1st shot of pegasis taken yesteday

[Bri1313]

My viral load is at 5,622,140 and my AST is 496 with my ALT 877. I am in stage 2-3 after taking my liver biopsy. I just gave my self the first shot and have taken the pills. I am scared. Could anyone give advice on what I should do to make this easier on my body? Thanks

[thegypsy9164]

My doc has me taking nexium and/or phenergan for my nausea.  Get a lot of rest and eat healthy, light foods.  Your appetite may be effected eventually where the thought of no food seems palatable.  I could go on and on about possible symptoms and remedies but the best route will be to consult your physician when the need arises.  My heart is with you. Oh, drink lots and lots of water to flush the drugs out of your system.  Trust me....lots of water will help in feeling better.
Joey

[GSDgirl]

You should make a new post, otherwise it will get buried because the original post is from 2008.  Many people on here have a lot of very good information.  Welcome to the board

Denise

[rachellovestracy]

injected for the 1st time back in Jan., pletelets went down to 47 so had to stop.  went to univ of wash.  Drs there said we're willing to let platelets drop to 25 b4 we stop.  apparently have good genotype that will take 6 mtns of treatment.  viral load is around 400,000.  is that good or not?  don't know how to read for alt and albumin and such.

injected on sat nite.  sunday was not a fun day- no nausea but achey flu feeling.  My spleen is huge takes up most of my left side.  very pronounced when i lay on my back...

take oxycodone for chronic spleen and liver pain.  dr.says up to 400 mg of tylenol is ok.

[merryBe]

comazine or procloppter, or OTC dramamine can help with nausea.
eat light...broths, a little toast, or a cream soup.

after a few shots the nausea subsides and I'm only slightly more touchy on day one and fine all week many weeks.
but meanwhile, keep your meals small and easy to digest. Yes you need some fat (for the riba, but not a lot. a few drops of olive oil in your broth with suffice if thats all you can hold down. In fact the more fat and protein you eat, the more likely is the nausea.

the procloppter worked for me, but it is a RX....most anti-nausea RX's make you sleepy
and it will be hard to work or drive on them. thats why most people take their shot friday night, because they have SAt of and can just veg. and be sick without having to run around feeling pukey.

[comeagain]

Your the same age as my oldest daughter welcome to this place.
I´ve got it when I was 19 but didn`t know that i had it until I was 38.

Its good you are treating as young as you are, better odds and nice to get rid of it early.
Like Ny girl said you can come here with any questions and ask,  people will be more and willing to help.

God bless

ca

[IAmTheWalrus]

An empty stomache and TX seem to not work out for me. I find it best to have a good meal each night, but especially on shot night. Most recommend Tylenol before shot. Sometimes I have taken ibuprofen and found that it lessens the flu-like symptoms. Plan on getting a lot of sleep or rest in the day or two following the shot. You may feel no side effects at all, so don't get worked up about it. Just be ready to recognize them if they do appear and realize that it is just that, a side effect.

Make your health a priority. Remember, alcohol and HCV can be a lethal combination.

Good luck,
Walrus

[nygirl7]

Honestly I didn't have ANY of the flu like symptoms or anything until about week 30 - so don't get too scared, I worked myself into a FRENZY and then slept for 18 hours straight I was such a nervous wreck I think!  

You just might be lucky and have no problems so try not to anticipate them.  If they come they come but they just might not.

I always took two tylenol with my shot to avoid the fever. I think maybe it did help. Drink a lot of water - these meds are going to dehydrate you more than you will ever be able to imagine.  They say drink half your body weight in ounces so if you weigh 120 you should drink 60 oz of fluids a day. This helps a lot.

Take your ribavirn WITH breakfast and dinner. The riba needs fat to bind to in order to stay in your system & it helps with the naseau. If you can't eat a full meal just make sure you take it with some fat - even if it's ice cream who cares!

Try to rest whenever you can. I always made the day after shot day (Sat for me) my day of REST. I stayed in bed and watched tv and snoozed and ate bon bons if I felt like it. It helped me get through the rest of the work week big time.

I mananged 72 weeks and I am a BIG baby! I have been SVR for 18 months - if I could do it you definitely can too.

Remember - we ARE here to help so any questions you have ask.

Save all your test results and learn how to read them. This will be a HUGE help to you in the future.

Good luck.

[ladybuglola]

When I took my 1st shot.  It was around 7pm. Went to bed around 10p on an empty stomach.  About 3pm I started vomiting, went back to bed and slept.  
Now I always eat a heavy meal b4 I take my shot and I eat another meal; not so heavy but with a substantial amount of fat so that I dont go to bed on an empty stomach.
Eating fats I noticed eases some of the sx.  Friday evenings I always eat fatty foods, mcdonalds, kfc just for the fat; I know thats not good but you do what you have to to get thru this.  Also b4 taking my ribaviran I always eat some healthy fat, peanut butter, avocados, cheese to ease some of the sx.  
I hope this helps.   oh Maybe take a tylenol or advil a few hours after your shot too to help with any pain.
good luck!