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5171728 tn?1364663789

SWELLING/BLISTERING

Hey All,

I wrote in my 'journal' yesterday and one suggested I post here in the forum.  So I'm just finishing up Week 2 of the Incivek but not without incident (as I'm sure you all have your own issues - for which I'm praying and holding all of you near and dear to my heart).  

I had some 'blistering' issues - from yellow blisters to monsterous proportions - that started growing nearly a week ago.  I found that I had a bladder infection and I'm thinking that it wound up find a way out through these blisters?  I don't know.  What I do know is that the Augmentin is offering relief with the infections.  But for the topical part of these extremely painful blisters is this: I have been applying bacitracin w/zinc topically.  And in addition to that, my doctor prescribed a 'mouth paste' called Triamcinolone Acetonide.  This actually has been 'drawing out' the infection and with the little white gloves (all cotton) I purchased at Walgreen's, it's been a means to tolerate until they're gone.  

The swelling in my ankles, tops of feet and half-way up mid calf are what's killing me now.  It looked like Miss Piggy must've come in through the night sometime last week and switched legs with me.  By last weekend, Sunday, I could no longer get my 'regular' shoes on.  Compression stockings?  Yes, I have them but no way could I get them on - for one, the swelling is so bad that when I press the skin on the top of my feet, it leaves a good 1/2" indentation (for which I have a call in to the doctor for this one); the other thing is my hands are way too sore to try to pull them up!  :(

So, I saw my HepC doctor this past Tuesday who said swelling is not a side effect of the Incivek so has now passed it off on my contacting my regular doctor (she'd rather see the HepC doctor pull back on the meds altogether, but that's not an option).  So, hopefully, there'll be some much needed relief in sight soon for the swelling.

Hoping your days are going well and again - my thoughts and prayers are with all of you 'warriors' going through this process.  We are conquerors!!!!

B1essed
14 Responses
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683231 tn?1467323017
Hi kandi
This is a year old thread in the hepatitis C community. Do you have hep C?
If you would like to ask a question select the post a question link at the top of the page so people will see your new question
Good luck
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
what kind of doctor should i see for deep complete dip/identation/crease in the fingernails of one hand (not lines). a dermatologist or special doctor? prob not a derm right bc they wouldnt deal much w/ internal issues just in case?
Helpful - 0
1747881 tn?1546175878
"Sorry to be so naive over here ... but what do you mean when you say, 'tx?'  Still trying to figure out the terminologies."

It stands for treatment, follow the link for commonly used abbreviations

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Hepatitis/Hepatitis-C-Acronyms-Abbreviations/show/3?cid=64
Helpful - 0
5171728 tn?1364663789
Oh ... I'm not sure what you meant when you asked, 'what stage of fibrosis are you' ??  I guess I'm of the  geno1 group - if that helps.  ??
Helpful - 0
5171728 tn?1364663789
Sorry to be so naive over here ... but what do you mean when you say, 'tx?'  Still trying to figure out the terminologies.  

And again, I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOU!!  Keeping you close to my heart - feeling your pain as if it were mine and keeping you in prayer!

Love ya Love ya Love ya!!!!
Helpful - 0
5171728 tn?1364663789
Thanks so much.  I have to tell you - first off, it took me three long years (and very methodically done) to lose 27 lbs!  I never went on a 'diet' (don't believe in them) but learned to eat very healthy.  Since I got all my 'partying' out of my system and actually a 2nd (or 3rd for that matter) at LIFE, I didn't have a problem with the 60fat gms other than WHAT do I eat - esp because I am not hungry like that.  So, I've found the healthiest things to eat - i.e., morning time: Greek Gods yogurt (mmmm) with flaxseed & berries & granola.  Since my cholesterol is WONDERFUL, I can actually consume the whole milk and butter and it doesn't bother me.  However, I've quickly learned that I must watch the sodium - but then, again, I'm not a big salter.

I agree to 'stay in touch' and that's why I say over & over, I'm SO BLESSED to have this website and willing participants/first-hand folks who've had the experience to help me out.

Far as the doctors go, everybody is on the same page - HepC doc (she's not the most available but very good); my general physician - LOVE HER!; and my blood doctor - very caring ... are the best.  We're all on the same page - and I just hope like you said, it all works out.

Appreciating your & everyone's input ...
B1essed
Helpful - 0
5171728 tn?1364663789
Thanks.  I do agree that I've never had the swelling prior to this either.  But I wound up in Urgen Care TWICE and now the HepC doc is talking about perhaps 'discontinuing treatment' altogether. :(  Bummer - cuz I'm mentally READY to do this!  This adema (?) has worsened and I've gone from 'weepin' on the tops of my feet to 'sobbing' and my legs are completely swollen up to my knees.  I wound up taking another x-ray - looking at my heart but apparently, they noted a coupld nodules on my lung (from back in 2010); additionally, they're concerned about my kidneys functioning properly.  

I just hope everything works out so that I can continue treatment without incident.  Geesh!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had lots of swelling while on incivek. My Dr. also told me he did not think it was related to tx. Thank you to this site I was able to see others had the same symptoms My face, arms and feet swelled. When incivek was stopped, swelling went down.So sorry you have to go through this. Hopefully you can stay with tx. It is worth it to hear that UND in the end. God Bless
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
          oh!  and dont forget skin care.  skin and nail care can help with bacterial and fungal complications





Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
           i had different degrees of swelling while on tx w/ inc.  feet, ankles, legs, and face.  i never had swelling of any kind b 4 tx. with incivek.  my tx dr had me do the normal recomendations; elevation, drink more water, and so on and so on. my dr refered me to pt with a clt license.  

         swelling is a buildup of lymph.  and the lymphatic system is passive.  so we must move the lymph alon g manually.  a clt uses a combination of decompression techniques.

                           manual drainage with hands
                           wrapping  with compression bandages
                           getting up and walking with wraps
                           giving you exercises to do at home

          muscle contraction activates muscle and joint pumps to move lymph back into circulation.  

       in 2 months my swelling was under control                 barry
Helpful - 0
317787 tn?1473358451
Hi I just did a search on swelling with Incivek ( includes riba and inf) and I see that one member Frijole and another HondaPatches had swelling during tx. You might want to look at their posts.
You can also do a search by typing in what you are looking for, there is a block next to post question where you can search.
I typed in swelling with incivek.
I hope you can find some help
D
Helpful - 0
317787 tn?1473358451
Hi there, I am so glad you posted here, there are a lot of people who can help.  I think it is possible that the swelling is related to the tx.  It is so new, my doc said that there will be side effects that they did not find during the trials that will now pop up.
A friend of mine on tx had bleeding behind her ears, another had her scalp crack open and bleed.  I believe anything is possible.
As ID said it could be part of the tx and the amount of fat that we have to eat.  I don't know if this will help however drink as much water as you can.  Also, as a diabetic I learned that while salt can cause water retention, sugar can cause salt retention which can cause more fluid retention.
Are you saying that your regular doctor thinks you need to reduce the medication?
I think I mentioned that others have had bad rashes, I saw the pictures some reminded me of poison ivy or chicken pox.
You could also try a dermotologist.
The first time I treated I could get no help from my hepatologist, he kept telling me my side effects were not related to my tx, they were.
I had to find another doctor to help me get through the treatment
Good luck
Helpful - 0
766573 tn?1365166466
What stage of fibrosis are you?

Sorry this is happening. These meds are intense and treatment can be an overwhelming experience. We look basically the same on the outside but something profound and dramatic is happening on the inside. Having support & staying connected to people who understand what you are going through or have been there is crucial during treatment.  Especially on the 12 week Incivek stage (I think anyway).
_______________-

It sounds like the swelling in your ankles is getting worse. How long the indentation lasts when you press your finger is a factor that determines if it is pitting edema. Either way the doctor needs to determine the cause. It can take a lot of trouble shooting and patient history and labs so it helps to think what if anything you are doing differently that could be a factor.

I did not have the healthiest of diets when I was Incivek. The 60 grams of fat a day fat requirement combined with apathy and no desire to do things really through me for a loop in the beginning. I know you probably thought of these things already but estimate how much sodium you are consuming, how much fluids you are drinking, whether you can work up a sweat and how often you are going to the bathroom.

In other words it could be from a change in routine, habits. med interactions and lastly (and hopefully not) some under lying medical condition. I had a physical with and EKG prior to treatment as part of the baseline cardio thing not sure if you did but that is one avenue to explore and rule out if you diet, meds & lifestyle are not factors.

Since this happened after you started treatment it sounds like your GP and Gastro could work together if figuring this out. Speaking of your Gastro how much experience does (s)he have with these meds and treating Hepatitis C?

Obviously there are lots of possibilities and I don't have any answers but I just wanted to toss some ideas out there and let you know this treatment is doable but it is intense. Everyone responds differently so it is not easy to know what is normal and what to be alarmed about. That is why I am a firm believer is treating certain side effects aggressively and being sure they are properly diagnosed.

I hope this works out and you are OK♫
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
As we all know everyone responds to the meds differently. That said I was on triple with incivek too. I did not experience swelling in my ankles or feet but I did have swelling in my face. I don't necessarily agree with your doctor that it is not a side effect of the meds. I never has facial swelling before and now that I'm off all drugs I don't have any now. I hope you get some relief from this I know how difficult treatment can be. From one warrior to another good thoughts coming your way!
Helpful - 0
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