New to the group Question about Neulasta

[Maggiedec]

Hi group it’s my first time here I had my first chemo on January 31 I was wondering If anyone can give me any ideas on how to get through the Neulasta shot The pain was unbearable

[Chick44nzrn]

Dear Maggie . So sorry to hear that as I have it every week ( in my tummy as I’m a wimp and can’t bear to do it myself so the nurse comes to home) and only once it was very stinging but usually fine . Did you report that? Which chemo are you on? I’m now on Taxol which is easier to tolerate than the FEC which produced pretty awful side effects . Did the pain wear off quite soon ? Hope you are feeling better today .

How long is your chemo regime ? I’m 14 weeks in and have 8 more weekly Taxol to go . We girls are made of strong stuff don’t forget !!

Denise x

[Maggiedec in reply to Chick44nzrn]

I have chemo taxol only 1 time every 21 day 6 treatment I already had my first January 31 my next visit the Feb 21st my Neulasta shot is time released ...I am talking about the pain after your shot in your joints was unbearable

[ARamage in reply to Maggiedec]

Maggie,

I'm sorry to hear about your pain. I had to take several Neulasta shots and had a great deal of joint pain. I still have some and I've been off Chemo since March 2017. Tramadol helped a lot, but I also used essential oils on my joints. Lavender worked, as crazy as that may sound. Advil (in the states) was what one of my friends took after the shot but it just did not work for me. Heating pads also helped. I realized the shot was necessary but the pain in my joints that followed was difficult. Here the doctor also gave me a prescription for cream used for arthritis and it works. I just rotated the medications around to I found something that help to ease the pain. But the "after Chemo shot" can be brutal. Wish you the best. —Angie

[Maggiedec in reply to ARamage]

Thank you so much all info helps....... I had a friend tell me to take Claritin for some reason it helps with the pain so I’ve been taking it since my last treatment January 31 till now next treatment will be February 21 so we’ll see how that works for the joint pain

[ARamage in reply to Maggiedec]

I keep forgetting about Claritin! Yes, the nurses did say it helps with joint pain. Think the reason that I didn't keep using it is that my restless legs are trigger by antihistamines. But Claritin does not affect that as much as Benedryl does. Blessings.

[Yoshbosh]

Hi Maggie,

Do you have to keep your neulasta shots refrigerated? If so, try taking them out 30 mins before injecting so that it’s not freezing cold when you do it - that’s supposed to help a bit with the pain.

I have to do them too, but I only find it stings for a few seconds then it is done. The anticipation is worse than the injection!

Vicki

[Maxjor]

HI Maggie--I had to give them to myself for about four months and every shot gave me a black and blue mark making where I did it an issue! But---they told me to do it where I can "gather fat" because if you inject it in the fat that you have bunched up, you don't really feel anything. I (unfortunately!) was able to do this in my stomach area quite often but since they say don't give yourself the shot where you did last time, I ended up eventually needing another area and found if I really squeezed my upper thighs, I was able to get that fat (my legs are thin but I was still able go do it) and would alternate between each thigh and my stomach. You CAN have it in your butt area but I couldn't do that alone and my hubby got squeemish when he had to help so I preferred doing it to myself.

Hope this helps and good luck. When I finished Frontline and I was NED, they switched me to blood thinning pills and what a relief!

[Loverosie]

This might sound daft Maggie but I'm a nurse and have given more injections than I've had hot dinners. My advice don't pinch the area to tightly, push quite hard to get the needle into the skin then wait a second before you start to inject, then apply pressure slowly and steadily, also wiggle your toes as you do it, i told you it sounds daft but the act of physically wiggling distracts your attention. Try not to rush it, once the needle is through the skin it doesn't hurt so get it in, pause, then depress the syring slow and steady. Xxx

[Chick44nzrn]

Hello Maggie . How are you going ?another though about the neulasta injection . It’s best to get it out if the fridge for half hour beforehand . (In the tummy fat is ideal , for the injection site ) but if you’re like me and can’t happily do it . Ask for help ! I’m an SRN with history of giving countless injections but hate (!!) doing an injection to myself ;

Crazy I know. So an onco nurse pops in to do it. The very sharp pain you mentioned doesn’t sound right and I suggest you talk to the team about it. Yes it stings a little , and yes side effects of chemo include joint pains plus plus but the injection should not cause severe pain .

Best wishes Maggie . I like your photo very much ; you look terrific

Denise x

[Maggiedec in reply to Chick44nzrn]

Thank you for your help I’m appreciative for all information I can gather ................I wish you well

[Hidden]

I wish I could tell you the shit of Neulasta did a number on me. I don’t feel normal from the very first shot. I had a horrific side effects. Paralyzed me from head to toe. Had to stop Chemo because I couldn’t walk. I had an Acupuncturist work on me to get my legs going. I went 2x’s a week, but it helped. I had to go to the City of Hope for a diagnosis to report to my Oncologist. The report was continue with low dose chemo no more shots. That shit almost killed me. I thought I stroked out from it. I wish I had more encouraging things to say and tell you. Maybe because of my age 69 I and my body couldn’t handle it at all.