Well I did IT...So far So Good

[hvnbnd4]

Well I got brave and did it. Yesterday at 4pm I took my first shot. 180 of pegsys alpha 2-a..then at 8pm last night I took 200mg of riba and at 9pm I took the other 200mg.  I used the zofran before the shot and a promethezine before the pills.  So far I have had no reactions at all. A little redness at the site.  I did take a tylnol pm too. I woke today and went to the "Y" worked out, did the tread mill, and swam a few laps.  I took both my morning pills 400mg together at 8am.  So, I am taking 800 mg per day.  Is this still too small a dose for my weight? I am 270 female, and my v load is 280K, with no elevations in my liver panels at all. and only slight damage without any scarring.  Maybe doc feels I dont need a higher dose.  I have only had Hep for 11 years.  He is on vacation until the 6th. So, I have to wait anyway.  Atleast I feel good. I could go up to another 200mg maybe.  I will wait and ask him tho. Thanks for the info.. Geri floating from the water....

[roxybabe]

Hey-how did you get hepatitus C?????

[cuteus]

Most people on Pegasys don't seem to get a lot of reaction to the shot, I know I didn't.
Your riba dose is small and as it was suggested to you in your first post, you need to question your dr asap. It is not dependent on viral load or how long you had your virus, it is weight dependent and most people with genotype 1 take 1000mg or above. Ribavirin does play an important role early in treatment so it is best to get some answers soon. best to you

[honey1616]

LOL,,,Glad to see you are doing good and off to a good start!! As far as your pills of 800,,,,I would probably question your dr on that and see if he can up the dose.  I started 130 and was put on 1000...and now at 120 something and my NEW dr said that all along I could have been put on 800, however,,,1000 is doing ok with me so I will just leave at this time.  And you may be fine on 800 as there is some others here that are on 800 so I'm sure others will be speaking up here soon!  Good Luck on your sides!!

[Oreos]

Congrats on starting!  I'd also question the doc on your riba dosage - is he/she starting slowly for some reason?  I'm a 140 lb female on 32/48 Pegasys and take 1200 mg (5 pills daily) of the riba and have since day 1.  Started Procrit around month 3 due to anemia from the riba.  

Sounds like you're drinking tons of water.  It REALLY helps.  Take is easy until you see how these meds effect you - they hit us all a bit differently.

Good luck and I hope your sides are minimal!

[Oreos]

Oops.  Brain fog strikes again.  I'm taking 1000 mg of the riba (5 200mg pills/day).  Of course, we all know that 5x2=12...uh, not.  Gotta laugh : )

[TnHepGuy_]

Congratulations on getting started on your tx!

As far as riba amount - <a href="http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2003icr/03_assld/docs/pegasys/102703_g.html">here</a> is a study that suggests the important correlation between riba dosage and SVR. According to this study (and most docs, it seems these days) you should be on 1,200mg/day. There is even a line of thought to go higher (e.g. - 1,400mg/day) for the first 6 weeks or so of tx - until a certain rate of viral decline is achieved - then dropping the dosage to 'normal'. Thereby hitting it hard at first, then backing off to avoid toxicity.


TnHepGuy


http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2003icr/03_assld/docs/pegasys/102703_g.html

[DebbieDo]

Greetings, its been awhile since i have posted. Just got back from GI appt......... I'm a 1b, mild fibrous, VL 5.9, I have had Hep C for 34 yrs(I'm 52) Undetectable at 14 wks .....Went from 1200 Riba to 800 after 4 months  because hemmo dropped to 9.3,and then after a month it went up to 10.3  "I" encouraged an increase to 1000 after a month.  Hemmo is still sort of low 9.5.......Nothing was reduced today.  Thyroid was alittle low, Im already on meds for that. Potassium was also low, told me to eat a banana a day and have a glass of OJ.......I will do 28/48 tonight. Things have been going pretty  well, with mild fatigue, minimium hairloss, Riba bumps that itch( they disappeared just like they appeared and now they are back again.....lol
I have gained weight due to lack of energy to excercise. I am thankful i have been able to work. Case load is very light, thank God........I will be glad when this is over.  I dont seem to be the happy go lucky person i use to be. I have some anxiety which seems to come and go. Not alot of patience, which i use to have plenty of. I can say that i invented the word "Patience".....seriously....I have been dealing with minor aches and pains, some restless nights, other than that, its been a rolley coaster of sx's, most are tolerable...
I want to say Hello to Chev,Galen (glad you are still lurking) OHC(thanks for your site) and Befudd( you need to stay out of trouble,lol) "LUKE" are you still lurking? and all the other kind soles here.  Most of all, many thanks to Indy for all his support. Although i dont post here much i find it very refreshing to come here and read. Wishing everyone continued mild sides....God Bless all of us for all we have to endure......Love  ya......Deb  :)~

[Ella Mackenzie]

I wiegh 135 and am on 800 ml of rib. Don't think my body could have tolerated any more, as I have had severe anemia. But I would call you doc just to make sure. We all tolerate differently. I envy you....swimming. sounds great.

[Sam Hall]

No news on mypcr and for the first time istarted to think has it worked after really beinf sure it had. I did have a little arthritic pain prior tx but understood this to most likely be hcv. Trouble is ikeepoverdoing it climbing,fishing and then bang i'mexhausted.so full marks to you with your riding and **** polishing Hope you feel no1
Bigpolarbearsnog Sam

[hph5477]

There's been a lot of discussion in the past over dosage of Riba; probably in the archived threads by now.  Anyway, I'm female, 47, 122 lbs pre-tx (now 115), in wk 37/48, 1B, beg VL of 596,000 and take 800 mg of Riba per day.  According to everything I've read from the manufacturer this is the correct dosage for me.
   To be on the safe side, though, call your dr's office and verify your dosage amount.

Hope your tx goes well and your side effects stay minimal.

[derail]

I used to thonk there werenot too many people with a warped sense of humour welcome to the club from one of the originals    its refreshing to have someone else as bad as I snogs all around and pour me a tall unblended scotch cheerio

[ringeding]

hey you goofball...yah, i know how climbing to get those fish must be tiring for you poor dear, absolutely exhausting!!!!....maybe theres a better way cutie!!!  

don't forget that pint you owe me, i'll be heading to spain in october and plan to stay over in london for a day or two before heading the rest of the way....so auntie up buddy...

pubs r us

love kimmy

[hph5477]

I just did 37/48 and nurse just called and said my hemeglobin had dropped to 9.1 and she wants me to reduce my Riba.  I'm only taking 800 mg daily.  I lost Erin as my doc when she relocated up north and now have to see the NP who is not a proponent of additional meds to raise blood counts.  Anyway, she doesn't want to prescribe procrit b/c she says I'm so close to end of tx.
   Just wondering what you folks think of this.  I have an appt scheduled for this Wednesday; at which time I will be discussing this with her and plan to go in fully armed with my info.

[cuteus]

I got Procrit before it dropped below 10.2, I personally think she should Rx booster,it is quite low. some say the riba has done most of its work by now, I don't know...though.

[honey1616]

Hey,,,mine got down to that also at one during tx.  Ask if your dr will give you another week and do some more labs to see if comes up before making a decision.  Mine came up and I never had to worry about it.  I didn't want to cut the meds and I certaintly don't think you want to being at the finish line.

[hph5477]

The funny thing is that I have been feeling better and seem to have more energy than before.  In fact, have been riding my bike more and further distances and feeling really good doing it.  Personally, I don't see how I could still have the energy if it really dropped that low.  It had been hanging in between 10.3 and 10.8 just about the whole of tx.

[cuteus]

that is odd! have you changed your diet? maybe you can get another cbc in a week like Honey suggested?
weird.

[Fubarcat]

My doc just put me on Procrit with my Hgb being at 9.8.  I didn't want to take it, but it kicked in yesterday and I feel 100% better than I have felt in 24 weeks!  Why does being so close to the end of your treatment make any difference as to whether she starts you on Procrit?  I would either wait one week and re-do labs, or get on Procrit rather than decrease meds at this point.  But - that's just my opinion.

[honey1616]

I agree with Cuteus,,,that is so weird that you feel great! I was so run down!!  I was panting climbing stairs and literally felt at times while walking,,,I may just drop!  Hmmmmm,,,I would definitely get another test run before doing anything or like fubar said,,,shouldn't make any difference going on procrit last few weeks if helps you finish out meds...

[hph5477]

Just had a thought.  I usually do my labs early AM but this last week I rode my bike 19 miles and had breakfast first.  Did my labs around 2:00 pm.  Think the exercise would make the difference?

[Galen]

Hey Deb, good to see you, too!

[GulfCoast]

Hi to all. Glad to hear your first day went well hvnbnd4. In my previous post I mentioned that I started tx last Friday and so far so good. I do seem to be waiting (nervously) for the "shoe to drop" but its been bearable.

All the best to everyone.

[cindee]

Geri, Hi again. Glad to hear you're fist shot wasn't bad at all. But I wouldn't wait until Dr. gets back from vacation. I would go ahead and ask him why he started you on such a low dose. Let us know his answer, we need all the info we can get! Best wishes and love@prayers, Cindee

debbiedo, Hey!!! It was great to read your post. I've been missing you lately. Your'e half way there!!!! I wish for you to "CLEAR" this nasty 'ole virus!!!! Don't stay away so long. We love ya girl, love@prayers, Cindee

hph, Hi sorry to hear your platelets are down. But it's weird that you are feeling so good! Like Scott said maybe you can ride this thing out with no problems at all. My first dr.goofy didn't believe in procrit at all. But my new dr. Wonderful does. It's really strange how doctor's differ so much in meds that they will/will not use. When my platelets dropped to 9, my new doctor was really upset that my 1st doctor did nothing about it. My new doctor said I should have been given procrit, or even maybe a blood transfussion. Let us know how your apptmnt. goes. You are in my prayers each and everyday. Much love, Cindee

[tina-b]

My husband 3a did 24/24 last year and relapsed, he weighed 311 at begenning of tx and did 1,400mg reba per day, never missed a dose, weighed 265 at end of 24/24. Did 21/48 last Friday and is still doing 1,400mg reba daily. He weighs about 256 now. Neither old doc or new  Doc ever suggested lowering reba dose for him. He isn't a small guy anyway, he is over 6 foot tall. I wonder if docs keep you on highest dose of reba possible unless your blood work drops bad? He has been very tired lately but still goes to work every day......I don't know how he does it.

Scott.........CONGRATULATIONS on shot 79! WOW!

Now the question: Somewhere down the threads, it was mentioned that if peg isn't kept cold it will breakdown and maybe not work as well? Can somebody elaborate on that? Last year when husband did 24/24 the meds were never kept cold, not even from the pharmacy when they were delivered and I didn't refridgerate them when I got them. They came 1 month supply at a time the, not they come 3 months supply. Different insurance now. This time they come overnight packed it ice and I put them in the fridge right a way, they are never out but about 30 minutes before the shot. I guess the questions is, could not keeping them refriderated have played a major role is relapse?