Symptom of BCG's?

Rosemary,

Good luck to you when you start your BCG. My husband's last treatment will be on the 27th of April. His back has really been hurting quite a bit which seems to be a typical symptom for him while getting BCG. He didn't feel the greatest yesterday but tries to ignore it. Today seems a lot better. Do you think your sinusitis is a result of the BCG? My husband had a physical a few weeks ago and told the doctor he had a lot of congestion. He gave him a referral to an ENT and he felt that my husband had a low grade sinus infection, which he has never had before. I'm wondering if it could be a result of the BCG. Any thoughts on that?

Yosemite

Hey, Yosemite,

Thanks very much. It's nice of you to check in. I have my #1 of 3 BCG's starting on the 26th of April.
I am pretty apprehensive, as I do not know if my residual side effects are going to get worse. Not only do I have psoriatic arthritis, and have a locked right shoulder, I also have a vaginitis and sinusitis that has set up house and won't go away.

However, I still feel good to feel so bad.

Good luck to your hubby. I appreciate your remembering me.

Sincerely,
Rosemary

Hi Rosemary,

I know you and my husband have pretty much been on the same BCG schedule and re-checks. Are you starting treatment next week? My husband started yesterday (4/13) and will have 2 more. To me, he doesn't seem to feel as bad as in the past. I don't know if it's because he's had a 6 month break but I'm glad he's feeling pretty good. His back is pretty achey but it always is with the treatments. I'll be glad for him when the next two are done. Take care and I hope your symptoms aren't too bad if you decide to go ahead with the BCG.

Yosemite

I faxed a copy of Dr. Lamm's reply to my question about my Uro's decision to terminate BCG treatments in the face of my arthritis.  I was waiting for a phone call in reply and guess what!!  I got a letter in the mail!!

I was scared to open the letter thinking that he was going to say that he didn't want me as a patient anymore.  I figured he didn't like me questioning his decision of terminating treatment.

All he said in the letter was that he would be "happy" to give me the treatments, but if my "symptoms" got worse, he would forthwith refuse to give me further BCG treatments.

I guess he wanted to put it in writing.

After sleeping on the matter over the weekend, I decided to make the appointment to resume the BCG treatments and begin again next week.

Here's hoping that my Doctor will take Dr Lamm's advice and reduce the dosage.

That's the latest.

Rosemary

I saw my Arthritis doctor today and we talked a little about BCG's.

(Just as an aside, I was told by his nurse that this Doc graduated in the top of class from Duke University).

The doc says, "I don't know if I told you this, but I had BCG's while interning at Duke.  We all got BCG's  to immunize us against tuberculosis patients.  We had all kinds of weird reactions to the BCG's"

I asked him "did I get arthritis because of BCG's?".   He said, "Anything that stimulates the immune system can cause this type of response."

I then asked him, "Do you think because the BCG's obviously stimulated my immune system, does this mean that the BCG's are doing what they are suppose to do?"

He thought a minute and answered, "Yes.  I think that we can surmise that the BCG's are doing what they are suppose to do."

That was my interview with my Rheumatologist today.  I am very pleased with this Doctor.

Regards,
Rosemary

Hi Rosemary (aka Sausage Toe): It's great news no check ups for six months. The celebrex is beginning to work and your toe is starting to cooperate. And no BCG's - that's amazing. So keep up the honeys and the teas and above all - Keep Dancing the Jig at the Office.
Take Care BC Friend,
Sandy