STARTING TREATMENT

Wish me luck.  I start treatment tom.  Not really looking forward to it but I am looking forward to kicking this virus right out of me.  I hope everyone else is doing well.  I will let all of you know how it goes tom.  I am doing the shot at the doctors office tom morning so I don't think this time I will be sleeping through anything.  I hope it is a smooth ride but I'm not holding my breath.  Thanks to all your experiences I at least feel a little more prepared for it.  
Take care.
steve

[52TELE]

Do it. Beat it. Take the medication fervently. It will be a fight but its a winnable fight. Vist your friends here often and learn all you can. Luck be to you tomorrow morning and every day for the next 48 weeks.

I'll look forward to seeing how it went for you.


"I will not go quietly".

[can-do-man]

Heres wishing you the best. As for when the shot will effect you is a guess. My first one and everyone since hasn't hit me till 12 hours or more later. Good luck you'll do fine.

[sfbaygirl]

Good luck tomorrow and thanks for sharing with us. My first shot didn't feel like anything. The next day, I was a bit tired and a low temp, but nothing else. The next ones I have had low temps and chills sometimes 2 days later. Everyone and every shot can be different.

The worst part of the first shot for me was the anticipation (hey that would be a good fight song!) of it. I was sure I would turn into a frog or something. I didn't and am doing shot #11 tonight.

After the first shot it isn't so scary, it does get easier.

Good luck and let us know how it went.

Linda

[Alady1620]

Best of luck to you!  I hope your treatment goes smoothly with no bad side effects.

[strator]

Good thoughts your way. It all is pretty unpredicatable who reacts how. For me, differnt sx come and go, and come and go. I think the first 2 weeks might of seemed tougher on me but I was so durn busy workin I just didn't have time for sx. Gotta admit though after a few weeks into tx, little by little you get more adjusted to it, at least to some things. Plan naps into your day if you can. All the crapola I do on tx, work, meetings, running a single parent household..my Dad and kid know when I come in from work, unless I work late, I'm goin for a 20min to 1hr nap. Even if I barely doze that carries me through the evening meetings, chores and errands. It seems easier on them them because they accept it as an expected part of my treatment rather than planning stuff and then I'm always apologising and begging off to go pass out. In the am I know somedays I won't get a nap then cause of a varied schedule so I put a few extra naps in 'the bank' when I can.
Stay close to the board in the beginning if you can. It may help you, it helps us, and may help anyone reading out there that is thinking of treating.
Be well,
Don

[bobbyullc]

good luck,
many of us had real severe chills and fever the fist night. maybe you will slide.
try and check in here daily as you loose that lonely feeling of no one knowing how you feel. you have to go through this to understand.
ask any dumb question you want. we will give you all the dumb answers we can invent.

how long will you treat and what was your liver stage and viral count? i know we all agree to have a copy of your blood rests sent to you so you can keep on top of your condition and know what to ask.

wheeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!
off you go,
bobby

[GrandOak]

One suggestion, consider or discuss with doc taking tylenol prior to the injection.  It helps control flu syptoms (symptoms), which is the major sx's of the IFN.

[gr8faith]

Welcome and good luck on starting tx.  You will not find a better place than this forum for learning and getting support.
I haven't been here in a long time and have been reading all the threads of late.

I just got my 1 yr post tx labs back and wanted to share that I remain clear! I did 24/24, 3a, grade 1 stage 1.  Tx was certainly no picnic but doable and I have great admiration for all the 1s doing 48 and 48+

My all of you be blessed.

candy

[FlGuy]

Good luck as you begin.  Success at getting though tx take a personal committment from you and your family. Cinch that seat belt and get ready for a ride.  Adherence to the med schedule is important.  You may have read here that most folks take the IFN on the weekends.  I was a Friday night guy so that a lot of the tougher effects were mostly past me by the time workday Monday came along.  Don't expect too much out of yourself on weekends.  Try to conserve energy, eat as well as you can, rest when you can and stay tuned in here. Go get 'em.

[FlGuy]

Very cool.  I want to be like you if I ever grow up. Seems like news of success comes in waves here.  I hope that there are many more to follow to report similar good news.  Have you any lingering effects from tx?  Have you returned to a normal life?  How did you reward yourself?

[cuteus]

there you are!! Good news, and I am glad to read them!
maybe next yr we can do the March in DC? is that BBQ still working?
enjoy!

[WyomingBlonde]

Hello all.  This site was forwarded to me as a place to gather information, talk to others who are going through the same thing, and generally vent my frustrations.

A little about me.  My name is Paula, I was first diagnosed with the HepC Virus about 5 years ago but didn't treat because the viral loads were undetectable.  Late last year I began feeling like ****, not having any energy, sleeping alot, losing weight.  Thought I was losing my mind!  A friend finally convinced me to go to the doctor, had the blood work done, and wham..... received the news of a lifetime.  I know, you're going to ask what my viral loads are, the genotype, the rating of my biopsy.  I was completely in shock so I forgot to ask for copies of everything, but it's in the work.  

Anyway, long story short, finally got insurance approval to begin treatment, my first one will be July 7.  I've talked with someone who was treating with interferon for MS, from what she told me I'm going to have a fun weekend (NOT!).  Any insight or advice on how to deal with the side effects (if there are any), would be poste appreciated!  I'm expecting the worse, but hoping for the best!

Paula

[can-do-man]

Hello and welcome, Lets hope your a geno type 2 or 3, then you treat for 24 weeks. Geno 1's do 48 weeks. So yes geno type and bx results are important. Everybody reacts different. I found the first shot the worse. Felt like i had the flu, chills. Lasted a couple 2 days but have felt worse. Since then the shots have been better. im goimg on shot 28 i think. Just make sure before you start that you and your doctor thinks its the best for you. If you have little damage you might want to talk to him about these new drugs that hopefully work out. Also make sure your Doctor has treated many hep-c patients. And will give you rescue drugs if you need them. Instead of lowering your dose. What ever you decide you'll be fine. The worring for the most part is the worse. Take care come back often. Wishing you the best.

[gr8faith]

Hi there, thanks, I am doing good, seems like a distant memory now- the whole tx and all.  The most noticable change is I have gained soooo much weight this year (after being so happy about what I lost on tx)  I am bigger than when I delivered my babies. Just had some thyroid tests done but everything is normal. I learned some really valuable lessons from the tx experience, mostly, to VALUE my time and commit less to others, everyone was hoping I would chair the committees I was on again after I finished, NOT. and I never went back to a lot of the other groups I was in and leader responsiblites. Instead, I now garden more, walk and play with the dogs more, continue my new hobby of jewelry making (I had a few shows and have sold peices to some regular clients) Family time is more relaxed and inviting and extended family time has become less hectic and easier too. The boundries set on tx have maintained.  I take naps anytime I want and don't feel guilty about it. I am able to give more at work and at the same time not get so tied up in my projects that I bring it home everyday.  (just some days LOL)

Being so ADD, I will always be distracted and have some degree of brain fog, and my energy levels flip flop too, but for the most part, it is my attitude towards everything that has changed for the better.  Everyone needs to slow down just enjoy this wonderful life we are given, with all the bumps we get along the way.

I am still on for the cookout and the DC march!  

hugs to all
Candy