Fiirst jab on Friday

[brown_eyed_grl]

Wish me luck. I am so scared of the sides.

I pray I kill this thing and at 4 weeks I am UD!

I am grateful I am a 2, but still scared shi%less


Thanks for all your support. I know I've been a big baby.

Julia

[wyntre9]

you will be fine!

I swear the anticipation of the first shot is worse than actually doing it!

I'm on week 29 of 72 and it's not the actual injection that's bad - it's the sx that can follow.

Some people are lucky enough to have no problems.  i recently read (can't remember the article) that pegasys reaches peak level in the blood stream between 48 -72 hours after injection.

if that's true, that would explain why i always have what I've thought of as a 'delayed reaction."  Although I do shots Friday evenings, the worse days seem to be Monday and Tuesday.

Of course, that also can change from week to week and I know some people who have an immediate reaction.

I've noticed you've been posting for several months so it seems you've certainly educated yourself about the process.

best of luck and let us know how you do.

BTW - what's your genotype and how many weeks are you slated for?

wyntre

ps - You're NOT a big babay!!!!   :)

[heppa38]

hey there Julia,

I wish you all the best of luck, I am sure it will all work out for you.
Geesh!, I remember my first shot, I recall having to take it in front of my nurse, normal protocol here in Australia. I was warned it was going to hit my like a tone of bricks, oh I hadn’t mentioned in my post I was on this new treatment they had and was randomly picked for, lol (double dose of INT, for 12 weeks) It hit me like a tone of bricks and probably took me a few weeks to adjust to it, and I dreaded taking every jab and thought of quitting due to the way it made me feel. I mean, I had lost like 6kilos just sitting there doing nothing in the first 3 weeks or so, so yea, u figure. But I eventually got over it and my body adapted to change, as urs will….I did experience a lil loss of appetite, hair, sex drive, felt like as if I was suffering from Alzheimer's disease, but again in time it was all good and most important of all was beneficial medically speaking..
Good luck! I’ll be keeping an eye out for your future posts.
Frank

[orphanedhawk]

   I received some really good advice right here prior to starting tx. One person said, remember the sx don't last. And its true. You may get a splitting headache and 15 minutes later, its gone. Someone else said tx is like a rollercoaster. Yet, another told me to grab my paddle, jump in, and try to keep the boat upright. It always helps me to remember the sxs are just that. The medication is making me feel, emotional or achey (achy) or tired or whatever. If I start to feel blue, I try to focus on something uplifting.
   You will do fine. The apprehension of that first shot was much worse than the real thing, for me.   Good luck and warm hugs,            OH

[Myown]

Wish you the best! You'll do fine. Even if you get the flu like symptoms from the first shot, its no biggy at all. The worry before tx drives us all crazy, but you will feel sooooo much better once you start tx and get the ball rolling.  My biggest problem was the mood swings. Even when anemic, I felt fine. Everyone is different and btw I was told by my NP that geno 2's usually have an easier time with sx.

You'll be fine. Keep us posted.

[wyntre9]

Hey!  

Good to see you posting!

How are you feeling post TX?  

wyntre

[ladybug52]

You'll be fine. Really, as a geno 2, we have such a short tx, and usually a great response to tx. Just make sure you are getting enough meds for your body weight, drink lots of water, and keep a good attitude. Kepp telling yourself it'll all be over soon, and you won't have to worry about the virus anymore. Hang in there.
Bug

[Myown]

Hey Wyntre!

I wasn't posting cause I was away with my mother and dogs.  I go away with energy and come back tired.

But anyhow, feeling good other than tired, thanks. Go for my 4 week pcr in a couple of weeks.


How are you feeling? You're going to do 72? How's sx, any better? I hope so.

Have you talked to SFBG? I've been trying to read some of the threads that I missed while away, but its just too much to read. I haven't seen any posts by SFB though. I hope she's alright.

Talk to you again.

[Myown]

Hey bug!

How are you feeling these days? Hope all is well with you.

I'm too tired to type which isn't like me, so I think I will make a cup of tea and stretch out on the couch or something.

talk to ya tomorrow.

[brown_eyed_grl]

Thank you for all your kind words. Yes, fear of the unknown is a scary place, but at least I have this place to come to. I have educated myself as best as I can, but it's kinda like having a baby....you will never know untill you've walked in those shoes.

I'll be around friday night to check in. I already have the night scheduled:

tylenol
riba
shot
4hrs later more tylenol per my NP

[Lilla]

anticipation is terrible; I am a geno 2b.   I was so scared to have the first shot.  I actually sat and waited for something to occur after.   Prior to shot, I drank about 16 to 20 oz of water, had shot, and then nothing.   Next day, I ran a low fever of about 99....I took Ibuprofen and went away.   Third day I ran a 99 degree fever and took Ibuprofen, went away, and have not had a fever since.  I am on week 22 out of 24.     From what I have read, for me it is the Riba that gives me the worst sides, that being anemia.   My biggest complaint has been just lack of energy and stamina.   Appetite has not been the greatest, but my choice of foods have changed and that's a good thing as fruit has become plentiful in my diet since treating.     some days are better than others, and if you can listen to your body and rest when needed, that is not a bad thing.  I know we all don't really have that luxury all the time, but take care of yourself.

[Tater_ToT]

I'll certainly wish you LUCK!!!

You may not ever get used to it ( I never did) however it does get easier & doable!

My first shot I had some chills & what-nots several hours after... but then after that I didn't start getting other notable reactions till around the 11th week!

Maybe take some advil when you do you shot, & have a heating pad close by to put your feet on just "in case" to help keep you warm!

Congratulations On Getting Started... Hang In There!
:)

[cajunlady]

You will be just fine. And if things do get rough, just come in here and there will be someone here to help you through it. Good Luck

Cajun

[jools57]

Hi Julia...I found the anticipation was the worst for the first shot...i'm doing shot 6 friday...I'm a geno 3...so far the sides have been managable...i take 1 tylenol pm after my shot, and that seems to take the edge off...remember to drink lots of water...that has been my lifesaver...i tend to start to feel a headache if i havent had enough water...My doctor told me the drugs build up in the 3rd and 4th weeks, and then kinda average out...like i said before i think the anticipation was the worse...i still don't enjoy the injection itself, and they do tend to leave red or purple marks so don't be alarmed if that happens...i tell myself..this too shall pass...you will do fine!!!  heres to UND, and SVR!!

Blessings, Julie

[Forseegood]

really the best of luck with this...like they always say...bravery will come to you like so many here...

[capn hardass]

i found the richest choc-almond ice-cream,and virtually lived on the stuff thru 3tx,s.live on ice-cream and steadily lose weight.not all bad..

[EspritLibre1]

just want to chime in with well wishes!  Everyone different LOL!!  Reading thru here cracks me up... some say it get worse each passing wk, some say the become use to it.  My 1st 9wks, I was in pain and was draggin butt and ready to quit. Pain left about wk 10 or 11 but some nausea came.... now all that's really got me is the fatigue.... doing shot 16 tomorrow. there'll be days you wanna quit... actually the thot occurs everyday for me but we keep going. Hang in there and good luck!!! Libby

[scubadiver30]

Best of luck to ya
I'm also a 2b and finished my tx seven weeks ago. I feel fine now and my ALT is 46/AST is 25....Which is pretty good considering I was 90/80 (even peaked to 300) all the time since 2004, over 40, male, 20+ year infection and a heavy dude.
Tomorrow I'm doing my first PCR post tx and I'm really scared of results :-/, but what the heck...After doing 24 weeks of IFN (and having thyroid problems. loosing my job, etc)  I'm capable of doing it all again if I relapse...Knowing what I know now about the combo, if we take an objective approach (drink tons of water before and after the shot, sleep a lot, blood monitoring, ibuprofen, good diet, betadine mouthwash) etc...it is a doable TX...
And it is a good way to shed some pounds ;-)
I understand FLguy's approach now...
And remember 24 is better than 48...

Best of luck to you and keep reading this forum..It is the best source of info.
saludos
scuba

[brown_eyed_grl]

I am putting out lots of positive vibes for you! I know you will be SVR. I just know it!!

You must feel great to have crossed the finish line. Was it difficult? I plan to work thru this. I feel work will keep me outta my head.

Good luck to you my friend.

Julia

[scubadiver30]

HI
thanks :-)
Tx wasn't bad until I hit week 8 (that my thyroid started sputtering on me). It does happen to 10% of patients on IFN. I hope you'll be on the other 90%. So I took a 2 month LOA that cost me my job. But if I SVR, I'll be so happy I could not care less.
And I feel fine now, no linegring sx...so like I said, 24 w is doable...
All I need now is SVR :-)
You're a 2B...You have a good chance to clear so go for it with all you got. 5 and a half months go fast. Some people do work thru tx.
I just wasn't lucky enough to do it....Maybe I was too paranoid...and didn't have procrit to help me

Good vibes to you too

scuba