8 replies to this topic

[chiocchi]

Hi all,wondering if what I've been experiencing is from gleevec.this happens every few months or so seems to occur after eating a high fat content meal with 1 glass of wine. I wake up with a headache ,then start with extreme sweats,the headache gets worse and I am sick! Chills also,can't get out of bed. Once it passes after an hour or two,I sleep  the rest of the day,can't eat or drink either. Is it the gleevec effect on my liver causing this? There is no pain anywhere except for the headache .

[Trey]

Sounds unrelated to the Gleevec.  Ask your Doc to check your pancreas and gall bladder.

http://www.buzzle.co...e-pancreas.html

[pammartin]

I had similar symptoms about two years ago, ended up having my gall bladder removed.  I never had serious enough symptoms to put me in bed all day, but I can relate to the headache, nausea, but I had severe abdominal pain.  I have also experienced an inflamed pancreas a few times, these symptoms were similar also, but again I had serious pain along with the nausea.  I wonder if the sweats are not associated with the leukemia, before we knew what was going on, all last summer I had horrible sweats, even in cooler weather, my family used to laugh because my sun glasses would steam up on top of my head in a store or restaurant.  Best of luck to you, hope you find an answer soon.

Pam

[pamsouth]

HI Chiocchi,  It may not be Gleevec.  The first year I was on Gleevec I was sick a lot but I do think it was mostly because of low counts and adjusting to the med's and also CML.  However flu like symptoms continued with fever and vomiting for a long time.  I went to my primary doctor and she said lets run some test on your gall bladder.  Three different test were ran.  I did not have gall stones, but yes it was my gall bladder that was the problem.  I can't remember what the last test was called, but it was about 2 hours long.  I remember the attendant saying she was going to inject something and if I didn't get sick in the next 30 minutes my gall bladder was working OK,  But about 10 minutes into it I got sick.  The gall bladder wasn't working. I forget exactly how it works. but the bile goes down this long narrow tube and empties into something else.  I would have to google proper names.  Anyhow the timing was off.  When the surgeon took the gall bladder out, he said it looked like a perfectly good/normal gall bladder.  I never had any more of those problems again, so I would agree with the doctor and test, the gall bladder wasn't working.

Let see I was diagnosed with CML in July 2005 and my gall bladder was removed in May 2007.  Here I was in 2007 still blaming the CML & Gleevec.  Just goes to show you sometimes it pays off to have other things checked out too.

Pamsouth 

[chiocchi]

Thank you for all your info,I am going to see my family doctor and decide with him what abdominal testing I should have. Also I was thinking maybe a type of migraine? But all of you are right,it most likely something unrelated to the gleevec.so thankful to you all for responding.

[Taylor]

Sounds like gall bladder to me as well!  I had similar symptoms as you a few years ago (pre-CML), including a very sharp, excruciating pain under my sternum.

[pamsouth]

Chiocchi,  Now and then I have a little wine, but only a few oz or it will give me a head ache.

PamSouth

[pammartin]

My tolerance for alcohol has went to almost nothing since starting the Sprycel.  I hardly touch wine and I was a huge fan of a good dark draft beer.  After about 1/3 glass of wine, the indigestion starts, when drinking beer I might get a few sips in before I feel the beginnings of a headache. 

[chiocchi]

I grew up with red wine (homemade) on our dinner table.need I say more! Truthfully I have 1-2 glasses while cooking dinner.i cook with low fat content and have no problems with headaches. It's just that weird episode that happens .last time was 5 months ago.well I have an apt to discuss with my family doc .i still just wonder if the gleevec might have some hand in this. I've had hot flashes for 6 yrs,due to full hysterectomy .night sweats are a common occurrence ,unfortunately !  Thanks again for advice !