HCV treatment side effects

[Moca3]

HCV Diagnosed May 2013
Liver Biopsy Stage 2
Treatment: Sovaldi, Ribavirin, and pegininterferon alpha2a


I started treatment on March 14, 2014, 9 days on treatment. I hardly have no side effects except for very little itching. I am afraid that I am not injecting myself properly but I don't think so because I took classes on how to do the injection. I was expecting the worse with this treatment or it could be that 9 days is so little time to see the sides effects. Does anyone in this treatment has sides effects at the beginning or having effects after a while in treatment?

[Moca3]

Hi, again.
I am on week 4 of treatment. And yes, drinking plenty of water makes a difference in controlling side effects. I saw my doctor today and he read me this week lab results. AST/ALT levels went down since I had them high before treatment and the HCV RNA Quantitative PCR "Not Detected"
But the bad news is that I discovered I had hcv only 8 months ago when in fact according to my specialist my liver already had  liver damage Stage 2. I had hepatitis c for a least 15 to 20 years without knowing it.

[NoCleverName]

I'm currently on Week 3 of the same treatment protocol, and have had horrible side effects from Day 1. Like other folks have commented, tho, sides tend to vary from person to person. Maybe you're one of the lucky ones who will have an easier time!

In my short few weeks on tx I can tell you that water intake makes a huge difference, as well as taking it easy when possible and trying to get a decent amount of sleep. I have pretty bad insomnia from the riba, but on days where I get more than a couple hours of sleep I feel sooooo much better.

Good luck to you on treatment. I hope it stays relatively easy for you!

[otterwatcher]

hi-yes I got away with minimal sides for the first 8 weeks,I'm sure you are injecting yourself correctly.

[Moca3]

I will keep an eye on the itching so far is very minimal some days I feel it and some days I don't. And even when I have it is not  so bad, it is mild.

Moca3

[pooh55811]

Side effects vary from person to person. Some people have few side effects and others have more side effects. Side effects can be accumulative and therefore can increase as time goes on. However, this is not necessarily so and some people just don't have that many side effects. Consider yourself lucky that your side effects are minimal.  

Keep an eye on the itching. You can take an antihistamine for the itching if it is okay with your doctor. If the itching increases or if you get a rash, get on top of it immediately. The rash and itching can spiral out of control if it is not dealt with immediately and aggressively. If over the counter medications are not sufficient, get prescriptions for the itching (and rash if you get one).

Best of luck.