Day One

[DH Bill]

I have an appointment today at 1:30 to take my first shot(Pegasys) and start pills tomorrow am. I'm feeling pretty good about it and am drinking over a gallon of water a day, the effexeral seems to be working with only minor sweating.
Here I go!?!?!?!?!

[odessit]

I'll be starting on Pegasys next week, first shot on Tuesday.
I waited since Oct/2002...

[DownThisRoad]

HD
I think the 6 month thing is so you don't have booze in your system starting treatment as well as it gives you a real clear picture if you can stop drinking before and during treatment. My doctor didn't discuss this with me much, he just gave me little one liners like 'you aren't drinking right now are you' and 'you understand you can't drink alcohol during your treatment, don't you'.

Sbluitt
Awesome!!  You've done it!!  I hear cloud '9' is a great place for you to be right now.

Enjoy and give yourself a HUGE pat on the back. You deserve it!!

[sbluitt]

Good luck. This is my last day.

  it goes quick.. just perservere

[DownThisRoad]

I wish you all the best with your treatment and congratulate you on starting your treatment.  You've made the first step with clearing this virus out of your system..!

I don't live on the east coast, but I live in Colorado where we have beautiful mountains and plenty of bike riders here.

Good Luck!!

[DH Bill]

It's Friday morning and I'm still holding my breath (no sides yet, I took shot 2pm Thurs)Took my copegus pills(4)at 7am. This is my normal day to go mountain biking. I usualy go for 2 hrs in the hills around here in  Spokane Washington but I'm hesitant to do it today. I think I will wait. Anyone else live in this neck of the woods? It seems a lot of you live on the east side.
I have found out I feel better lately not worring about things since I got all the test results back. Information can be strength. My best to all of you.

[imblessed]

Good luck. I am right behind you as I am due to start in about a week. As soon as my meds come in. Please keep me posted. I would love to compare notes and sides. I will encourage you all the way, no matter how you are feeling. Just dont give up.

[layla]

I went through 3 doc to find a good hep doc. I'm in Wisconsin and each told me I had to be alcohol free for 6 months. Maybe it's thing  here. They also said they don't treat anyone who won't remain alcohol free during tx. Wasn't a problem but this is how it was for me here. I took advantage of that time drinking more water, changing my diet to be more liver healthy and making sure I was in fairly good shape. How are you DHbill? Hope your well today.

[DH Bill]

Hey I am DH Bill but that is ok. Just got back from first shot and they did give this nice kit to go with it. The shot was no big deal it went well. I have a very positive attitude and feel pretty good about starting. All of you have been so helpful thanks very much. I know I have a long road ahead being 1-b
I will let you know how it goes this weekend. Again thanks

DH Bill

[lizzee]

OK MRBILL....FIGHT!!!!!
FIGHT!!!!!!
FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!
BE WELL,
LIZE

[oldhippiechick67]

I was lucky enough to know how to give shots (am a nurse) but the Dr gave me a cool package with booklets and a journal to keep track of the sides, questions for the Dr and so forth, plus a video of how to give yourself the shot!  WISH EVERYONE COULD HAVE THAT BEFORE STARTING!!  Call Pegasys or go to their web site (pegasys.com), they will send ya one for free I do believe.  1-877-734-2797  I am not trying to give um free advertising but its helpful, truthful/acurate info and we could all use that.  And re: the previous post - there's way more than a handful of us being treated!!  I have been to numerous sites and there are hundreds and hundreds of us...we just need to band together, get the word out and quit feeling like we have some shameful disease.  Easier said than done.  :(

[layla]

I'm wishing you the best! I did my own home alone the first shot. Just like the rest of this disease, it was much easier than the anxiety of thinking of doing it. By the way I didn't have sides for the first 2 month, in fact I was very energetic and up. My hep rn says it just made me feel good to be doing something. That was probably right. If you need to chat I'll check in. Hope all is well. LL

[Martee]

The needle is extremely small and you won't even feel it !
Just rest up the first day and go with the flow. I had no sides except being tired and sweaty the first 3 shots. The forth shot made me sick but it was tolerable. After that everything has been ok. The anticipation of doing it is worst than the actual doing, so just go ahead and get started. :)

[mrbill]

hey good luck, i am rooting for you. i think evryone is getting you confused with me. you are dhbill, similiar to mrbill and also i will be taking my first shot of peg aug25, hopefully. will the real mrbill please stand up? lol
GODBLESS
Bill

[Martee]

Sorry about that Bill...well the same information goes for you too. :)

[fullofhope]

Good luck with the appointment and keep us updated.

[indyjo]

I keep reading these posts from people who are diagnosed and then bam... 2 weeks later they are writing about their first shot. I am going to do treatment, but my hepatologist said in ~6 months. The process is very slow in his office. Should I demand treatment earlier? What is the usual length of time between being diagnosed and starting treatment??

[Galen]

Good for you!  Slay that dragon!  Seriously, while no one gets all the sides and no one gets no sides, no one gets all of them at the same time.  Stay with us and we will help see you through.

[Martee]

I was diagnosed in April of this year. I started treatment on 6/6. Why is your doctor having you wait ?

[Ambush]

I was diagnosed September 2002 and started tx in May 2003.  Terrible waiting that long.  I would have started immediately! Doc wanted me with NO alcohol for 6 months...(and I was only an occasional social drinker)...seems to be what some docs do.  Then there were the 2 month waits for appointments for bx, ultrasound, endoscopy, colonoscopy, hemotologist....I was insane with waiting.  Much better frame of mind now that I've started!  You'll get there soon....hang in there!
ambush :)

[harley dude]

What is the deal with some docs wanting you off alcohol for 6 months, is it because he wants to see if you can stop, so you don't drink while on tx or is it because he wants no alcohol in your system?-- HD

[Ambush]

I think it's a little of both.  I think my doctor really wanted to see that I was committed to complying to treatment but I told him that I had not had a drink in 2 months the first time I saw him.  I got the letter from the Red Cross in August, quit drinking immediately, and had to wait until October to get in to see him.  Probably just some doctors decide that is the way they will do it, and that is what they stick with.  I can see them wanting to make sure that drinking is not a problem, but if there is no history of alcohol problems to start with, I don't understand the LONG wait, either.  I'd be almost done with 48 weeks by now if I could have gotten started sooner!
ambush :)

[Eyedeas]

There are usually people around on the weekends, so keep us up to date on how you're doing over your first weekend.  A lot of people seem to start off a little slower with sides on Pegasys than the older Peg-Intron.  So week 4 may be rougher than week one.  Enjoy each day you feel good and hang in through the rough ones.  Maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones with minimal sides.

Kim

[Revenire]

I'm glad you're getting started.

Drink that water and remember "no one gets ALL the sides and no one gets NONE of them" and I believe that attitude will help.

I am going on shot 30 tomorrow: no cakewalk to be sure but if it gets me to SVR it will be worth every single rotten side!

[newgirl]

sorry, wrong name!!! Can I blaim that on brain fog, as I do everything else:)