1st Shot

[gr8faith]

Tommorrow I will be picking up my meds go for my educational visit and will be taking my first shot.  What should I expect?  I am taking my 19 year old daughter with me, as I am so ADD at times and think a second set of eyes and ears would be a good idea. LOL

I have a real peace about it all, am feeling ready and sure.  This week I have been sick, flu like, and have thanked God thinking this is a preview of feeling yucky and therefore I might not feel much different after.  Just a thought.

When I posted a few weeks back I realzed after that I made an error, I am a geno 3b(not 2). my bx last year was grade 1, stage 1, my labs only showed elevated liver enzymes once, but that is enough for me to qualify for treatment.  I am very fortunate that my health plan requires my regular copay for the meds.

I am so grateful to all of you here, and even just printed out the questions to ask the dr. from an earlier post today.  I plan on continuing to work full time for the next 24 weeks and keeping up with most of my other committments.  I do have a heap of support both at home and work and through friends.  

Again, any tips on what I may expect tomorrow?  My appt is at 2pm.

candy

[rustyy]

water and lots of it helped me through ,i stoped the fried foods and ate lots of fresh vegis and fruit,my effects did not start untill my third or fourth shot, good luck,green tea seemed to help,i also cut the caffiene out completly

[cuteus]

Do you have a heart condition or any other severe illness beside hep c?

I would get a second opinion ASAP.

you might be able to get a team of drs that will monitor all your other conditions while on Tx.
I am 50+ and just finished 72 wks of pegasys/copegus, had anemia and was treated with Procrit, and had to take some pain medication throughout.  Other than that, it was a set of annoying and tiring sides that seemed to drag forever. But here I am, no worse off than prior to tx, and possibly even better off. You need to stay on top of your health care, you must insist in the proper course of treatment for you. Find someone who will listen.
best to you

[stuntdriver]

I was told about a yr.and half ago that I had hepatitis C 3pa
my doctor (Malluard)(of the creagtion university in omaha ne. said at the time it could be cured now last visit he said that i would not be a good candite for interferon the reasons are 10 iam 49 and he is afraid that my mental and physical strength is not what he would like it to be said  i could have a heart attack or stroke out. at this time i am always tired but try to put in a full days work as Iam the boss. my legs are cold and so are my feet have trouble sleeping at night sometimes iam up for 2 to 3 days in a row.

I receved this from a doctor who was not using the safest cleaing and reused IV bottles and hoses and needles over and over again.


along with this i have hempophila so as u can guess no insurance either

my state of mind is ok some days light depression. and now today they tell me with out the interferon i have  5 to maybe 7 yrs to live. any suggestion? any ideas?

my email is ***@****
my phone is 402 721 9735

thank you

[desert woman]

My husband is on the interferon/riba treatment and his first shot left him with chills and nausea.  I wrapped him in blankets and prayed.  His first shot was the worst.  Maybe because he was so active most of the time the first shot just brought him way down.  He lost 10 pounds the first two weeks.  The doc prescribed an AD (anti-depressant) and his appetite has picked up.  His weight is holding steady now.  Since then, he is usually more tired the day after his weekly shot, and by the day before his next shot is almost back to his old self.  I hope things go well for you while on treatment.

[jonihs]

I didn't have any effects from my first 2 shots. I always took 2 tylenol about an hour afterwards, and did it late at night so I could sleep through the worst. I know you can't take it late this time, but from now on it's worth thinking about. I also took my daughter (29) w/ me and was glad I did. There were a couple things I had to call and ask her cuz I had a colonoscopy that day and was still dingy (more than normal) afterwards. Best of luck to you and I'm praying for minimal sides and that you can go on working. No way I could have. I was doing good from week 3 on to make it from couch to fridge for my water. LOL   Joni

[gr8faith]

Thanks everyone for the great wisdom.  I woke up today feeling totally refreshed and ready.  Have had a wonderful day, left work early, my daughter and I went to learn how to do the "deed", then we went out to dinner.

Came home, took the tylonol and about an hour later did the shot.  No problem.  It's been about an hour and a half, just starting to feel something, but nothing bad.

In the meantime this evening I have put together a 3 Ring Binder with divider pages, I have decorated the front of it.  Inside are sections for Patient Instructions, Test Results, Educational Info, Resources, and Jouranl Entry.  In the front of the binder I have all of my Doctor and Nurse contact info.  The first page is a copy of something Indiana wrote last year for Newbies.  I especially like his reccommendation of New very neat jammies and cool shades!  

I have felt "lifted in prayer" all day.

hugs
candy

[cuteus]

it depends mostly on the type of interferon used. I had Pegasys and felt pretty good the first 4 wks, then a little anemia started kicking in and that's when I did not feel as hot anymore. I never had a bad reaction to the shot, only mild queasiness for the first hr afterwards.

[Tony-z]

Candy:

(<i>I like your screen Name.    <B>"MY lord, My God"</B></I>)

Remember, each person reacts differently to TX. Start TX very open minded. Try to believe that you will not have any side effects..Remmember that there are people that have very few if any sx... :-}
Drink more
<a href="http://www.hepcsurvivalguide.org/comboguide.htm#-W-
">Fluids</a> then recommended, Lots of water/fluids is the key to helping to minimize our preventing many of the SX. Also try to keep up a light exercise routine, stretching, light toning exercises Etc,. This can be hard especially the farther along in tx you get, but it can also make tx easier, <B>but don't over do it</B>.
My first time on Interferon 2B, I did fairly well for about 3 months, then all kinds of physical and physiological SX started and intensified to the point that it me to my knee's, I had to put everything I had into completing that TX.

I just finished my 3rd round of TX. This time I was on Pegasys, it was easier, not easy, But much easier.

As all the great folks above have said you should probably expect some discomfort-LOL thats what my Dr called it. Let him do tx I'll bet he changes his wording......But that may be it..

I will pray that your SX are none.

Here are some web site that have some great advise on threating most of Side Effect's...................

<a href="http://www.hepatitis.org.uk/">Great Web Page</a>

http://www.hepatitis.org.uk/

<a href="http://www.hepcsurvivalguide.org/comboguide.htm#Top">Hepatitis C combo Guide</a>


                             God Bless

                              TonyZ
http://www.hepcsurvivalguide.org/comboguide.htm#Top

[carolhab]

Hi Candy - I just started treatment a month ago....  welcome to the club - and a very special club it is indeed!!!!  My first shot was fine, it didn't hurt at all (I had never given myself a shot before)....  I am having fatigue and some headaches, but so far so good..  I did cut down on extracurricular activites, I am sleeping ALOT, and learning how to say no when I just don't have the energy to do something.. Sounds like you are in a good space, have lots of support, and a good chance of clearing...  I just take it one day at a time..  Good luck to you!!!!
sammy