Rituxin

[Guest guest]

,

I got my 6mth or start of the second series of the Rituxin infusion this

morning... Went in at 8:30 was done at 3:15.... Talk about a long and drawn

out process..

The important thing is that I don't feel terribly bad... I actually feel 30%

better then my last two infusions. The last two wiped me out physically and

mentally for two days... Today, I'm a little drowsy but over all I'm not that

bad... Depending on how I feel tomorrow, I think I'll try to go to work and

save my sick days for days when I'm really not able to make it. I have a decent

job, so if I start to feel lousy, I will have the option of taking 1/2 day and

leaving early.

As to your question in a previous post, I have taken prednisolone for the last 2

1/2 years at different milagrams depending on how I am doing... But I have

never had to take any specific amount prior to the Rituxin infusion. I also

have yet to have any major reactions to the rituxin... I asked my infusion

nurse today and he said that all of his patients get the infusion for at least 5

hours to decrease the chances and he also dilutes the mixture by adding another

medicine at the same time... I was feeling really tired at the time and forgot

to write down what the added medicine was... but I'll ask again on the 24th

when I get the two week infusion.

One of the nurses told me that her father was involved in the trial program with

Rituxin after having mixed diseases for 20 years and said that after 2 years of

the Rituxin, he was at 85% capacity for his past life... At 70 some years old

that's pretty amazing...

So I'm trying to be very optimistic...

I also received a pneumonia vaccine today.... I wasn't expecting it, but my doc

said he highly recomends all of his infusion patients to get it... He's pretty

good at being pro-active..

Bonnie

Hope all is well with you.