Neulasta

This time around in chemo, my oncologist prescribed Neulasta, which is a shot that is given within 24 hours of treatment. It helps build your white blood count so you can fight potential infections. I never had this before, even when I was at my very worst, but I trust that my doctor knows what he’s doing. He’s told me several times that in many cases, it’s not the cancer that kills the patient, it’s secondary stuff like infections. So I try to be very careful and take care of myself. If this shot gives me a boost, great! However, there is something about this shot that I want to post so any BC fighters out there who are also on Neulasta can have some comfort. Several days after the shot, my bones feel weird, almost electric. It’s hard to describe, but the bones in my upper and lower back, and sometimes my shoulders feel like they have a strong pulse. Just little things like going pee and pushing a little while you pee – something we all do, makes them pulse even more. It’s the weirdest feeling ever, definitely not cancer pain or typical muscle pain. It’s just different. I work in the office as much as I can because the routine really helps my sanity. On chemo days or the day after treatment, sometimes I’ll work from home when I’m feeling really tired. But this “electric bones” feeling sometimes lasts for several days and it’s frustrating because I have a hard time sitting still and focusing on my work.

 

Yesterday, I was in a lot of pain and trying to resist taking an opiate because I don’t want to take them and then drive. My husband works in the commonwealth attorney’s office, so getting a DUI for being high would probably embarrass John a little bit, LOL. A Tylenol or Advil takes the edge off, but I Googled it yesterday because I was just about to go nuts from the pain. I came across a BC blog where several women posted that they also had terrible bone pain after the shot, and that Claritin really helped. Apparently, something in the Neulasta has the same kind of effect as a histamine, so taking an antihistamine can counter the effects of pain. I always have Wal-Mart brand Claritin on hand, and sure enough a few hours after taking one, I started to feel better. I wanted to post this here because I don’t know who reads my blog, or how often. The blog gets a lot of hits, most of them probably accidental. But if I can help at least one other BC fighter/survivor, it’s totally worth putting all of my thoughts out here. If anyone is suffering from bone pain due to these shots, give Claritin a try. Since Claritin is a 24 hour pill, it takes a few hours to kick in, but knowing that relief is on the way is comforting. :o) Now keep in mind that I’m no doctor. I have an average intelligence and IQ, so everything I post out here is purely from my experiences with BC, treatment, etc. I’m sure a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can tell you much more about the benefits and/or risks. I just think that when there is pain, you will try about anything to feel better. I know I would!