First bad side effects of treatment

[reallyscaredindian]

i All,

As you know I have been on treatment for 6 weeks. During the first few weeks, I had fever after every injection, slight stiffness in my knees and jaw and that was about it.

I was on leave from work for about 4 months.

1. I joined work on first Feb. The first two days were okay. On the third day, that is on 4th Feb, my stomach started aching as soon as I reached office.

And I felt I had zero energy in my body. I felt more fatigued than I have ever felt in my life. Even getting up from my chair looked was a herculean effort. The one thing that might have caused this, and its only a conjecture on my part, that  I had very light breakfast, (just a couple of biscuits) before having Ribavarin.

Can lack of one adequate meal cause that much of a problem?

2. Also, I am experiencing pain in the upper - middle part of the abdomen. The pain is in short bursts but intense. I am experiencing this pain for the last 3-4 days. I had kept my laptop on my abdomen and was surfing for some time.  Can that be a cause of the stomach pain?

3. Also, I am drinking around 1.5 litres of water every day. I know that the recommended amount on treatment is  around 4 litres. Unfortunately it has been quite cold in India this time around. And that has kind of limited my water intake.

I am wondering if I need to see the doctor over this. Anyone have any advice?

[can-do-man]

At six weeks your body has fully absorbed these meds so side effects is more common. When I took Riba without more of a meal I would also get and upset stomach so that was more then likely your problem, again a pretty common side... As for the upper pain in the abdomen It is more then likely Acid Reflex as these meds bring that on. Talk to your doctor but for me he had me take over the counter Prevacid or Prilosic both are safe to take. Stay away from things like tums. again pretty common side.

As for water intake at least one half of your body weight a day, mix your water up with a little flavoring. also melons are a good source for water intake... As for fatigue it's going to happen, about all you can do is rest when you can. Things should start to level out. Keep and eye on your HGB levels as Riba causes anemia. Hang in there, best to you.

[reallyscaredindian]

I am experiencing constipation. That is hurting me a bit too. Thanks you for sharing your husband's experiences.

[cheflady]

hi there, sorry you are getting these sx  but they are all common ones of the tx. When my hubby was on tx he had absolutely no energy whats so ever and the fact that you have just gone back to work wont have helped.I am not a doctor but i would not have thought only having a light breakfast as anything to do with it quite often my hubby had nothing to eat before taking the riba and had no probs he also had quite a few wks of unexplained stomach ache,are you going to the toilet ok? Hubby had quite alot of constipation throughout tx and that caused him alot of adominal pain until his doc gave him lactalouse if it gets worse or more painful & are worried then it cannot do any harm consulting your doc. Hope it goes soon and good luck with rest of tx Jules