I've been poisoned!

Wow! If I'm taking the smaller dosage of peg-intron...... I took my shot at 3:00 pm on Fri. and felt great until 3:00 am sat. morning. I woke up with no warning and ran to the bathroom. No real nausea - just sudden need to throw-up. This happened every 20 minutes or so until around 11:00 pm last night. I'm sure that I threw up my morning dose of ribavirin, and all of the tylenol, phenergan, that I tried to take. I had a pounding headache, fever, sweats, chills, dizziness, and my parents came to rescue the kids because I was slurring my words on the phone. I was so sick that I almost went to the hospital. And then..... 11:00 pm I stopped throwing up. I ate toast at 3:00 am and here I sit around 7:00 am typing on the computer. The bones in my face hurt, and I'm achey (achy) and tired, but the other stuff is gone. Any one else have this kind of reaction? I know that everyone's side effects are different and they change over time. I'm hoping that I don't have to go through this every week. Say no it ain't so. Is it ok to drink coffee in moderation? Seems to have helped with the headache? Thanks to everone for the support I recieved in my earlier post.

[honey1616]

Sorry to hear that the shot caught up with you! Hang in there as it will get better,,,,just a matter of getting the right meds such as tylenol, sinus medicine,,etc to ease the symptoms of the "poison"! haha  And it can be poison,,,no doubt! Thats why its killing this virus for everyone left and right.  My first week was a real shock a roo also and it will level out,,,I promise.  I agree with Chev on the coffee,,,I also have a cup in morning as I enjoy it and I feel that whatever food or drinks that you enjoy,,,Go for it as long as you are eating something and yes,,,water,,,,drink alot because that also can cause the headaches....

[Tony-z]

What you went through is what I call the  peg-intron indoctrination.
The next shot should not be as bad and you will feel different from day to day, its your body adjusting to the meds.

Hope you get some rest today and tonight and have a easy week.

              God Bless


                TonyZ

[derail]

indyjo  sorry you are having so much agro already it does get better eventually
califia  glad to take note that you know me But I cannot take credit for the song post That is another person  KIM (eyedeas) This man gives and gives so ,altho' recognition of me is appreciated the real kudos should be expressed to Kim
To  all I have been away from this site for  a few weeks but was lurking  nothing was wrong I just needed a break. To those who missed the friday funnies, I will begin posting them again but the post may be tagged onto an already open one unless this is not appropriate. Icould also post them on saturdays a slower time on the forum.I haven't forgotten any of you wonderful poeple here and I am still waiting for Amerabrat to send those pix. :-)
Peace ,love and happiness to all   daryl

[snook_man]

Hey, I know exactly what you are talking about, and exactly what you are feeling.. It happened to me, but did not hit till like Tuesday night..
If you are vomitting, do not take Riba.. If you can not keep it down, do not take it!! This was advice given from Be in Charge, and my DR.. It only upsets more.. I recommend getting Rx for Zofran.. They can give you pills to dissolve onder tongue, or suppository, or injection.. I have them all, except suppostitory.. I would rather vomit, than be violated.. Sorry, very homophobic!! Real mans man, and all..LOL..
I did my first shot, full dose peg on march 21.. Was not ready, and just flipped out.. Started vommiting, anxiety attacks and lost 10lbs.. Dr's pulled me off, and here I am.. I start my tx again on friday, with new Dr, and different meds..
If there is one thing, that I can hopefully help you to understand, is that it is the meds!!! You are doing the right thing, and IT will get better!! It is temporary, and it will get better!!!
My problem, was that I am so young, and relatively healthy, then took the meds.. Got sick, and jsut could not imagine doing another day.. Told the Dr exactly what he wanted to hear, to stop meds, and thought I wasn't going to retry.. Bullshit, I got this virus, and I can get rid of it, as can you!!! All of us are in this together, and you are not alone. That is what helped me so much, knowing that I was not alone.. Sitting at home feeling like ****, and trying to tell family memebers how you feel, just does not work.. The only ones that really can relate, are those who have experienced the effects of the meds.. The members here, are the best!! And even though many have never met, or only talk in cyberspace, they will be there for you whatever happens.. If needed, they will take a phone call, or open their door.. There is always a shoulder to lean on, and an ear to listen!! Keep your chin up, and IT WILL GET BETTER!!! I wish you the best, and encourage you to remember that you are not alone..

[Tony-z]

             If you can dream it, you can do it.

                   -  Walt Disney



                             TonyZ

[Califia]

Well, to echo Tony, you're doing the initiation & doing it brilliantly.  I know you feel like hell, but you're responding fully.  To the max.  This is a very, very good sign, the initial response.   Please hold on to this thought as you get through the next two weeks.   Your immune system is suddenly doing battle with a very nasty thing and it's cranked to the max.    You'll never have a repeat performance of this first response, but even if it remains intense in any other way (hey--I'm not saying a word, you get to do it YOUR way), remember that you're beating back this virus.   Indy,  these drugs will cure us if they don't kill us first!  Now I KNOW you can relate to that.   Big hugs, sick one.

[MajNeni]

Hi, Indyjo,
It's hard to follow Califia, she has a real way with words.  But you got the Mack-Truck treatment.  I think it's probably a good sign, too.  This stuff goes into your body, every cell; and every bug in you is running.  Like, after all these years of being able to hang out in you, suddenly you dropped a nuke on them.  There is a colossal fight going on in your body; imagine the bugs being slaughtered.  Did you see "Gladiator"?  It has that huge battle in the beginning, with thousands of fighters on each side.  Or think of the scenes in the Star Wars series, or the Ring series... epic battles... anyway, the image might be nice to cherish those images.  More of the virus is suffering than you, you're on the side of the Light.
If you do get nauseous, try ginger products (gingerbread houses, ginger witch cookies, ginger ale, etc...).
Maj Neni

[DRAGON SLAYER]

Hello,

If your NAUSEA is real bad......you may try a prescription form of marijuana. It's a potent anti-emetic agent...not to mention an euphoric one as well.....hehehehe....LOL!
However, I would try another week or 2 without it....!

Good luck to all,
Ben

[new-sojourn]

now, I am a medical marijuanna patient-Rx, co-ops vaporizer and all.  I used it before after and during tx.  I cl'ed in 18days-a transfused infection from 1967 and a decomp'd liver.

Med marijuanna is Rx'd in WA and OR and probably Alaska, California and Hawaii for hep c.  And since hep c is an 'incurable' disease, I can smoke, grow and buy legally the rest of my life.  so w/the major negative-the legality-taken care of, I'll share my results.

The pot helped w/nausea, itching from prutitis, depression and sleeplessness.  I used no other drugs for these problems b/med marijuanna.  No AD's, muscle relaxants. sleep aids, anti-nausea meds--nothing else b/tylonal-4 500's-and benedryl-4 costcos' generic.

So, since 25+% of the population smokes pot, 25+% plus of the hep c patients that do smoke pot can receive benefits before, after and during tx.

And all you West coast guys and girls can take advantage of the legal status and puff, puff, puff your cares away!

Also, people that smoke pot know they are stoned and pill heads don't even think of themselves as high, stoned or impaired-and they are big time and that's why AD's etc are so dangerous.

Beware of pillheads, hug your pot head!

[Califia]

I second your endorsement.  Just a side note, however:  even in the Bay Area, finding MD's who will write prescriptions is not actually easy.   (There's just too much federal prosecution going on.)    But it's amazing how effective cannabis is in offsetting the ill effects of chemotherapy.

[new-sojourn]

I know about 'scripts!  there are organizations in California that will steer you to a pot doc.  I contacted an organization in Oregon who told me of a clinic to be run in WA w/ a WA lic. MD who, upon review of your medical records and a brief exam, writes the 'script.  Just the dx of hep c is needed.  My primary and my hep doc were not invoved @ all.  They never knew or had a need to know.  Altho I think I should tell my hep doc now!

Others don't understand that the pot doc is just one member of my team--his specialty is med marijuanna.  Each test, etc was overseen by other experts.  I don't expect the x-ray dude to write 'scripts or the pot doc to do my dental work.

There was even a small study done that showed pot smokers had better SVR rates than none pot smokers.

I should never had gone straight!  I bet I won't be @ end stage if I had just kept puff, puff, puffin' away!

[Lynne5477]

So glad to hear you are feeling better.  Your first wk sounds exactly like my wk 2.  You will have both good wks and bad wks so just savor the good ones.  Don't forget to eat when you can.......and drink those fluids.
      
Good luck with your shot and pills next week.

[shebee]

yes...


hubby often feels like is to the point of death. (and looks like it, too)

It's funny, but when he gets the batch that says, "this one last." ....it is a killer batch.  Just hang in there...do shot from another box.

more later...
Your Shebee

[DebbieDo]

Hello there,
I can remember last year i was asking the question about smoking pot and you responded to me. I, too, am not on any other drugs,just occassional Ibuprin. I smoked before tx (found it very relaxing after a long day at  work. I, quite frankly, during one visit with the GI asked him if smoking pot would harm me while on tx because i quit before tx. I told him that i thought it might cut the edge off things while on tx. He told me if i felt it would help me, by all means smoke it. Well, I have, and it has gotten me through alot of tough sides.Of course, i dont have a perscription for it, but, I'm wondering how you can get one. Curious..........Debbie  :)~

[mythoughts]

Califa,

I know a place in San Francisco that will script you pot for sure for $125. Not too much more than the doctor appointment cost the see another doctor. They are in the Sunset & sell it also - but you can take their script anywhere. There's a place in Berkeley right down the road from OASIS that'l sell it to you legally.

No, I haven't seen the doctor yet. Doing it in my own good time. I only got diagnosed 2.5 months ago & am feeling pretty decent. My hubby isn't, but I can't drag his ass into OASIS if he doesn't want to go.

Snook, not all gays practice anal sex, and lots of 'straight' folks do. Get over it. If the suppositories help, than you are just cutting off your nose to spite your own face by not trying them. And, are you gonna ingore colon cancer screens when the time comes? Believe me.......having anal sex daily with your girlfriend will not make you gay...that is the attraction to a same sex partner - not the sex act itself. BTW, I'm not gay & have never had anal sex - although I'm a California girl and there is nothing wrong with it! End of my political tirade....my point is just that if it helps you get through tx, please don't rule it out!

[LvdByGod]

I WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING SNOOK SAID, HOPE OK SNOOKERS...."If you are vomitting, do not take Riba.. If you can not keep it down, do not take it!!..."


I just wonder SNOOK if you could clarify this to anyone just starting tx...i'm sure you don't mean to stop riba for the rest of tx duration or for more than possibly that one dose...i just want to make sure no one gets the wrong idea...that we can stop when ever times get tough...ya know...

also, as i'm sure you would agree snook it's important to get  our own drs advice on stopping or starting any med...course we can always get a second or third opinion...and even a snookers opinion...


indijo, i hope you will "normalize" soon...we all really get sick on our first shot and some go awhile before a little relief comes thier way...by the way there are other meds for side effects besides "med pot", if your not into that sort of thing...

but either way by staying on the meds, you "ARE" killing those killer virus'...just be careful about stopping either med with out a couple drs opinions...ribaviron is extreemly important to keep at high levels esp durring the initial weeks and months...stay on if at all possible...but,saying that, don't kill yourself doing it!!!

Call dr if vomitting keeps up!  make sure you get alot of water to prevent dehydration!!! Remember, there may be meds that can curb the urge to purge...you really want to stay on riba unless dr says no way!!!...and me, i would get a second opinion just to make sure my dr is right...

you are taking your meds with a meal, right? they say to take it with some fat anyway (good excuse for cookies or ice cream) cause it matabilizes better...:O)

God bless you friend, sandi

KEEP ON, KEEPEN ON, KILLIN THOSE SUCKERS!!!!

[cuteus]

One odd thing that I have discovered is that there is more urine output(considerable) after drinking a glass of milk, than after drinking any other fluids, including soda. I am begining to believe that there is a diuretic benefit to milk, maybe the b-6?

[Amerabrit]

Hey Daryl, I noticed your absence and was ready to log onto Lou's site just to make sure you were still with us:).  I can understand your need for a break and only hope your return means that you are rested, doing well and feeling better able to cope.
Have a great day:).

[Califia]

Your input would be most welcome.  Do you mind contacting me at califia2@delphiforums?  I've been doing things "sub rosa, " to use the delightful legal term,  but lately I 've been considering getting a script  to cover home production, if I move in that direction.   But the prosecution here is real.  Check out http://www.mikuriya.com .  Or google Tom the Nurse, an RN / activist who's in and out of court.   The prosecution was the same under the Clinton administration, btw.

Derail:  given the above,  your jokes are an more essential life ingredient.  Of  course I've noticed you...and belated thanks.   Sorry for the name confusion.  No brain frogs in sight, I'm afraid, just the usual premature senility....

[Califia]

Your input would be most welcome.  Do you mind contacting me at califia2@delphiforums?  I've been doing things "sub rosa, " to use the delightful legal term,  but lately I 've been considering getting a script  to cover home production, if I move in that direction.   But the prosecution here is real.  Check out http://www.mikuriya.com .  Or google Tom the Nurse, an RN / activist who's in and out of court.   The prosecution was the same under the Clinton administration, btw.

Derail:  given the above,  your jokes are an more essential life ingredient.  Of  course I've noticed you...and belated thanks.   Sorry for the name confusion.  No brain frogs in sight, I'm afraid, just the usual premature senility....

[Califia]

.

[TnHepGuy_]

califia posted twice!!!

califia posted tiwce!!!

Nah, nah, Nah, naaaah, nah!!!

I'm tellin'!!!

I'm tellin'!!!

[Califia]

But please to observe I just gave a perfect demonstration of that premature senility.  So there, too!

[genedog]

so i have no sides does that mean tx is still working

[honey1616]

You mean,,,,you can't even tell you are on tx???  Must be nice!

[genedog]

just a little eye pain

[Califia]

Genedog, you're also a lucky dog.  May your luck extend to SVR!

[MichaelT]

Recent news on coffee and colas... The balance goes the other way. There is more hydration occuring than water being removed from drinking coffee or Coke. If a person doesn't have a problem with the caffiene (or sugar) moderation is still the key.

[snook_man]

Yes, thanks for clarifying that.. I do mean only that dose.. My Dr specifically, and my Be In Charge nurse, told me not to take that evening dose of riba, if I was unable to keep it down.. We all know the importance of Riba, as that is why the tx is working better now a days, compared to monotherapy.. But if you are vommiting to the point where food or water is unable to stay down, what benefit does the riba have other than upseting the condition more??
For me, ginger did nothing at all for my naseau.. It only made the vomit burn more on the way up.. Some people react differently, and we all have to adjust to the situation to accomadate our own individual needs.. Yes, we are not at all entitled to give you advice, or substitute our advice for the advice of your DR.. So please, check with your Dr or nurse at your support group.. We all know this already, right??

Califia, you posted twice!! Come on, line up for your spanking!! No exceptions!!

[Califia]

As if this gol durn rash isn't bad enough.   And now MORE public humiliation?   No sir!   I'm not surrendering my whip.  I'm mistress Kitty around here, grouper boy, and don't you forget it!

Say, another home rememdy I just thought of  which has always pulled me out of digestive distress:  peppermint oil.  You can still get it at pharmacies -- I think Rexall stills market it in an old fashioned brown plastic bottle.    A few drops in a shot glass of water, slug it down because it's very strong and peppermint vapor will instantly come out of your ears.  But it settles the stomach, can definitely prevent bowl hugging.   I always carry Altoids with me to address that  off-and-on queasiness.

[Califia]

Duh!  I'm on a real roll here.   (Duh!  I'm on a real roll here.)    Okay, enough doubletalk.  I apologize for having sent you on a wildgoose chase.  Looks like I don't have Delphi forum email after all; I just assumed I did.   You'd have to go to Delphi Forum "Out of Bounds" and leave a message there by clicking on my name on the member list, which will generate an email, but that requires your registering first....or I could contact you.   Truly sorry to put you to all of this trouble.    A lot of bother in pursuit of legality, eh?

[mythoughts]

I tried to email you at ***@**** but it was undeliverable. Is there some way to contact you on delphiforums or was I supposed to forego the '.com' part? I'd be glad to email you as soon as I figure out how!

[mythoughts]

You can email me at ***@**** & I'll give you the info. Thanks!