tx

[djbn13]

I've read on here that some peoples breathing is impared when they start tx Is it from the meds themselves or from the meds making you anemic and then you can have problems? I've also read that some people get a lasting cough.  Is that just a side effect?

Thanks
Donna

[nygirl7]

The anemia can definitely cause you to be completely out of breath to the point where any exertion is extremely difficult (like just walking to the loo from your bedroom) due to the lack of oxygen in your blood.  It depends on how severe the anemia is though.  But fortunately once you get procrit on board it should help it somewhat.

[banarep]

i had the cough.  was told it was caused by the meds making the sinuses produce more phlem that ran down the back of the throat.  my study doc had me use nasonex to keep the nose clear.

had the cough all three rounds of treatment, only had the anemia the last round.  that did cause more difficulty breathing.

[eureka254]

My husband developed the dry throat and cough almost immediately after starting treatment, and he had pretty severe anemia by week 16 -- he definitely felt it harder to breathe and shorter of breath the lower his hemoglobin dropped.  Once he was transfused and put on procrit and his anemia improved, he started breathing more comfortably.

Bill1954:
Incidentally, come to think of it, he lost the nasty sore throat and cough along with the severe anemia, and we never thought to correlate the two... thanks for pointing that out, most interesting.
~eureka

[portann]

Hi Donna,

I had a cough but I was also taking ramipril (infamous for causing cough).

I was really out of breath during tx - it was pretty dramatic. I assumed it was how fast my hemoglobin tanked from the ribavirin.

Susan

[pcds]

During my time in tx I found my chest felt tight.  When I coughed, it was a dry, tight cough.  I became anemic pretty quick.  I do run so my lungs are in pretty good condition.  I know you have a chronic lung problem, maybe someone else will read you post.  These meds are bad for every part of your body I assume.  You may need to be followed by a pulmonologist while in tx and have all labs sent to both doctors.
Judy

[Bill1954]

Hi Donna—

I’ve heard people complain of a dry, hacking cough as a result of developing anemia, or at least that’s what I’ve heard it attributed to. I never had any problems from it personally though,

Bill