1st shot tonight - need advise

Well the time is here and I am really nervous, so I have a couple questions. I know many of you have done this and are doing it now so you know what to expect.

Should I do the shot right before I go to bed or earlier?

I took my six pills today and I felt like I was speeding today is that normal or am I just nervous?

The video says this treatment could be fatal, do they mean when you take the first shot?

You know I thought I was ready for this, just need some advise from those who have done this. I appreciate your time!

[SoCal Lady]

Welcome to the club we all wish we didn't belong to...

I take my shot about 8:30 or 9:00, then I sometimes take two Tylenols later, before I go to bed.

The first time, I woke up slightly in the wee hours with a little tummy pain a couple of times, but immediately went back to sleep.  The shot has little or no effect on me, though I know it does on others.  They will jump in soon with their advice, I'm sure.

I know you're all sick and nervous right now, but I'm sure you'll get through the first injection, and it will get easier each time.

Let us know tomorrow how it went, and keep coming back for support and information.  Be well, Cindy!

[Cindy10]

Thank you very much!

[mkeela]

OH DEAR SWEETHEART!!!! You are going to be ok...I know how you feel!! The first one is the hardest it seems for many. For myself, it was the third I beleive because I knew my side effects would come...funny on that one they weren't so bad, had a good laugh over my anxiety. The odds are SOOOOOOOO against it bieng fatal for you...I haven't heard of that, but I think it may pertain to a VERY RARE allergic reaction or from the drop in CBC's after a time on the tx. I have been on 11 weeks and my CBC's still look good. Not to mention that at week 10 I reached UNDETECTABLE!!! Isn't that all worth it???? OH YES IT IS!!!!
You will be in a prayer shortly Cindy. Take a deep breath and listen to all these sweet Cyber Angels!!

[Cindy10]

Thank you mkeela, I appreciate it. I'm sure I'll be fine, just a little nervous ;-)

[l-horn]

Don't be. You feel bad but it's not like it's something you've never experienced. You've had the flu, right ?

Have no fear. Besides, the ribavirin will probably kill ya'....

[mkeela]

You better come back and tell her your jokin'...LOLOLOLOL!!!!!!

[l-horn]

Okay it's not like having the flu ....

;)

[goldyn]

Oh the anxiety of it all I myself thought about what if the first shot killed me, just a nervouse reck, just keep some pain meds and some water and maybe a nice warm snuggy blanket, i always do my shot betwen 5 and 6 pm i started at that time so i could feel the full effect of what i might be going through, before i fell asleep and  missed it all, plus im one that needs the full weekend to relax , so I can feel halfway decent for work on monday just did 44/48 believe me your going to make it through just fine......

[BayAreaWomen]

Hi Cindy, welcome to the forum. I am on shot 5 of 72 wks of treatment. I take my shot at 10:30 pm every Sunday. After the shot i take a sleepying pill (Ambian) just in case the shot may keep me awoke. This is the only time i take a sleepying pill. I get no sx after the shot. Good luck. BAW

[Kalio1]

Thanks, I needed that belly laugh I got from your post.
Too funny!
Hope you are hanging in there, how are you faring?
I tried to look back and find your stats but alas, there are so many posts I just get lost. Would you mind reposting them sometime? I think you are treating 24 weeks and a 2 but I could have that all wrong.

Im a 3, F51, and I have been treating since 14BC.
or so it feels like today!
;)

[SoCal Lady]

BTW, Cindy, "SX" means "symptoms"---not "sex".   Otherwise, we'd have to feel sorry for BayAreaWoman....

[APKhaos]

Hey Cindy....its not nearly as nasty as you think.

For one thing, the shots are painless. The sides are unpredictable. Some have a smooth ride, some a slightly bumpier ride. In many cases, the first shot is the hardest in terms of sides. The Interferon does most of its work when the viral load is highest- more little buggers to snuff out. In most cases, it takes a few hours for the sides to show up. Taking a couple of Tylenol maybe 30 minutes before the shot was recommended by my clinic.

Keep the faith. It can be a wild ride, but the destination is SVR which makes it all worthwhile.

Don't hesitate to ask any question here. The combined experience of this little band is remarkable, and just waiting to be shared. Don't hesitate to vent or rant. Sometimes its just the best thing to do! Folks here know that.

[Pdilly]

I take my shot around 5pm.   About 10 I take 2 extra strength Tylenols and go to sleep.  I wake up just fine.  Sometimes a very, very slight headache but thats it.

[beamishboy]

riba can definately make you 'speedy'....and also gave me hot flashes....the shot ,the shot.the shot...it's not as bad as you think...relax...Be Well

[bobbyullc]

FATAL.....finally a dr who doesn't snow you...wish he was mine...
i would take it about 7 or 8 pm as the side should hit during sleep although i woke up shaking so bad i could not walk...i did live..

[outofgas]

I take my shot when I get up in the morning pills 8:30 am second pills at 2;00 pm I find I can sleep better at night  I can't complain my sides haven't been bad except for anger which has seem to get less and less since about 6 1/2 months now I just feel bla alot of the time ,first week not alot of fun shakes alot and always cold very little sleep good luck

[GrandmaA]

I had my third shot last night and I'm doing fine. Up and down many times in the night. But finally got some good sleep. No headache. I took 1/2 Tylenol PM before bed. They are sending an extra syringe to my Dr. because I used two last week when I spilled one on the table by mistake, I forgot to inject it. This time I saw the video again and the nurse walked me through it. The only thing I didn't like it when she asked me if I had been in the hospital - am I supposed to be? I'm still working full time.

[Carabonita]

Its best to take it on a friday night right before you go to bed, that way you'll sleep through it.  But when I used to wake up right after taking it, I had a strong headache, so it helps to take an analgesic right before you sleep, it'll help you feel better in the mornings.  I also used to get slight lower backaches around kidney level, my legs used to tingle sometimes.. but then you'll get used to it.  You'll definitely lose some weight due to loss of apetite, but thats only temporary (in the beginning) since you're body is experiencing something new...after that you'll adjust and eat okay.  

Its funny because I had more side effects with pegintron injections versus pegasys.  I finished my 1 year tx with pegintron, 6 months later I had this weird feeling that it may have come back again (my dr told me there was no need to check again, maybe in another 2 years or something), so I went and checked and unfortunately it did come back again, it was in its early stages (low levels) again, so now I'm taking pegasys, and I'm not experiencing those headaches or backaches at all..  I don't feel any different with pegasys than I was before tx. Plus its easier to administer versus pegintron (where u have to empty the liquid contents into the powder i.e. 2 step procedure versus the 1 step with pegasys).

So like I'm saying, its better to take it in the weekend, as I recall its effects last for like 24 hours or was it 48 hours? Just make sure you get enough sleep, and drink lots of water and eat right. Hope I was somewhat handy :-)

[niceguy2007]

Better take painkiller an hr b4 the shot. my doc sez take voltrex

[SoCal Lady]

You got my stats right.  I'm halfway through my 24 weeks, and doing pretty well, but always aware of malaise, itchiness,  and shortness of breath.  But I love all the reading I'm able to do since I can no longer go to the gym, or work as a substitute teacher.  Life is good!

Thanks for inquiring!
Take care....

[Cindy10]

Thank you all for the responses. I made it through, but boy was I nervous. I slept pretty good until 5am, then woke up with real bad stomach ache, ate some saltines went back to sleep and I was fine. But I do have the lower back pain and a rippin headache, I think from the pills. Today I feel much better but I am tired. I was not as bad a expected by any means, except the headache, getting better today. I must say I dont like the feeling I get when I take the pills, will that get better?

[beamishboy]

of course it gets better....CHEERS

[NYgirl]

Congrats on having such a great night!

I take my shot about 6pm every week on Friday because it generally takes me between 4 & 6 hours to hit in.  I take them Ambien CR about two hours before I "think" any reactions might happen and two tylenols then too - then I try to sleep.

The Riba will cause you to speed unfortunately - which is why many of us take sleeping pills and antidepressants.

Different sides come and go at different times during treatment. I had no "flu" type sides until about week 30 then all hell broke loose. I'm on 55 of 72 now so I can tell you I've been there and done that on just about every side known to man.

It's not fun but it's necessary we do the treatments.  I've worked the entire time now...

But I wish I didn't have to!  

Best of luck with the rest of treatment.

[Cindy10]

Glad to hear, thank you!

[nitramog]

grab a fverat pillow ! teddey bear! be carfull about taking eny thing to serias till you finish treatmont most of eny thing scarry goes awaey after treatmont stay tuff

[Cindy10]

Thanks guys!