Side Effects

The most bothersome side effects of the 2 treatments were fatigue and GI issues.  The IV Gazyva would make me super tired especially the first week after my infusion.  I would sleep 9-10 hours a night and get tired during the day to the point where I could just fall asleep.  I would usually get 1 good week where the tiredness would decrease right before starting all over again.  The oral Venclexta would cause me to have GI problems including diarrhea and acid reflux.  I would also get random skin rashes along the way and noticed a few foods that were suddenly bothersome that I just now omit from my diet-such as eggs and lettuce.  

For the first 2 months, I experienced a lightheaded feeling due to low sodium levels which seemed to be caused from the IV treatments.  Five of the infusions were pretty close together in the first 60 days of my treatment schedule.  I did struggle to rid the strange feeling with different hydration drinks, salty crackers, pickles, and even salt tablets.  For a person who normally enjoys sweets, I craved salt the duration of the infusions as my sodium levels did not start to rise again until after completion in August.

At this point, I am 8 weeks out since completing my last IV treatment.  The tiredness has subsided greatly.  I do still make sure to get plenty of rest at night and sit a lot during the day as the tiredness does come in waves at times. I have been able to start walking again with light jogging a few days a week.  Due to spending so much time just resting over the last 6 months, I am looking forward to getting my normal energy back soon so that I can resume my normal activities.

Currently, I am enjoying a vacation in Isla Mujeres, Mexico with my husband, Jason, and a few friends to celebrate my completion of the IV treatment and 16th wedding anniversary.  Jason and I went on a bike tour of the south end of the island one morning where we biked and walked quite a bit.  The tour took about two hours.  I was pretty tired the rest of the day but was able to keep up and enjoy the exercise.  This was a huge accomplishment as I have missed being able to be active.

If you see me out and about, I have looked pretty normal the whole time.  I would try to get out on days I felt good just to have a change of scenery from my home.  By looking at me, most people would never know I was going through all of this.  Sometimes, we never know what others are going through. 

“Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.”  Ephesians 4:32