CRANKY and Short Fuse

Question

Happy Labor Day All, 
       Today I think RIBA Sides may have reared it's ugly head . Wanted to yell at everyone in store today . No patients at all . Left the store before I became to rude .Went back to get what I needed and had major anxiety , chest pains and all . 
        Is this what you refer to as (RIBA rage)?

        If so ,what do I do about it ?  Btw I am usually very patient and kind person

patra_ · Answer

Your hair will grow back. We have even had a couple ofpeople whose hair did not start falling out til they we end od treatment. I believe the longest period I saw referred to was that by 4 mo EOT the hair was voming back nicely - and with a little wave in it. : -).

DGA123 · Answer

Totally agree.  It's a nasty drug w/o the chemo.  Worst part for me is the hair loss.  That and after 24 weeks of treatment I still have the virus.

Buba1962 · Answer

Well that is great news!☺️

Buba1962 · Answer

That is Mantra

Buba1962 · Answer

Yes ! Thai ise Myanmar mantra!

Livelife777 · Answer

Fellow warriors....I also did the Riba, and as Sandi, stated its the first side effect to go.  It was honestly washed away with the last pill, and never to return!  I'm almost 5 months EOT, and not 1 oz of meanness in my bones since then.
Big smiles now!
....Kim

Ekkiemom · Answer

Happy Monday morning everyone!!  Trust everyone made it thru another week of treatment...give yourselves a HUGE pat on the back.....this is a new week which means we are 1 week closer to SVR !!  Stay strong and try and laugh from time to time....the community has been so uplifting as I read the responses and allowed me to stay positive during my Tx, so Thank You everyone as it's not been easy for me emotionally. I have PTSD...I don't talk about it tho I just want to be able to bring some positiveness (word?) to all of you as you have done for me......hope I have been able to do that for even just one person.........be strong and speedy SVR

Deb

cheflady · Answer

Yep welcome to the riba rage! When hubby went on one i escaped by taking the pooch out, i also told him to count to 10 before opening his gob!! just remember that it is the drugs not you. Chin up it will not be forever& goodluck with rest of tx Julesx

hepc4Sandi · Answer

Hi Mary, yes it is really temporary, it is one of the symptoms to go away almost right away. My agitation and anxiety went down within a few days after stopping, I found I was very emotional after, felt so relieved to be done, felt so blessed. I have become really good friends with almostsixty on this forum, she did the same Tx as me, (and Buba1962,) and I felt like she was the only person who could understand the emotions. So know that there is light at the end of this tunnel. It is something to look forward to. It is the Riba causing it, so as soon as it drops a bit in your body you will feel it. Do know that the physical symptoms take a while to go away, weeks really, that you need to keep up with the water intake, and it takes awhile for your appetite to return too.

Mmorgan854 · Answer

As much as I would like to agree with someone so knowledgeable on Hep-C, I have struggled with extreme irritability almost from the start,  some days better than others, an I'm on Solvaldi/RIBA.  I have treated with interferon before an cannot honestly remember it being this bad.. Like you, Buba 1962, I have never been a hot head so my inner personality has been affected.  So much so, that I'm extremely worried that I will stay this way(like a permanent side affect) an I'm emotionally exhausted by the anxiety of it all.   BUT... I have been assured this is temporary.  Hoping you get through this as easily as possible.  Reach your EOT an on to SVR.   MARY

Livelife777 · Answer

Honestly the best thing you can do to combat the Riba Rage is to head out the door, and start walking.   FAST!   Any type of physical activity will release your pent up emotions and calm you down.  Would also explain to your trusted circle of friends and family the effects the meds have on your emotions.   Whenever I would go into a rant we would all reply Riba Rage" and no ones feelings were hurt.   
Eventually it does go away after Tx ends!
Keep your cool.
....Kim

Ekkiemom · Answer

Hi Buba.....can totally to relate to what ur going thru however mine is from the RIBA. I get so irritated with everything and everyone, so either I take a short nap, talking is good, and I talk and cry a lot which relieves so much tension or I u-tube some funny stuff and laugh till I cry....these drugs are powerful and put our bodies and minds thru changes we don't yet realize. Thank goodness it's a temporary Tx ya know...... Keep smiling ☺️

Buba1962 · Answer

Yes positive thoughts!

Buba1962 · Answer

Thank you ,yours words always have a calming effect on me ! I know you were in these very shoes! ☺️

Buba1962 · Answer

Any advice to beat this is helpful thank you

hrsepwrguy · Answer

I had the same problem while treating, doc gave me alprazolam, worked great.

Have a great day

dkus · Answer

Members have mentioned the interferon is the culprit, yet am on Sovaldi 400mg/ Ribavirin 1000mg ( no interferon) and am fully aware of the irritability. Find that my tolerance level is quite low. Have not had a problem speaking my mind so any further assistance in doing so is surely not needed on my part. Do my best to stay within myself and stay aware that it is the effects of the meds that is accentuating these emotions and know that this too will pass. Hang in there. We are almost there.

Mattlaw · Answer

Hey buba 
I try not to refere to it as the rage the way I see it is our body can only take so much before being irritable.
It sounds negative and I bit scary.posative positive positive is how I'm managing and my wife has ques for me when I start getting grumpy.
If you are a kind natured person well that is what you are don't try and let some fictional dragon try and prove atherwise.i am only in early stages of treatment and really struggled in the start.
Lots of talks and advice and acceptance of how long I'm on this for and a change of attitude I think helped me as things are much easier now 

Stay positive and talk lots we are all here for each other this is a wonderful site 
Good luck and take care :)

hepc4Sandi · Answer

Yep, you have it, Riba rage. Just know it is the drugs. Pace yourself, acknowledge what it is, try to do things when you are feeling rested. I tried to do things on the last 2 days before my shot, when my energy was better. Do you have anyone who can do errands for you? Otherwise try to surround yourself with happy, light stuff. Movies, happy music (I couldn't listen to rock or blues while on tx, only happy music). Apologize, say a prayer, remember you are fighting a dragon. Hang in there, it is not forever. Good luck!

can-do-man · Answer

While it's called Riba rage the main culprit is the interferon. The Riba just gives it a little boost. Pretty common thing and it seems to happen so quick it is sometimes hard to control. Just hang in there, while I had it at times it wasn't constant.

patra_ · Answer

That is sort of it - the cranky part.  At least you didn't yell,etc.  This is when you take a walk in the fresh air - if it's not so hot - or cold that it would not be healthful, or go off by yourself and watch a favorite happy movie, or read a favorite book, things that you find soothing.  My only venture was when I yelled at my hubby, when he delivered the message at our church one Sunday and went beyond the standard message time.  Thank God, I had warned him, so he took my behavior well, and now, when I start getting cranky, before it gets to yelling, or anxiety attack level, he asks me if I don't think it is time for a nap - his signal that I am getting cranky.  I do go lay down and nap or read or watch OLD reruns of Match Game (from 1976!).  It truly helps me - and, I'm sure, him.  Hope this helps.  Pat