Hi
Looking for any practical tips to make sure Im ready mentally and physically for my first infusion please?
Ive had a dental check and xrays, all good
Im drinking at least 3 - 4 litres of water per day and will take paracetamol before infusion, and getting head back into the reasons im doing this is for the longer term good is there anything else i need to do?
Ta muchly
I think you are doing everything. I didn’t have any side effects from this infusion but hated the taste/smell of the saline flush so take some mints (tiktacs). All the best in your journey.
Sounds like you’re doing what’s needed. My first infusion made me a bit tired and a little achy but otherwise it’s been fine. I drink plenty of water like you. I had to have a break when I needed a tooth extraction but I’ve been on zolendronic acid for about 12 years ! Try to get a port if you can if your veins are suffering.
99% of all patients have very small reactions zoledronic. I had a hideous reaction so stopped it after one infusion, but you are overwhelmingly likely not to have much in the way of side effects. The only tip I have is that patients who asked their nurse to give the infusion slowly seemed to fare better than a fast flow. Best of luck.
Hello, I’ve been on it for 3 years now. I sometimes feel a little bit achy and nauseous afterwards, but really only very minor. I’d say it’s ideal to take it easy afterwards, but hopefully you’ll be fine. They’re just obsessed with 6 monthly dental checks, but again the majority are fine.
I’m due to have one end of January so be keen to hear how you get one. I’m on chemo til December then have root canal for January then infusion afterwards. I still don’t understand why cancer patients don’t get free NHS dental care like pregnant mothers. It’s obviously a big issue. There is also so few NHS dentists and private is so expensive!
Thank you everyone 
My first infusion is this coming Friday
I’ll post how its gone as soon as I can and any further tips
Much appreciated
Morning everyone
So had 1st infusion via canular Friday lunchtime ( took about 15 mins but had to wait for blood pressure to return to a normal level before they’d discharge me and as I was so anxious that took a while
I’ve had a headache since and and aching arm but took paracetamol before and since and it helped
Also used a hot cherry stone bean bag ( you warm it up in the microwave) and had noticably more pins and needles in hand but im ok ( touch wood)
Thanks again for all the tips and kind words 
Glad it went relatively smoothly. Keep us informed of how you get on in the coming months. Always handy to have first hand experience.
How are you doing?
My oncologist told me today that if I wish I can consider biannual zomax infusion for 3 years as adjuvant treatment. I am on Herceptin until September.
No bony mets but already having aches and pains possibly menopause/hormone related.
What are your thoughts on Zomax?
Thanks xx
Hi @Dhillman
Nice to hear from you.
I finished radiotherapy 4 weeks ago and I have yet to have my Zoledronic acid/Zometa infusions. I’m also 6monthly over 3 years. Told it will help with bone health and I have read more recently that it can help prevent bone metastases. I have started Letrozole and am very achy in my joints. Feel like I’m 80 especially when I’ve been sitting or lying down and need to move. Still having Herceptin 3 weekly until September as well. Feel like I have flu for a few days after injection and couple of days of diarrhoea, joy! But nothing compared to chemotherapy.
I haven’t heard of Zomax so can’t comment.
How are you doing?
Hello,
Thanks for the prompt reply. How was treatment?
I am doing great I think but like you, not used to waking up with stiffness in hips, knees and also tight arms and hands like they are inflamed. Feels like they have been in a tight fist all night requiring a good stretch.
It’s ok once I get going and I cannot sit in one place too long need and have to stretch regularly. I can’t bend my right knee like I used to or sit cross legged.
I am going to gym and lifting weights and feeling strong albeit not as east as before.
I meant zoladex not zomax sorry. My cons recommend to prevent bony mets/etc. I feel like I am not getting a full picture as I thought Herceptin was supposed to do that? I dread taking anymore unnecessary drugs but not brave enough to not consider everything to stop cancer coming back.
In a quandary xx
Ha Ha got the drug name wrong again - I meant Zometa/Zoledronic 
You take care and keep in touch
I had a feeling you were talking about the Zoledronic acid/zometa. I hope the information I was given and the research I read has helped. For me it was part of my whole treatment plan.
Have you read this?
It’s got to be your choice. Maybe chat to your team again.
Hi
Had my 2nd infusion last Friday and had a few more side effects this time around
3 day headache
Blurred vision with floaters in 1 eye ( went after 24 hours,)
Nausea
But i can cope if i keep reminding myself this is all about a ‘normal’ life!!
Good luck anyone starting this
We are so rock and roll xx
Had my first infusion today. Went ok. Fingers crossed no side effects.
Take care
Forgot I didn’t follow up. I had flu like symptoms for 48 hours. Paracetamol and lots of rest.
Not as bad as I had thought🥰
I just had a copy of the letter my consultant sends to my GP. In this he mentions that I am receiving adjuvant Bisphosphonates. First time this has been mentioned to me. What a way to find out!
I am nearing the end of my radiotherapy treatment and I think I have a meeting with my consultant next week as a clinic after one of my radiotherapy sessions. I shall definitely be asking him about this. I have literally been counting down the days to finishing this. I am so done with it all.
Hi
I’m having bisphosphonates as an adjuvant treatment as Zolendronic acid by infusion every 6 months for 3 years.
I was worried about side effects etc. but I had my first infusion last month and felt a bit flu like for 24/48 hours and then all ok. I’m still having 3 weekly Herceptin until September which offers up its own side effects.
I had a blood test 7-10 days before infusion and they also prescribed D3 Calichew (calcium chews with vitamin d to help absorption).
My oncology team said I was having the infusion but didn’t really explain the side effects (apart from checking when I last went to the dentist) and benefits. I have since read new studies show they can help prevent cancer in the bones as well as helping prevent osteoporosis/osteopenia.
It is additional treatment and for me it’s only twice a year for 3 years, still less than 5 years on Letrozole.
BCN have a few articles on it (I googled BCN bisphosphonates) as does MacMillan.
I hope you get the answers you need
Hi, I’ve just come home from a consultant appointment where they have mentioned me taking bisphosphonates for the first time. It came as a shock because I thought I knew that after radiotherapy and my phesgo injections then that would be all the meds done.
I’m 40 and did have zoladex injections during chemo to put my ovaries to sleep but have since stopped that and was hoping they would kick back in and if I have the bisphosphonates then I’ll need to continue zoladex to keep my ovaries asleep so I’m in the menopause.
I’ve been offered them because of the potential of stopping the cancer appearing in my bones. The consultant seemed to be not that bothered about me taking them as she kept saying it was only a 3.5% benefit and many people don’t take them because of potential side effects.
I’m going back and forward but think I’ll at least try them and if I get bad side effects I can always stop them.
Any thoughts or experiences people can share?
Xx