Zometa and flu

Received my first Zometa treatment last friday 28th Feb 2004
still having tingling feelings in my fingers and also bad pain in toes.
also flu like and not much sleep at nights either. Having Zometa every 4 weeks. Were told about the flu sideeffect. Hoping effects get better with time.

Suzanne

I had almost 1 & 1/2 years of Zometa treatments. This past year I experienced almost unbearable tightness & pain in my chest, which was mis-diagnosed as "costochondritis". Then the lower part of my chin & lip went numb-I began breaking out in boils, plus severe muscle cramping, not to mention several bouts with the flu-like symtoms. Late last summer I started coughing a lot & having breathing problems. I was diagnosed with "dypsnea". I
have a blocked airway and am on a nebulizer 2-3 times a day. My
oncologist took me off Zometa & I haven't had a treatment since October but my life is still hell.
Laura ***

After my first Zometa infusion, I experienced flu-like symptoms for the following day: fatigue, overall achiness. I stayed in bed. A prominent doctor advised me to take Decadron and Tylenol prior to my next monthly infusion. This took care of the flu-ish symptoms, but kept me up at night for a couple of nights. Next time I'm going to try going without the pre-treatment and see if it was just a one-time thing.

However, after 5 or 6 treatments I've developed a new side effect: my left ring finger is stiff and achy in the joint, most of the day, slightly painful, and it "clicks" when I bend it. Have others experienced this? Do you have a cure?

Adrienne

My first treatment was administered in the back of my hand. I had stiff fingers and what seemed to be an arthritis flareup in a knuckle at the base of my hand which lasted for many weeks. I had a discernable swelling, which impinged on another joint, and was painful. Also, the first time I had the treatment, about 12 hours after I had it, I felt really weak and ill, had creepy crawly skin, fatigue, and flu-ike blahs. Kept waking myself up moaning from pain in all my bones and joints. This lasted about 24 hours. After that, though, I felt pretty good, and a pain I had had in my hip before treatment was gone. The next time it was much less of a response. The third time not much at all, just a little tired. However, since beginning treatment I have had stiff hands.(I now insist on getting the infusion in my arm, which helps some) I also got tendonitis in two tendons in one hand,after the first treatment, and bursitis developed after my third treatment in one shoulder. I feel as though the treatment kicks up an arthritis response with me. I am wondering if it is building up bone in joint areas, which, if they already have arthritic invlvement, further restricts the space for tendons to function in. The change in my hands is my most enduring symptom. I have to really work to get all my joints in my hands working every morning. My middle joints are most affected in my fingers, and have been a little stiff ssince treatments began. I never had this before. I figure it's worth it, but....