Hepatitis a

My husband is 5/24 weeks on HCV peg-intron/ribavirin treatment.He has not had Hep B or Hep A. His specialist urged him to ask his primary care physician to give him the combination hep A & B vaccine now.Is this a good idea? Will it further stress his immune system or liver? Will the HCV treatment prevent him forming antibodies to Hep A & B if he receives the vaccine? Thanks for any info or links to studies-Best Wishes to All, JoAnn

[FlGuy]

My tx and pcp insisted I get the A and B series.  Started before tx and concluded during tx.  He should go for it.  No isues other than a sore arm.  But when your on tx, what's a sore arm?  One of my favorite doc quotes 'you don't want to get A or B when you already have C'.  Has a musical quality to it.

[merlino]

I guess I need A & B shots also. Going to my primary tonight. Might as well set it up now.

[FlGuy]

The first time around, it took about two weeks to get the interferon - with a lot of frantic phone calls involved.  That's why I gave it four weeks before start this time.  The riba was not a problem since it was filled by a local pharmacy.  Last week, when I checked with the special pharm they were still swapping stuff with the doc.  A part of the counfusion last time was whether the medical policy or the pharm policy would cover the IFN.  Turned out to be the med ploicy, which was good because there were no decuctibles or co-pay.  By my count you still have 12 days to get this worked out.  Most of the action is with you doc, so you might make sure he's up to date with what he needs to submit.

[FlGuy]

If I recall correctly Hep B is a 3 shot series, day 1, day 30, day 180. And I think 'A' is 2 shots.  I'm fuzzy - it was during tx. One thing i remember clearly is that my insurance would not cover A & B shot - thought that was dumb.  Each one of the 5 (think it was 5 total) were $75 - $90.  Since the vaccines expire your doc might not keep them on hand.  If you're going tonight. Call him this am - if he needs to order.

[merlino]

Good-Morning, have another concern. I know there is a lot of convtroversy regarding Tylenol vs Ibuprofen. Tylenol does nothing for me. I usually take Aleve or Motrin liquid gels for my headaches. I know we need this for our shot nights (especially the first). My Dr. was ok with Ibuprofen. I just don't want to cause any problems for my liver.

[FlGuy]

Lots of people here use different remedies.  I used tylenol pm just a few times on shot nites (Friday) and Saturdays. I was always concerned about asking too much of my liver.  Basically, I used cheap generic aspirin for the most part and avoided the other otc stuff when possible. My biggest issue was more aches and pains and aspirin was fine for that. Although I was a little platelet challenged I didn't think aspirin was an unreasonable risk - I was neither a sharp knife, not did I use one. Just made sure that there was at least something in my stomach, not just the aspirin.  When I finally 'woke up' to ambien, it replaced most of the friday and saturday usual stuff, whether it was tylenol or aspirin.  My belief is to use a variety of stuff and not get too friendly with any one otc remedy, but keeping it all to a minimum.  Sort of doing a little penance along the way too.

[NYgirl]

I got the series of shots too.  Started before tx and finished during too.

My doc said that it'd be best to avoid Ibuprofen because it changes BODY CHEMISTRY and you really don't want to do that while you are on tx and advised me taking tylenol instead.

Tylenol don't do squat for the headaches I get (it does help with shot fever though) - so I try NOT to take the Motrin but if I have to.......it's better than being doped up in the ER I figure so I do.

[merlino]

Aspirin a no-no for me. My stomach can't tolerate it. Anything I take has to be on a full stomach or it bothers me. I hope I hear from the specialty pharmacy this week. Do they usually take a while to get back with a delivery day?

[merlino]

Hi Deb, I know about those headaches. Been getting them for almost 20yrs (started when I was pregnant with my first).  The big M  makes them even worse. My Mom also had them. Once she was done they just stopped so I am hopeful. Sure hope tx doesn't make them any worse.

[merlino]

Thanks - I must have a hundred sticky notes between my house and work!! Lord help me on tx.

[FlGuy]

Just wait a couple of weeks.  Then you'll have to leave a sticky note reminding you where the other sticky notes are.  Don't assume that the refrigerator will always be easy to find.  Although, if you lose your purse, that's the first place to look.

[worrywartwife]

Thanks guys-just wanted to be sure. You guys need a helper to run down all this stuff for you-My husband hasn't got the energy or patience to deal with insurance, Dr's office, pharmacy and so on while he is on these meds.I hate to think anybody would have to deal with all this stuff while sick or on treatment! God Bless and good luck-JoAnn

[FlGuy]

Unfortunately, experience makes you a student of stuff you never wanted to learn in the first place.  On the positive side, I have learned a little bit about patience.

[copyman]

i had to order the hep a & b vac's from the pharm, pick them up and bring to pcp office for him to give me the shot. i will be starting tx in oct and got the "A" shot a few months ago, i'm waiting until i get my baseline pcr before i get the "B" shot(still in my fridge). 3 weeks after i got the "A" shot my VL doubled from 9 million to 20 million. i'm sure this was from the "A" vac and i do not want it affecting the baseline pcr.