Symptom of BCG's?

Hi Ro,

It has indeed been an ordeal for you. BCG hits some people hard (esp. women, in my opinion), but not always. Many folks seem to breeze through the courses with side effects well within the normal range-usually cystitis, and that's about it. You are what could be referred to as a 'worst case scenario'. No wait, I take that back.... BCG can actually cause fatalities if there is any threat of it entering the bloodstream, if anti-TB drugs don't work in time. But this is very rare, something like less than 1%.

Your experience, on the other hand, is probably more common than we might want to think. There is a lack of studies looking expressly how women react to this treatment, not unusual when you consider men outnumber the women 3 to 1...it's probably hard to get a study or trial together. We should start asking about this!

I hope you feel better with each passing day. Stay well,
Wendy

I think I would like to make a general statement here about symptoms of BCG's based on my own experience with a multitude of symptoms.  Ya'll can quote me on this and I'll stand by it...

I've always had a book in my home called, "Listen to Your Body"  

In my case, I heard my body screaming at me, which in my interpretation, is okay.  After all, inflammation is assumed to be the whole point of how the BCG treatments work.  If that is true, then my misery is worth something. :o

The symptoms are getting a little better with time away from BCG and with Celebrex.  The pain in my teeth and face is getting better, but my body still hurts with movement.   Sometimes, my Mother hears me groaning from my bed.  I am having tremedous night sweats too and most evenings after supper, I fall into my chair to a deep sleep and then wake up just to go to bed.

Celebrex, I must say, has been a blessing and is tremendous help.  However, it is very expensive.  

Thanks my friends,
Rosemary  

Dear Post,

It's very hard to pin the cause of these things down. Listen to your body and stay aware. Report every thing to your doctor.

I'm guessing, based on my own symptoms, that if your symptoms are BCG related, then they will not be permanent. For myself, the inflammation seems to need treatment. And believe me it helps!!

Take care and be sure to pay attention to your body and your symptoms.

Your friend,
Rosemary

I just had my 4th treatment and have noticed some sharp pains in my fingers (3 of them)
that I hadn't ever had before. Recalling treatment number 2, I had a similar pain in my left index finger.
It felt like a sprained tendon and lasted a week or so. Last nights pain lasted a few moments and reoccured
intermittantly over a 2 hour period and then was gone. Today they feel fine:-)>
I play several stringed instruments so my fingers are fairly flexable. I hope this joint pain was just a passing side effect.

Rosemary....did the doctor tell you to take the Celebrex? One of the side effects of that particular drug is a rash... also swelling. Make sure you take it with food...it can be pretty rough on the stomach. How many are you taking a day? Is the doctor helping you at all?
You obviously have horrific inflammation and i worry about the face/jaw pain. I think you should also see your internist and get a complete check-up including EKG. I'm worried about you. Pat

It's been 2 1/2 weeks since final BCG, and I am feeling increased inflammation in my body. My toe is large and swollen and my thumb....well, it hurts...

The rash has reappeared under my breast, and I'm burning around my urethra and vaginal area. I put some yeast salve on the area tonight and we'll see how it goes.

My teeth are causing a lot of pain in my face and head, but the pain recedes when I take Celbrex.  (An anti-inflammatory medication.)

I'm really not complaining.  But, I do want to make a record, because I tend to forget the sequence of events, and because I hope that this record might someday blaze the BCG trail for someone else who may exhibit similar symptoms in their body.

I do know now, that these symptoms SHOULD get better.  But, since, I have a couple of new symptoms this time, there may be more to this story.

Good night guys,
Rosemary