interfearon first go at it (injection )

[EFT56]

Today is my first go at having the Interfearon injections done, its planed for the next 30 days 5days a week.
I know next to nothing about this drug - or its effects, other than what my oncolgest tells me and what iv read online.
its not a whole lot of information.  im already taking h.b.p meds daily- and feel like **** on them!!  due to adverse side
effects from them. but doctors insist I stay on them for now.  Im not fearing having the first injection done today, but I just dont want it, as I have not been informed totaly about the drug? and I feel out of the circle - yet im the one who has to have it ?? more less taking it blind and taking a big chance it will be ok.  for now I hope it will work out fine.
but deep down, I have bad feelings about it. im not good with taking drugs - as im very allergic to them, and have every known side effect known to mankind.  thus the bad feelings.  what iv already put up with over the past 4 months
could kill a elephant!  test after test injections after injections. scan after scan.. then the operation!! now recovery has started - but I still can't walk good - yet doctors insist on startig the interfearon injections ( oh well ?)  
If I had a choice, I would wait untill the area around the melanoma that was operated on was healed totaly. and im walking normal and more healthy.  then do the injections would make better sence to me ?  But im not a doctor !!
so welp - today starts the first test run on the medication .. we will see what happens, puke city or what ?
im wondering if there is another (wonder) drug out there for a safey treatment for melanomas.  that isnt as harsh ..
and you take less and for a shorter time !   as scans showed and tests run all showed, no spreading or traces of cancer anywhere in my body.  but again doctors say its all routine work to do this after the melanoma has been removed as a safety net  so the melanoma wont return or relaps back again.    

Here we go !! woopee !!  

[EFT56]

Just want to update all on this : as its now a new year 2009
iv been off the Interfearon for near 2 weeks now -  still feel like junk !   my vision is blurred still- feel weak - and tired ache everywhere, and yes I ended up in the hospital for palpaitions and blood pressure going up and down. and gas that wouldnt stop!!  after test and test run on me - I was released - within 1day I had the flu - real bad flu knocked me on my tail - its now fadeing as its the 2nd week of it - but tonight right on the new year
I woke up suddenly with rapid heartbeats and palpatations relaps again .. I cant sleep !

well here we go again another wild ride due to drug !  Think I need to be detoxed
and adjust my blood pressure medications again .. and that will be done asap !

I think these cancer Doctors, who might try hard to help people - should look more into
not useing interfearon on people with melanomas or skin cancers.. and maybe try something diffrent , that has less side effects or problems.

I lost for words right now !  as im dealing with a relaps of palpaitions .. something I hate !
or hates me !!  

but thanks for reading .  and happy new year to all who read this .

[EFT56]

thank you suzzie :
im just happy im off the interfearon , but still have side effects from it !  as im fighting a flu
now ! and just feel real bad - as it takes about 2 weeks, for the effects to leave (so they say)     my oncologest said - he will only keep a eye on me and I must get checked every 30 days !   but shouldnt worry as - tests showed im free of cancer no spreading ...

I dont know if there is another treatment for melanoma's  ?   but if its like interfearon , forget it !   iv never been so sick !  

thanks again

[suzzie61]

Hi:  I do not get on here too often, but I saw your post.  I have Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, and back in 1998 when I was diagnosed Interferon was the only choice for treatment.  I did it for 3 months, and went through what you have gone through.  Felt all rubbery and flu like.  Effort to walk, fevers, etc. etc.  Then it was destroying my liver, so they took me off of it.  I had to wait months before I could get into a clinical trial for a new treatment.
    You do not have what I have, but just wanted to let you know that your not the only one who has had symptoms like that.
    Hope your feeling better, and that they found a better way to treat you.
   God Bless You.
   Suzzie

[EFT56]

thanks spicy1  and same to you and your family for the new year !

I will keep everyone posted on outcome and whats next for me.. I only wish the effects would stop! but so far they have not stopped !  
getting off this stuff - caused flu like symptoms and well the palps havent stopped yet !  

im going on the 5th day with palps and other effects from the interfearon. have to say it distroyed my christmass day today !   as just laid around and kept calm watching tv..
trying to stop palps from happening ?  ugg  that didnt help much !!  wishfull thinking ..

if anyone knows how to stop palps - please let me know ?   b.p meds help but wont stop them.   oh well ..

maybe its just time !  

[Spicy1]

Well Ed, you have given me the very bestest Christmas present tonite. :)  I'm soooo glad you're doing ok and feeling better.  I'm sorry you had to learn the hard way about being allergic to interferon, but I'm so very proud of you for trying it!  I hope you and yours have a wonderful wonderful holiday season. :)  See you again soon in the new year.
Caroline

[EFT56]

as of 12/22/08*
the oncologest and Cardiologest - took me off the Interfearon totaly.  this was due to the fact, that I ened up in the E.R and addmitted to the Hospital for 3days!  due to palpiations
and being sick from side effects. after blood tests were done, and tons of other tests done - including ultra sound and ekg's -  both Doctors in charge of me and the Hospital
Doctors agreed, I was very allergic to the Interfearon, and it caused 99% of all problems I had -that put me in the hospital. the oncologest said, we did our best and tryed ! 25% is better than none, and it can only help. he is gonna watch me close for the next year and
will treat what he can. he said not to worry as I had no sign of spreading anywhere -and it was used as a safety messure only.  my surgeon said to me, some people can tollerate it and some cant , your one that can not !   we go from there forwords..  you will be fine !!  

for now im feeling about 80% better , but still get a few palps here and there.. but b.p meds are helping me calm it down .. they say it takes a few days to a week to stop them
so the body goes back to normal feelings.   im trying to stay calm  that helps alot ..
also sleep helps me - lots of rest !!  

oh yeah now that im off the ****, my b.p is normal  like 121/ 82  p 78  my Nurse is happy !!  same for doctors !!  

spicy1 thanks for being there for me..  your the best ever !!  
also thanks to bob-D  good info -  
yeah water helps..  but once interfearon is in you, its hard to get out !  and water wont cutt the mustard. .. at least not for me..  I tryed it .. made me bloat up bad in the belly.

thanks all..  and merry xmass and happy new year to all

[Bob_D]

The American Cancer Society website says that high-dose interferon treatment for melanoma has a "high degree of toxicity", so in a way I am not surprised, but sorry you are going through this.
Perhaps if they can manage the side effects (pain, BP spikes, malaise, your PICC problems) you can learn to tolerate the treatment better.
There is at least one post here on medhelp from someone who underwent the same treatment. She recommends drinking lots of water during treatment.
Stay strong.

[Spicy1]

I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time on this treatment.  Please keep in touch with what they're doing for you, Ed.  Write down all the things that are happening to you, and give them to your nurse.  Also try to get an appointment with your oncologist asap, so that perhaps he can modify your dosage.  I wish there was something that wasn't reacting so badly for you.  You're in my thoughts.
Caroline

[EFT56]

Yeah , I dont know how anyone can take this junk !  I just finished the first week on this
stuff - had nothing but problems -it got so bad had to take vicodin 4 to 6 times day to stop the side effects !   but still had the puke feelings and cement leg feelings aches..
as well uncontrolled shakes!   tonight I woke up with palpiations (relaps) happening ..
my b.p was ultra high ! no reason for that to happen ? had to take 1/2 a b.p pill to get the pressure back down again.. but feel worse than before !!  I drank natural calm to stop the palps and it worked ok for me .. once the b.p dropped down with the med.  

whats worse is "I called the oncologest 24hour nurse line and its cutt off !! not there..

I really think - im allergic to this medication interfearon in dose im taking.
as already by the pick line - the bandage they used caused big blisters to form.  
my daily nurse has ordered non allergic bandage for it . but wont get here untill today sat.
with the next shippment of interfearon

Im so upset now !   as for sure it has to be a allergic reaction to the medication ..
I just cant take it anymore !!   or risk haveing a heart attack due to b.p going sky high
without warrning on me..  

again - I dont think the doctors did there homework reading how it reacts to people who take diffrent blood pressure medications.   or who are allergic to meny things.
I  should have been pre tested , before going on this drug.. ya know..

well I see my nurse this a.m   and will talk to her if im alive still..   cant take much more
of this stuff..  at least I did one weeks worth .  

[Spicy1]

Keep at it Ed.  Like other forms of chemo, the affects are not always the same with each dose.  Your body had a shock by having that injected, so yes you felt terrible, but it subsided, and maybe next treatment will be a little less severe.  Give your body a chance, please.

[EFT56]

The first injection (treatment of interfearon) sucked-  it went smooth took 20mins total time- but 1hour after the injection -I got the side effects flu like symptoms very hard and bad !! aches and pains everywhere all joints! headache, sweating, shakeing bad uncontrolled type !  for about 4hours - then as I warmed up it slowed down - I also threw up 3 times in row - Doctor said to take Tylenol 500mg 4 to 5 times a day, so I did that..
it helped stop the aches, and sweating and throw up feeling - I was able to eat small amount of food around 6pm - and water lots of water - but found around 9pm the interfearon felt like it was fadeing off - (JOY JOY HAPPY HAPPY)  but like always there are other things that happen to me - like it raised my pulse to 93bpm  from a low 79bpm
b.p dropped to 130/79 * not bad for me !  but I got massive trapped gas build up in my belly and chest pushing hard .. it took me, 45mins to get it to stop pushing and relax
with massage , and taking gas x pills - and burping like a idiot !!  

Im not happy with this medication at all -  doctor says, he has no other treatment for me?
and to be honest with you - Im about ready to stop the whole deal on injections and interfearon - as its causing alot of problems for me, including no sleep at night !

I might have to risk a relaps of melanoma - as I surely can not take this type of treatment
no matter how long it is or short !  

I guess the older I get, the more I become allergic and have side effects happen ..
it ***** ! but Imust find another way to go at this ..

[Spicy1]

Will be thinking of ya, Ed.  Keep your chin up, every treatment that you have, is one less you'll need.  Don't you give up! This is a safety measure so you just buck up and keep at it. :)  
hugssss
Caroline