Hi Patrick: Fortunately, I have not had the misfortune of experiencing the "Gleevec rash." I have been taken off of the Gleevec due to increasing visual problems, pronounced memory loss and headaches (started Gleevec 02/08/08). Just had another bone marrow biopsy today (4th one since November 2007) - whoopee! They are contemplating putting me on the Sprycel - been off the Gleevec for 2 months now - when I question the length of time I am told they are still waiting to hear from my insurance company as to whether or not they will cover the Sprycel (I swear they are trying to kill me - hehehe). Since coming off the Gleevec I have experienced left side pain, intense itching and redness/ peeling of my left foot (athlete's foot?), peeling of the skin on my fingers and some pretty miserable joint pain in my knees, back, hips, fingers.
Okay, I'm done whining. My whole reason for responding to your post was to question whether or not you can use ketaconazole or other anti- fungals while on Gleevec (I was led to believe you are not to use them). I do believe you are also supposed to avoid those agents while on Sprycel, too. Please let me know if I am wrong. I get told one thing, I read another and then I go here to get the real scoop. Also, doc says if I can't tolerate Sprycel they are considering bone marrow transplant - the thought of that scares the crap out of me. Has anyone endured a bone marrow transplant that is currently in this group? If so, could I pester you for the details........:) I also read following a thread on this site a statement that even with Gleevec the average survival time is 6 years. I see MANY on here who have survived far beyond that. I am not satisfied with that timeline. As a matter of fact, it pisses me right off. Not acceptable!!! I'm just being a smart aleck. But I'm still dissatisfied with that number (in that respect, I have already pissed away a year accomplishing NOTHING - LOL). Thanks guys/gals--------you are my lifeline. Kelly On Dec 1, 2:44 pm, "Patrick" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Of course itching can be a lot of things. Some of them not related to > anything to do with where it itches like some versions of (I think) > neuropathy. > > But probably the most common cause is fungal, like dandruff. Yes, after years > of commercials about "dry scalp" it turns out that most dandruff flakes are > skin cells killed by a common fungus. And of course there's nothing magic > about your scalp versus the rest of your skin so you can get "dandruff" > basically anywhere. > > I rotate treatments as my dandruff and rashes seem to quit responding to any > sustained single treatment. > > First I use generic clotrimazole cream most of the time for anywhere but my > scalp as it is cheap and OTC. > > My usual shampoo is Head and Shoulders Intensive Treatment shampoo (cheap) > which has selenium sulfide like Selsun Blue (Not so cheap). > > The third weapon in my arsenal is ketoconazole . It's the active ingredient > in Nizoral shampoo (expensive). A note here; Nizoral shampoo OTC is 1% > ketoconazole which just barely subdues my dandruff and itch. The prescription > version is 2% and about a million times more effective (even more expensive). > Ketoconazole cream is by prescription and available as a generic. > > The pyrithione zinc dandruff shampoos which make up about 95% of the > "anti-dandruff" shampoos do nothing for me. > > I have to take something back. I have used clotrimazole cream on my scalp a > few times when it was bad. One of the advantaged of not having much turf on > the lawn? > > One other thing I've had to resort to a few times when a rash has gotten > really irritated is to put an ice pack directly on it. It doesn't take long > to reduce the redness and swelling,. Sorry, Greenie I know you won't like > that ice idea! > > Patrick > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: [email protected] > Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 3:08 PM > Subject: [CMLHope] fighting side effects barb > > Hi Barb, > So sorry you are having those bad side effects. > It seems no matter what we are on, it is chemo, and we are going to have > the side effects. > My counts dropped so low I had to be taken off Tasigna after 1 month on > treatment; I am now back on the full 800 mgs daily. > I had itching really bad at first, especially the scalp, now I have a light > rash on my legs. It seems to go from one thing to another. > I have also developed some side pain, but it comes and goes. > It seems my ribs are sore. > My hemg dropped to 7.9 last week, so if it hasn't come back up this week, I > will have to have blood. > How are your counts? > Keep fighting; we just have to manage these side effects the best we can; > it gets hard. > Blessings, > Jeanie<3 > In a message dated 11/30/2008 8:56:30 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL > PROTECTED] writes: > Jeannie, > You may not want to hear it. I am beginning to develop the side > effects, slowly, that go with the drug and some that were of gleevec. > I have had painful fluid retention in the joints ( plural joint > effusion) and cramping in the hands and feet. I have vertigo > ( usually positional) and also, headaches, insomnia, fatigue, and > such. I guess no matter what drug I take, I will have these symptoms. > I will say they are milder than before, but seem to be getting worse. > And I am on 400 mg, the absolute minimal dose. > How are you Jeanie? > Blessings > Barb > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Life should be easier. So should your homepage. Try the NEW AOL.com.- Hide > quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ [CMLHope] A support group of http://cmlhope.com ------------------------------------------------- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "CMLHope" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/CMLHope -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
