Allergic reaction to meds?

After first shot noticed hives on body which got worse by the week. Week 8, eyes started swelling.On week 9 Doctor pulled me off due to an allergic reaction. Has anyone else had this reaction?

[NYgirl]

I don't know of anyone having an allergic reaction but a LOT of us have had problems with the itching all over our bodies and our eyes.  It doesn't sound like the same thing - but it's chickenpox like little tiny bumps that itch like MAD mostly and we attribute that to the Ribavirin.

Does he have any idea WHAT you are allergic to? Can they put you on a different type of med so you can stay on treatment? What were you on?

I'm on Peg-Intron, Ribavirin, Epogen, Ambien and Paxill. (That's enough LOL).

[stewietoo]

I'm was on Pegasys and Riba. Still on Eqeuatro, Lamictal. Lexapro and Synthroid with a touch of Xanax. Bio-polar and Hep C, quite a combo.  We are flushing my system for at least a month ( hives are slowly starting to diminish ), been off meds since march 10th. Then we are going to try something else. We have no clue which med the reaction came from.

[Paris47]

I am Hep C with Bi-Polar too,
f\49\genotype b. On week 4 of tx.
yep, it's quite a combination,
also already had skin problems.
Dermotologist prescribed some creams,
Gold bond is great. Good Luck.
I had to  increase my mental health
meds, when I started my tx for hep c,
and today is shot 4....hope I can do
this without the blood again! I am going
for the other thigh and practicing my angles.

[lilmoma]

You do your thigh? I do mine in my stomach, not much chance of hitting a vein there (about 2 inches away fron belly button)
Let me know how that goes,.I have heard from several people that did it in the thigh that they wished they had done it in the belly. Creepy achy feeling came over their legs,(even after tx) thats the main reason I decided to go for the belly. I could be wrong about that tho. Did you say you have gotten blood before?
lilmoma

[NYgirl]

You will be so surprised how quickly you become an expert. Boy I remember being SURE I couldn't ever, ever do it or get used to it. Now I could do it in my sleep. The things we have to get used to with this ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Best of luck

[Paris47]

I did my first two shots in the stomach area, (no problem)
BUT I think it was a mental image of hitting an organ
in my stomach area that made me nervous. Just me feel
weird putting a needle in my stomach area. Someone
suggested my thigh. No problem...except... that is when
I must have pull the needle out at a different angle &
hit capillariers, blood oozed out, I was terrified, no pain,
but that is when I found this site. I totally freaked!!
As blood was oozing out, I couldn't reach my dr, or nurse...
I was terrified, I couldn't reach anyone, but I was certain
I wanted to change areas and do my thighs.
Now that was shot #3. I still have a red circular area around the spot where I did my shot.
Tonight is shot #4, I was going to try one more time,
on my other thigh, practice the angles, and see what happens, I'll keep you posted.
Again, it's just the thought of putting a needle
in my stomach that made me queezy, but the thigh, no problem
with the thought, just the after affects were scary. Headache
all day today, not sure if its real or just the anticipation of
the shot. OR the lighting of where I work. sheesh...
(IS there a spell check??) I know I don't spell very well.

[Oreos]

The first time I tried treatment (Intron A / Ribaviron) in 2000, I stopped treatment due to an allergic reaction.  I was having trouble breathing I was so swelled up.  Went to the emergency room in the middle of the night and they gave me intravenous Benedryl (antihistamine).  It was very scary.  My GI and Allergist told me that interferon stimulates the immune system which generates histamines as well as Hep C fighting antibodies.  The interferon package inserts describe the possibility of allergic reactions (hives, edema, etc) in rare instances.

In 2003, my biopsy came back showing I'd jumped from a level 1 fibrosis to level 3.  My GI suggested I treat again, but I was afraid of an allergic reaction.  Decided to treat again, but this time he prescribed Zyrtec (antihistamine).  I completed 48/48 Pegasys/Copeg 10/04.  

I don't know how severe your hives were, but it may be worth your while to ask your GI about antihistamines.  Also, you may want to get an opinion from an Allergist.      

Good luck!
Gail (former 1A)

[NYgirl]

None of us spell all that great in here!

I use my thighs - the IDEA of my stomach ah I just can't do it! I don't even want to try! But I find the top of my thigh doesn't even hurt that much (as long as I have been moisturizing well it helps a LOT).  I use the side of my thighs for the Epogen. Either way I never thought I could do it.

I don't worry about the blood that comes out (it's usually not too much) if it were to GUSH then I would but I stick as close to the top of my skin as I can (i have bad needles too big 3s and I pull them back up a bit to make sure I"m not deep in).  After a while you can used to using them no problem at all.

On week 4 you are doing great!

[Paris47]

Thanks, I just had a big smile.
I haven't smiled in a long time..
thanks!!!!

[NYgirl]

don't worry, the smiles will come back I PROMISE.

We have a lot on our plates being sick but in here - there are such marvelous people that you will get to know that sometimes I laugh TOO LOUD at work and have to bite my lip to keep quiet.

It helps so much not being ALONE and having others who totally understand what you are going through.  People at home SAY they understand but...being worried about needles is just not a part of THEIR lives - they don't think they are going to accidentally hit a major artery and bleed to death very often do they?  :)

I just close my eyes and jab it in - I find it works GREAT that way! The less I see the better I am!

[GoofyDad]

NY says: I use my thighs -

Interesting info, to be sure. But let's keep it above board, shall we? Mercy, can-do and I have our hands *full* keeping you gals in line.

[can-do-man]

ny says....I just close my eyes and jab it in - I find it works GREAT that way! The less I see the better I am!

Such a rush don't even want to see it. Hmmmmmmmm

Goof, it would have been nice to keep it clean today, but that nygirl. It must be summin in the water there.

[Paris47]

Shot #4 completed! No blood, no pain, used the
side of my thigh area, just perfect!!
Smiling ear to ear!
Now off to bed to sleep through the
'side affects' of the shot. I might
actually take off my first day of work, just for
a mental health day and celebrate my first month
of tx.

[can-do-man]

says...Smiling ear to ear!...... Ive heard of hooked on phonics but these shots? Maybe yes a mental health day is in order.....Just kidding ya glad your having fun there.

[susan400]

I was wondering if anybody had to stop treatment because the interferon caused a seizure disorder?  I had an episode last week that was very disconcerting, which I chalked up to a stress reaction.  Today, when I was at my liver doctor, he got very concerned and told me that Interferon can cause a mild serious disorder and also nerve damage.  He said he wants to talk to my neurologist (who I have been to in a year because I saw him last year for another reason).  He told me that he would personally call him up and talk to him about my meds and everything that he'd been doing with me.  My gasto doc said that if the interferon causes me to have any more episodes and if the neurologist thinks that it's causes me to have minor seizures, then he may have to take me off of it.  The gastro doctor wants to get me in the neurologist doctor's office and have a possible EEG to be safe.  I am feeling so frustrated.  It's like, I'm SO close to finally getting my elusive 'undetected' and to end up having to stop treatment at this point in the game, is going to really be upsetting to me.  So, those that pray, pray that I don't have to stop the Interferon this late in the game.  I'd much rather believe that it was all just stress, because with stress, I could could on my Hep drugs.  With stress, at least I'd still be able to drive.  I am so tired to have some other health problem to crop up.  I'm already waiting for the results from a CAT scan of the abdomen and pelvis, which I had done last week.  These doctors keep thinking they've found something else wrong with me and then they order another test and that test ends up showing that I need another test and so on and so forth.  The whole thing is so totally exhausting.  I feel like I'm spending too much of my life getting medical tests, blood tests and sitting in doctor's office waiting rooms.  I'm really sick of it all. I really don't want anything else to worry with.
Sorry to ramble.

Susan400

[strator]

I simply do not know how you do it and get through. But if anyone is capable you are. I couldn't help thinking after I read your post that you're sitting someplace going through this under the same moon and stars as the rest of us here. Maybe it's your courage that keeps them lit for the rest of us.
Thank you for showing us the way, and may one of those stars shine some relief and comfort in your days.
Be Well,
Don

[OnAPrettyPoison]

Can Do, I wasn't thinking Pee Wee, I was thinking more Tom Hanks in BIG!  I would never think of you and Pee Wee in the same thought, well until now!  But you made me go there!

[can-do-man]

Well please go back, Tom Hanks in BIG sounds much better. Shoot since shot isn't till 7 you can get in a few games of bingo with us. You'll love the prizes you win, we make them ourselfs

[OnAPrettyPoison]

I'll be there and bring a jar of homemade pickles!  Good night and sweet dreams tuxedo man!

[can-do-man]

Hope this works out for you. They know how hard you have fought so i don't think they would pull the plug on you unless there was to much risk. 8 trys is unreal, im pulling for you girl.

[beamishboy]

i am hoping for you-the stress is less;the meds behave;you continue straight to SVR!!

[can-do-man]

Hey i got that, what a shot, PEE WEE herman im not, Heck i don't even own a pocket protector.

[GoofyDad]

It would really be unfair for you to have to stop at this point. I hope they attibute the recent probs to stress, and that some of that stress abates. You deserve to catch a nice break right about now.

[mikesimon]

Susan, I don't think that I'm easily impressed but you really amaze me. You have had so many obstacles in front of you and yet you persist and  manage to maintain a grace about you that I find admirable. If stress is indeed the culprit it would be very understandable in light of the struggle you've endured. I hope that it is stress and that you'll be able to continue your treatment. I wish you the best Susan. Mike

[sunspot]

You are a true warrior. Im looking forward to you winning the battle. Going to a bunch of different docs for all the ills is a big PITA but you will prevail. I will keep you in my prayers.

Dana

[FlGuy]

A strange thing happened last night when I was having a softball catch with my daughter.  She was pitching, I was on a small stool catching and throwing back.  During a throw back to her my finger grazed the stool and the side of my finger bled quite a bit

[slowsouthernstyle]

no matter how many pamphlets are given out and how much the public is educated about hep c you will find that it scares the heck out of most when they see your blood even spouses that should know better after going through the treatment with you knowing that you are clear. I work in the entertainment industry and travel all over the world and I see the hep prejudices here more than anywhere else.

Slow

[NYgirl]

LOL You should have said "know it all - what is soap and water going to do anyways, idiot" to her.  Yeah that soap...a real germ killer huh?

Anyway we all get what you are saying. It's not right but until there is public education on a major scale we will all be pariahs. Unless we use those times to educate I guess - but sometimes I sure ain't up to it and others I am too LIVID. You know me and the ribarage (God I love that EXCUSE HAHAHAA)

[susan400]

Thanks so much everybody.  I'll post when I know something about this.

Susan400