#5/52 for me tonight.

[Fubarcat]

I tried leaving the needle in for 30 seconds after the injection last week in order to try to avoid the welts and red marks (some other old timers suggested that in earlier posts), but it didn't work for me.  I'm giving serious consideration to taking pictures of my legs and sending them to NASA and telling them "This is what Mars really looks like!"  Oh well.  I'm not complaining.  Other than not sleeping last night, I feel pretty darned good on this beautiful Friday.

Hope everyone gets through tonight with ease!  I'll be thinking of ya.

[WackyKilkins]

I counted to 60 after my last injection and I still have a welt starting to form on my left thigh.  So far I have 4 orange size welts. It's very attractive if you're into poka-dotted skin!!!  LOL !!

[audreywald]

I thought I might make a design on my body, kind of like a belt right on the skin.  I figured if I move about 2 inches each shot, I should have a nice pattern in a few months, using ab area and hip area.

[raheem]

You folks might try; holding the syringe at 45 degree angle when you inject it, make sure the injection area is wiped clean by alcohol, let the alcohol dry, inject it slowly (45-60 seconds), withdraw the syringe at the same angle it was inserted.  This seems to work well for me, I still get a temporary pink splotch, but no lumps, welts or redness.  I only inject it into my outer thigh areas.  Hope this helps.

[dazed_and_confused]

I exclusively injected in my arms and thighs. My Gastro doc took me through the steps on how to draw up the shot. She suggested that after I filled the syringe with the Peg, draw in 1cc of air, then invert the syringe (needle side down)and tap the syringe so that the air goes to the top Yes, I said air! When she first told me that I about fainted, and replied that I thought that air in a syringe could prove fatal! She told me that since the injection was subcue and not intervenious, that was not a concern. I did as she asked, and never did I have any injection site irritation or welt! If you're uncomfortable with my suggestion, talk to your doc first. It worked for me, and I'm still very much alive and kickin'! The best of luck to ya, and I hope that you have an easy weekend!

[WackyKilkins]

I'M WITH YOU AUDREY, I'M GOING TO GO ALL AROUND MY THIGHS AND MAKE A "TATOO" THAT WILL LOOK SIMPLY STUNNING FOR FLORIDA'S GREAT BATHING SUIT WEATHER!!!!!!! WHEN I GET DONE, I MAY START ON MY BELLY....IF I LOSE ENOUGH WEIGHT, I MAY GET BACK INTO A 2 PIECE!!  LOL!!  ;)  LOVE TO ALL.  KATHE

[audreywald]

It is my stomach that is starting to look like a piece of clothing. Many fine colors, slightly different pattern every shot.

[Fubarcat]

I love the "tattoo" thing.  I have a beautiful little tattoo I got a couple years ago that I love, but I think ya'll are right.  I'll just make a "tattoo" out of my red welts and wear them proudly!

[odessit]

I'd give INF some time to warm up. This should help.

[mudderone]

I'm not sure what type of treatment everyone else is on but I'm on peg-intron.

I started injecting in my leg at the beginning but found I ran out of space after a few weeks.

The area becomes red about four days after injecting. The area will start to itch for the week after the injection. just have to remind myself don't itch it or it will get worse and it goes away.

I started doing it to my belly which works best for me. I actually think the red iches have help reduce the stretch mark but maybe I'm just hoping.

I have tested undectectable for the virus twice now. Only have 12 shot's left of the 48 week....yippy!

It's also my shot night too as I found it give me time to recoop before work on Monday.

[cindee]

Hey Guys....TRY PINTCHING UP THE SKIN A LITTLE WHILE INJECTING. I BRUISED, BUT THAT WAS A WAY OF SHOWING ME WHERE   NOT   TO DO THE SHOT THAT WEEK, OR FOR SEVERVAL WKS!!!!!! PRAYERS Cindee

[Honey15637]

Hey Chevy..Sounds like you are doing good and had a better shot night.  Yeah I do draw back on my shot first and I also after doing shot start getting medicine taste in my mouth.  Do these drugs make you feel dazed and sometimes just totally drugged out during day?  I keep hoping that will pass soon and still in evening about 7..I start getting that flu like feeling and chills and am needed to get under electric blanket to keep from shivering.  Alot of people say that will let up after about 6 weeks and I sure hope so, I'm coming up Big #4 on Sunday!!

[jevs2]

I did my final shot last night!!!!!!!!
Just the Riba to finish up now!!!!!!!!!!
I'm doing my 'Happy Dance' (sitting down) while writing this.
I love everyone and everything today!!!!!!!!
Best wishes
Joanna

[jg2001]

Your on your second shot.  I've been following your reports on sides.  No chills and, thank goodness, no aliens!  What is the most noticeable sides that you have?  Is it the dreams and feeling of being on speed...that's the impression I get from your posts.  I'll be starting soon.  I schedule the biopsy on Thursday after I get all my test results explained.  I'm resigned to the fact that they will rip my liver out through a tiny hole in my back.  It's the nausea,fatigue, hair falling out, Fire Breathing Dragon Butt, Nasal Farts, brain fog, alien things that I'm more concerned with. I know that there are quite a few who are still in the "single-digit" shot range with alot more to go, but you, you just started.  And I also know that everybody's sides are different.  I'm just more focused on the progression of sides in those that have recently started.  What is diffrerent from 2 weeks ago (pre-tx) to now (shot 2)?  Can you tell a big difference?  I know Bedarned has the Dragon Butt thing going on and a couple of you are being terrorized by aliens.  Dragons and Aliens....YIKES!  Sorry if this is too personal, and you don't have to respond if you think it is.

Jamie

[jg2001]

Unsettling is an understatement!  A few days ago I read a post where (I apologize that I can't find the post), we were advised "not to become our disease"...something to the effect. Well, it seems very difficult for me NOT to think about it.  I occasionally dream about it!  Its bizarre!  I'm sure that when treatment starts and there is some sort of routine, things will settle down and the stress factor will diminish some...I HOPE! LOL!  I get serious hunger pains when I think about Japanese food!  Thanks for responding!

Jamie

[Shadey712]

I am so confused about the difference between some peoples time to TX and mine.  I called university hosp. Sept. 2, 2003.  Was given the first availible appointment of Nov. 18th.  Saw the doc that day and he insisted on redrawing for the elisa test, however due to the fact that he didn't see me until 2 1/2 hours after my scheduled appointment time the lab was closed and I had to reschedule for the lab work, and drive the 100 miles back to town.  Next appointment was set for Dec. 5th had CT scan of abdomen and pelvis,  had the blood drawn at this time also.  The girl taking my blood wanted to check the vein that had been used to insert the contrast for my CT scan and to my horror she reached down with her ungloved finger and touched the bloody spot I jerked away from her and said don't touch that, but I do think she contacted with it.  She knew I was there for hep c test too.  I called the office on Dec. 20th to find out results of test only to find that they were not in. Saw OB/GYN Dec. 23rd per doc's orders for pap smear and such. Drove up there and signed in and they said oh your appointment has been rescheduled due a doc's family emergency.  I said why didn't you call me?  They said they had, but there was no call on my caller ID when I got home.  Doc at Internal Med side of clinic went over there and went off on them for making me drive 100 miles for nothing and said "any OB/GYN can do a pap and breast exam, I want her seen today!" I wish he was MY DOC.  I called back in early Jan 2004 for blood test results at that time was told only way to find anything out was to schedule an appointment and drive 100 miles up there ( thats one way folks) Jan 13th I call the clinic to find out what exact time my appointment was only to find office help never really scheduled the appointment she told me over the phone.  I was lucky and there had been a cancellation for that afternoon so I went up.  Then found out that most of the tests doc had ordered had not been done at all. Had blood drawn again.  Called clinic and was told that "if the doc thought you needed to know anything he would have called you. What do you want your results for anyway do you think you can diagnose and treat yourself?" At that point I gave up after complaining to another member of the office team,  She told me that I should call and make a formal complaint against this person and I did and when I asked for the person someone came on impersonating the woman I wanted to talk to.  The woman I was trying to get in touch with has a voice mailbox set up and I have heard her voice on it and she sounds like a tiny little caucasion woman, not the louder African-American voice I was told on the phone was her.  After all this my results were mailed to me buy the other office person, and this is what I got:I am a type 2 and no sub-type was ever mentioned. I have ALT of 51 AST of 33 and VL of 7.86 million.  Doc has now referred me to a GI in the same clinic.  I will see him on Feb. 20th.  I don't know of anyone who has gotten this much runaround. In fact one friend was seen August 14th with unknown condition, and had biopsy and was on tx by Sept. 11th.  Any Ideas?   Shadey

[Shadey712]

I think this one got lost in an old thread, but could not post due to questions all used up for the day. I am having tons of symptoms, aches, rash, nothing tastes good, things smell bad, no energy at all, right side pain that is excruciating, is that because my vl is high?

[britpeter]

Hi, I'm at #6/48, it went in 4 hours ago and I wish you luck with yours at our close parallel. How've your sides been so far?