New Hep C Drug

[Vintagechix]

I have hepatitis C with beginning stage cirrhosis and supposed to be starting treatment with Pegasys, Ribavirin and the new drug Sovaldi as soon as the medication gets approved.  Has anyone been on the treatment with the new drug and what are the side effects like?  

[hepc4Sandi]

Calendula is an herbal cream for rash and skin irritations, I got mine at the health food store. I get welts in the middle of the night at the injection site on shot night, it isn't bad and doesn't last long, it wakes me up though, but the cream calms the skin right down, smells good too. Don't use anything with arnica, as it has St. John's Wort in it (contraindicated for Sovaldi)

Yep, I was in love with a widely talented painter, moved up to the bay area for a short time. He was always careful with his drugs, but of course hepc wasn't identified then. Sex and drugs and rock n' roll. Thought I had dodged the consequences of that. I did natural childbirth in 1989, and have had a good diet since then.

After I found out about the hepc last fall, I really cleaned my diet up more, started walking and lost 20 pounds in 3 months. My weight has stayed the same throughout Tx.

My doc didn't do a biopsy, so no definite stage, my doctor didn't seem to think I had cirrhosis, as all my liver blood markers were really good, well within normal ranges, and my ultrasound didn't show anything.

I hear a lot of advise on this forum about diet, but while you are on the meds my opinion is eat whatever you can or want to eat. I have had a really healthy diet, but am finding I have to add fat and oil to my diet while on these meds, also crave red meat and salt too, probably because of all the water I am drinking, and I have been anemic most of the time (not badly so though—13.3 (start), 10.3, 9.7, 9.6 (at which point my doc reduced the ribavirin for a few weeks, but has since raised it at my request for the last month), 10.1, 11.1). Had a real craving at the beginning for hamburgers and tacos. Eat light on shot night, I usually have thai food with tofu. Interestingly red meat and raisins really don't help with the anemia as it is the ribavirin that is destroying them along with the virus, but I figure it can't hurt.

I try to have healthy snacks to grab and eat, have no energy to fix anything: cheese sticks,
nut and dried fruit packets from Trader Joe's,
frozen tamales from Trader Joe's
organic dried cereal,
have been using 2% organic milk on my cereal too for the fat factor,
also have been eating mandarin oranges, apples
celery and peanut butter or laughing cow cream cheese,
also have instant breakfast too for a midmorning snack,
organic apple sauce is handy too,
ginger snaps, candied ginger (I made my own)

Breakfast is usually instant oatmeal with dates and walnuts, and I add a teaspoon of coconut oil (again for the fat factor). I take my meds at 8:15 morning and night, and it seems to work for me.

Try to stock up before you start. It is funny, everyone gave me soup, and it is not what I want to eat.

My doctor and nurse had no restrictions on eating, but also we do want to give our livers as much of a break as possible so they can do their healing.

I drink 70-90 oz of distilled water a day, I find it is easier to drink then spring water.

Hope that helps!

[Vintagechix]

We do have a lot of living to do, I have 3 grandkids and one on the way and they keep me full of life:)  Sandi what is calendula....never heard of this.  I am guessing some kind of ointment.  

Crazy baby boomer era...I was part of that crazy drug, free love scene...who would of thought after all these years that the hep would do this much damage.  What stage liver disease are you all in.  I am early cirrhosis but they say it can improve a bit after treatment.  I have been trying to eat real healthy, I have been a vegetarian but started no sugar (except for the few jelly beans I have been eating:) and white flour etc. and eating smaller meals throughout the day.  I don't have an appetite but do eat and have not even started the treatment.  

If you have any food tips let me know.

[hepc4Sandi]

Kim—This is true, I need to see my daughter get married, and grandkids some day! Thank goodness my daughter tested negative for the disease.

[Livelife777]

58 here.      Baby Boomer disease!!!!!      Never to late to clear.       We still have a lot of livn to do.           Kim

[hepc4Sandi]

I will be 64 this month! So we are all about the same age. Are you starting your injection on Monday night? So you are not working the next 2 days? I have mine on Friday night, so that I am ok to work by Monday morning. You just want to make sure your timing is right for your schedule.

[Vintagechix]

Thanks everyone, these are positive answers and very helpful.  I am still waiting to get all the paperwork faxed to get my Solvati, but when I get it I am hoping to start Monday evening.  Thanks Kim. Sandi, almost sixty (I will be 60 in June:).