MistsOfSpring
Feb 2nd Update on Jim
Posted on: 02/02/2012 13:50
Jim started his Interferon treatments on Monday. He's staying at his Dad's house in Burlington and going to the cancer clinic in Hamilton every day for his injections. He felt fine until shortly after supper on Monday night, then he started to have chills, shivering, a horrible headache and he was throwing up until after midnight. Over night he says he barely slept because he ached so much. The next day they put some kind of anti-nausea medication in to his injection, too, and he says he wasn't throwing up that night, but still had the other side effects. Yesterday was his 41st birthday. I had asked if he wanted us to come see him or not, but he said he'd prefer if we didn't because he'd just be feeling horrible anyway and he didn't want Rachel to have to see him like that.
It sounds like the pattern is for the flu-like side effects to start about 5 hours after the injection, then he's really sick for another 5 hours or more, then he gradually starts to feel better again (although not great) until it's time for another injection. He has been told that his body will get used to it and the side effects will lessen over time, which is also what I've read online. He plans to come home on the weekend when he isn't getting injections...hopefully the pattern continues and he feels at least mostly ok while he's here since he isn't getting any injections. Then on Monday he starts his second week, and I hope that his body "remembers" the treatments from this week and he doesn't have to start getting used to it all over again. His final high dose treatment is Feb 24th.
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gecko46
Posted on: 02/02/2012 14:58
Thinking of you, Jim and your daughter as you face these challenges, Mists.
I hope things get easier for Jim as the days and weeks progress.
Take care.
RitaTG
Posted on: 02/02/2012 15:49
gentle Hugs to you Mists, Jim, and your family and friends....
Rita
Tabitha
Posted on: 02/02/2012 21:49
Thanis for the update Mists and do take care of yourself too!!
SG
Posted on: 02/02/2012 22:05
Mists,
I took interferon 2b once upon a time and the symptoms got less severe with more treatments. Let's hope it is the same for Jim. I also was told to take Benadryl, have him ask about meds to take to lessen the side effects, even just Tylenol or something.
BetteTheRed
Posted on: 02/02/2012 23:12
Praying for gentle spirits of healing and love to weave through your lives as you go through these hard things.
MistsOfSpring
Posted on: 02/02/2012 23:13
SG, that's the same one he's on. He's getting some kind of anti-nausea medication with the Interferon and he's taking Tylenol and/or Ibuprofin as well. We've been told that the effects do get less as the body adjusts to it, too. I certainly hope that's true because after this intense phase is done, he'll have to take a low dose for 48 weeks. Did it ever get to a point where you didn't feel very sick from it at all? How long were you on it?
SG
Posted on: 02/03/2012 00:15
I was put on it for a liver disease, not cancer. It was to be initially a 24 week course, moved to a 48 week course. Most of my treatment was once a week injections (versus the 3X a week on non pegylated interferon). It was not working on the disease so I did not complete the whole 48 week course. My side effect symptoms got less severe. It was eventually more a nuisance than anything else, more a tired,achy thing for a day. The less frequent he is injected, the more days he will have without side effects. When I went from 3X a week to 1X a week it was much better.
Kimmio
Posted on: 02/03/2012 01:28
Prayers and hugs for Jim and you Mists.
seeler
Posted on: 02/03/2012 10:19
Just to let you know I'm here with my prayers and well wishes.
chansen
Posted on: 02/03/2012 10:54
Juravinski Cancer Centre (was Henderson Hospital) in Hamilton? They're good. They saved my mom's life.
Do what they tell you to do. Tell them what they ask you to tell them. Call them if you think you should call them.
Beloved
Posted on: 02/03/2012 15:54
MistsOfSpring - caring thoughts continue to be with you, Jim, Rachael, and all your family.
EasternOrthodox
Posted on: 02/03/2012 16:07
Mists, prayers and hugs to you and your family. You are in my thoughts and prayers.