First zometa morning after

Christine2000

omigod--I feel like I've been hit by a truck!

KerryMac

Ohhhh, I know, it is nasty.

Hang in there, it is rough but passes quickly. This time tomorrow you will be good as new!

If it is any consolation, #2 for me was much better. 

KerryMac

Just wanted to add - my nurse told me to take Tylenol, not Advil for the SE's - Advil puts extra stress on the kidneys, tylenol doesn't.

So, dose yourself up, and I hope it passes quickly for you. 

undecided8

Hoping this passes VERY quickly for you! I never felt a thing after my 1st Zometa, well if I did I couldn't tell it because of all the side affects from the Taxotere. Hang in there and hoping you feel better VERY SOON!!!!

Suzanne E.

Christine2000

Thanks all! I am taking alka seltzer of all things but it actually seems to do the trick. Kerry, are you on twice yearly Zometa (like me?)

KerryMac

Yep, every 6 months for three years.

Christine2000

BTW Kerry-- I JUST came back from New Zealand (on business for 3 very short days!)--what a beautiful country!

KerryMac

That is a long way to go for three days! Where did you go - Auckland??

Yep, it is really beautiful, I miss the ocean. It is a long way from anywhere though. 

Christine2000

auckland and wellington. (then sydney) --really loved it. the trip back nearly did me in though...

KerryMac

Sydney is great, I lived there for a while - it's where I met my husband, which is how I ended up in Canada. I would still be there if not for him! LOL! I grew up in Auckland.

Wow, I bet the jet lag is horrendous!

nene2059

This is so funny (not ha ha funny..lol) but I used the same words to describe how I felt after the Zometa!  I told my husband to get the license number of the truck that hit me.  This was in February and I am set for number 2 in early August. I am on 2x a year also.  I am so glad to find that others have felt this way because EVERYONE at my onco's office (including the scheduler) said that they knew of no one else that had any reaction to it.  Whatever.  I guess they now know that it is possible because I spent a day and a half in bed after.  Fingers crossed that next time is better for both of us.

Orange12

First treatment with Zometa on 6th May,  have had a bad reaction too, bone pain, muscle and joint pain , high fever, sore throat, blocked nose, back pain, i thought Taxol was bad, but this is worse, have used up my paracetamol allowance already, will try ibuprofen next.  How long will this last?  I am on zometa as preventative 2 x year, am thinking i won't have the next infusion.  Cannot handle this - when will i feel better? Actually spent most of the night crying in agony.....anyone give me some good news that this won't last long......

nene2059

It only lasted about two days for me then good as new.  You say paracetamol so I'm thinking you are not in the States so I am trying to think what the closest thing to Theraflu (which helped me with all the symptoms at least a little) is for you.  I like Lemsip when we are in Ireland visiting my DH's family but I don't think that Lemsip has an antihistamine in it to make you sleepy.  Anyway, suck back some Lemsip or ibuprofen, maybe even the p.m. kind to help you sleep.  Don't give up on the Zometa I hear that it gets much better everytime.  At least keep the next appt and see what happens before you stop taking treatment.  I have also been told to hydrate really well before and after and this will lessen reactions to the infusion.  Better luck for us all next time!

Orange12

Thanks Nene2059,  i am feeling better today, 2 days later, i just didn't want to be in this pain again...... chemo was bad enough, i feel like i'm electing to have Zometa and it may prevent mets, but typical that i was hit by the side effects, seems to have been the story for me throughout treatment with congestive heart failure etc......  ibuprofen didnt help, paracetamol - i think also called tylenol helped a bit, but it was unbearable.....does anyone have any other strategies, i hear some people have low dose steroid????

How many Zometa infusions have you had now, and did it get easier? 

paige-allyson

I've had 2 doses of Zometa so far- 6 months apart and I have had major bone aches both times. Interestingly I got away with minimal side effects when I was going through chemo. My oncologist prescribed some Vicodin to take during the week or so after treatment. Tylenol wasn't effective enough in relieving the aches (mostly back and lower body) and I can't tolerate NSAIDs because of longstanding stomach issues. Regardless of the discomfort I've experienced the potential benefits seem SO worth it.

clariceak

Christine - sorry it hit you so hard.  I would poke around the boards for more strategies to avoid the truck. I think some of the ladies on the Stage IV board take Zometa more often and have developed some great coping tips.  I think I read that a slower infusion time can help and hydration as mentioned above.

I just had my first onc visit after chemo/rads on Thursday, and she offered me Zometa the same day.  I declined, in part, because of your thread.  I was due to fly home the next day and did not want to feel the way you described.

nene2059

I am actually having the Zometa because after chemo and an ooph, because I was a poor tamox metabolizer, a bone density scan showed I had severe osteopenia and osteoporosis in my lumbar spine so, at 37, I need osteoporosis meds.  I take Boniva once a month and I had similar reactions to it at first.  I have taken it several times now and I am happy to say those have completely gone away.  Now when I take it it's like I took a vitamin or an aspirin.  I have only had the Zometa once but I am hoping that this next time is better.  I don't really have the option of stopping because my bones need it but I don't think I would anyway because of the possible met prevention. That is just me though and QOL is so important.  I will give it a few days to recover but if it were causing me life altering probs I would definitely have to discuss options with my dr. and see how much benefit I was really getting from this med.

Christine2000

just wanted to let everyone know that I was pretty much back to normal by thursday--except for a mild headache and tiredness. This morning I feel like my old self. The benefits of Zometa are worth it to me--my nutritionist suggested a claritin the day before, the day of, and the day after. Will try it next time!

lexislove

christine2000:

Glad your feeling better, the next infusion will be easier. They seem to just get that way.

I'm just wondering, have any of you asked your oncs what is recommended AFTER the 3 yrs of Zometa?

I have my 5th Zometa next month, and will be finished 3 yrs of it in January 2011.

I'm kind of scared to come off it.My ovaries are coming out in 3 weeks, so I'm think I will need at least to continue Zometa 1x a year?

KerryMac

Christine - glad to hear you are feeling back in fighting form!

lexi - I have been wondering the same. I still have another 2 years to go, so i am hoping some data from the SWOG trial may be around by then. Trouble is, this is still so "experimental' I don't think they even know. Maybe they will just monitor our Bone Density's and see what happens??

lexislove

Oh Kerry, I forgot about that SWOG trial.

But didn't the Austrian study follow the woman for 5 yrs AFTER completeing the 3 yrs of Zometa? I'm trying to remember. We have those results right?

I'm thinking for us woman who have had our ovaries out, I would think we should be on some bone strengtheners annually.

Just more questions for my onc I guess.

my2kids

i felt horrible after my first time. i had flu like symptoms for 2 days. the second time was painful  but not like the first time. i took motrin and stayd in bed.