Aa
HEP-C TRIPLE TREATMENT
How sick does this treatment make you? I am a 47 year old female. I am going to start treatment in about 3 wks. My treatment drugs are incevik,peg-interferon and ribavirin. I need to work for the insurance. Will I be able to work? My job is working in an elementary school as an aide. Is this chemo and radiation? Pleas help with my questions I am so scared.
"I too am wondering if anyone is on the triple therapy post liver transplant."
Allison1965's husband is post transplant and just finishing triple with incivek, here is the link to her personal page, also you can go to the top of this page and use the orange post a question button and it will start a new thread that you can title, if you do this you should get more responses
http://www.medhelp.org/personal_pages/user/1691407
Allison1965's husband is post transplant and just finishing triple with incivek, here is the link to her personal page, also you can go to the top of this page and use the orange post a question button and it will start a new thread that you can title, if you do this you should get more responses
http://www.medhelp.org/personal_pages/user/1691407
I too am wondering if anyone is on the triple therapy post liver transplant. My husband starts treatment in a couple of months. Will be praying for your wife.
Has anyone done the Incivek triple treatment post transplant? My wife will begin hers in 3-4 weeks and we don't know what to expect.
So glad I stumbled on this thread! The information is great and I've added it to my watch list so that when I do start tx I can refer back to it. Good luck to all.
I too work for school system, food service but I'm 10 years older than you, I couldn't work, I really tried,but it came down to treating or working. I was able to go part time for a while and keep my insurance. I'm lucky to be able to quit for the rest of the school year because I have my husbands insurance. good Luck!! For me its getting easier because I 'm figuring it all out and know my limits.
Hi started triple treatment on 4th Jan 2013 after refusing meds for years due to the low percentage of people cured...I wasn't ready at the time but now I am, I'm excited, I'm positive ..I have geno 1a and I want it out of my body...I start the third drug 31st Jan 2013, next week..I am glad to say up to now I have had very little side effects, the injection is pain free, no flu symptoms, had a bit of skin crawl for first week and couple of mild headaches the morning after injection but that's it...I worry because I cannot stop eating and feel totally normal, myself, healthy...and just as fit...I rang my nurse to ask if it's actually working in my body..as I read of so many negative comments about triple treatment..my third drug will be tribavirin..I use an app on my phone called emeds mate to remind me to take my meds on time and consistently, I know this is a vital part of the treatment..I wonder if the third drug will change the so far fantastic results? Hope not too much anyway...I work fulltime , kids, dogs, drive, keep house busy life but make sure I relax totally in the evening...totally stopped any alcohol at all and I will continue this for the rest of my life...I know we are all made different and have different tolerances but I was prepared to fit my life around triple treatment and beat this virus forever...stay positive...soldier on and take every day as a sunny day...peace and love ...x
Hi sorry no one is answering to this. The thread is close to a year old so sometimes you have to start a new topic. There are lots af threads about the Incivek fat intake on here. When it comes to things like heavy cream It helps to look at the nutrition info on the container to see if the amount you use will add up to the 20 grams. It helps to have lots of choices since what works at first might gross you add as you go along.
Thank you Jan
I start on Friday and have been during the routine for 2 weeks just to get used to it. I am very worried as my appetite at 6 is bad, and I haven't started meds yet. Does adding heavy cream to milk and taking flax seed oil help? I am more worried about this diet than anything.
I start on Friday and have been during the routine for 2 weeks just to get used to it. I am very worried as my appetite at 6 is bad, and I haven't started meds yet. Does adding heavy cream to milk and taking flax seed oil help? I am more worried about this diet than anything.
You need to look up the treatment and read in depth. There are too many questions and if you don't know what fatique symtoms are I worry about that.
How else do you say it? A high fat diet consist of fat. Your doctor will direct you but I have to eat 20 grams of fat three times a day when I take my meds. Anemia is consistant. Forget keeping your job, prepare for it now in case. I went through regular intereferon ribaviran no where near as bad but much longer. I take meds now to keep me vomiiting before I take the medication because you CANNOT miss a dose.
Sorry I havn't gotten back with you before, but I have been away from my computer.
You may find that diarreah is a problem although I have not. Some people including me get a burning or itching around the rectum. So far mine has been minimal just after bowl movement.
You may find that you need some kind of support system. It sounds like you are a very busy lady and it may be hard for you to keep up. If you have somebody who can help with your husband and house hold chores then you may be able to keep up with work. Again everyone reacts differently and you may be able to do it all, but some fatigue seems to hit everyone. Let your friends and family know that you may need help.
Good luck and hang in there
You may find that diarreah is a problem although I have not. Some people including me get a burning or itching around the rectum. So far mine has been minimal just after bowl movement.
You may find that you need some kind of support system. It sounds like you are a very busy lady and it may be hard for you to keep up. If you have somebody who can help with your husband and house hold chores then you may be able to keep up with work. Again everyone reacts differently and you may be able to do it all, but some fatigue seems to hit everyone. Let your friends and family know that you may need help.
Good luck and hang in there
Thank you for all of your answers they were very helpful. What happens to the butt? Diarreah or constipation? Have you lost or gained weight? Has anemia affected you? I have known for 6 yrs that I have hep-c. I am 5'5" and weigh 130. I work with special-ed kids K-5, this is very demanding, physically and mentally. I hope I can continue to work, I need the insurnace.My husband doesn't work he has been paraplegic for 21 yrs, so I also need to be able to help take care of him. I start my tx right after Thanksgiving. I hope to chat with you again soon. Thank You and lots of luck. your friend Nancy
Hey del, I am 49 yr old female, genotype 1a, and was diagnosed in Feb 2011 with Hep C after a barrage of tests becauseI was feeling like crap since a near fatal car wreck in 2009. It is believed I have had Hep C all my life. My mother had non A non B Hep back in the 50's, before I was born. She was never able to give blood, so my father donated for our family..
I began triple tx of Incivek, Pegysys/Copegus on Friday Oct 21. Today is day 19. So far, very minimal sides, metallic taste in mouth, you get used to it, slight headache, tylenol does the trick. Butt hurt on occassion, huggies fragrence free w aloe work great.....prep h or any of the walmart brand work great. boudreaux butt paste like diaper rash a&d ointment works too. I havent had to do that so far, thankfully. Aveenoe or any good body lotion, unscented is best but try what you like first. i moisturize while wet b4 before drying off. 2 benydryl + 2 tylenol = 2 tylenol pm. use them for sleep/itch.
last nite was the first nite my back and hips ached. i was ok this morning. i still work, now work 4 days instead of 5. i do my Pegysys interferon shots on friday nite so I have 3 days to relax. The key here, and it is really difficult.....is to deliberately move slow. pace yourself and do only what you can so not to exhaust yourself. Yes, this is like chemo, actually it is chemo; but the administration is different. what we take is what is given to lukemia patients, for our disease is so tough, we must go to the cellular and mollecular level into our bone marrow to kill this dragon.
I eat, the suggestions here have been great, Many people try to interpret the rules on exactly how this medicine is to be taken. SOLID food is a must, I do not care what any one else tells you. Yes, you can drink your fats in milk, but yogurt is a better option. These drugs are pretty powerful, so ya might want some substance in that tummy o yours.
I have had some trouble sleeping as waking to pee is an issue. I have since switched my riba dose from 10:30 pm to 2:30 pm and I only get up once now.
Many Dr's suggest 50% of body weight in water oz per day to be drank. Genentech, the mfg of Pegysys recently changed those requirements to 8-10 8 oz glasses of water per day, no matter what your weight is. The reason is that the thin folks weren't getting enough water and the thick folks were getting too much, washing away their electrolytes. Replacing them is an option, but they do not recommend it, only to supplement the water. The water is a requirement for the Ribavirin only. The fat is a requirement for the Incivek only.. Ribavirin must be taken with food. Keep your teeth clean, watch your toothbrushes for blood, wear soft cotton clothes, get your rest, forget about shaving your legs for a while and it will all be ok....Trust in your Higher Power, believe you can do this, have no fear, we are here in this together......no question is a silly question.
much friendly unconditional love from texas
jan
I began triple tx of Incivek, Pegysys/Copegus on Friday Oct 21. Today is day 19. So far, very minimal sides, metallic taste in mouth, you get used to it, slight headache, tylenol does the trick. Butt hurt on occassion, huggies fragrence free w aloe work great.....prep h or any of the walmart brand work great. boudreaux butt paste like diaper rash a&d ointment works too. I havent had to do that so far, thankfully. Aveenoe or any good body lotion, unscented is best but try what you like first. i moisturize while wet b4 before drying off. 2 benydryl + 2 tylenol = 2 tylenol pm. use them for sleep/itch.
last nite was the first nite my back and hips ached. i was ok this morning. i still work, now work 4 days instead of 5. i do my Pegysys interferon shots on friday nite so I have 3 days to relax. The key here, and it is really difficult.....is to deliberately move slow. pace yourself and do only what you can so not to exhaust yourself. Yes, this is like chemo, actually it is chemo; but the administration is different. what we take is what is given to lukemia patients, for our disease is so tough, we must go to the cellular and mollecular level into our bone marrow to kill this dragon.
I eat, the suggestions here have been great, Many people try to interpret the rules on exactly how this medicine is to be taken. SOLID food is a must, I do not care what any one else tells you. Yes, you can drink your fats in milk, but yogurt is a better option. These drugs are pretty powerful, so ya might want some substance in that tummy o yours.
I have had some trouble sleeping as waking to pee is an issue. I have since switched my riba dose from 10:30 pm to 2:30 pm and I only get up once now.
Many Dr's suggest 50% of body weight in water oz per day to be drank. Genentech, the mfg of Pegysys recently changed those requirements to 8-10 8 oz glasses of water per day, no matter what your weight is. The reason is that the thin folks weren't getting enough water and the thick folks were getting too much, washing away their electrolytes. Replacing them is an option, but they do not recommend it, only to supplement the water. The water is a requirement for the Ribavirin only. The fat is a requirement for the Incivek only.. Ribavirin must be taken with food. Keep your teeth clean, watch your toothbrushes for blood, wear soft cotton clothes, get your rest, forget about shaving your legs for a while and it will all be ok....Trust in your Higher Power, believe you can do this, have no fear, we are here in this together......no question is a silly question.
much friendly unconditional love from texas
jan
Fatigue symptoms amount to just feeling really, really tired with no energy. I do get fatigue, especially the first couple of days after the injection. I can do things, but I don't have much energy and I feel very tired after I have been up and about a long time. As the week wears on, the fatigue lessens, but it is still there.
Another reason people get fatigued is if their hemoglobins drop (a possible side effect). Anemia will make a person feel quite tired.
Another reason people get fatigued is if their hemoglobins drop (a possible side effect). Anemia will make a person feel quite tired.
you need to take the Incivek every 8 hours and you need to take the Incivek within 30 minutes after the high fat meal or snack (at least 20 grams of fat).
I eat something solid every time I take the Incivek. Sometimes it is bread with lots of butter, sometimes eggs, sometimes meat, but always something solid. I also eat the 20 grams of fat along with the solid food.
The 20 grams of fat can be found in the following foods:
2 ounces cheddar or havarti cheese
about 7 ounces of Greek yogurt
1 medium avocado
mayonaise (I think 2 Tbsp. but you would need to check)
butter (I think 2 Tbsp.)
1 cup eggnog
2 bratwursts
And many other things. You just have to read the labels to see how much fat is in the food.
I was recently diagnosed, July 2011, and just started treatment on Sept. 26th. So far, so good. I hope it continues.
I eat something solid every time I take the Incivek. Sometimes it is bread with lots of butter, sometimes eggs, sometimes meat, but always something solid. I also eat the 20 grams of fat along with the solid food.
The 20 grams of fat can be found in the following foods:
2 ounces cheddar or havarti cheese
about 7 ounces of Greek yogurt
1 medium avocado
mayonaise (I think 2 Tbsp. but you would need to check)
butter (I think 2 Tbsp.)
1 cup eggnog
2 bratwursts
And many other things. You just have to read the labels to see how much fat is in the food.
I was recently diagnosed, July 2011, and just started treatment on Sept. 26th. So far, so good. I hope it continues.
What does the high fat diet consist of? Do you have to eat this before or after meds? I've known for 6 yrs that I have hep-c and now my liver is showing damage. How long have you known? Thank you for your input. Hope to chat again soon. Good Luck to you.
First, welcome to the forum. Your fears are not unusual. I think we all experienced them when we found out we had Hep C and as we were getting ready for treatment. It is scarey.
It is very difficult to answer your question about how sick does the treatment make you because everyone reacts differently and the side effects vary from person to person and also vary in intensity.
Personally, I am on Interferon, Ribavirin, and Incivek. I am 65 years old. I am in my 7th week of treament. I think my side effects have been relatively mild, except for the rectal pain, but they have all been manageable with mostly over the counter medications like Tylenol, Benadryl, hemorrhoid cream and supp., lotion, hydrocortisone cream, drinking lots of water. I was rather spaced out the first couple of days after starting the meds. You may want to have a plan in place that you could be off for a few days or at least a couple days after starting treatment. You also may want to check into the details of your sick time, leave possibilities, disability ins., continuing your insurance if you cannot work, flexible time, and so forth. You may not need any of it, but it would be good to know before hand in case you do.
You will also have to keep to a very rigid every 8 hour Incivek dosing schedule and eat the high fat meal that goes with it.
There are many people on this forum who have continued to work. It is just going to depend on which side effects you get and how severe they are. Hopefully, you will have mild side effects.
You do not have radiation with Hep C treatment. The interferon is an injection which you will give yourself (after being told how to do it). The other two medications are in pill form.
I wish you luck.
It is very difficult to answer your question about how sick does the treatment make you because everyone reacts differently and the side effects vary from person to person and also vary in intensity.
Personally, I am on Interferon, Ribavirin, and Incivek. I am 65 years old. I am in my 7th week of treament. I think my side effects have been relatively mild, except for the rectal pain, but they have all been manageable with mostly over the counter medications like Tylenol, Benadryl, hemorrhoid cream and supp., lotion, hydrocortisone cream, drinking lots of water. I was rather spaced out the first couple of days after starting the meds. You may want to have a plan in place that you could be off for a few days or at least a couple days after starting treatment. You also may want to check into the details of your sick time, leave possibilities, disability ins., continuing your insurance if you cannot work, flexible time, and so forth. You may not need any of it, but it would be good to know before hand in case you do.
You will also have to keep to a very rigid every 8 hour Incivek dosing schedule and eat the high fat meal that goes with it.
There are many people on this forum who have continued to work. It is just going to depend on which side effects you get and how severe they are. Hopefully, you will have mild side effects.
You do not have radiation with Hep C treatment. The interferon is an injection which you will give yourself (after being told how to do it). The other two medications are in pill form.
I wish you luck.
I started the same treatment about 2 weeks ago and so far it hasn't been to bad. The only side I am currenty having is fatigue which is pretty bad the first day after shot and gets better each day of the week. Each person reacts differentely but most are able to continue with their work and lives. Some times it is good to let your co workers know that you will be on treatment and what some of the side affects are. There is no radiation envolved and even though the treatment is considered as a type of chemo it is nothing like cancer chemo. You will give yourself one shot a week and take a whole lot of pills. It is important to take care of yourself, follow your doctor's directions and take one day at a time. This is my third time to do treatment and a good attitude and support are important.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community
Learn about this treatable virus.
Getting tested for this viral infection.
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
4 steps to getting on therapy.
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
How the drugs might affect you.
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
