MissMolly wrote:Jolene:
Your night sweats and temperature dysregulation could well be correlated to the corticosteroids you are receiving (dexamethasone). Your insomnia and interrupted sleep and heightened energy could also be correlated to the corteocosteroids.
You may want to discuss with your oncologist a dose reduction of steroid (dexamethasone).
Karen
MissMolly wrote:Jolene:
Your night sweats and temperature dysregulation could well be correlated to the corticosteroids you are receiving (dexamethasone). Your insomnia and interrupted sleep and heightened energy could also be correlated to the corteocosteroids.
You may want to discuss with your oncologist a dose reduction of steroid (dexamethasone).
Karen
Be aware that the corticosteroids you receive as part of your chemotherapy infusions are likely a key component of your mood swings.
Dexamethasone is the corticosteroid more commonly partnered with chemotherapy infusions. Dexamethasone has a long-half life in the body and has a strong effect per unit concentration as compared to prednisone or cortisone.
Corticosteroids are a powerful hormone and have wide-ranging effects on the body. They are not a benign medication.
Corticosteroids are given as part of chemotherapy infusions to quell nausea and to provide an uplift to make the infusion more systemically tolerable. They are also know to cause irritability, anger/rage, and emotional volatility, and insomnia/sleep disruption. Other effects include higher circulating blood glucose levels and higher insulin secretion by the pancreas, often associated with weight gain and characteristic adipose tissue deposits; an uptick in hunger and appetite, especially cravings for carbohydrates and sweets; newfound energy, as if you could clean the entire house in under 2 hours.
Talk with your oncologist about your corticosteroid dosing and whether a dose reduction would be in your favor. There is no one-size-fits-all or mandated corticosteroid dosing.
margiej wrote:Hi, Jolene - it doesn't sound like you have much cold sensitivity.. That's great! Usually the cold sensitivity was wearing off a bit after a week or so following the oxy infusion. I definitely had stomach pains, gas, bloating, etc from the capecitabine. Intermittent diarrhea. My Dr prescribed Prilosec for stomach issues but it didn't seem to help much.
Overall, it sounds like you are doing well though!
Margie
margiej wrote:Hi, Jolene - I also wanted to reiterate what someone else mentioned here... If your infusion is higher up in the arm, it's not nearly as uncomfortable as in the hand. And if the infusion is ever a little painful, the nurse can slow it down and it helps a lot. My infusions were generally 5-6 hours. I always had a great lunch and a healing touch session and a nice nap from the Ativan so the time flew. So glad everything is going well.
Hugs, Margie
Jolene wrote:3) What was your first infusions like ? I won't be having a port as it's only 6 cycles and I heard of people getting pain from the infusion ! Is this normal and any tips/suggestion to reduce or avoid the pain!
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