Topic: When do Herceptin side effects go away?

Hi Panda

I did not notice feeling better until about 3 months post Herceptin, started getting energy back, nails are still a mess, runny nose is betters, stomach is good now.

I would give it a solid 90 days, I am glad to see you finished and are done.

I expected I would celebrate, but I just was so tired and mentally tired after a year of chemo, it is now just coming to me that I am done and able to enjoy life and I am 5 months out of Herceptin. Be patient, kind to yourself and drink so much water that you think you are going to explode.

I agree it was several months before I started to feel like myself.  I finished on Jan 8th and by the end of Jan I had more energy.  That's when i started to work out again.  My nails only improved about 2 months ago.  Runny nose is long gone.  I feel much more like myself again.  Good luck!

I thought my runny nose was getting better when I came down with a head cold after taking care of my daughter with the swine flu.  I managed to avoid it. My nose is so sore and I'm going to be on this drug until March 2010.  My stomach has been bothering me too. I've been SOB and I'm retaining water.  I am looking into the herb Hawthorne and it's all so confusing as to how much and how to take it.  My echocardiogram show's a mild drop in my cardiac output all within normal. I have very little mitral and aortic regurgitaion. I want to protect my heart from heart disease which runs in my family. 

My onc told me I could take CoQ10 and fish oil for my heart and he advised that I be as active as possible.I had some loss of heart function from 67 on my first MUGA to above 55 on my last echo.I take carafate for my stomach and it has been a life saver.It has been 5 weeks since my last herceptin and I know my hair is starting to grow! But still so achy. Does anyone think the herceptin affects hot flashes? Mine were not bad on the weekly,but when I went to every three weeks, they seemed to intensify and now seem to be calming down a bit.Another thing I have noticed,I do not have that awful urgency to pee. Jackie

panda - sorry - I have just noticed you posted on my last thread on this!

Ameron I can only speak for myself but I noticed a huge improvement in my energy level after going off herceptin.  That being said the fatigue can't even compare to the fatigue caused by chemo.

Doctors don't seem to acknowledge the side effects.  When I asked my onc when my nails would get better she said the Herceptin didn't have anything to do with it.  She said nail problems can be caused by other things including thyroid problems.  Well I know there's nothing wrong with my thyroid.

Good luck and don't dwell on SE's.  Just be aware of how you're feeling and realize that some of what you're feeling may be down to the Herceptin.

For me the side effects with Herceptin are relatively mild.   Yes, drippy nose.  Yes, splitting nails,   Yes, slow hair growth.  But I don't have alot of fatigue. .  I work full time, single mom, live on a farm and work out 3-4 times a week.   I don't notice any slowing in my energy.     Definately Herceptin is being the nail issues, drippy nose and slow hair growth.  I am going to be on Herceptin for life so pass these side effects off as mild for my own peace of mind too.

Jennifer

I am taking Herceptin every 3 weeks for the next 6 months (had second dose Tuesday), finished chemo and all buy onc wants herceptin for a bit.  I have really bad muscle/bone pain from the 12 weeks of Taxol I took but today the pain all over is almost unbearable, the Vicodin which usually knocks is out just dulls it.  Like everyone else the onc says there will not be any side effects but now I see that is not the case.  Does the muscle pain get any better while still taking the herceptin or do I have a few months of really tough pain to look forward to.  Am sooo frustrated, finally got thru the chemo, feeling tons and tons better, and was hoping the pain from the taxol would slowly improve and now it seems this is just making it so much worse.  Argh!!