Guest guest Posted July 31, 2010 Report Share Posted July 31, 2010 I hate to intrude in your conversation but how in God's name do you take Gleevec on a empty stomach? I take Zofran(nausea pill) then eat and then take the Gleevec. I can't take it without the nausea pill and food for sure. I am doing better now that I switched drs, the other onc. was killing me. He had no clue what he was doing and wouldn't admit it and I suffered from it. I lost 29lbs in 4 months time but my new onc. is awesome. He has me eating again and I gained 5lbs back so far and I started seeing him about 2 months ago. He got me to PCRU already when the other dr messed around with me for a year and I was getting worse not better. My new onc. calls me himself and talks to me if I need something or just to check up on me in between visits. But I sure couldn't take the Gleevec without food. My issues are I feel shakey inside and my legs hurt really bad and are very weak. They thought it was anxiety cause I was having attacks after the old dr did all that stuff to me but their like inside shakes. I have xanax to take when I need it and was put on a anti-depressant to control my migraines and to increase appetite and weight gain. I take elavil at bedtime and it helps me sleep too. I know I posted some where else about being on a anti-depressant and boy did I get the negative feed back for that. I weigh a whopping 115 so yes I am having a hard time with all this and I have always suffered from migraines and the elavil keeps them under control.  At least I admit to taking one, more people probaly do that just don't admit to it. It's like a no no!!! I was told to ask for neurontin for the legs and the shaking, does any one have any experience with that pill? Don't want to be sick from it, I have had my share of that. Again sorry for intruding in your conversation and got carried away venting. Would love any advice you could give me though.                   Dee ________________________________ From: JoAnn <rosegeranium@...> Sent: Thu, July 29, 2010 10:10:25 AM Subject: [ ] Q for Vicky  Hi , I was surprised to hear that Dr. Druker recommended taking Gleevec on an empty stomach (for you). I had never heard of this before. Isn't the nausea overwhelming if Gleevec is not taken with a full meal? Thank you. JoAnn > > > Hi -- > I was diagnosed about the same time as you--2006. I felt so sick and out of it >after diagnosis (and before), that I took about 10 months off work to just be >home and be sick. I was totally exhausted, my bones hurt, I had diarrhea from >Gleevec (still do, but more used to it now and have some good coping >strategies--Thank you Lord for imodium), and mentally/emotionally, I was just >scared and worried and stressed and depressed! The fatigue was something I found >particularly debilitating. However,the need to have health insurance, and my two >boys (11 and 15) all motivated me to get back to work, get back into life, and >that really helped take my mind off my troubles. > > > Yes, I have had some down days since then, but generally I come right back. I >do notice my immune system is perhaps a little less robust, and that I tend to >get really sick in the spring for some reason--who knows why--I have had C >difficile two years in a row--am battling it now as a matter of fact. > > > It is just a roller coaster ride, but so far, nothing so bad that my husband >and I haven't been able to weather it together. My family definitely >helps--support network of their prayers and love really keeps me going! As does >this group! I frequently lurk in the background and just absorb--Lottie is a >wonderful friend as are many others like who steered me to Dr Druker when >I was in a state of panic at the beginning because I wasn't responding very >quickly or very robustly to Gleevec. Dr Druker was a wonderful man to meet, and >he put me on 600 mg of Gleevec instead of 400 mg, and changed how I take it (on >an empty stomach as opposed to with a big meal so it is aparently being absorbed >better in my system). My church is also very important to me. > > > So, now I am on Gleevec 600 mg per day, and so far maintaining a pretty good >solid remission for perhaps 2 years now, with a few glitches here and there >(like when I was in the hospital for a week and they didn't give me my Gleevec >even though I told them I had to have it!). > > > So, in spite of my doctors, and because of them, and God's loving care, I am >doing well and hope to continue to do so for a long time. I am 55 now, and plan >to live to be 100, so just 45 more years to go! > > Best wishes, and welcome to our little group. > Vicki in Seattle area > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 31, 2010 Report Share Posted July 31, 2010 G'day Dee - I totally agree, I was a physical wreck if I took Glivec on an empty stomach and got an almost instant migraine. I was taking Endep (antidepressent) to try and control the migraines, but all that really did was zonk me out all the time, but did make life bearable. The only dosage I could cope with was 200mg which was way to low unfortunately and swapped to Tasigna. Regards  -- [ ] Q for Vicky Hi , I was surprised to hear that Dr. Druker recommended taking Gleevec on an empty stomach (for you). I had never heard of this before. Isn't the nausea overwhelming if Gleevec is not taken with a full meal? Thank you. JoAnn > > > Hi -- > I was diagnosed about the same time as you--2006. I felt so sick and out of it >after diagnosis (and before), that I took about 10 months off work to just be >home and be sick. I was totally exhausted, my bones hurt, I had diarrhea from >Gleevec (still do, but more used to it now and have some good coping >strategies--Thank you Lord for imodium), and mentally/emotionally, I was just >scared and worried and stressed and depressed! The fatigue was something I found >particularly debilitating. However,the need to have health insurance, and my two >boys (11 and 15) all motivated me to get back to work, get back into life, and >that really helped take my mind off my troubles. > > > Yes, I have had some down days since then, but generally I come right back I >do notice my immune system is perhaps a little less robust, and that I tend to >get really sick in the spring for some reason--who knows why--I have had C >difficile two years in a row--am battling it now as a matter of fact. > > > It is just a roller coaster ride, but so far, nothing so bad that my husband >and I haven't been able to weather it together. My family definitely >helps--support network of their prayers and love really keeps me going! As does >this group! I frequently lurk in the background and just absorb--Lottie is a >wonderful friend as are many others like who steered me to Dr Druker when >I was in a state of panic at the beginning because I wasn't responding very >quickly or very robustly to Gleevec. Dr Druker was a wonderful man to meet, and >he put me on 600 mg of Gleevec instead of 400 mg, and changed how I take it (on >an empty stomach as opposed to with a big meal so it is aparently being absorbed >better in my system). My church is also very important to me. > > > So, now I am on Gleevec 600 mg per day, and so far maintaining a pretty good >solid remission for perhaps 2 years now, with a few glitches here and there >(like when I was in the hospital for a week and they didn't give me my Gleevec >even though I told them I had to have it!). > > > So, in spite of my doctors, and because of them, and God's loving care, I am >doing well and hope to continue to do so for a long time. I am 55 now, and plan >to live to be 100, so just 45 more years to go! > > Best wishes, and welcome to our little group. > Vicki in Seattle area > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 2, 2010 Report Share Posted August 2, 2010 Hi JoAnn-- Well, sometimes it is difficult--but I take a drug called ondansetron when I have nausea, and that drug really works great. I take the Gleevec 600 mg at bedtime, and somehow if I can get myself to sleep, I seem to sleep through the worst of it. I have a tummyache though, that is there most of the time. Taking it this way finally got me into a state of remission (after more than a year on 400 mg with meals), so I am sticking with it! Dr Druker said I was just not getting blood levels that were high enough by taking it the regular way with a meal, so we decided to try increasing the dosage and then using this method of taking it on an empty stomach to see if my levels were better, and they were, so that is it for me! Vicki > > > > > > Hi -- > > I was diagnosed about the same time as you--2006. I felt so sick and out of it after diagnosis (and before), that I took about 10 months off work to just be home and be sick. I was totally exhausted, my bones hurt, I had diarrhea from Gleevec (still do, but more used to it now and have some good coping strategies--Thank you Lord for imodium), and mentally/emotionally, I was just scared and worried and stressed and depressed! The fatigue was something I found particularly debilitating. However,the need to have health insurance, and my two boys (11 and 15) all motivated me to get back to work, get back into life, and that really helped take my mind off my troubles. > > > > Yes, I have had some down days since then, but generally I come right back. I do notice my immune system is perhaps a little less robust, and that I tend to get really sick in the spring for some reason--who knows why--I have had C difficile two years in a row--am battling it now as a matter of fact. > > > > It is just a roller coaster ride, but so far, nothing so bad that my husband and I haven't been able to weather it together. My family definitely helps--support network of their prayers and love really keeps me going! As does this group! I frequently lurk in the background and just absorb--Lottie is a wonderful friend as are many others like who steered me to Dr Druker when I was in a state of panic at the beginning because I wasn't responding very quickly or very robustly to Gleevec. Dr Druker was a wonderful man to meet, and he put me on 600 mg of Gleevec instead of 400 mg, and changed how I take it (on an empty stomach as opposed to with a big meal so it is aparently being absorbed better in my system). My church is also very important to me. > > > > So, now I am on Gleevec 600 mg per day, and so far maintaining a pretty good solid remission for perhaps 2 years now, with a few glitches here and there (like when I was in the hospital for a week and they didn't give me my Gleevec even though I told them I had to have it!). > > > > So, in spite of my doctors, and because of them, and God's loving care, I am doing well and hope to continue to do so for a long time. I am 55 now, and plan to live to be 100, so just 45 more years to go! > > Best wishes, and welcome to our little group. > > Vicki in Seattle area > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 2, 2010 Report Share Posted August 2, 2010 Hi Vicky, Thank you for your reply. My goodness, I do not envy you having an aching stomach most of the time. You are a trooper! I am very glad to hear that the 600 mg on an empty stomach does the trick for you! Thanks, again. JoAnn. > > > > > > > > > Hi -- > > > I was diagnosed about the same time as you--2006. I felt so sick and out of it after diagnosis (and before), that I took about 10 months off work to just be home and be sick. I was totally exhausted, my bones hurt, I had diarrhea from Gleevec (still do, but more used to it now and have some good coping strategies--Thank you Lord for imodium), and mentally/emotionally, I was just scared and worried and stressed and depressed! The fatigue was something I found particularly debilitating. However,the need to have health insurance, and my two boys (11 and 15) all motivated me to get back to work, get back into life, and that really helped take my mind off my troubles. > > > > > > Yes, I have had some down days since then, but generally I come right back. I do notice my immune system is perhaps a little less robust, and that I tend to get really sick in the spring for some reason--who knows why--I have had C difficile two years in a row--am battling it now as a matter of fact. > > > > > > It is just a roller coaster ride, but so far, nothing so bad that my husband and I haven't been able to weather it together. My family definitely helps--support network of their prayers and love really keeps me going! As does this group! I frequently lurk in the background and just absorb--Lottie is a wonderful friend as are many others like who steered me to Dr Druker when I was in a state of panic at the beginning because I wasn't responding very quickly or very robustly to Gleevec. Dr Druker was a wonderful man to meet, and he put me on 600 mg of Gleevec instead of 400 mg, and changed how I take it (on an empty stomach as opposed to with a big meal so it is aparently being absorbed better in my system). My church is also very important to me. > > > > > > So, now I am on Gleevec 600 mg per day, and so far maintaining a pretty good solid remission for perhaps 2 years now, with a few glitches here and there (like when I was in the hospital for a week and they didn't give me my Gleevec even though I told them I had to have it!). > > > > > > So, in spite of my doctors, and because of them, and God's loving care, I am doing well and hope to continue to do so for a long time. I am 55 now, and plan to live to be 100, so just 45 more years to go! > > > Best wishes, and welcome to our little group. > > > Vicki in Seattle area > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2010 Report Share Posted August 3, 2010 No--I'm not really a trooper--just ask my husband! He will tell you that I am a big baby! No, he really takes good care of me and listens very attentively (or at least seems to!) when I whine! It is just one of those things, like so many in life--it is a tradeoff! Do I worry about a tummy ache, or try to appreciate the fact that I have a type of blood cancer that is the most highly treatable one out there-0-and that I am in remission! That is good news and makes the rest bearable, particularly when one has youngish children, like I do! I'm keeping fingers and toes crossed that it keeps working, too! Vicki > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi -- > > > > I was diagnosed about the same time as you--2006. I felt so sick and out of it after diagnosis (and before), that I took about 10 months off work to just be home and be sick. I was totally exhausted, my bones hurt, I had diarrhea from Gleevec (still do, but more used to it now and have some good coping strategies--Thank you Lord for imodium), and mentally/emotionally, I was just scared and worried and stressed and depressed! The fatigue was something I found particularly debilitating. However,the need to have health insurance, and my two boys (11 and 15) all motivated me to get back to work, get back into life, and that really helped take my mind off my troubles. > > > > > > > > Yes, I have had some down days since then, but generally I come right back. I do notice my immune system is perhaps a little less robust, and that I tend to get really sick in the spring for some reason--who knows why--I have had C difficile two years in a row--am battling it now as a matter of fact. > > > > > > > > It is just a roller coaster ride, but so far, nothing so bad that my husband and I haven't been able to weather it together. My family definitely helps--support network of their prayers and love really keeps me going! As does this group! I frequently lurk in the background and just absorb--Lottie is a wonderful friend as are many others like who steered me to Dr Druker when I was in a state of panic at the beginning because I wasn't responding very quickly or very robustly to Gleevec. Dr Druker was a wonderful man to meet, and he put me on 600 mg of Gleevec instead of 400 mg, and changed how I take it (on an empty stomach as opposed to with a big meal so it is aparently being absorbed better in my system). My church is also very important to me. > > > > > > > > So, now I am on Gleevec 600 mg per day, and so far maintaining a pretty good solid remission for perhaps 2 years now, with a few glitches here and there (like when I was in the hospital for a week and they didn't give me my Gleevec even though I told them I had to have it!). > > > > > > > > So, in spite of my doctors, and because of them, and God's loving care, I am doing well and hope to continue to do so for a long time. I am 55 now, and plan to live to be 100, so just 45 more years to go! > > > > Best wishes, and welcome to our little group. > > > > Vicki in Seattle area > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.