Herceptin? Muscle pain, stomach,other SE

GointoCarolina

I am looking for more input on side effects. I am asking because back in June a week after my treatment( I am now on Herceptin only,have a treatment today and then two more) I felt horrid, shortness of breath and fatigue. Doctor thought maybe I was anemic again, but tests were fine.So he did an echo to rule out heart.That was fine.I missed a week in my three week cycle and I started feeling great,but two weeks after my last treatment, my stomach started hurting,lots of stiffness and muscle pain(low back, arms, legs),fatigue, still ongoing.I have read  about others side effects,but wonder if they follow a pattern, mine seem to be all over the place as far as when they occur and are the effects cumulative? Meaning the longer you have the herceptin, do they seem to get worse? Also how long after your last herceptin do they go away?  My weak spots are my stomach and sinus and I have fibromyalgia and a back injury,those seem to be where it hits me.Also my mastectomy scar was finally starting to loosen up and feel good, this past week it has tightened back up.I think I read somewhere that the herceptin hits your weak spots.Any input appreciated!!! Jackie

Ihavehope

I have had 17 treatments of herceptin.  The shortness of breath may be counteracted by benedryl, ask your physician.  My first 3 herceptin treatments, they kept benedryl close at hand and were careful on the speed of infusion of the herceptin, slowly ramping it up until I showed that I was ok with the herceptin.  The reaction they were asking me to watch out for was an issue with tightness in the chest and lungs.  I have found that I have a cycle of inflamation in my joints and muscles during my 2nd week.  So the first week I am ok, the 2nd week I am inflamed and sore and the 3rd week I am ok. 

I am not sure what the benedryl does as it is an antihistomine but it may be that the herceptin causes histomines to be released by the body as a reaction.  The antihistomine will counter act the histmine reaction.  The inflamation, now that I think about it may be a histomine reaction too.  I think I will try taking over the counter antihistomines and see what happens.  I am just in the middle of my 2nd week but I will try taking it right after my treatment and each morning after and see what happens.    Good luck to you.