I took Revlimid for mainenance after ASCT from September, 2011 to April, 2013, then stopped due to side effects, mostly diarhhea, low mood and fatigue. Restarted a month ago and now those seem less, but I've noticed difficulty breathing. Went to the gym today and my heart rate rose much faster than usual, I guess because my lungs were straining for oxygen.
Has anyone had a similar reaction? What has your doctor said about it? Does Claritin or something like that help? I can't take anti-histamines due to other health issues.
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Re: Revlimid and difficulty breathing
Ron,
It is good to see you are able to get to the gym and exercise with myeloma, many cannot. Do you have access to your CBC and your red blood cell count and hemoglobin levels? In the large majority of people Revlimid will lower the white, red and even platelet counts. I am on Revlimid maintenance therapy and I see these effects. Fatigue is a really common side effect of most of the treatments for myeloma. I swim and bike a lot and since my counts are near the lower limits of the normal range I can tell when my numbers are going up or down by small amounts. Often my heart rate will rise very rapidly when I hit the limit of how much oxygen I can take in and I have to back off my pace. It is not so bad that I can’t do most of the activities I want to do but it is something I just have to deal with. I feel it would be really unusual if you did not feel that fatigue side effects when exercising. I do not have any trouble breathing though because of a constrict airway or anything like that. If you think you breathing and fatigue problems may be beyond what is normal for being on these drugs then I can only suggest bringing it up with your doctor.
It is good to see you are able to get to the gym and exercise with myeloma, many cannot. Do you have access to your CBC and your red blood cell count and hemoglobin levels? In the large majority of people Revlimid will lower the white, red and even platelet counts. I am on Revlimid maintenance therapy and I see these effects. Fatigue is a really common side effect of most of the treatments for myeloma. I swim and bike a lot and since my counts are near the lower limits of the normal range I can tell when my numbers are going up or down by small amounts. Often my heart rate will rise very rapidly when I hit the limit of how much oxygen I can take in and I have to back off my pace. It is not so bad that I can’t do most of the activities I want to do but it is something I just have to deal with. I feel it would be really unusual if you did not feel that fatigue side effects when exercising. I do not have any trouble breathing though because of a constrict airway or anything like that. If you think you breathing and fatigue problems may be beyond what is normal for being on these drugs then I can only suggest bringing it up with your doctor.
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Eric Hofacket - Name: Eric H
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 01 April 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: Revlimid and difficulty breathing
Hi Ron, I guess that your heart rate may have risen more quickly than normal if you had gotten out of condition by decreasing your exercise, but that doesn't sound like you, actually. Probably a trip to your doctor for a checkup, including reading your blood pressure, wouldn't hurt.
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Revlimid and difficulty breathing
I've only been on Revlimid + dex + Velcade for 2 cycles so far (2 weeks on + 1 week off). By the end of the first 2 weeks, I was astonished/spooked at how short my breath was. However, by the end of the week off it had returned to normal.
The doctor then lowered my Revlimid dose from 25mg to 15mg daily In the next cycle. I felt normal -- no shortness of breath. Maybe it's too early to establish cause and effect, but so far so good.
The doctor then lowered my Revlimid dose from 25mg to 15mg daily In the next cycle. I felt normal -- no shortness of breath. Maybe it's too early to establish cause and effect, but so far so good.
Re: Revlimid and difficulty breathing
This could be a result of anemia. If you don't have enough hemoglobin or red blood cells, you can be short of available oxygen (O2). Having a normal hemoglobin, but not enough red cells, is akin to having the product, but not enough trucks to distribute it.
As was said your CBC might give you some clues.
As was said your CBC might give you some clues.
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Wayne K - Name: Wayne
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself, my sister who passed in '95
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 03/09
- Age at diagnosis: 70
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