Guest guest Posted May 25, 2006 Report Share Posted May 25, 2006 I have been on steroids for a year...if i decrease too rapidly, the pain returns...I would stay on them for awhile and then slowly decrease. Andi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2006 Report Share Posted May 25, 2006 At 12:17 PM 5/25/06 +0000, you wrote: >Hi all, >I am still suffering from the pain of the effusion. I took a steriod >for 6 days it helped, but now the pain has returned with vengence. >Please if someone could offer some tips as to what they did. Also how >long can this go on? Dr. Said I have some fluid left , but not a lot >like before. Also he put me back on Gleevec 400mg increase to 600mg in >a week. Any home remendies someone said walking? Advil helps some, but >does that cause more fluid? Help?? >Take care, >Joan P >dx'd 8/03 >#662 >400mg > 800mg < 400mg. Hi Joan, I have not followed your story but have some suggestions, as I had a pleural effusion with Gleevec early on. It was actually a pleural effusion and pericarditis (heart also) combined but the pleural effusion was the worst part I believe. I was hospitalized for a couple days because I had so much pain....and put on pain meds (morphine) but mostly IV anti-inflammatories to settle things down. I was told that the lining of the lungs (pleural sac?) was irritated. I did have 800cc of fluid taken from the left lung, and I don't remember a lot of pain after that, but I was still off work for about a week or so. You might need a stronger Rx anti-inflammatory.....as an over-the-counter you might try Aleve, and you could take 2 pills twice a day for a good dose (but run all this by whoever is treating you for this). Aleve is the Rx drug Naprosyn. For me, position was really important.....but this was more for the heart involvement I believe. It felt better to lean forward, or lie on the left side (because of the position the heart was in). To minimize chest expansion, try to breathe from your belly (diaphragm). Belly moves in and out when you breathe this way. Also, you could see if binding your chest helps......try wrapping a towel tightly around your chest, to minimize movement (like you would with a rib fracture)....if this helps, you can get a 6 inch ace bandage to do this or use a strip of cloth, etc. Experiment with heat or ice and see if either helps with the discomfort...they will also increase circulation which might help the healing process. Hope some of this helps you a bit. But if you remain really uncomfortable, bug your doctor so he will address it. I was off Gleevec for 17 days during this episode. C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 >Hi, > I just wanted everyone to know I e-mailed Dr. Druker about the pluera effusion. He was so kind to respond. He said in most of them he recommends stopping Gleevec until symptoms resolve and restart at 400 mg while taking 20 mg Prednisone. After a week or two if your symptoms don't return you can taper off prednisone. If they recur try a different medication for your leukemia. It may never be possible to return to 800mg Gleevec. I was so grateful to his responding. I have finished my second round of Prednisone and the pain is much better, but not completely gone. I am continuing to take Gleevec 400mg per my onc. I have an appointment at Moffit on June 12 so I will address all of this when I am there. Take care, Joan P dx'd 8/03 Gleevec 400mg #662 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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