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NERVOUS :\

Hello everyone, my name is Renee' and I am starting treatment on Mon. Jan. 07,2013. It will be one shot a wk. of Pexasus and two pills a day Ribavirin (if thats how you spell it) I'm really nervous especially since my Dr. told me that I need to start seeing a phyciatrist ! I have used heroin for well lets see -all my life and I don't want the pain to be so bad that I will have cravings to use. WOW, saying this is really crazy!! What I'm here for and hopefully can get is some support. I have no one that I could talk to about this. Is there something I should know? I heard that you should drink alot...alot of water, which makes sence. Anyways, just looking for answers and fellowship. Thanks!
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1669790 tn?1333662595
Good luck getting started.  It sounds like you have a good attitude going into this.  Try to stay positive since it will help you throughout trt.  There are a lot of logistics in making sure you get the meds on time to not missing any doses, getting the PCR's at the proper time, managing the side effects, etc.  Be sure to stay on top of things to give yourself the best shot at conquering this.  There's lots of peeps to help you through, so let us know how you're doing.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi...I didn't see anyone ask you about your herion addiction side effects.  As an old EMT who use to help out in detox when we weren't busy I was amazed at the amount of sugar the people who had used herion and cocaine were consuming.  Coffee ...half sugar/hafl coffee. Sweets and salt of any kind.  Do you have those problems too?  Sugar is awful for your liver. Drink just enough to stay hydrated because there is such a thing as water toxicity, too much water is not good is good advice but if you are consuming too much sugar and salt it is dangerous.  Also, you said that it that a gallon is not really that much.  Are you extremely thirsty all the time?
How long ago did you go through a detox program? You should be seeing someoe during this time because if you do start on the tx it could start you craving for the drug again.  See there are others who had similiar situations. Just wondering about the "after the drug" craving. Had a good friend who came off coke/speed and was a IV user and everytime he couldn't get a fix he would literally consume mountains of sugary foods.
Thanks for the #. That is good to know.  Good luck and sorry to be invasive just curious about the sugar/water thing.  Luckily for me I didn't have any of those issues even though a product of the 70's ... pot and alcohol would usually knock me on my ***...few other things I did once but never did again...deathly afraid of needles so that was never a problem but have an understanding of my friends who did get hooked on other things.  
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Avatar universal
Hi sorry I have no news for you yet. I havnt recieved my medicine yet but it looks like we will be starting together and together we can do this, so ill keep in touch ok. Good night!!!
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Avatar universal
Hello everyone, I am still waiting for my medicine to come in(the mail) now. Walgreens who I have faithfully served told me that they didnt have my medicine and wanted me to go to CVS what a joke, what ever happened to customer service..., LONG STORY!!! Im thinking this time of waiting is getting me ready to prepare myself to start tx. Im not as anxious anymore. So in case you dont know Walgreens has a Specialty Program that if you cant afford $700. mo. they will help you and will even deliver your medicine to you.The number is...(661)615-6000.Walgreens is pretty much nation wide...not sure how far this site travels? Anyways now Im waiting for my Dr. to fax over the strength  of Peg. that she wants me to take so they can deliver! :/ Thank you everyone who responds and have a good night!
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Avatar universal
Hi.  Just curious how you are feeling after your first injection.  I am geno 1a and start triple therapy on Monday.  Very nervous to begin as well.  Good luck and keep us posted.
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Avatar universal
Hi Renee my name is Cassie and I was an Iv drug user of meth for 8 years. I am on week 21 of pegasys and riba. I am geno 3a I was very scared of treatment but was surprised I have been able to work full time and go to school during treatment I have vomited a couple of times and had leg pain a few nights ago but other then that did well. I never had the desire to use again but I have read relapse can be a risk during treatment, maybe that's why doctor recommended you seek psych help as a preventative.
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Avatar universal
Hi I was type 3.  I did 24 weeks started Jan 17 2012 ended it the last week of June 2012. I took Peg and Rib. I did drink lots water when I didn't I coughed real  bad. I had trouble eating and seldom slept,. I did not get rashes  but did run low grade fevers after the eve pill I took it around 4 PM in the afternoon, It left me very week but I did not have any pain.
The treatment is kinda hard but get up each day with a good attitude . Just say Please Lord help me make it through another day an night and you be just fine. The  result at the end when you hear UND is wonderful. well worth the treatment weeks.
Good Luck
bbj
Helpful - 0
3122657 tn?1357432602
Hi i am type 2 and i take the same meds as you do and i must say i was much more scared then i really needed to be i found myself reading horror stories about the meds and all the sides but you first have to remember we r not on the triple therapy witch in my opinion  i think is much more rough on people or maybe im just lucky im dont have tons of sides but you can do it i do have some days where i dont have any energy and sometimes my body hurts but i just get in a hot tub of water and soak ask your doc what you can take for the pains and stay on this site its  the best support i have found and trust me starting is the scary part but getting to the finish line is soo exciting to me im on week 13 of 24 you can do it and dont let yourself think you need anything more for your pain stay clean and congrats
Helpful - 0
766573 tn?1365166466
By suggesting you see a psychiatrist I think your doctor only means it Interferon is associated with depression.  To be honest I always thought screening for depression was part of a pretreatment assessment but apparently it isn't

I am not so sure the 'pain' of treatment will be so bad you will want to use but as one who is in recovery myself I definitely see how treatment could be triggering for some people. By "triggering" I mean cravings or wanting to use.

I think for some of us these meds can cause (or create) a certain agitation that can be risky. Recognizing and Knowing where I stand with that as well as having the resources and support to fall back on  enabled me to hang in there.  Maybe your doctor is thinking along those lines since he is not equipped to deal with that but he understands the side effects of the HCV meds.

Best of luck♫

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Avatar universal
A gallon of water a day is not needed for every and each person. This suggestion has been passed on in medhelp over and over as gospel over the years.  Medications are not all metabolized by the kidneys, some utilize the liver, so no need to flush kidneys as a rule.  Better to Listen to your body, water is also absorbed from foods so there is less that need to be ingested separately.  Listen to your body, I was sickened when trying to drink more than 8 glasses a day. I just could not muster it. So, listen to your bod and make sure you take pain medications if you need them or the pains will depress you. If your treatment is longer than 24 weeks you might loose some hair. Again, a suggestion has been passed on here to cut your hair because of this. I never did. There are a lot of suggestions, you need to choose what will work for you and always double check with your MD and other sites. I am rooting for YOU! that virus is as good as gone! Wishing you EVR and then SVR!
Helpful - 0
1815939 tn?1377991799
As far as water is concerned, it is advised to drink a gallon of water a day. That is really not that much water when you think of it. It is a quart in the morning, a quart in the afternoon, a quart in the evening, and the other quart during the night or an extra glass tossed in with the other 3 quarts.

I measured it so I would know how much I was drinking. I set out my quart in the morning and just drank from it all morning. Then the same for the other time periods.

If you are like most of us, you will feel parched all of the time so drinking water is not really a problem. I had to drink water or I could not swallow because I was way too dry in the throat.

It does not all have to be water. It could be other liquids as well. I drank a quart of organic chicken broth a day. This not only helped relieve nausea and was very palatable to drink, it helped flush my kidneys too.

The water is important, especially to keep your kidneys functioning well. It will also help keep your skin more moisturized and your mouth from drying out. Water/fluid also helps prevent headaches.


Here is an article with some tips:

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/Treatment_Side_effect_Guide.pdf
Helpful - 0
163305 tn?1333668571
One big possible side effect of interferon treatment is depression. This may be why they want you to see a psychiatrist. Some people start on ADs before beginning tx.

I'm sure you realize that you can not mix other drugs with treatment. These meds are strong.

Educate yourself as best you can before plunging in.
Try checking out www.hepcadvocate.org
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1669790 tn?1333662595
Since you will read a lot of abbreviations of these new medical terms, you can refer to the list of acronyms on the bottom right corner of this page.  This stuff can be very confusing at first so try to educate yourself some.  Link follows:

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Hepatitis/Hepatitis-C-Acronyms-Abbreviations/show/3?cid=64
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Avatar universal
Right on, thank you for your advice, and believe me Im not looking for Drama.
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Avatar universal
Hi there! I see that the water issue is still been thrown around here, like it did 10 years ago when I first came.  Drink just enough to stay hydrated because there is such a thing as water toxicity, too much water is not good. You can search that on the wide world of the web, not just here.  As for the TX, it sounds like my own, for G1A.  I found that all your normal pains get enhanced on these meds, like you have the flu  24/7. I did take vicoprofen and was able to tolerate 18 months of this stuff, plus was able to keep my cardiokick classes. I did not see a psychitrist, but my hep dr did a minimental at every office visit.  Stick to the support on this site, but beware of the drama and always double check the info given here with your own search in all the medical sites that post journals and research results. Good luck to you!
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Avatar universal
Hey, thanks for responding so quick! Yes I am a Geno type 3. Im about to google what it all means right now. I will be back and kind of nuse this as a diary??? well you know, some one to listen to me! Thanks flcyclist
Helpful - 0
1669790 tn?1333662595
Hi Renee, welcome to the forum.  Congrats on being clean, hope it stays that way.  These med (Inf/Riba) can be a challenge, so seeing a psych is a good idea.  There are many very helpful and supportive members in this forum, so you came to the right place.  If you have questions, ask away.  

I'm guessing that you're either a geno 2 or 3 considering you're not taking the additional (PI's), either Incevik or Victrelis.  And trt for 24 weeks?  Good luck with trt.
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