SOS Neulasta is killing me...any suggestions?

I had my first treatment of TC on Wed. Minimum
Side effects and still feel very good. On Thursday, I received the Neulasta shot. Thought everything was going ok, but on Sat. Bone pain started, major headache and some fatigue. On Sunday, the headache disappeared, but still have bone pain. Today it is Monday night and it feels like my legs are going to fall off. My lower back is sore too.

Any suggestions????? Will it get better or is my tennis match this week going to be a no-go? I am a tough nut and have a high pain tolerance, but this pain is horrible!

Also, does everybody take this shot? The dr that I saw prior to my oncolosist said that a lot of patients with my drug treatment take antibiotics vs Neulasta. My doctor said, since my insurance will cover the cost (only 80% of cost) that I will get the drug :-p However, as May 1 my insurance changes and the insurance company already said, they will not cover the treatment. Therefore, my next treatment will be covered, but the next two will not.

Big hugs to you all!

Claritin 10mg - regular over the counter Claritin. Start taking day of shot and take once a day for about 5 to 7 days after shot. It should help a lot.

Diane,

DPage, I had the awful bone pain with Neulasta exactly once, and I could not even believe how much it hurt.  The intensity just blew me away, reminding me of labor pains near transition.  The good news is that just because you are feeling pain during one cycle doesn't mean it will be back for the next.  I was terrified that the next Neulasta would hold more of the same, but it didn't.  I never felt that awful pain again.  So don't think that it is inevitable that you will respond to the drug this way.  Still, just in case, you might want to have some serious pain meds around, like percocet or at least tylenol with codeine. No-one should experience pain like that.

Good luck. We are here for you.
love,
d

I had some pain with the first 2 shots and just a little with the third.  I take a zyrtec (same family as claritin) and aleve prior to and for 24 hours or so after the shot.  I did not get the shots with taxol, but am getting them with my AC treatments.

I take pain killers for the neulasta pain- the second shot was not nearly as bad as the first, however, and I didn't have to take very many - only 2 1/2 oxcodones 2 days. I just got my third shot about an hour ago.

Diane, I found that when my insurance company squawked about something that the Finance Director at my onc's office was often able to step in and resolve stuff. Her knowledge of the inner workings of insurance companies allowed her to put a quick stop to their bs that they used on me. And on the sleep stuff, I found it was easier to learn to take cat naps where and when I could. An 8 hour sleep is not something I've seen in 3 years now and I used to be an overachiever sleeper! I found that late night books on tape & radio shows that told stories both helped.