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Interferon, Does it work?
I am in week 33 of interferon treatments, The side effects are brutal both physically and emotionally. My viral load is down so they say its working. I got Hep. C in 1980, through a blood transfusion. I had been getting sicker and sicker, the Interferon treatment holds hope for a cure. Would love to communicate with someone. This is my first computer and I am still learning. Any help with dealing with side effects would be appreciated.
Thank you
Thank you
It did work for me also.Watch your HGB level,and humm Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away,till your done.
an answer given by a doctor:
Letter to an HCV patient
"Your attitude about the treatment and its effects on your body is going to be essential for success in this. And this is not cheap psychology, because I know that wouldn't work for you. I know this whole situation stormed into your life as a very unpleasant and unfortunate surprise, but I just want you to see things, and understand things, as they really are.
When you talk about "all these horrible drugs..." they've been injecting into your body every week, and talk about them as some kind of toxic poison, I'm not sure you're being fair. I'm sure you know what interferon is, but let me give you my perspective. Interferon has not been created by the hands and minds of men. Interferon is a cytokine - one of the most potent inflammatory mediators we know, which regulates several aspects of our immune response and is essential for our defense agains all kinds of organisms, including viruses. It is a strongly preserved molecule from an evolutionary perspective, being present in most vertebrates. Our lives would probably not be possible without it. The forces of nature forged this intricate molecule millions of years ago and have preserved it since. Interferon was "discovered" somewhat by accident (as most great discoveries) by two investigators from the National Institute for Medical Research in London back in 1957. But the full therapeutic potential of this substance did not become apparent until very recently.
When I started medical school, in 1997, I remember seeing patients in the hepatology clinic who had viral hepatitis and discussing with my colleagues how unfortunate it was that patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis (the hepatitis C virus was isolated only a few years earlier, at the CDC, by the way) had absolutely no treatment options. It killed me to see those healthy, productive people, otherwise full of life, having to cope with a disease that just could not be treated. But that did not last long. I remember this bright young hepatology professor at my medical school pulling me aside one day in the cafeteria to tell me about this new international multicentric clinical trial which was testing a very promising new drug to treat hepatitis C - a drug called InterMune-Infergen (interferon alpha). I could just see the excitement in his eyes, and how contagious it was! That was the very first medical project I was involved with, and the reason why I became what I am today. When I think of Interferon, I think about a miracle made possible by science. It warms my heart, fills me with passion, and makes me want to come to work every day.
It's interesting that in the same phrase you mention "these horrible drugs", you also talk about a "stupid virus". The stupid virus you speak of has plagued mankind for thousands of years, probably dating back to pre-civilization. This stupid virus, against all odds, has found ways to adapt, mutate, and survive within the heavily protected human body and to infect other organisms, spreading to all corners of the world colonized by human race, in an almost unprecedented way. It is interesting to think that, if the mode of transmission of hepatitis C is pretty much exclusively by blood transfusions, needles etc, how was it able to survive as a species before modern times (before blood tranfusions, injectable drugs, surgical procedure etc even existed)? Some speculate that there is one answer: war. Through wounds that occured in battle, warriors from all cultures would pass on the virus to their surviving enemies. A virus that only exists thanks to our bellicose, unforgiving nature? our ambition? our thirst for blood? How ironic that is! Nature has such a dark sense of humor, dont' you think? There are many terms that I could use to describe this virus; "stupid" is not one of them.
Regardless of its origin, there is a constant battle between our own inner warriors (the cells of the immune system) and this allien enemy race. Most of the time, our troops are able to contain the enemy to a few sanctuaries, but are unable to erradicate it. I find it interesting how stories repeat themselves at so many levels of existence. Few resisting against many, hiding behind dirty strategies and guerrilla warfare. I like to think of Interferon as some sort of Holy nectar capable of transforming regular soldiers into Spartan warriors. Fierce fighters on steroids! A substance designed by the creator himself and stolen by men through reverse engineering.
Most of the side effects that you feel are due to this war that is going on inside of you day and night, at this very moment. Your body fighting off the intruders. An army of enemies being destroyed in an epic war of a microscopic universe within your veins. You don't feel any "side effects", what you feel is the heat of battle. And that should put a smile on your face. Every day."
Letter to an HCV patient
"Your attitude about the treatment and its effects on your body is going to be essential for success in this. And this is not cheap psychology, because I know that wouldn't work for you. I know this whole situation stormed into your life as a very unpleasant and unfortunate surprise, but I just want you to see things, and understand things, as they really are.
When you talk about "all these horrible drugs..." they've been injecting into your body every week, and talk about them as some kind of toxic poison, I'm not sure you're being fair. I'm sure you know what interferon is, but let me give you my perspective. Interferon has not been created by the hands and minds of men. Interferon is a cytokine - one of the most potent inflammatory mediators we know, which regulates several aspects of our immune response and is essential for our defense agains all kinds of organisms, including viruses. It is a strongly preserved molecule from an evolutionary perspective, being present in most vertebrates. Our lives would probably not be possible without it. The forces of nature forged this intricate molecule millions of years ago and have preserved it since. Interferon was "discovered" somewhat by accident (as most great discoveries) by two investigators from the National Institute for Medical Research in London back in 1957. But the full therapeutic potential of this substance did not become apparent until very recently.
When I started medical school, in 1997, I remember seeing patients in the hepatology clinic who had viral hepatitis and discussing with my colleagues how unfortunate it was that patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis (the hepatitis C virus was isolated only a few years earlier, at the CDC, by the way) had absolutely no treatment options. It killed me to see those healthy, productive people, otherwise full of life, having to cope with a disease that just could not be treated. But that did not last long. I remember this bright young hepatology professor at my medical school pulling me aside one day in the cafeteria to tell me about this new international multicentric clinical trial which was testing a very promising new drug to treat hepatitis C - a drug called InterMune-Infergen (interferon alpha). I could just see the excitement in his eyes, and how contagious it was! That was the very first medical project I was involved with, and the reason why I became what I am today. When I think of Interferon, I think about a miracle made possible by science. It warms my heart, fills me with passion, and makes me want to come to work every day.
It's interesting that in the same phrase you mention "these horrible drugs", you also talk about a "stupid virus". The stupid virus you speak of has plagued mankind for thousands of years, probably dating back to pre-civilization. This stupid virus, against all odds, has found ways to adapt, mutate, and survive within the heavily protected human body and to infect other organisms, spreading to all corners of the world colonized by human race, in an almost unprecedented way. It is interesting to think that, if the mode of transmission of hepatitis C is pretty much exclusively by blood transfusions, needles etc, how was it able to survive as a species before modern times (before blood tranfusions, injectable drugs, surgical procedure etc even existed)? Some speculate that there is one answer: war. Through wounds that occured in battle, warriors from all cultures would pass on the virus to their surviving enemies. A virus that only exists thanks to our bellicose, unforgiving nature? our ambition? our thirst for blood? How ironic that is! Nature has such a dark sense of humor, dont' you think? There are many terms that I could use to describe this virus; "stupid" is not one of them.
Regardless of its origin, there is a constant battle between our own inner warriors (the cells of the immune system) and this allien enemy race. Most of the time, our troops are able to contain the enemy to a few sanctuaries, but are unable to erradicate it. I find it interesting how stories repeat themselves at so many levels of existence. Few resisting against many, hiding behind dirty strategies and guerrilla warfare. I like to think of Interferon as some sort of Holy nectar capable of transforming regular soldiers into Spartan warriors. Fierce fighters on steroids! A substance designed by the creator himself and stolen by men through reverse engineering.
Most of the side effects that you feel are due to this war that is going on inside of you day and night, at this very moment. Your body fighting off the intruders. An army of enemies being destroyed in an epic war of a microscopic universe within your veins. You don't feel any "side effects", what you feel is the heat of battle. And that should put a smile on your face. Every day."
Welcome! Yes, the side effects can be unbearable but remember this.... It is only a small amount of time in the grand scheme of things! I am also one that became SVR! And also wouldnt have been able to get thru without the help of people here!
Drink, Drink Drink! Nap! Nap! Nap!
You have come to the right place!
Shari
Drink, Drink Drink! Nap! Nap! Nap!
You have come to the right place!
Shari
Yes, I agree, the treatment (tx) is brutal but if you can reach SVR, especially since you were having symptoms beforehand that were affecting your quality of life, it is well worth it.
I finished tx about 6 weeks ago and am feeling alive again. Believe it or not, the tx seems like a distant (albeit bad) memory. After tx it takes a few months for the drugs to leave your system so it's important to keep drinking lots of water for several months.
Please let us know what sx you're having and we'll try to help with remedies.
Best regards,
Kittyface
I finished tx about 6 weeks ago and am feeling alive again. Believe it or not, the tx seems like a distant (albeit bad) memory. After tx it takes a few months for the drugs to leave your system so it's important to keep drinking lots of water for several months.
Please let us know what sx you're having and we'll try to help with remedies.
Best regards,
Kittyface
Welcome to the forum!
This community is God sent! I finished treatment 2 weeks ago and have gotten so much guidance, support and knowledge from all the amazing people here. There is also a lot of humor and some goofing around, which keeps us in a good mood during tough treatment times.
This community is God sent! I finished treatment 2 weeks ago and have gotten so much guidance, support and knowledge from all the amazing people here. There is also a lot of humor and some goofing around, which keeps us in a good mood during tough treatment times.
Welcome to the forum. We are on about the same schedule. I just took shot #34 yesterday. I did not clear the virus until somewhere between week 16 (VL was 55) & 25 (undetected) so I am going to attempt to go 72 weeks with the help of these dedicated people on this site that have already made it to SVR by going 72 weeks. I could not have made it this far with out this forum. Here the people are more informed than my doctor and will provide studies to back up what they say. Thank you all.
Welcome to the forum. Hopefully everyone can help you thru these final weeks. I do shot #39 on Wednesday...and gotta admit, the weeks during the thirtys seem to have gone by soooo slow.
To repeat what Marc says....give us specifics and someone will surely have some good tips for you....first and foremost will probably be drink water and get some light excercise. Those are my first two "drugs of choice" for my sx. #3 is napping, lol!!!
Good luck to ya.
Isobella
To repeat what Marc says....give us specifics and someone will surely have some good tips for you....first and foremost will probably be drink water and get some light excercise. Those are my first two "drugs of choice" for my sx. #3 is napping, lol!!!
Good luck to ya.
Isobella
Welcome! It is great you found your way here. Like nygirl7, I could never have made it as far as I have without the help of this board.
You didn't say what sort of side effects you are experiencing. If you give us specifics, we can give you specific suggestions.
There are two general recommendations for anyone undergoing treatment. First, drink atons of water, constantly throughout the day. And second, try to regularly get light to moderate exercise. No matter how bad you feel, the exercise will make you feel better.
Let us know what other issues you are dealing with and you'll get plenty of advice.
You didn't say what sort of side effects you are experiencing. If you give us specifics, we can give you specific suggestions.
There are two general recommendations for anyone undergoing treatment. First, drink atons of water, constantly throughout the day. And second, try to regularly get light to moderate exercise. No matter how bad you feel, the exercise will make you feel better.
Let us know what other issues you are dealing with and you'll get plenty of advice.
It works. The treatment can be hell but its worth it to clear this virus! Stick around. This is a good place and we will help you. Welcome to MedHelp.
jd
jd
Interferon and the antiviral ribavirin have had me cured completely for over two years. It is along difficult treatment (I treated for 72 weeks) but it can work. It saved my life as I was already stage 3 by the time I was diagnosed and never even knew I had it.
there are some MARVELOUS people in here who will help you learn all you can possibly handle - there are some wonderful helpful hints on how to deal with some of the side effects and some funny stories in the process. Plus the ability to VENT to people who completely and totally understand exactly what you are going through.
Without this forum - I probably wouldn't have made it.
But now I am cured so yes it does work! :)
Best of luck!
there are some MARVELOUS people in here who will help you learn all you can possibly handle - there are some wonderful helpful hints on how to deal with some of the side effects and some funny stories in the process. Plus the ability to VENT to people who completely and totally understand exactly what you are going through.
Without this forum - I probably wouldn't have made it.
But now I am cured so yes it does work! :)
Best of luck!
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