Reaction to EPO

[needlephobic]

Was wondering if anybody ever had a reaction to EPO that it just made you so sick? I was wondering after July Labs They gave me some EPO with out me knowing it cause I was a sleep. I woke up a coughing and scratching I lifted my shirt and from my chest to my stomach I had a rash and the coughing got so bad I almost  They asked me what the cough was about I told them don't know came with this rash and I showed them my rash and they said nothing has changed with your order except EPO. I asked them why I needed EPO they told me my Hemoglobin has dropped. It went from 11.2 to 10.9 I said what that is not right always been in the 11s. The nurse told me they think the lab company messed up on the labs because they have questioned them. Was told they sent 2 Patients to the hospital for transfusion. Ok  commen since   says if you think the lab screwed up redo labs duh. No they told me it wasn't with the EPO did research that night  and yes coughing rash tight chest is a reaction to EPO. The tech tried to get them to call my Neph and I thought they did untill when My neph's nurse called and I asked her if they call him she said about what so I told her what happened and she told me she will tell the DR I told her I didn't want anybody in trouble  and the charge nurse was tricky and will find away undected to get me back for telling my Neph. What she told me next really floored me. She said don't worry about getting anybody in trouble if they do try something with you or on you pic up your phone and give us a call WE GOT YOUR BACK. Never had anybody since this kidney disease tell me they have my back I was almost in tears hearing that.  Went to see my neph that following monday still coughing and blowing my nose he checked me over asked me what happened at the dialysis center and I told him and he pulled out his cell phone and call the center and he told them off cause he was mad they didn't call him when this started. After his little chewing out the center he asked them any questions and I here this no sir and he hung up on them . well it has been over a week now still coughing,  and blowing the nose so much my nose has started to bleed to make matters worse we had a huge wildfire  and came close to bugging out all sick. was just wondering if anybody  had that happen with epo ? 
   

[jbeany]

The coughing is a new one to me, but I used to call my Procrit a "baseball bat in a bottle."  One of the rare (so nice to be unique, isn't it?) side effects for it is what they quaintly refer to as "flu-like" symptoms - in my case, muscle aches so bad that it felt like I had been beaten, along with nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.  It usually lasted only about 24 hours.  Then they wondered why I didn't want to take a dose every week.      

I didn't have the same problem with Aranesp.  Do you know what version of epo you were given?  The different brands have different side effects, so it might be helpful to know which one.

[Rain]

When I was on Aranesp I ended up with swollen joints in my hands and knees that were painful.  Also sever diarhea.  Then they switched me to epo and no reaction.  Talk to your doctors there are different options to increase red blood cells. And each one reacts differently to different people.

[lmunchkin]

So sorry Needlephobic.  I have heard of people who have reactions to EPO.  But it is important that you have those red blood cells.  Was your Iron by any chance low too?  EPO is no good with out your Iron levels being within normal too!  Ask your Neph.  Iron is very important when dealing with Red Blood Cells.  They rely on each other for good results.

So Sorry NP.
God Bless,
lmunchkin