Side effects and treatment

[Sfmusicteacher]

Hello everyone!  Found out in March 2015 that I had Hep C. It was confusing because I was transitioning to another dr and somehow the results didn't get to me for over 7 months and i received a call from the public health dept. with the news. Total devastation because I can't recall how or when except in 1973 I attended a Medical Assistant school and we injected each other with needles that weren't properly cleaned.  
My ALT level was 81, the viral load at 3.5 million with genotype 2b and liver staging at F3.
Fortunately after a 3 week visit with my 90 year old dad who recently had a heart attack I am back home and started treatment yesterday with Sovaldi and Ribavirin 2xs a day. For 12 weeks  My question is not so much about the Sovaldi but is there anyone out there on Ribavirin and if you are experiencing side effects of it?  Does it get worse as the days progress.  Is there anything you could do to help ease the side effects?  
This is definitely a life changing experience as I am 60 years old and just enjoying life as a grandmother. Would live to hear more about others and their experiences with the disease and treatments.   Good to have this forum to help vent and learn!  Thanks all

[Livelife777]

Hi and welcome.   I was also geno 2 and did the same treatment of Sovaldi and Riba for 12 weeks.  This genotype is the easiest to cure and you should have no problem beating it.  Since you are treatment naive the odds are overwhelmingly in your corner especially if your also F3. (Non cirrhotic)
It's a doable routine and the time seems to go by quickly.  The Riba may cause a drop in Hemoglobin but your Drs are on top of it.  Everyone has a different experience so it's hard to say how you'll exactly do but most people came thru it without problems.  Try to eat food with your meds and rest when possible.  Keep us informed with questions or concerns and we can help you with any side effects you may encounter.  Riba can cause depression so if you start to feel blue you can ask your Dr for meds to regulate your emotions.  Continue to tell yourself while on treatment that in the end you will cure yourself of this virus and live a long and healthy life.  We are so lucky to have these meds and be grateful that you will soon be cured.  That alone will make any unwelcome side effect ok.
We are here for you.
......Kim

[JDB1964]

I used the same meds in a clinical trial with little to no side effects. Riba actually seemed to give me energy that I was lacking prior.You could possibly have zero side effects.  Good luck!

[dontworry_behappy1]

If your having problems sleeping ask your doctor for a prescription to help you sleep.  No sleep makes everything harder to deal with.  Never took it before
treatment or after but if sure helped during treatment.

Hope this helps

[SurfsideGal]

I have been on ribavirin many times. I think everyone reacts a bit differently. For the most part, my only trouble was cough, which lasted the entire treatment time, and shortness of breath due to anemia which evened out after a few weeks....or perhaps I just got used to it. Hopefully you will not get worse than you are right now. Ribavirin with interferon is the worst. Without interferon you should do fairly well. Wishing you the best.