← Return to AML, age 78, taking Decetabine/ Venetoclax, no transplant
DiscussionAML, age 78, taking Decetabine/ Venetoclax, no transplant
Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: Jan 24 8:49am | Replies (74)Comment receiving replies
Replies to "@loribmt Hi Lori. I was diagnosed with AML recently. It progressed from MDS which I had..."
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Oh golly, @jacklyn! You are in a world of hurt right now, my friend. I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with so much pain and uncertainty right now!
One thing I might be able to help with…besides moral support. ☺️ You mentioned that you’re receiving Graftosil injections. It’s a form of filgrastim which is used to force neutrophil production. (Help you avoid infections while your blood numbers are low) As your body cranks out massive amounts of blood cells, that can cause incredibly painful pressure to build up in the bones until the cells leave the bone and “scatter to the wind” in your blood stream. I went through that myself. It was the worst pain in my life and morphine barely touched it. I was hospitalized at the time being treated for AML and in-patient for 5 weeks. So the first time I had the filgrastim, I was in the hospital yet recovering from the first round of intensive chemo.
The pain started a day or so later in my back, legs and just kept escalating. I finally told my chemo nurse and she knew right away what I was dealing with. She checked with my oncologist then gave me morphine and a Claritin gel cap. The morphine did nothing but about an hour later the Claritin kicked in and was a miracle worker.
I’d had several more rounds of chemo so after that first time, I was instructed to take Claritin (Loratadine) daily for 10 days starting the day of the injection. (Not Claritin D). That helped control the pain for me from the filgrastim reaction. My oncology team routinely recommends this during treatment. It may be worth a try for you but ask your doctor first.
You’re going through a scary time right now, Jacklyn. I’m here for you as a sounding board, a shoulder or commiserating friend. ☺️ Your medical team sounds very supportive and working to find the sweet spot in treatments for you. But the bone pain, that is the worst and makes this all feel so dreadful…so hang in there! See if you can try the Claritin. Will you let me know how you’re doing, please?