxan and taxotere with steroids and an antinausea- the lightheadedness could be due to the steroids. I actually requested less steroids and did better than with the full dose of them. I didn't have ativan with any of the chemo treatments. I did take benadryl the night before chemo and a few nights afterwards and that helped with sleep and seemed to take the edge off the steroid manic feeling. The other option the doctor had was to give me ativan at night if the benadryl didn't work.  

wishiwere

I had problems with lightheadness and also a problem with my eyes, that caused dizziness while on A/C infusions. It would actually last till the next day or two the further into them I got.  I remember that I didn't get it them till late the first night on the first one.  The next infusion she gave me the Red devil first and I had it almost immediately.  So the 3rd and 4th I made sure I got the red devil last. For some reason that helped. But that 2nd infusion, while she pushing it, I looked up at standing next to me and the room starting spinning...slightly and jerkily and scared me. 

It's likely you were having a big of a panic attack when you started feeling one of the working (steriod or anti-nausea) and paniced a little?  Then it escalated as you worried about being alone on the trip home.  Take the meds and get through as easily as you can.  No reason to be INDEPENDENT when you need to be calm and fight this beast dear!  You can do it! 

I too felt I didn't want to be helped with going, but we live 30 minutes from the infusion center, so my mother would come to town, JUST in case I needed someone.  I drove home that second infusion b/c she's 80 and I just didn't want her fighting the city traffic.  About 5 mintues from home, I started with that dizziness again and was hoping I got home without pulling over and puking on the highway. We made it, but.....wasn't a good idea.

Please take care of yourself and get through this, then you can assert your independence and show how strong you are.  Till then, accept that it's a possibility you will have problems that are different with each infusion and take dh with you   Good Luck! And remember to hydrate yourself today well! {{hugs}}

susan13

Thanks!

I will take your advise and bring my hubby along with me. I think we'll both feel better.

Sue

CanItBeTrueNH

I switched to Ambien and it helped me catch up on some much needed rest.  I found the AC knocked me on my ass for a few day... unable to work without feeling lightheaded, overtired and sick to my stomach.    It's going to be a very long winter.

susan13

Onc. gave me Ambien too but I find the day after I take it I'm kinda out of it.

Yeah AC definitely knocking me on my butt too, day 3 especially.

CanItBeTrueNH

Sue-

Hope your feeling better.   I am a week or 2 behind you for treatment. I am hoping this tumor shrinks down... as of yet I haven't noticed a differece. 

 You could try the herbal supplement route.  Try - Holly Hayward at Sugar Hill Botanicals  603 823-8434 hhayward@ncia.net.    She is know as the herb doctor in New Hampshire.

I am planning on getting in touch with her at some point.

Feel better.

Jaanee

The ativan was a bit heavy for me too. My onc. nurse said that the process of cells dying relased toxins that increased anxiety.

I went ahead and took the atvian - but a lesser dose - and let someone drive me.

susan13

CanItBeTrueNH,

How many tx's have you had and what is the regimen? My tumor, by clinical diagnosis, shrunk about 3cm after 2nd treatment.  I am noticing quite a difference since the 3rd treatment too this past week. I'm hoping after the 4th one I am a go for surgery.  It's still quite large though.

Still feeling knocked down, but managed to get into work today.

I will check out that herb doctor.  Thanks!

Sue

CanItBeTrueNH

Sue-

That is great news your tumor is shrinking.  I have fingers on my tumor IDC it is just under 3cm.  My treatment consist of AC every 14 days with Avastin for 4 treatments then 4 Taxol/Avastin treatments every 14 days for 4 treatments.  Then surgery/radiation in the spring of 2009 ( I am on my 3rd treatment as of this week )

 My doctor placed these magnets just above my wrist to help from feeling sick and they are working, I feel great right now.  

Glad your doing well.  

susan13

I just mentioned that it almost feels like morning sickness.  I remember using some sort of magnet or something another on my wrists for morning sickness and it did work.

Did you have the Avastin yet?  I do hear good things about it.

I'm only having 4 AC's, then hopefully off to surgery.  I'm wondering what my Onc. is going to do for me after surgery.  I kinda wish I can get the chemo all out of the way before surgery, but I don't think that will happen.

Sue

CanItBeTrueNH

Sue:

Going on my 3rd Avastin treatment this week will have 8 total every 14 days.   Will you have Chemo after surgery?  Our plan is to have chemo before surgery then radiation.  I can tell it is going to be a very long winter.... crossing my fingers for the both of us.

susan13

I think the chemo afterwards all depends on what they find during surgery.  I sure would like to be finished with all this chemo prior to surgery though!

CanItBeTrueNH

Alternatively, your surgeon may choose the DIEP or SGAP flap techniques which do not use muscle but transport tissue to the chest from the abdomen or buttock.

http://www.plasticsurgery.org/patients_consumers/procedures/BreastReconstruction

This site has good information....

susan13

Great, thanks for the site info!

Just noticed... you and I have the same dx date.

Sue