After having 14 chemo treatments with the same drug (Carbo), Wednesday my body decided that it wanted to have a severe allergic reaction.
I was trying to be brave and tough and not say anything about it, but after my tongue was almost 3 times it's normal size and my throat was swollen shut so bad that I could only whisper...it was then that I told my hubby that something was wrong.
My body was swollen bad, I couldn't talk, could barely hear, broke out in a bad rash, could barely breathe....I was scared as hell.
He got the nurses. They had the chemo unhooked in less than 2 seconds and started filling me with Benadryl and Decadron. It was so bad that they had the Epinephrine ready too.
I truly thought that I was a goner yesterday. I was scared to death and crying. My pulse, heart rate, and blood pressure were all up way too high.
I'm better today. My throat is still sore and my voice is hoarse and my tongue is swollen a little. I don't ever want that to happen again in my life!
With Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, Scoliosis, and Stage IV Ovarian Cancer, not sure how much more my body can take.
Hubby said that my face was swollen so bad that my lips looked almost like Angelina Jolie's. My head felt like it was as big as a basketball.
A funny side to the story.....
I just got my first cell phone on Tuesday and my ring tone is Motley Crue's "Kickstart My Heart". My sister told me last night that I had to change it. I said if I do, then it's gonna be "Dr. Feelgood". Then Kristen told me that maybe I needed Sixx: AM's "Courtesy Call".
I'm just THANKFUL that I'm still here today!
Thank You ALL for caring about me and worrying!
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I thought Wed. 11/4 was the end of my life...
- By Dodie1
- Posted November 7, 2009 at 8:45 pm · 26 replies
- In What, me worry?
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Cancer Taxol Scoliosis Avastin Decadron Morphine Ovarian cancer Anxiety Pain Muscular dystrophy Benadryl Tagamet
26 replies
- Oldest first
- Newest first
- By Stoogemom
- Posted November 7, 2009 at 8:55 pm
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Dodie..... it's good to see your face again. I'm so sorry you had such a severe reaction. I had a bad reaction on my very first chemo. They gave me epinephrine and then some morphine because the epinephrine caused painful spasms in my lower back. Of everything I have been through I agree this was the scariest moment of all. Great to have you back.
Stoogemom
- By Dodie1
- Posted November 7, 2009 at 9:06 pm
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Sorry you had a bad reaction your first chemo day.
It's awfully scary.
Take care & God Bless
- By koh847
- Posted November 7, 2009 at 9:46 pm
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Hi Dodie...so glad you are ok....how scary. Don't go so long without posting, we were all worried. Glad you are feeling better today.
:)Kim
- By lifeisgrand
- Posted November 7, 2009 at 10:29 pm
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Oh my God Dodie, that sounds so frightening. Glad you're getting over it. I had a reaction my first round of chemo with the Taxol so I know how frightening it can be. I guess your body knows when enough is enough.
God bless, hope you're feeling better every day. You don't want to go through that again!
- By Jennali
- Posted November 7, 2009 at 11:29 pm
- Report post
That sounds terrifying, Dodie. I'm so glad you're okay. My nurse said that the longer you take Carbo, the greater the chances of an allergic reaction. I've had one dose so far, fingers crossed.
It's good to see you again!
- By monthemon1
- Posted November 8, 2009 at 4:40 am
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Scarey, but thanks for sharing so we know what to look for and how it feels if there is an allergic reaction. Whew!! Glad everything turned out okay. God Bless You, Dodie.
- By verlinda
- Posted November 8, 2009 at 6:03 am
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Dodie,
I'm so sorry about the horrible reaction and so grateful you are still here.
What an inspiration you are! After all you've been through, you still find ways to find laughter.
Sending strength and prayers your way!
Blessings!
- By abbaschild
- Posted November 8, 2009 at 7:03 am
- Report post
So glad to hear from you, Dodie! And so glad you're okay after that reaction you had...they definitely are scary! That's why I always encourage ladies to take someone with them to chemo...I always had my husband with me! My girlfriend went by herself and had that same reaction...so glad your husband was there with you!
Keep in touch! We were worried about you, girlfriend!!
As always, praying for you :)
Blessings and hugs!!!
- By Patricia123
- Posted November 8, 2009 at 8:51 am
- Report post
Oh I cannot imagine and feel for you,,what an experience. Thank God you are here and got thru this. I hope it never happens again.
You are expecially in my prayers today and I hope you never ever go through this again.
You give the expression "hanging in" new meaning!!
- By ctaffel
- Posted November 8, 2009 at 9:01 am
- Report post
Dodie,
I had a similar allergic reaction as well. It wasn't expected as this was my 15th day with the Carbo/Taxol. I t was the caroplatin that did it and ithappened in seconds. I got the same, Benadryl and Decadron with epi waiting. I take 2 days of Deca and Beny prior to my treatment now and it seemed to work. If you experience anything off you need to say something immediately. The next time you are exposed to that drug you can have a worse reaction so don't feel like youhave to tough anyting out because it could be very bad as you experienced already. Are they going to re-challenge you with the same drug?
- By FavoriteAunt
- Posted November 8, 2009 at 9:10 am
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Dodie,
We've been worried about you because it's been a long time. What an awful experience. I'm so sorry you went through that. I would have been scared to death too. I assume they are changing chemos now?
You managed to keep your sense of humor - good for you. You are one tough lady - although you've been tested alot - but hang in there. I hope the days ahead are more peaceful for you. All the best.
- By Quilter
- Posted November 8, 2009 at 9:39 am
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Dodie, I had a reaction to the carbo as well but not like you did. As soon as I felt something strange, I told the nurse. After that I had 48 hrs of decadron and benadryl and tagamet every 6 hrs. and had no more problems with the drug after that. Happy you are on the mend. Prayers to you. Hang tough!!!
- By Klee
- Posted November 8, 2009 at 11:08 am
- Report post
Dear Dodie: I just had to share this with you. I have had so many types of treatments, but not long ago my doc decided to to try a combo of carbo with avastin. Not long after the drip started did I start to feel something was not right. I felt very hot with shortness of breath and pain in my abdomen. I got my nurses attention and she was on it asap. I too was given decadron and benadryl. My blood pressure had also shot up. My doc was there as well and kept checking with me. The rest of the treatments were strictly Avastin. I had made it through previous carbo and cysto treatments with other types of side effects, so nothing led us to think this was going to be a problem. Our bodies react the way they want to, when they want to, without checking with us first. Love your choice of songs!
- By Shelter
- Posted November 8, 2009 at 1:31 pm
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ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Dodie
We have missed you sooooooo
Im hope today finds you feeling much more peaceful,m, and you can put the allergic reation behind you
I say taht
as I also reacted during chemo, but not to carbo
it was to taxol
scarey when its "YOU" its happening to
I am so glad you posted
and I am so thankful you are ok
((hugs))
and
Blessings
MA
- By amsterling
- Posted November 8, 2009 at 2:06 pm
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Hi Dodie. Thank you so much for sharing with us and I am glad you are okay.
What are they doing about your chemo now? Are they giving you a new drug plan? I had an allergic reaction as well, I guess not bad enough to change drugs, so I'm just wondering if something happens again and worse, what they might do?
- By Jen457
- Posted November 8, 2009 at 3:33 pm
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Dodie,
So glad that you are okay. I have had three reactions. The first one in 2007 was mild. They had to take my port out the week before so was on the last carbo/taxol. My arm started to itch with 10 minutes to go. Got a little rash and that was it. They tried carbo again in August 2008 and that time it was okay. Then in Jan 2009 they tried cisplatin. I started off feeling weird. I unplugged and went to the restroom. When I went to wash my hands, my hands were fire red. Took a look at my face and it was also very red. I went out to the chemo desk and told them I thought I was having a reaction. I had four nurses there stat. They tried benadryl and steroids. The benadryl didn't do a thing. Only the steroids worked. Covered in rash. They told me later that my neck was really bad. They kept pulling up my sweatshirt and pant legs and checking the skin underneath them They kept asking me if I could breathe. Yes, but I could feel this creeping sensation going from my chest upward. The benadryl knocked me out for a couple of hours but by the time I woke up the rash was gone. They wanted to try cisplatin again. Gave me more steroids--didn't work, same rash again but not as bad. Reaction hit pretty fast so probably did not get as much in my system. Just a head's up to all chemo patients, if you start feeling strange, call a nurse over immediately and have them sit with you for a while. Better safe than sorry.
- By sbender3
- Posted November 8, 2009 at 3:34 pm
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dodie-good to hear from you-when i was on carbo this year, which was my third time to be on carbo, i had my first treament, no problem, but i kept sneezing when i went home. my second treatment, which was actually my ninth total carbo treatment since 2006 (carbo just builds up in your body, good to know, not...) anyway, i was sitting there, about 15 minutes into the 30 minute drip, and my hands and feet started burning, itching, turning red-i tried to ignore it, when i finally rang my bell, the nurses came, i started vomiting-they stopped the drip, called my dr, he told them to give me hydrocortizone, i am allergic to benedry, so my premeds were nausea meds and decadran. then, he told them to restart my chemo after they got me calmed down. i was crying, i was terrified, vomiting, itching, swelling, and they wat me to take it, at a slower does. so in any event, that is what they did, about an hour after the incident, and i got thru it, and i had 5 or 6 more treatments of carbo, with the premeds, a terrifying thought each time, before going, thinking it was going to happen again. but they did the drip over 1 and 1/2 hours instead of 30 minutes. my doc said they put some people in the hospital and do it over 24 hours. i am glad you are doing ok. don;t be surprised if they don't try to make you keep taking it, especially if it was working. god bless, good luck. sherry
- By mloknitting
- Posted November 8, 2009 at 3:59 pm
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In my mind I am still "an allergy patient who has cancer" vs a cancer patient. The panic you felt was part of the allergic reaction. Most non-allergists don't realize that panic is a very real part of the metabolic reaction with an anaphylactic response. It sucks. It really sucks and I am so sorry you had to go through that!
The good thing is that they now know it is possible and can adjust your dosing to compensate - or completely shut down your immune system.
I really wish you had never experienced it. Allergic reactions like these aren't fully appreciated by people who don't experience them themselves. Don't be surprised if items that you associate with the reaction cause you some amount of anxiety. That's normal.
Now for advice that I sometimes forget to follow: As soon as any symptoms appear tell someone! I know that it is hard to do sometimes - you think you are making a mountain out of a mole hill - but allergic reactions can escalate in seconds. Notice that I'm not good about that part either.
Good luck with your future treatments.
- By CATSMEOW
- Posted November 8, 2009 at 5:11 pm
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I thought the day I was diagnosed was the end of my Life.
Not So.
You Keep on Fighting.
KeepPositive.
- By Dodie1
- Posted November 8, 2009 at 8:05 pm
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Thank You all so much for worrying about me and being concerned for me!
That was a very scary experience and I don't ever want it to happen again.
I feel sorry for those that have experienced the same thing before.
I guess we're going to stick with carbo for now and see what happens. My next treatment isn't until 11/25. Goody me, the day before Thanksgiving. Then my last one is supposed to be 12/16, the day before my 21st anniversary....yipee! lol
Take care & God Bless
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