Neulastia

I know alot of ladies get them including me.  It can really make a difference during that nadir period, the first 7 to 10 days after chemo when your white blood cell count drops.  It helps keep them from dropping too low.

I get my Neulasta the day after chemo too on my current chemo.

I had a different treatment 3 years ago where I had to give myself Neupogen (similar medication to boost WBC) injection once a day for a few days during the chemo cycle.  That was an interesting experience.

I also had neulasta the day following chemo.  The onc nurse taught my husband how to do it so we wouldnt have to go back for the shot.  It stings a little, but is over with quickly.  It goes just below your skin, not deep into a muscle.  It can cause muscle pain also, but it wasnt bad.  Good luck to you, and remember, if you have side effects, dont be afraid to call and ask for some differrent meds.  No need to suffer too much!  good luck to you.

THank you allI am very weell tonight and wll have amy neulasria to morroow. O hop rof feel better.

CHmeo was't as babd as I thought it woudl be. May thing...as expected...was the IV. Grist nurse poked around both arms, put a hot pad on...then poked around some more. (We we first went in, we say a guy that always does my son;s chemo on the first try...he kept an eye out for me and asfter seeing her do this for about 10+ minutes, he can over and asked her if he coudl do it. ONe try but I started bleeding, so he had to juse the other arm. One try.
Tod ay he gave me my Nuelastia. ONE TRY...and I actually didn't feel a time. He ribbed my arm well putting the drug in , and the needle was very small. be great if her was my nurse next time.
Looks like my chemo has been changed from 3 cycles (3 weeks apart) to 6 treatments. Puts of fthe mastectomy until October? more chemo, the relocating my pacemaker than RADS....looks like a long year.
Jean

Just out of curiosity, when all of you got (or are currently getting) your Neulasta, did you give it to yourself or did someone do the injection for you?  In my case, I got the prescription ahead of time (thank the lucky stars for health insurance - that stuff is exPENsive!!) and kept it in my fridge, then my chemo nurses would give me instructions on my treatment days for what time I should take the Neulasta the following day.  It was always a minimum of 24 hours later so that the chemo would have a chance to leave my system before I took the shot, otherwise the chemo would kill the effects of the Neulasta.  But I always gave myself the injection instead of having to go back to the hospital.  Just wondering how others do it.

I wondered about that also. M husband was a NYFD and paramedic for 17 years, he knows how to give shots. I woudl rahter he gave me the shot and save me from the trip all the way back to the hospital.

He doesn't neeed a lesson on how to give a shot, I woudl, but I coudl not do it, and would have to return to recieve the meds.
Jean

I had Neulasta after each A/C. Chemo on Friday's and gave myself a shot on Saturday's. Then with Taxol they switched me to Neupogen. 7 shots for 7 days! Now that sucked! It was bad enough doing it once a week...That is one thing I could never get used to.

But I injected myself in my hip. The nurse showed me with the first injection but never mentioned my belly...Hmmmm.

And YES that stuff is a fortune!!!

Vicki

THe nurse asked me where I wanted it, stomach or arm...I took the arm. I thought it woudl hurt less.

Well I have to drive to my clinic 40 miles one way to get the Nuelasta shot the day after being there for chemo.  I have them give it in the hip since I have lymph nodes taken from both axillas.