Are there people out there without major sides?

[garrygee]

I'm lead to believe that most people do fairly well on triple therapy with incivek, but what we hear from on this site are the ones with complications.  If this is so, I would really like to hear some success stories.  I'm starting in about 2 wks and frankly I'm getting pretty scared with the horror stories.  I finished a 6 month series with ribavirin and interferon, then a 48 wk series of peg interferon/rib almost 12 years ago and did reasonably considering I was trying to work 70 hrs a wk and although I'm now older, I'm still in pretty good shape.  I would sure appreciate some positive feedback.  I really want to do this.

[Advocate1955]

I don't think non-responder and relapser are the same.  Were you a non-responder to the old non-pegylated interferon/ribavirin and then a relapser on the new pegylated interferon/ribavirin?  Do you know what stage of liver damage you have?
I would buy all of the over the counter type remedies such as Gold Bond or Eucerin body wash and cream, Balneol (for your bottom), Tucks (for your bottom), baby wipes, Loperimide for diarrhea, and then ask your doctor if he would recommend writing prescriptions for Triamcinolone (rash), Hydroxyzine (rash), an anti-nausea med, and Lidocaine (anal pain) or if he would prefer to wait until the symptoms appear to prescribe.
A few days before you start treatment, I would stock up on first aid gloves, bandaids, disposible baggies, foods that are high in fat, and foods that you like to eat so that if you don't feel well you won't have to go out right away.
Advocate1955

[garrygee]

My first try with interferon/ribavirin I didn't respond, but one month on pegylated interferon/ribavirin I was nondetectable and continued that way for a year.  It was great for my liver (near normal when I finished), but in three months, it was back.  So, I guess the answer is, I relapsed.  I still have the same doctor and I think he wants me to be rid of this thing as bad as I do and has told me he would like to treat me for the full 48 weeks with incivek.

[PJ1966]

Have you been a non-responder in previous treatment
Was just curious how he thought you were a non-responder.

[Advocate1955]

My husband had moderate sides while on triple tx with Incivek.  He had fatigue, moderate Inc rash, anal/rectal pain and bleeding, mild symptoms of anemia. The symptoms were more mild after completing the 12 weeks of Inc.  He was able to work full time throughout treatment.
Advocate1955

[Cory255]

On week 28 doing the Incivek Triple Tx, undetected since wk 4.  Doc thinks I'm a non-responder so doing 48.  Sides were rough first 12 weeks, then got easier.

Hang in there.

[Isobella]

I completed triple therapy with Incivek in a clinical trial.  My sides were light compared to many.  I had minimal rash issues.  My biggest complaint was anal irritation from the Incivek.  It begain about 12 hours after my first dose and went away just as quickly after the last dose.  

My daughter is 6 weeks shy of completing her treatment-also triple therapy with Incivek.  Her sides have mirrored mine.  Anal irritation, mild anemia and neutropenia.  

We both started out with prescriptions in advance in case we ran into trouble:  Atarax for itching, Zoloft for depression (we both found we needed this), Clobetasol and Protopic for rashes.  But probably what was most important was PrepH and Tucks. That and coming here to vent :)

Tired and cranky by the end -48 weeks for both of us- but so very happy to be free of HepC.

Wishing you the best.  

Isobella