Rechallenging

 

Several months ago I tried amiventnab (an infusion med that is like my tagrisso.).  Well things didn’t go so hot.  I got incredibly flushed and had trouble breathing.  The nurses stopped it immediately and slowed the dose.  I also got steroids, Benadryl and a couple of other meds.   I did fine on the slower dose so before I left they decided to try again.  Sure enough I had another reaction but this time I had to have an epi shot.  

Dr Piper called a bunch of places-the one thing that should have been different is holding off on reintroducing until the next day.  

Fast forward to this week and we decide to try again.  Yesterday I started.  2 minutes in immediate reaction.  I got my post meds was observed and sent on my way exhausted with a plan to come back wednesday morning.  I show up at 8, get my premeds and I’m ready to go.  We start at the lower dose 25ml/hr.  I’m doing great.  I get two hours and then get bummed up to 50ml/hr.  Still doing great until the 1 hour mark.  My head gets itchy my arms start next.  I roll up my sleeves and there are hives.   They stop it again, give me meds,  slow things down and I’m doing better.  We agree to start it back up to 50ml bc I’m running out of time.  Again an hour in I have hives again.  now it’s almost time to close up shop.  So a decision is made there isn’t anything that can be done tonight.  They can give me an epi shot (the steroid wasn’t clearing it).   So off I go to be observed.  The doctor comes in we talk I need to be observed for 2-4 hours after the epi pen.   I ask about next week he suggests that I might need to be hospitalized for observation when i get this infusion.   I’ll talk to Dr Piper about this.  

they are ready to discharge me and the hives come back.  I’ve maxed the steroids, Pepcid and Benadryl I can take so I have to itch through it.  Good times.  

so that’s how today went.  I’m tired-I don’t sleep well on the steroids.  I’ve been up everyday around 2:00.  Today I haven’t even fallen asleep since I couldn’t tell you when.  

I’ll keep you posted next week and what happens. Think good thoughts.