Now that I am 3 weeks post incivek, I can tell you that I no longer have firreeah or any anal itching or burning. OMG what a relief!!! I have noticed that on occasion I still have diarrhea and will take an immodium ever now and then. My doc has also suggested I try metamucil or fibercon to help.
I am still adjusting my diet especially now that I have a pronounced metallic taste in my mouth. I find bland food works best. I don't have a big appetite and sometimes have to really force myself to get my daily liquid intake to an acceptable level.
I have lost almost 10 pounds with the weight loss starting just as I was ending incivek. At that point all I could eat was my 60 grams of fat. As someone who is short and chubby, I will take weight loss any way I can get it....lol.
I am also still battling a low hgb and took my second procrit shot today. I understand that it will probably be about 4 weeks before I feel better. My doc estimates that after 4 weeks my hgb should be around 9.5. I started the procrit with an hgb of 8.2 so 9.5 sounds pretty good to me. If I can get my energy level up just a little, I am sure I will feel like a new person.
In sum, the incivek period was one of the toughest times of my life. I feel so much better!!! Hang in there.
My husband is on Victrelis but he had this SX even during the 4 week lead in with just SOC. I called and asked his nurse if there was anything to try besides Immodium because that wasn't helping much. She said that some of their patients have had success with taking Metamucil . (You wouldn't want to take it close to Riba or Victrelis/Incivik. So I timed it to be between doses in the evening.) It sounds totally crazy to take fiber which can help constipation when you have diarrhea but she assured me that it has been amazingly helpful for some people.
Well...it worked! He has to have it every day or he goes back to the diarrhea but what a cheap and easy cure that was. I used the Walmart off brand of Metamucil. Very counterintuitive but life is often like that.
Best Wishes,
Ev
I am just on Pegasys right now and have had the diarrea for 2 weeks already...Last time I did treatment also, (Pegasys) I had it right through my tx so I feel it must be the ribavirin that is causing it for me. :-( Hope it passes soon for you, though! :-(
I suffered with diarrea for several weeks, but discovered what I eat in the morning can change that. I was drinking smoothies and eating yogurt and when I switch to toast in the morning my diarrea stopped. Worth a try. Hope it improves for you soon!
Ouch!! That's terrible, sorry to hear about this sx. If you can, ask your doctor for Opium Tincture 10. Should work for certain!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laudanum
Did the firreeah stop with ending inc ?
I have been done with the Inc for 2 weeks now and still have diarrhea. This is my second round of tx the first was 48 weeks of peg/ribo and ihad it the whole time and got worse the longer I was on it. I went from 125 lbs to 88 lbs.
I hate to sound like Debbie downer!
The good news is that I feel SO much better off the Inc and procrit! That last month on the Inc might have been the sickest I have felt for a sustained time frame in my life! Feels like a holiday now that it is done!!!
yeah a couple 20's could be compensation ;)
Ann, Please keep in touch with me and let me know how things change once you come off the INC. I sure hope its only the INC doing this, but I have heard that Riba might do the same.
Dixichicdana, I am right with you in that boat, Short , Chubby and if by a miracle, maybe , just maybe I might loose a couple 20lbs or so, It wouldnt hurt my feelings at all :) LOL
PS Keep those cheeks squeeky clean !
ugh...I'm in the same boat with you. I'm over weight though so maybe I'll poop it off LOL
Not on INC, but Riba/Peg only. Had some digestive issues the first few weeks, but diarrhea and nausea haven't been an issue. Hope this passes soon ;)