Re: update and question: Can xolair work in 1 month?

[Guest guest]

Well after my second Xolair session (I get two shots every two

weeks) I really felt great relief in my breathing but I'm sure it

must have all been in my head because it isn't supposed to work that

fast. But who cares? I was breathing normal. So what if it was

all in my head!

Also, the couple times I missed my shots by a week I started feeling

it big time! So go figure. I guess that's in my head too.

>

> Hi all! Some of you may remember I had my first xolair shots one

month ago and was having headaches from them. The headaches lasted

2.5 weeks but then finally tapered off. Saw the doc about them and

he assured me that was normal, it should get better with each

subsequent injection, etc. I'm also having alot of aches and joint

stiffness. I worry it's beause of the xolair but doc claims that

isn't a normal side effect so I'm going to give it a little more

time to see how that pans out.

>

> I have my next set of injections Monday. I'm hoping the headaches

and body aches aren't as bad this time since we leave for vacation

next week!

>

> Here's my question: how quickly is it possible to see improvement

from the xolair? I know I was told it could be 6-12 months or longer

before I saw anything but the last week has been awesome! Our pollen

count has been fairly high, yet I'm breathing great. Even went to

some garage sales with my mom this AM and she commented on how I

didn't seem to be wheezing this week (I'm blessed to have an RN

for a mom who knows exactly how real and awful asthma is!).

>

> Just curious is this is some crazy fluke or if it's possible to

see a difference in just 4 weeks? I'm not cured by any means but

any little bit helps!

>

> Debra

>

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[Guest guest]

We have had a few people (less than five probably) who've reported

improved breathing within a month of the first Xolair shot. I think

Greg was one of them. He was posting a lot in fall 2003, when the

group began. He still lurks, but he has done so well on Xolair that

he no longer considers himself an asthmatic. His success came just in

time for the birth of their second child, so it was huge amounts of

fun for us virtual friends to know he was healthy enough to be an

active father of two small, even more active boys! Youngest one must

be three now.

Good luck! Keep us posted.

Addy

>

> Hi all! Some of you may remember I had my first xolair shots one

month ago and was having headaches from them. The headaches lasted

2.5 weeks but then finally tapered off. Saw the doc about them and he

assured me that was normal, it should get better with each subsequent

injection, etc. I'm also having alot of aches and joint stiffness. I

worry it's beause of the xolair but doc claims that isn't a normal

side effect so I'm going to give it a little more time to see how

that pans out.

>

> I have my next set of injections Monday. I'm hoping the headaches

and body aches aren't as bad this time since we leave for vacation

next week!

>

> Here's my question: how quickly is it possible to see improvement

from the xolair? I know I was told it could be 6-12 months or longer

before I saw anything but the last week has been awesome! Our pollen

count has been fairly high, yet I'm breathing great. Even went to

some garage sales with my mom this AM and she commented on how I

didn't seem to be wheezing this week (I'm blessed to have an RN for

a mom who knows exactly how real and awful asthma is!).

>

> Just curious is this is some crazy fluke or if it's possible to see

a difference in just 4 weeks? I'm not cured by any means but any

little bit helps!

>

> Debra

>

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>

>

[Guest guest]

Oh, golly (grrooaaann!!!) I can't believe it! Envy is clouding my

judgement! <wink>

I've heard other people complain about headaches (plus weight gain

and you are fortunate not to have that) although I don't recall

having headaches beyond my usual sinus infection. It's interesting

that your doc said the headaches were normal - did he explain why?

Now, the aches and joint stiffness have been my experience so I'm

REALLY curious as to why THAT occurs! I definitely had arthritis and

bulging disks and facet degeneration before Xolair but it seemed like

it got worse w/Xolair. In fact, I went to a neurologist a week ago

in part because of the pains shooting down the back of my leg from my

hip and the numbness and tingling. The latter was just an annoyance

but the pain was different. I had already been diagnosed w/sciatica

and this doc claimed it was restless legs syndrome. It was not. I

feel no compulsion to move my legs other than to get out of pain. I

mentioned that I'm on Xolair but he completely ignored it and Xolair

did not even turn up on my list of meds on the med report. Maybe he

hadn't even heard of it - I don't know - most doctors I've talked to

have no idea what I'm talking about re Xolair. Sometimes they

mistakenly think I'm saying " Xanex. (sp?) "

My own doc doesn't really respond to my complaints about Xolair -

it's not working (11 weeks now) nor have I received any explanation

re the increased arthralgia symptoms. I am also concerned as to my

long-term well being.

But, your improvement so early is phenomenal! Don't look a gift

horse in the mouth! Just send some my way!

Incidentally, my hubby is on a treatment for MS that's also supposed

to take 6 months to kick in and he swears that after the first

infusion he had more strength! Go figure!

On the 14th I will go to 375 mgs. (thanks, doc, for listening on that

issue) every 2 weeks (it was 300 mgs) which means 3 shots. I'm a

little nervous about possible side effects but hope the additional

dose will be helpful. I'm covered w/rash and bruises now from

gardening so injecting will be interesting (I do it at home). Also,

Curascript sent me 3 vials of 150 mgs each. I'll have to throw away

half of one vial - how many hundreds of dollars is that? Seems like

a waste but my insurance is paying. Wish Genentech would do more

research into who responds when and why. For that matter, as I

pointed out earlier, other monoclonal antibodies for other diseases

have the same official prognosis - 6 to 12 months - so perhaps they

could all get together and compare notes!

Have a great time on your vacation!

>

> Hi all! Some of you may remember I had my first xolair shots one

month ago and was having headaches from them. The headaches lasted

2.5 weeks but then finally tapered off. Saw the doc about them and he

assured me that was normal, it should get better with each subsequent

injection, etc. I'm also having alot of aches and joint stiffness. I

worry it's beause of the xolair but doc claims that isn't a normal

side effect so I'm going to give it a little more time to see how

that pans out.

>

> I have my next set of injections Monday. I'm hoping the headaches

and body aches aren't as bad this time since we leave for vacation

next week!

>

> Here's my question: how quickly is it possible to see improvement

from the xolair? I know I was told it could be 6-12 months or longer

before I saw anything but the last week has been awesome! Our pollen

count has been fairly high, yet I'm breathing great. Even went to

some garage sales with my mom this AM and she commented on how I

didn't seem to be wheezing this week (I'm blessed to have an RN for

a mom who knows exactly how real and awful asthma is!).

>

> Just curious is this is some crazy fluke or if it's possible to see

a difference in just 4 weeks? I'm not cured by any means but any

little bit helps!

>

> Debra

>

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>

>

[Guest guest]

There's a handful of us that hate throwing away the half vial. I

think or termed it " liquid gold. " As to how many

hundreds of dollars that is - My statement from Accredo Novafactor

puts Xolair at about $550 per vial, so that's $225 every two weeks

going in the trash. THANK GOD my co pay is so low.

Addy

PS - I do MUCH better on 375mg every two weeks than 300mg.

> >

> > Hi all! Some of you may remember I had my first xolair shots one

> month ago and was having headaches from them. The headaches lasted

> 2.5 weeks but then finally tapered off. Saw the doc about them and

he

> assured me that was normal, it should get better with each

subsequent

> injection, etc. I'm also having alot of aches and joint stiffness.

I

> worry it's beause of the xolair but doc claims that isn't a normal

> side effect so I'm going to give it a little more time to see how

> that pans out.

> >

> > I have my next set of injections Monday. I'm hoping the headaches

> and body aches aren't as bad this time since we leave for

vacation

> next week!

> >

> > Here's my question: how quickly is it possible to see improvement

> from the xolair? I know I was told it could be 6-12 months or

longer

> before I saw anything but the last week has been awesome! Our

pollen

> count has been fairly high, yet I'm breathing great. Even went to

> some garage sales with my mom this AM and she commented on how I

> didn't seem to be wheezing this week (I'm blessed to have an RN

for

> a mom who knows exactly how real and awful asthma is!).

> >

> > Just curious is this is some crazy fluke or if it's possible to

see

> a difference in just 4 weeks? I'm not cured by any means but any

> little bit helps!

> >

> > Debra

> >

>

______________________________________________________________________

> __

> > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about

what's

> free from AOL at AOL.com.

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi Debra,

First of all congratualations on your improvement!

As to your question.

My doctor said she has had patients who notice a difference after one

shot. I myself had felt somewhat better after one month but I wasn't

ready to attribute it to Xolair until my Peak Flow increased

drastically my 2nd shot.

I was very excited it went from 300-350 after excersise to 500.

I have noticed a considerably difference now. Over memorial day

weekend I was outdoors all weekend. At the Santa Barabara Mission

gardens, On a train ride that went thru orange orchards the windows

were open and lots of dirt and none of these things seemed to bother

me as they normally would. Also because we were on the road so much.

I used my inhaler instead of my neb. I haven't been without that neb

in a couple years.

I went in for my 3rd shot last Tuesday and my doctor allowed me to

reduce my advair 500/50 from twice a day to once a day! I was so

excited!

I wish you continued success with your Xolair treatments! I hope you

have a great vacation. I am going on my delayed honeymoon in 2 weeks!

I am not as seasoned a Xolair user as most in the Xolair group but,

since we are on close to the same Xolair time line if you have any

questions feel free to email me.

take care,

Laurie

>

> Hi all! Some of you may remember I had my first xolair shots one

month ago and was having headaches from them. The headaches lasted

2.5 weeks but then finally tapered off. Saw the doc about them and he

assured me that was normal, it should get better with each subsequent

injection, etc. I'm also having alot of aches and joint stiffness. I

worry it's beause of the xolair but doc claims that isn't a normal

side effect so I'm going to give it a little more time to see how

that pans out.

>

> I have my next set of injections Monday. I'm hoping the headaches

and body aches aren't as bad this time since we leave for vacation

next week!

>

> Here's my question: how quickly is it possible to see improvement

from the xolair? I know I was told it could be 6-12 months or longer

before I saw anything but the last week has been awesome! Our pollen

count has been fairly high, yet I'm breathing great. Even went to

some garage sales with my mom this AM and she commented on how I

didn't seem to be wheezing this week (I'm blessed to have an RN for

a mom who knows exactly how real and awful asthma is!).

>

> Just curious is this is some crazy fluke or if it's possible to see

a difference in just 4 weeks? I'm not cured by any means but any

little bit helps!

>

> Debra

>

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