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Living with MDS (Myelodyplastic Syndromes)

Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: 4 hours ago | Replies (187)
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@statmatics

Hi Drawl - Rachel is taking Retacrit treatment only at this time. It seems to be helping the hemoglobin, but the neutrophils are still way, way down around 100. She took a Filgrastim shot in the hospital which brought the neutrophils up momentarily, but they crashed back down almost immediately. Right away after the Filgrastim shot, Rachel had a very painful experience as the drug messed with her bone marrow. The nurses said this happens quite often with Filgrastim (also called Neupogen).

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Replies to "Hi Drawl - Rachel is taking Retacrit treatment only at this time. It seems to be..."
Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | 6 days ago

Hi @statmatics, just popping into the conversation for a moment. If your wife has future Neupogen or Nulasta injections to boost her neutorphils, one of the usual recommendations from oncologists is for the patient to take regular Claritin (not Claritin D). One capsule per day from the day of the injection for up to 7-ish days or more. I had to take them up to 10 days. Neupogen promotes a rapid production of the white blood cells which can cause pain in the bone with the expansion. It is usually relieved as the cells spill out into the blood stream.
The Claritin really helps with the pain. Ask her oncologist if it’s ok for Rachel to take them.

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