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Avatar universal

First shot

I just picked up my first prescription of treatment where my shots are premixed syringes and kept cold.  The class I took and the video I have had two vials, one with powder that you mixed yourself.  

My question is, since the pharmicist said that these were to be kept cold, can I allow these to warm to room temperature and should I?  Or will that damage the medicine?  I just picture a cold shot maybe stinging more than a room temp shot.

Thanks, Robin
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Avatar universal
How are you?  Was happy to see your post, but sorry to hear about your health problems.....that is a sticky bugger infection.  I had the same thing.......it is a bad experience.  I am glad you are on the mend.....do not be a stranger..........I hope you see this post.....sometimes the older posts do not get read.......
Anyway...NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN!!!!!!!
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your advice in my previous post regarding how to post on this site.  I have actually printed it out this time so as not to forget. :)  Since I mostly read here for the company and information and encouragement it has been confusing.

Thanks again Robin
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Avatar universal
Hi and welcome to your new-found family!!!!! I agree totally with Indiana. I was told to hold pegasys in syringe in my hand, to bring to body temp. Never shake it.>>>>just some advice. I hope you do well w/ minimal sx (side effects). DRINK LOTS OF WATER!!!!!  You are on your way now!!!!!! Stay here as much as possible. You will learn much from alot of people, like rev___,(Scott).. Indiana, Chevy, mikesimon, TnHepGuy, Honey, LvdByGod, Eyeadeas(Kim)...and the list goes on @ on...who are going, or have been thru the same roller-coaster ride you have just started. Best Wishes and lots of prayers. You will also find ppl here are the most wonderful ppl in the whole world; kind, courageous, loving, understanding, Christians, and ppl who believe in a higher being, caring and that list to goes on @ on. We all are in this together and we are all here for each other. You are luckier than I was...I didn't find this site, until I was way into tx.

Unfortantly, I did 48 wk of combo...I am 48 yr old female, geno 1A, started w/ viral load of over 6 mil, but relapsed when I finished tx. I go this Tues for an ultra-sound @ bx and I start w/ a new hepatologist...who I have seen once before on May21st, he is putting me on a clinical trial....trying to find out the "method to the madness" of my relapse. I have found a God send of a doctor! I look forward to learning new tx(treatment) and passing on all the GOOD news to the GOOD PEOPLE here. Much Love @ Many Prayers, Cindee
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Avatar universal
The small amount of medicine in the syringe-pen will warm up pretty quickly.  You can just hold it in the palm of your hand for a couple of mins., without rolling or anything, and your hand will warm it.  To help prevent reactions, you can "ice" the site before you inject.  I use a "cold pac" (like blue ice) from the drugstore first aid section, keep it in the freezer so I can just grab it and go.  Since I always inject into my leg, I sit down and put the clean cloth (like a hand or dishtowel) and then the ice on the leg, while I get everything else open, ready.  Ignore any advice you got to rub the site, after injecting.  Leave it alone.  Your body can disperse the med without your messing with the site. Not manipulating the site, also, may help prevent reactions.  With the short needle on this syringe, you don't really have to worry about being "sure" you inject SC (subcutaneous/ under the skin).  It takes a longer, larger needle to get deep into a muscle. Since some have not gotten good instruction, let me also say: you only need to pinch up the skin to make it taut, so the needle will go in easily.  Once the needle is in, you can let go of the pinch.  cheri
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Avatar universal
<B>Good luck Robin,</B>

I am 3 weeks behind you.
I am Geno 2B, Stage 3, Grade 2, 6,000,000 copies, on only PCR quantitative,  relapser.
I will be starting June 23.


3rd Time on TX.

<B>Like most all stated let the syring warm up to room temp and by all means make sure the alcohol has completly evaparated.</B>


               TonyZ
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Avatar universal
That is a really neat site!!  And to think,,,,I started with 8 mil to begin with of them buzzing around in me...Just gives me that much more incentive,,,, onward with slaying!!  Thanks so much!
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Avatar universal
I had the pen and didn't really warm it up.  My partner gave me all my shots-3xwkly, 24wks, & I prefered upper thigh-alternating.  Since I didn't work, i prefered to take my shots in the morning, go for a brisk walk and rest (seista).  that cut down 'sleepless' nites.  also, i cleaned and organized on shot days.  my partner said if i had been on tx a few more mo's, i could have gotten to the storage locker.

BTW, I cl'ed just over 2yrs ago.
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Avatar universal
Thanks. My new desktop is a lymphocyte eating HCV and my screen saver is a flag waving with the same picture.
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Avatar universal
You just opened my eyes..........3rd time on tx? Did you ever clear the 1st 2 times? Were you on the new combo treatment?
I haven't heard of any other 2b's that relapsed, but if you were a non-responder, thats different.

Steve
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Avatar universal
Robin.. Good luck with your shot and here's to SVR:)
Scott:  Thanks again for all of your research - you are priceless:)
Tony:  What a brave and motivated man you are! Third time is the charm:)
Chevy:  How are you feeling today..?  Much better I hope:)

Best of everything for everyone..
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Avatar universal
Terrific site, Scott!!! ..... thanks alot for posting it!!!


TnHepGuy
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Avatar universal
I am Geno Type 2B, 80-85% of people with Geno Type 2 and 3 achive SVR. I was one of the 15-20% that don't abtain SVR.
I was undetectable at 10 weeks, I did 24 weeks of TX, but relapsed once off TX. This TX was non-Peg Interferion,  3 shot per week with alpha interferion-2B and riba 1200Mg daily.
The 2nd time was with peg-intron and Riba, I had to be discontinued at shot 18 because of severe sides.
This time I hope to be on pegasys. I am with Kaizer permanente the give Pegasys to people who are 75Kg, 165Lb and under, if you are over that you get Peg-Intron. I am now at 78Kg 171Lb. I have lost 27Lb so that I could get on pegasys. I still need to loose 2 1/2 Kg.
There is not a whole lot of fat left to lose. :-)

I can't find any data to support the Dr at kaizer's reason, that Pegasys is better for people under 75Kg, and Peg-Intron is better for People over 75Kg, <B>I think it is all HMO politics.</B>

           TonyZ
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Avatar universal
If you find anything on the subject of weight and peg in ve pegasus please post I got some great info from trihepguy on bmi and genotype
My docs a nut thought he called into pharmacy for peg interferon and called into insurance company for pegasus

I am just waiting for approval

Keiser pulled out of my state a few years ago and as far as I know they have not come back  but everyone liked them.
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Avatar universal

Relevance of Weight-based Dosing (WBD) with PEG-IFN

Although both PEG-IFNs are administered once weekly, due to the specific pharmacokinetic profile of PEG-IFN alfa-2b, it must be dosed dependent on the patient
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Avatar universal
If yo are using the Redipen with Peg/Intron be sure to follow each step exactly as recommended by the manufacturer. You should have gotten a by-fold step by step brochure. I'm doing 12/24 tomorrow and since I am riding this storm alone, I always refer to the brochure and have it open during the procedure just to make sure I remember thru the fog. Let stand to room temp., pull sleeve down to mix "da stuff", no shaking the pen just a couple of gentle upsidedown turns, then install the needle and finally dial your dose. All of this info is available from the manu. but you should have received it from either them or your doc. Another biggie is to switch injection sites each time to avoid rash or infection. This solution must be injected under the skin but not in the muscle. I found that out the hard way and had a few reactions. I was instructed that due to the time release nature of the Peg, that under the skin is very important and drinking water helps dissolved the Peg for correct time release (and it also helps with any sides such as headache). Personally I like to sleep thru it all. To each his own. Good luck and keep us informed
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Avatar universal
Hello all, I took a break from posting for a while due to having a really bad viral infection of the lungs/sinuses. It lasted for 3+ weeks, and was very hard to shake. Hope you all can avoid this "cold", it sucks, especially on this Tx!

Did shot #12 Friday...Half way there! Robin, just wanted to say welcome aboard, good luck to you. First shot for me was the worst by far...it gets much better after that. Take your Tylenol, have plenty of water and blankets (you will get the shivers after shot #1), and yes, you can allow the Redipen to warm-up to room temperature for a while. Please have a friend/family with you after the first shot....I would not recommend doing #1 w/o someone around. I had two of my best friends w/ me, and it was VERY helpful.

Shots #2 on go MUCH better, I've done them all alone.

Drink water, then some more, and come to this forum a lot.

Kick some dragon butt and kill all of the liver varmits!!!!


Pete
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Avatar universal
Hooray...hats off to you for having the courage to commit to treatment. The anticipation before shot #1 was worse for me than actually going through with it.  As to your question about temperature, I agree with Indiana...it's the alcohol I try to make sure is dry before I inject. I keep the vial out of the fridge for 5-15 minutes, or I rub it slowly between my hands as Layla does...I've also taken it out of the fridge and injected immediately...so far the temperature doesn't seem to matter for me...but everyone reacts differently, and most people seem to like it not so cold..we each have to figure out our own best system. I'm doing #25 on Monday. We're all here with you and for you. I'm rooting for you to have tolerable sides and to clear without too much fuss. Judi
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Avatar universal
Good luck, Robin.  The anticipation of Tx is probably MUCH worse than the real thing.
I think Indiana meant 15 seconds, not minutes, between the alcohol swipe (to sterilize the skin at the shot site) and doing the shot.  You want all the alcohol to evaporate (otherwise it stings), but I personally would forget what I was doing if I waited 15 minutes...
Every shot is a stab at the dragon; it will be more miserable than you.  Every shot gets you one closer to the end of treatment, and hopefully SVR.  You are on your way!  
Best,
Maj Neni
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Avatar universal
Well...so much for the "class" that they gave you.
The closer the meds are to your body temp, the less they will cause you problems. Warming it in your hands for awhile prior to the "deed" will make the whole "experience" less traumatic to your skin.
Warmiing right before your shot will not harm the meds or its effectiveness. Just don't use FIRE or something to warm it.....

The alcohol is more worrysome as far as the actual shot goes. If you choose to use it....do so about 15 minutes before to give it time to dry.

Have you decoded on where you will do it yet?....tummy?....leg?....arm?

All these decisions. Will the fun never end?
Congrats on getting started. We'll all be here for ya.
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Avatar universal
My pharmacist said the premixed syringes can actually be out of the fridge for 24 hours in an emergency. My dr said to warm it for 30 minutes out of the fridge because it would sting less.

Congratulations on joining our happy band. May your sides be light and may your viruses die.
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Avatar universal
I've read on my pegasys to rub the vial slowly between  your hands for 1 minute before use. It's not suppose to be severely shaken so make sure not to do this to extreme fast if you choose to do this. I personally don't bother most of the time and can't tell the cold from when I rub the vial. Maybe one day I will rub it and a genie will pop out any grant my wish to be cured! hahaha LL
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