My Neulasta experience ...

Lori1967

so this was my first chemo and neulasta experience.

I read all the advice about the claritin and made sure I had it beforehand.

The first 5 days of shots went well, no bone pain or aches. Just dealing with the tiredneass.

On day 6 & 7 I didn't take the Claritin , the first day I forgot and didn't really suffer so I didn't bother for day 7 thinking that perhaps I am one of the lucky ones.....

The evening of the 7 th was a "holy crap!" night.I felt like I had contracted H1N1 or malaria or swine flu!!!

I took my Claritin today and will be every neulasta shot from now on! I have learned my lesson... I just took some Advil ... So sore , especially my lower back and hips

jdmac1199

That's how it effects me if I forget my Claritin! Gets me in the lower back and hips.. and legs too.  It's not fun.. but the Claritin really does work. Sometimes we just need to find that out..lol

Bow1965

This is an important topic! I was one of the unlucky ones with Neulasta (NeuNasty) and Claritin, Zyrtec did not work. Shot was on Wednesday, Thursday late afternoon my skin would start to hurt, well really the layer right under my skin. By Friday I was in excruciating bone pain which would come in waves from my feet all the way up my body about every five minutes, which lasted until Saturday afternoon. I would be wiped out on Sunday, sometimes into Monday. The last two cycles of DD Taxol my onc put me on a steroid on Thursday and Friday, which cut the pain in half. It was horrid and pain killers barely touched the pain, only hurt my tummy so I gave up on those. The point is, ask for help! I wish I'd had the steroid earlier, it was tough to psych up for my chemo weeks knowing what was coming. At least I didn't get nausea - silver lining!

dltnhm

Everyone's experience is so different. I took one Claritin as a preventative measure & never again. Seemed like a pill I just didn't need. I ran through my chemo treatments and never experienced any of the pain others associated with Neulasta.

Glad it is there for those who need it however. 

IamNancy

even with the Claritin I had such aches in my thigh bone and breast bone...and I also had body aches and felt feverish.. I still think the Claritin helped  but I sure dreaded that shot.

madeditor

I took my Claritin each neulasta shot day and had no side effects. 

Redporchlady

I had my first chemo October 7th and that night called the oncologist on call line because my hips and legs hurt so bad.  She told me that was my bone marrow already in full action and to take some Tylenol to help me sleep.  On Wednesday I got my Nuelsta shot and since only mild discomfort on certain days.  Walking helps so I try to walk a mile every day.  Do it all over again next Tuesday.

Kicks

I never had any pain from Neulasta, nor did I take any Claritan.  My only reaction with Neulasta was, almost to the minute, 2 hours after injection, I would go to sleep for 2 hours.  Wake up with no other SEs.

linzer

I had my first Neulasta last week (10/9) and stayed on Claritin from that morning through Sunday. No pain here. Stopped taking it on Monday. I will continue for the next three cycles just to be  sure. I was relieved to be honest after hearing so many horror stories. It's amazing how differently we all react to different aspects of the treatment. 

AmyQ

I forgot how painful the SE's from Neulasta were.  I HAD to soak in a hot bath for hours on end even with Claritin to get through the night. Oh my, how quickly we forget.  Hang in there.

Amy

DEbeachgirl

Apparently my oncologist didn't know to give claritin w neulasta. Would explain my severe reaction. Oy!

Spookiesmom

I had the nap attacks too, no bone pain.. Had the Claratin ready, just in case

april25

i just had my first Neulasta shot and it knocked me out the entire day. Achy stomach for some reason and general fatigue like having the flu... no real bone ache that I could tell...

The first cycle I had 5 neupogen shots and didn't notice any real bad reaction...