GSCF Injections!

[Ali49]

Well round 2 and after 7th injection again have experienced excrutiating pain! The pain is a throbbing pain around my hips and pelvis and upto my head and neck. It is pain that has literally made me cry and i am not a wuss!!

It almost feels like my hips are dislocated and it was agony to move or walk.

12 hours after the pain started and with doses or paracetamol and ibuprofen spread out i am lying awake in bed with a hot water bottle still trying to ease it further.

This has happened on both of my cycles of FEC after the last of 7 GCSF injections.

I spoke to the helpline nurse last night and she told me i must have too many white blood cells now and the bones that make them are working hard to push them around my body. She told me to have a warm bath with epsom salts, which i did and it helped a bit.

I honestlt think that for me 7 injections are too much.

I am just posting this in case anyone else suffers this horrible side effect x

[Chaffinch17]

It’s seems to be one of those things that varies from hospital to hospital. I asked about them and was told that they are used only with drug regimes that are particularly likely to knock down your white blood count. I am also on FEC though.

[CK]

Hope you managed to sleep Ali
I got exactly the same first cycle, day 7 of injections. Tjis time round was less pain, maybe rhe Epsom salts helped. Hope tje Clarityn works.xx

Feelthefear
Maybe bath un in a load of bubbles when treatment is over....the champers type though!!!!xx

[Ali49]

Last injection yesterday and felt fluey all day. Got in bed last night and thought i had mild wind pain. Woke up at 2am with excrutiating pain in my lower back and round my tummy. It was a throbbing pain as if something was pushing around. I couldnt get comfy so had to get up and wake my hubby! An hour later after 2 paracetamol, 2 ibuprofen and 2 cups of warm water it has eased and i am back in bed. I am so glad the injections are finished although i know they do a great job. I have the Clarityn in for next time xxx

[feelthefear]

Yes, we’re extremely fortunate.
And I like your thinking CK. knowing me I’ll probably take a glass of wine as well. 😀

Angela. X

[CK]

Feelthefear
I totally agree! So many were complaining about the NHS but compared to other countries, we are very fortunate to have the fantastic service we are recieving right now.

Epsom salts in a bath 2/3 times a week are also a way forward for these aches and pains, wuth some nibbles and a magazine:)

[Ali49]

Absolutel feelthefear. I thank God everyday for our NHS and hate the way the media constantly portray it in a negative light xx

[feelthefear]

Ive been having 7 of these each cycle. I found they gave me achey legs, back and shoulders. Also had mild headache and swollen glands. After reading another one of blueash’s posts I’ve been taking clarityn this time around and have been amazed that, yes, the allergy tablets really do work.

And as blueash says, we’re very lucky to be given them. I was trying to get some idea of how much my treatment must of cost altogether so far and I think it must be up to the price of a decent house by now. 😳
Thank goodness for the NHS. X

[Ali49]

Thank you Blueash you always make things clear. I had my 5th injection today but took 2 paracetamol and a new anti sickness, cyclizine, half an hour before. I had a sleep in the afternnon and feel much better tonight. It seems donperidone m8ght have been the problem xx

[blueash]

Not everyone gets these, sometimes they wait and see if you are poorly before you get them. However if you know how and why they work you will look forward to them instead of dreading them.

Before we had them chemo had more chance of you being seriously ill or even dying but only due to infections. So if someone has a boil you will get blood poisoning, someone gets a cold but you get pneumonia etc. Anyway without them you are at risk of infection for several days every cycle and it gets worse the further in you are. That is because your blood counts never get back up to where the need to be to protect you. Mine did not get back to pre chemo levels for 8 months but they were within  the"normal" range by 6 months. When you have these injections you are at risk for a few hours. They quick start your immune system!

If you get aches and pains take claritin here's why:

http://myangrycancer.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/claritin-is-worth-its-weight-in-gold.html

[Cathysid]

I have 7 days too. I do mine before bed so I feel a bit better by morning. I never know which side effect are chemo or the injections but I do think they make me more nauseous and give me mild lower back pain. Try Claritin tablets daily - some people think they help with the side effects from the injections x

[CK]

I have 7 injections each time starting the day after chemo and I was told about them by my onc and chemo nurse before treatment.
I need to put into fridge and take out one hour b4 injecting.
I was worried at first but my mate showed me how to do!
Theyre given me aches and pains so must be doing the job. I think enquure about rhem if not been told.xxx

[Sue C]

These injections do tend to vary according to which hospital you go to. Sadly, due to their expense, not everyone gets them.

I was told by my oncologist that I was getting them, but it was only mentioned briefly. The chemo nurse gave them to me to take home and she also arranged for the community nurse to come out and do them for me. The only flaw to the plan was that they prefer you to do them yourself! I'm not good at that stuff, so a kind friend did them for me.

Sue xx

[Ali49]

Thanks for replying everyone. Patchwork it sounds like i have the same side effects as you. Today i thought it must be blood pressure but it wasnt. I wonder why i get 7 days when everyone seems to just get 5! Chaffinch i only knew about them from the forum. Nobody at the hospital mentioned them til the day of my chemo. Xx

[Chaffinch17]

Did you all know that you were going to have these injections before you started chemo? They haven't been mentioned to me so far.

[Patchworkgirl]

Hi Ali49, it's  my last injection of 5 tomorrow and am glad as noticed side effects myself.  When I had my first one I took it alongside the steroids so blamed the steroids for my thumping racing heartbeat.  Anyway, after taking them separately the days after I realised the injections were causing me the issue.  I have them in my thigh as I leave the stomach for my deltaparin blood thinner injections.  Only had one day of terrible leg aches with it, just on the side of the injection.    My main problem after them is my lymph under my neck seems to swell feeling really uncomfortable and I can feel that my swallow reflex is compromised and today I had awful earache.  The only thing that helps me is sipping cold coconut water which brings the swelling feeling down.  

[WhyteFawn]

I have 5 injections too. Not sure what drives the amount they give you. I had my first this morning. Got a bit of lower back pain but other then that ok so far. We'll see how it goes tomorrow.

[CK]

Hi Ali
Sorry to hear you they are causing you problems.
The aches and pains will be caused by them as they are stumulating your bones and as Sue C says Ibroprofen and Paracetomol help. I suffered in the belly, lower back and upper back and shoulders up towards the head which gave me headaches. Also bathsoaks with Epsom salts helps the muscles too. It means that they are working and help towards white cells for next chemo! The sickness feeling and headaches may be from the chemo itself but call the chemo hotline if you are concerned.
On my 6th day of cycle one I had a very bad headache and tight chest and funny heartbeat but when I went to hospital everyrhing was checked and fine.
I found that first cycle I was looking for any little twang and pain and panicked but second cycle I'm more relaxed. Xxx

[Sue C]

Yes Ali, I had 5. But there seems to be lots of variation on these. I think they are very effective.....I always felt very well in the second week. But I do think you need to talk to the oncologist, just to check, as seems like you have abit of a reaction to it. Do you have a number to call on the chemo ward? I found they were always really helpful. Xx

[Ali49]

I still have 3 to do Sue. They gave me 7. Did you only have 5?

[Ali49]

I will let them know thanks Sue. I feel fine then do the jab and an hour later take a dip. I will ask though xx

[Sue C]

Hi Ali

I definitely experienced back pain on these and joint  pain in general. I took ibroprofen and it cleared up quite quickly. I also felt generally a lot better when the injections finished. It was always the start of getting back to normal. Do you have one more to do? 

I would mention this to your oncologist at the next appointment. Do you see him before the next cycle? Or, let your chemo team know? Whichever is easier.

Sue xx

[Ali49]

I have had my 4th injection today. I am day 6 after 1st chemo. They make me feel sick, give me back ache and a headache. I also think they make me aware of my heartbeat and make me a bit dizzy. Nothing unbearable but not nice!! Anyone else feeling like this xx