dizzy on Gemzar?

[jane65]

Has anyone on Gemzar had an experience of being dizzy upon waking up in the morning and sitting up in bed? It passes in about 10 seconds, just started this week and I'll check with my oncologist tomorrow.

i wondered if anyone else had this problem.
Thanks,
Jane

[jane65]

I'm glad the Gemzar is working for you, that's always encouraging to hear, I hope it keeps killing off that cancer!

My oncologist is surprised that my blood counts have held up, Monday I'll have the results of the CA and we'll see if it's reversing and starting to go down, not up again.

I also get the fatigue, can't do anything about that except relax.

Feel good, and take care.
Jane

[kismetfarm]

Just starting to get cooler here Jane :-)  

I'm on Gemzar now and it has had some positive effect as it has dropped my CA125 from 340 to 274 - it took about four rounds to do that.  Apparently we're to continue with it as long as the numbers don't start going up again but it does drop my blood counts so I am getting two weeks of chemo and one week off instead of three weeks on and one off.  

I have very few side effects on it apart from the bloods and a bit of tiredness the day of the chemo.  Hardly even taking any anti nauseas as I don't need them.

[jane65]

Hi,
How are things going in New Zealand, are you starting Spring or Fall there now? Sorry to be so lacking in knowledge.

My oncologist is surprised that my blood counts have held up well on Gemzar, he has me at a high dose, 2200 mg and I'm doing ok so far..We did my CA125 today and Monday I'll find out if Gemzar has reduced my number which is 265.

How long were you on Gemzar and did it work for you?

I kept a list of my B/P for last week and he doesn't consider me to have low blood pressure, just low normal.
The dizziness may be my pressure needing time to equalize when I first sit up.

Take care of yourself,
Jane

[jane65]

Hi,
Thanks for your reply, and i appreciate your comment about being glad I posted.

I know it's been a while, I guess I just had to take a break and deal with myself.

I saw my oncologist today and we'll both keep an eye on the dizziness issue, it's now only when I sit up first thing in the morning. He feels it may be my blood pressure needing a few moments to equalize itself.

I'm glad you figured your problem out and can deal with it.

Take care of yourself,
Jane

[shewrites]

Hi, Jane.  Glad to see you posting again.  Sorry that you've got issues to deal with, though.  

It's not unusual for me to get dizzy when getting up quickly -- from either a prone position or sitting.  Sometimes, if I rub my eyes, I "black out" for a moment -- I can't see but I don't lose consciousness.  Just a few seconds, as you said.  I'm not in chemo, so it can't be that.  I do take blood pressure medicine, and I suppose it could lower my bp too far when I'm in a resting position, as kidmetfarm says above.  My doc has sent me twice for tests of my carotid arteries (for the eyes blacking out), and both times I passed the test with flying colors.  Now I just check my pulse in my neck and know that the carotids are okay.  

Talk to your doctor, of course, but I wouldn't worry too much about this.

[kismetfarm]

No sorry - sounds like your blood pressure could be low.

Gemzar I found fairly side effect free on the whole (does seem to knock your blood counts round though)