Rituximab

[Teaspoon13]

Hi all

I’m due my first round of IV Rituximab.

Has anyone got any tips to keep me occupied during the 6 hour treatment and how did you cope with it, any side affects or reactions

Thanks

T x

[weathervane]

Hi teaspoon , ive had several rounds now , I did have a bit of a reaction to the first one , bad gastritis and flu like symptoms, the rheumy Nurse thought it was the steroids so have been having a slower infusion which helped . I just bring my kindle an a snack , some others watch movies on their i pad , i also snooze a bit as the antihistamines make you tired , the reclining chairs are great . I hope all goes well for you and the treatment is successful , it has been great for me as can have a life again. 🌸🌸

[Teaspoon13]

Thank you Weathervane

I’m looking forward to getting my life back and can put up with mild side affects so fingers crossed it helps.

Thanks for the tips, must find a good book to read !!

T x

[Wolf1 in reply to Teaspoon13]

Hi

I’m also having my first round too soon. Hope it gives me some quality of life!! Xx good luck

[AgedCrone]

Do take a cardigan or a throw along with you...most people seem to feel chilly during the infusion. My next infusion is in Decemmber & then I take warm socks too! Wear something easy like pull on trousers-going to the loo tethered to a drip.......it's not easy to do up a zip!!!

You will be given some sort of snack lunch,& you are offered plenty of hot & cold drinks....so you don't need to lug along bottles of water.

If you do feel at all "off" during your first infusion.....do tell your nurse straight away, ...it usually means you need the drip slowing down. Once you are settled on the right speed. "For you" it is usually plain sailing.

I do take my Kindle but I usually doze the day away as you are given Anti histamine prior to the infusion,

Good Luck, I have found it the best treatment in 20 years of RA.....but do give it a few months.....some do get immediate results, but don't get disheartened if it doesn't have the desired effect overnight.

[Teaspoon13 in reply to AgedCrone]

Thank you so much

This is so helpful, it these sorts of tips you don’t get told and are really useful

T x

[Alex97]

Hi, I ve just had my first 2 doses of fituximab, two weeks apart.i did y have any symptoms on the day, just very tired afterwards. I have had cold like symptoms since the infusion but I m not seeing rbeumy until Oct to ask him about this. I am registered blind so I took audio books to listen to bit I slept most of the time. Too early to tell yet if it's worked for me, hope you feel better soon.

[HelenL75]

Hi Teaspoon

I had my first Infusion earlier this year just waiting for an appointment for my second course

Didn’t have any side effects and have started to feel a lot better since

Take a good book, music etc some others while I was there were knitting, cross stitching etc but is a little bit boring but you get fed and watered

Good luck

[Teaspoon13 in reply to HelenL75]

Thank you x