I went in for my second Rituxan today. Counts are 40,000. They went from 10,000. Dex and 1st up to 70,000. Then at 40K today. This is my second round of Rituxan, had it about two years ago. The 1st infusion this time, the infusion itself went o.k., but I had severe muscle pain from my ribs up to the bottom of my neck for four days after. Hematologist thinks it might be from the Dex withdraw. Still had some neck pain today. Also extreme fatigue which improved every day but is already returning. Here is the important part I forgot which would have made my day go much better: Metallic taste sometimes when drink, especially water.
So they only had a time starting at 1:00. Came in got the benadryl, started the Rituxan, everything going fine, they bumped up the speed throughout. I slept a little but mostly just read a novella. Then 4:30 with 20 ml left metallic taste in mouth. Of course, I just had a very large drink of water, which I completely forgot about and forgot that I was having that reaction. So I debated for a couple of minutes and I told the nurse. Then they asked if there was anything else, I told them I was a little warm but I get that way when I sit all day (which for some reason they weren't buying). Of course, my doctor had left for another hospital. So soon I'm hooked up to the blood pressure machine (fine), Temp (fine), and they stop the infusion. Next thing I know I'm surrounded by five nurses and they are trying to track down a doctor and they are asking me a barrage of questions about how I feel hot: how much am I sweating, does my head feel hot, do I feel warm or on fire, etc.; though I keep insisting that I really thought it was just from sitting in the leatherish seat all day. Of course, they also kept encouraging me to drink water to see if that eliminated the metallic taste :laugh: Finally, they find one of the doctors who I repeat, that I didn't feel that bad and she looked at the 20 ml and said to finish. I asked the nurse if this was going to affect my other infusions and she said it would depend on whether I run night sweats/fever, and they have not heard of a metallic taste with the Rituxan, so now a slow drip. I also have to record my temp for the next couple of days. So far no fever, no sweats. Just fatigue. O.k., and a metallic taste sometimes when I have a glass of water.
