Re: Doctor Will Talk to Me About Xolair - My Concerns & Questions

January 7, 2007

Hi there!

Before I answer any of your questions, let me assure you that we've ALL been

where you are. Xolair being a newer drug, and some of this group's members

were of the first to take it, there is of course more anxiety about it. I

think even more so because so many of us were used to not breathing well.

Please bear in mind that my answers to your questions will be based on my

personal experiences, and what MOST people have experienced with Xolair.

Every person is different, and there is no way to tell for certain how YOU

will experience the medication.

Always talk to your doctor about any concerns or anxieties you have.

Remember that your doctor works for YOU, and no question is a stupid

question if you learn more about your illness and your asthma treatment.

That said, here goes

1) Every doctor is different, and so are their methods and wait times. For

the first six months that I received Xolair, I had to wait for two hours

after my injections. Now, I wait for half an hour, same as the doctor

makes his allergy shot patients wait.

2) For me, Xolair is like getting any other shot most of the time. Every so

often, I find that a new " lot " of the medication will sting ever so mildly

as it is being administered, but it is bearly noticeable.

3) I have experienced absolutely ZERO side effects from this medication, and

it is my understanding that the type of side effects you are specifically

worried about will NOT occur.

4) Personally, I was specifically asked to re-take my scratch and RAST tests

for hamster allergies. Other than that, all I had to do was show up.

5) Some patients inject at home, others don't. This can depend on your

doctor, your insurance, and in some cases, personal preference. Some of us

have no choice, a doctor must administer the shot, others have no choice but

to inject at home. Your insurance company or doctor will let you know.

6) Can't speak for every single person out there, but I myself have not, and

I believe that only one member of our group so far had any reaction period,

and unfortunately, she no longer posts.

7) I honestly haven't heard this before, but it makes sense that your doctor

should have this information before you begin Xolair. Be sure to go over

your entire allergy and asthma history with the Xolair prescribing physician

particularly if you will be injecting at home!

8) Xolair is NOTHING like allergy shots. I also couldn't get past the

mildest level of those, in fact, I kept reacting, and they had to keep

diluting the serum! Xolair works in a completely different way. Be sure to

check the Xolair website so that you can see how Xolair works. If you still

don't understand, ask one of us in the group to explain it to you. My

doctor went over the difference with me until I understood it perfectly. It

is important information to have.

9) It is rare for Xolair to cause itching. Some mild swelling can occur

occasionally, but it's more due to your own skin sensitivity than to Xolair.

I myself tend to swell slightly with ANY injection or skin irritation. The

doctor or nurse will check the site before you leave, and give you any

treatment or instructions.

10) Any minute detail you can think of. Your doctor should welcome any

question you have. My doctor enjoys my interest and feeds me all the

information he can!!

Best of luck to you, good luck with the approval process!

~

-------Original Message-------

From: instdesgn1

Date: 01/06/07 19:05:50

Subject: [ ] Doctor Will Talk to Me About Xolair - My Concerns &

Questions

Hi ~~

Read several posts here and found it interesting to read about

others who have rashes just walking through the yard - that's me,

too! Also, trying so hard to breathe that I've nearly thrown up and

gasping for air after walking a short distance. My IgE ranges from

350 to 405. I've been allergic since infancy and asthma since early

childhood.

My doctor will talk to me about xolair (the doc's idea) in a

couple weeks. I'm assuming insurance will approve it. I've read on

the internet about it and a coule years ago another doc suggested it

but I stopped going to him and have never received the treatment.

I've got lots of questions I'd like to ask of " real people " - that

is, patients who have gone through the xolair treatment.

1. Did you have to wait in the doc's office after the injection?

2. How much did the shot hurt?

3. Did it affect any other body systems that could be

embarrassing all of a sudden such as urinary, colon, or fainting or

dizziness or disorientation? Sudden emotional reaction? (laughing,

crying, anger) (should I take some extra clothing " just in case " ? -

I'm really embarrassed asking this)

4. Was there anything your health care provider told you to do

or not to do in regard to the xolair treatment?

5. Does anyone inject themself at home? (I somehow got the

impression I would be doing that)

6. Has anyone had a reaction to xolair several hours after the

injection - say 6 or 8 hours or the next day?

7. I read somewhere that if one reacts to bee stings (I do) that

it needs to be brought up to the doc. Anyone else hear that or do

that?

8. Is it anything like desensitization shots? (I couldn't get

beyond the mildest level)

9. If there's local swelling or itching does the healthcare

provider give you any treatment?

10. Anything else I should think about or bring up to my doc?

As you can see, I'm also really nervous and uneasy. The inhaled and

pill treatments have definite drawbacks too so it's sort've between

a " rock and a hard spot. " It would be great to have a treatment that

doesn't backfire!

Thanks, everyone!

January 7, 2007

You have a great doctor. Mine tossed me out to take my shots at home after the

injection and only had me stay for 30 minutes at that. And nobody ever

mentioned testing for hamster. Time for A NEW Doctor here. Jane Ann

Currier <redsoxkitten@...> wrote: Hi there!