Rituxan starts tomorrow!

Nights tonight than 1st treatment tomorrow. I sure hope it goes as easy as the 1st round did! My co-worker said if I did not feel up to work on Friday night she would work it for me!

Have my ipod for music my new and old phone ready going to spend my time transferring over my schedule and stuff. Also downloading the things I need.

My big decision is do I pack a little bag and leave from work or drive home change spend 10-15 minutes at home than drive to the appointment. Would save gas if I drive straight from work the problem is I end up with over 1 hour's wait!

A part of me wanted to ask someone drop me off and pick me up. But it is 35-45 minutes away and that is a lot for someone!


PS: after my night Friday I'm off for a 24hr camping with the girls! Whoohoo

Hi Winnifred,

It sounds like this is your second round of treatments with Rituxan How long ago was your first? And how were your counts from then until now?

I was wondering because I finished my Rituxin treatments a few weeks ago and my counts are continually dropping. I found the treatment relatively with no side effects. My hemo hadn't mentioned another round but instead wants to do a different drug.

Good luck tomorrow and have a wonderful camping trip!

I am also going in for Rituxan tomorrow. This will be my 3rd round in the past 8 yrs. I had good results the first two times. First treatment lasted about 17 months with counts in the 150 -170's. The second round lasted almost 3yrs with counts around 250k once it kicked in. It took several weeks for it to really start working. My counts have been running 1 - 8k the past few weeks. Good luck to you!!

Good luck to both of you!

Good luck Julia!

Hey Dean, long time, no see! Good luck to you too.

Yeah, I tend to be one that does not squak much unless I am having issues. This is the lowest I have ever been in the past 10yrs.Is really wearing me out. I am not o e that likes to sit around. My Dad recently passed away at the age of 86, so that has been a bit stressful. The chair I am in for the treatment is a recliner with heat and massage!!! Good thing for these electronic devices!!!
Only visible symptoms I had this time was blood blisters in mouth and being exhausted. No bruisi g this time.

Sorry about your Dad.

So you go to the designer treatment spa? Nice!

Last Rituxan was 5-6 years ago counts not monitored closely but when done were above 100. Had no symptoms during that time!


Dean - Hope your treatment went good! there were a few glitches in my treatment but overall not as bad as it could of been!

Arrived and doctor had not ordered pre-treatment like he said. So took a while why they got him to order it. steriod, benadryl and tylenol

Started drip at 25ml/ hour than upped to 50mL/ hour ... Issues with temp going up 37.0 -38.0 (tylenol 650mgs given) ... Increased to 75mL/ hr BP all over the map 111/ 60 increased to 130/ 80 decreased to 95/ 50 ... Than tried to increase rate ... Than I started having issues with being SOB and coughing continued getting worse (treatment stopped given 3 more drugs IV push Benadryl and do not remember the other 2) ... At that point higher than a kite and feeling whoozy ... They made me wait 1/2hour than restarted the drip. By the end they were able to get it up to 125mL/ hour ... I was feeling groggy but I was feeling better.

Near the end because I was so groggy from treatments they did not want me to drive home. I told them if I felt too bad by time I got to the car I would call a friend for a ride! I was fine and drove home! There for 1015am and left at 5pm.


Time for bed!

My first Rituxan was about 8yrs ago with no problems. Took several weeks after the last treatment before counts went up. Leveled off in the 150-170k range for about 16 months. Second Rituxan I had a reaction the first treatment. Dose was stopped and med was given to stop reaction. Treatment restarted after about 1/2 hour at a slower rate with no further issues. This round lasted almost 3 years with counts between 200-250k.
Third Rituxan treatment started this past Thr, with a count of 1k. Test dose was started slow to see how I responded. I started to have a little reaction about 2hrs into the treatment. Heaviness in chest which felt worse when taking a deep breath. Treatment was stopped and med given to stop reaction. Treatment restarted about 1/2 hr later at a slower rate. Reaction symptom cleared up in about 1hr. Rest of treatment went fine. Took about 7hrs total.

Second dose today! Got there on time but had to wait first for the doctor to get out of a meeting and write the orders than for the pharmacist to dispense the Rituxan. Premedicated with Benadryl, tylenol and ranitidine.

Soon as I was pretreated had issues but I think it was just because it was causing a sedation effect and I didn't like that feeling. Passed out (sleeping) shortly after that. No issues with temp or BP or breathing this time. Infusion finished at approx. 2pm (much faster than last time)

Having some issues with being naseated after treatment.

Also not sure how to describe it but my skin is sorta tingly almost like it is super sensitive feeling almost like it is itchy/ crawling. My feet hands legs feels so weird never had this before!

Any latest counts at this point in the treatment?

athos45 - Before I started rituxan I did a rhogam/ winrho treamtn. Got a count done before my 3rd treatment and it was approx 243.


Do not know an up to date count as I have fired my hemo and currently do not have a doctor. That said I do not go for blood work unless I see symptoms I do not believe in treating a number but a symptom!

Oh ok. So right now you are in between doctors....

We have been like that for the last 3 years with my son. He's going for Rituxan in less than 48 hours.

When I did Rituxan the first time I had a reaction first dose. They slowed and gave me more meds and restarted. Next 3 treatments no issues and basically just felt kinda run down for a day.

This time reaction first time slowed meds gave me more than restarted felt sorta run down but drove myself there and back. Second one went off not a hitch did have an unwanted side effect that night and it re-occurred on the 3rd treatment. Stopped my 3rd treatment and hoping that I got enough to give me a remission.


Athos45 - Out of all the treatments i've tried I recommend this one! Here's hoping your son responds very well! and gets a good long remission!

Winnifred wrote: When I did Rituxan the first time I had a reaction first dose. They slowed and gave me more meds and restarted. Next 3 treatments no issues and basically just felt kinda run down for a day.

This time reaction first time slowed meds gave me more than restarted felt sorta run down but drove myself there and back. Second one went off not a hitch did have an unwanted side effect that night and it re-occurred on the 3rd treatment. Stopped my 3rd treatment and hoping that I got enough to give me a remission.


Athos45 - Out of all the treatments i've tried I recommend this one! Here's hoping your son responds very well! and gets a good long remission!

Amen to that. Hoping that the long term low dose Preds can be eliminated.