Horrible Anxiety!!

Options
seLori62
seLori62 Member Posts: 6
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

Hello everyone,

 I am new to this board, and seeking advise. I am currently on my fourth round of TCH chemo, I have two more to endure. I do receive Herceptin weekly as well. It has been the worst experience of my life. I was prepared for the nausea and fatigue but I have gotten every side effect possible and then some. The worst part is what I can only descibe as severe anxiety attacks that start about two or three days after my chemo. I get full body shakes, rapid heart rate, light headed, tingling and numbmess, severe weakness and horrible nightmares that make me wake up screaming. This lasts for days and leaves me completely drained.

 I am wondering if it is caused by the three day course of steroids that I take for my treatment day....not to mention the added steroid that I receive in the IV. I would appreciate if anyone else has heard of this happening and what to do about it.

  

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • mrsnjband
    mrsnjband Member Posts: 1,409
    edited July 2012

    You should speak to your doctor, the steriods could be part of it.  Some can have strange reactions to med.

    As to the anxiety, they can give you meds to help. No shame in taking it, most of have.  I still take anti-depressant & anit-anxiety meds and I'm 4 years out. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • seLori62
    seLori62 Member Posts: 6
    edited July 2012

    I did discuss this with my oncologist a few days ago. She has never had a patient with this problem before. We are thinking of reducing the amount of steroids for the next round. I am scared because I don't want to make matters worse, but I don't want to endure another one like the last.

     I was hoping more people would have replied with similar SE who were able to change something up to ease the anxiety. I have always been super sensitive to drugs, so I may be in the 1% to suffer from this.

     I do have Ativan to take but it just doesn't do much for me.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Rockym
    Rockym Member Posts: 1,261
    edited July 2012

    Steroids can definitely cause anxiety and your heart to race.  Ativan works quickly and goes away quickly (short half-life).  You may want to try Valium which stays in your system longer.  You can take it during chemo and then for the next few days after.  Valium can stay in your system for up to a week I believe.

    Good Luck.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NicoleJasien
    NicoleJasien Member Posts: 50
    edited July 2012

    I had the same thing happen.....and then restless leg syndrom kept on afterwards.  They gave me Ativan to help and it kocks me right out at night.....talk to you doc. Hope it gets better!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 535
    edited July 2012

    Hi SerLori

    I've just seen your post, so hopefully your problem has been sorted out by now.

    If not, could it be worth getting a second opinion about your symptoms?

    The reason I am wondering this is because I too have had the shakes - the docs call it rigours over here - and I got them when I had neutropenic sepsis after my first dose of FEC,

    Although it was FEC not Herceptin, the docs do take the shakes seriously over here. I also had a high temperature and low blood counts. Had a similar reaction to Taxotere, although no shakes and the oncologist reduced by the dose by 20 per cent. No side-effects.

    Have had minor side-effects with Herceptin - slightly increased temperature occasionally - but according to the Genentech website, it is possible to have the side-effects you describe.

    If your onc won't do anything, why not request a second opinion?

    Good luck!

    Alice

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • seLori62
    seLori62 Member Posts: 6
    edited July 2012

    Thanks for the replies. I just had my fifth round of chemo last Thursday and it was better this time. My doc reduced the steroid dose and it made a big difference with the anxiety problem. I have one more round to go in three weeks.....thank God! I would advise anyone else experiencing the issues I described to ask for a lower dose of steroids.

    Good luck to all :)

    Lori 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories