hep c

[powerbuilt]

I was to start treament yesterday,but the doctor delayed my start date till jan 5 2008. The problem now is I am thinking of backing out as I read of all the side affect ?    Powerbuilt    

[stormy456]

Husband taking something called Quiet Digestion by Health Concerns.  Seems to settle his poor tummy right down.  Dr. OK'd it, I'd make sure yours is OK too.  Good luck!

[stormy456]

Have been using Traumeel (a homeopathic cream) on husband's injection site and he hasn't had any soreness or rash.  Also, make sure you warm the interferon between your hands right before the shot, seems to make a big difference.  Then he lightly massages after the shot.  Just about to do shot #5, and doing great!

[powerbuilt]

Shot #5 done and gone, my stamina seen to be droping a bit, my daughter wants to go skiing next week, dont no if I will be able to to do many runs or if I should even try it , what do you thing Izzy...  

[powerbuilt]

I have been doig my own shots,but I wish somebody would do it for me,I just cant seem to settle down before I do it ...  Did your nurse give you a booklet , step by step how to inject yourself with the redipen,cant go wrong that way...   Izzy are you a pro at it or do you still get nervous doing your own ....

[Isobella]

Y'all are gonna be pros before ya know it.

Cheering from the sidelines....Izzy

[Tippyclubb]

Doing good!  3rd shot today and feeling ok still.  Keep wondering when its going to affect me.  The nurse reassured me it will hit me.  I forgot to take the Teleprevir pills today --two and a half hours late so I was all shook up over that.  Nurse didn't have my blood work--she said doctor hadn't sent it over yet.  I feel ok so I guess its all good.  

Are you giving yourself your own shot yet?  They will do it for me two more times then I'm on my own.  Nervous about that.  Although I did do it today in front of the nurse and it wasn't so bad--just nerve wracking.  I took dear Hubby with me so he could learn and she had him practice on the dummy pad.  Think I'll let him do it.  He was good at it.  Lol !

[powerbuilt]

Shot #4 tonight, so far everything is not to bad,good day today but getting a little nervous everytime before my shot...   Went to see the doc today, good news , said my liver count was going down,best news I heard in 3 weeks.  Tippy how are you making out

[powerbuilt]

Got up this morning and started to bleed from my nose ,only lasted about 30 seconds,light headed for the rest of the day and could not get out of first gear,people were talking but it was like I was in another world,is this a natural thing that happens on these meds.

[Isobella]

Honestly, looking back I would say that food was definately an issue.  Just trying to figure out what helped and what didn't.  I just finally kept it as plain as possible.  I do eat alot of Activia yogurt and that has helped.  I know others have used ginger---either lozenges or tea.  

I recently started having heartburn.  My study nurse said I could use Mylanta.  

It seems I have settled into a boring food routine of white spinach pizza, licorice,ice cream and yogurt.  And fruit.  

I know that doesn't sound so good.....but it's been working for me.  Food grosses me out now...either smell, consistancy....the fact that it was once alive...I don't know. I'm gonna eat some more licorice and try to figure it out, lol!!!


  

[powerbuilt]

Tippyclub  looks likes were neck  and neck on our shots,I justs finnished my 3 and the next day is always the worst me, tired all day long,cant wait to get to bed that night then it is not to bad till the next shot , glad to see your not doing to bad Tippy.... Isobella  you have been through more than us ,does the tummy ever settle down, and what do you take for it ....

[Isobella]

Sounds like you both are doing well. Yay!!

I didnt lose my appitite all the way until after week 12. I think I gained about 6 lbs actually.  But I was on triple therapy until that point.  Between then and week 24,I lost 10.  The high fat foods and all the water did a number on my tummy initially tho also. But I think it also helped delay the onset of the dryness these meds can cause.  

Try lotion on the itchie injection sites.  Something plain is best...no fragrances, ect.  Mine went in cycles....sometimes leaving itchy red marks, sometimes not...so just try to alternate sites as much as you can.  

Good luck to you both =)

[Tippyclubb]

Yeah I haven't lost my appetite yet either.  Wish I would though.  The injection site on stomach hurts a little and gets itchy sometime, and it's only 2nd shot.  Can't imagine what it will feel like when we get 10 or 11 shots in stomach.  Between all the high fat food I have to eat and drinking tons of water stomach feels bloated and too full.  Other than that all is well and no sx yet.  Glad your doing ok.  

[powerbuilt]

Going for shot #3 tonight , havent lost my appetite yet,still love to eat, only thing is stomach is always sore,love  getting all the information from the ones who have been on it lot longer than I ,it realy helps

[epiphiny]

Hey well done, 2 down!  I also take Tylenol (we call it Panadol) after my shot.  I used to take it 20 mins before but then I discovered that the Interferon has it's first peak 3 - 5 hours after the shot so I changed my Tylenol to 2 hours after shot so that it peaks around the same time as the first interferon peak.  Then I go to bed.  Sometimes I take a sleeper as well, sometimes not, depends how I'm feeling. Some shots have a more of an effect than others even tho it's the same amount at the same time each week...and some of them make me a bit hyper, that's when I take a sleeper.  Other times I drop into bed like a stone and don't move all night! I think getting a good sleep on shot night makes it easier to deal with the rest of the week.

Btw, the pharmacokinetics of Interferon show that it generally reaches it's 2nd peak (for most people, there will always be exceptions!) at approx 80 - 96 hours after shot.  That is when I experience my most intense sx.  I found it helpful not to plan meetings or important events during the peak concentration window.

Also, it takes up to 4 to 6 weeks for the IFN to build up in your system, and it's half life is so long that there is half of your last week's shot still in your body when you do this weeks shot.  It may mean that your sx could intensify in a month or so.  Or not, if you are one the lucky ones!!

Rock on, you're doing great!

Epi :)

[justme53]

I'm doing shot 4 tonite and so far have had minimal to non-existent sx. I think I'm a bit superstitious now and still do everything the same as my first shot without changing a thing. I think I'm actually getting a little anal about the whole thing, but why jinx it. I take one Tylenol PM 1/2 hour before, inject, relax and sip water till I get drowsy, then tuck in.

I'm still new to all this, but so far it seems that staying hydrated is a major player. I keep it at 80 ounces - 4 20 oz. bottles throughout the day and night. 30 minutes of yoga in the morning to limber up and get the blood flowing again. Olive oil to skin before shower then blot dry...soaks in and doesn't leave an oily mess.

Hope things are looking up for you now. Hang in there, Pam

[powerbuilt]

I toke a tyenol #3 and a muscle relaxent after my injection and slep most of the night till the meds wore off,then I felt a little under the weather for a while. Anybody else doing meds after your injection

[ram921]

Don't sweat it.  The first one did the same thing to me, now It's minimal sides except for the irritability. There's no rhyme or reason to trying to predict it.  Just do it.  Congratulations.

[einsteinus]

hang in their the truck does stop

[powerbuilt]

Good luck tommorow Tippyclub,I got through the week feeling not to bad,ups and downs,I find my patience is a lot shorter then what it use to be . I was doing to much work and paying the price, got to slow down a bit . Going to see the doctor tommorow to see how I am doing,  

[Tippyclubb]

Hope you feel better soon.  Maybe it will take you a while to get use to feeling different.  Don't ever lose sight of the main goal.  Your going to slay the dragon!

[Isobella]

I should add that you may want to check with your doc to see what he suggests taking-if anything-sorry

Iz

[Isobella]

Sorry the truck hit you.  They say everyone is different....hopefully things will get better once your body adjusts.

Some get relief with tylenol.  Just don't take more than the recommended dose.  

Take it easy....listen to the body.  And drink lots of water-it should help.

Here's to you kicking it harder than it kicks you!!

Hang in there and keep us posted =)

Isobella

[powerbuilt]

I had my first shot yesterday,feel like a mac truck ran over me,flu like symtoms,chills, the whole kit and  caboodle . Im hoping after a few days I will start to get use to it.   Maybe ,yes maybe no  

[powerbuilt]

Thanks for all the encouragement,I will also use that phrase  :I will get throught this attitude: My first shot starts on Monday, I will you keep you all posted