Soon to start tx - looking for tips....

[illo]

Hi Everyone!  I am going to take the tx either this week or next.  The drugs are coming Wednesday.  I am anxious at this point like most people are or were.  Can you fine warriors give me any tips on when to take the shot & when to take the pills?  I've heard one of them makes you tired and the other keeps you awake.  I'd like to know how you deal with this.  Does rotating the needle entry help?  I've got a 6mil viral load and beginning cirrhosis.  I hope I can knock this virus out, but don't know if the cirrhosis makes it more difficult. Any help would be appreciated!  Thanks!

[koala68]

Tip: Never start the day you get your medecine because that day is the earliest you will at best get your next supply (Insurance often dictate when you can get resupplied, mail in order won't ship without this insurance approval).
Instead; delay first shot by a week or two to give yourself a few days of slack.
That way you will prevent any medecine shortage during your entire treatment.

[Pdilly]

I may be a little late but I took a Tylenol and an Tylenol PM about 4 hours after my shot.  The PM would keep me sleeping right through anything.  Usually after 10 or 12 hours I would awake and feel just fine.  For a month or so I would be a little slow.

[illo]

Thanks to everyone's encouraging posts!  I am starting next Fri.
Also, I am female and 57 yrs young &  geno 2b.  I hear 2b is good, if there's any good to be found with this disease.

Your tips are helpful and ease my mind.  I will surely return for
support and hope for the best.  You have all been thru so much and
I admire the tenacity and resolve each and everyone of you has.  I hope I
can endure half of what you've been thru.

:)

[madbrad]

All I can say is square your shoulders, strap in, and hang on.......And stay in touch with this forum......But mostly get in touch with God.

[Lilla]

Good luck with starting your treatment.  I started Feb. 5 (11 shots ago).  I decided to start on a Monday morning 9 AM with injection.  I wanted a better part of the day to drink a lot of water with the shot.  I never got any real bad sides from shot other than first week I ran a low fever (99 deg) after, but no fever since.  My biggest complaint for side effects for me have been:   no energy, fatigue, itching, and dizziness.    I believe everyone is different however. Good luck again.

[Fighting-this-Together]

Good Luck to you. The anticipation of starting tx is pretty bad. We both seemed to relax a little as soon as he did his shot in the office. I don't have too much advice at this point as my Husband is 6 hrs into his first shot of 48. He complained of  his muscles aching and soreness at the injection site. I went and got an electric blanket and set it on low. He is sleeping for now. His NP asked him to take a Tylenol 1 hr before his appt.. She also said to take anything he needs (OTC drugs, or scripts) for sx to get through the 48 weeks.

[Tallahassee]

Good decision with treatment!

I  know, many people are taking sleeping pills... but my observation that while on treatment you will never have a good healthy all night sleep with or without the pills.  Since you have cirrhosis already, I would try not to use extra chemicals.

Way back in ~1999 while on my Ingergen treatments I learned not to take even Tylenol for headache.  I know it may sounds crazy, but in the morning prior to my work I would place an ice pack on my head sit down for 10 mins or so and mentally trying to convince myself that "I'm feeling good, very good! I just don't know yet, but I'm feeling good!!"  Believe it or not, it is working for me.   I think this is what happens with yoga followers who can go through surgery without pain killers.

As a female, I'm once monthly have a migraine.... no Tylenol can help... Imitrex worked fine... well, after I read about possible effects on liver, kidney, etc.  I stopped taking it and using my "convincing technique

[web52]

welcome. i'm in week 35 of 48. i take the shot friday afternoon, around 4 o'clock. friday at 4 was what i started with, so that's what i keep up. i use my stomach, rotating left and right sides. sometimes i do the same side two times in a row. both are pretty discolored by this now, but don't hurt at all. i take the morning riba around 9-10 a.m. with a danish or other pastry (i'm up by 6, but have difficulty eating earlier). evening dose around 9:30 at night, with dinner. i take ambien for sleep. if i don't take the ambien, i don't sleep (sleep wasn't a problem before tx). i drink at least a gallon of water a day (it really helps). it's important to speak with your doc regarding any significant sx, as there are additional meds that can help with a range of symptoms. what geno are you? i know chirrohis makes it more difficult to achieve svr, but i've seen some posts on this board that indicated early chirrohis was reversed with tx. good luck to you and please keep us posted on your progress.

[trolsgirl]

Definitely stock up on water and keep it nearby at all times. I drink bottled water and have cases of it in the house and even take a bottle up to bed with me at night as I wake up incredibly thirsty.  Make sure you have Tylenol on hand for aches & pains (per your doctor's advice of course) and decongestants if needed.
Stock up on reading material in case you are feeling under the weather and need to relax in bed on the weekends of your shot.
Get a good lotion in case your skin gets dry and itchy.
Read this board religiously!  It is a Godsend and there are wonderful people here to help you through this tx.  
God bless!
Sandra

[illo]

Thanks for the tips and the well wishes.  I hope I can get thru this.
Sounds like I should load the freezer with ice cream!  :)

[GrandmaA]

Good luck with tx. I have to eat fat with my riba or I get nausea and sometimes vomit. So I have 9 almonds in the a.m. and ice cream at night and now it's fine. I'm taking 4 ribas a day. I take my shot on Fri. night about 4 or 5 PM. You have to leave the redipen out for 30 min. before using. Yes, alternate injection sites. I have more luck with the abdomen, but I have used the thigh- the needle is very small. DRINK LOTS OF WATER.

For sleep I take .5 ativan, Nightrest by Source Naturals, 5HTP and melatonin. If I take a Tylenol PM I can sleep until 4 a.m. otherwise I'm usually up at 2 and 3 and 4, etc. I don't like to take tylenol unless I have pain.

Wishing you a good treatment and you achieving SVR.

[painterlady13]

Hi and good luck starting treatment.  I can only tell you what worked for me...  And I'm sure others will also tell you what worked for them then you will have to see what works for you....  lol
I started the riba in the am (6) with peanut butter toast (any fatty meal with Riba) and then dinner between 4 and 6 I would take the second dose.  you don't have to wait 12 hours just one dose with something in the morning and one with something in EARLY evening (ribavirin is the one that keeps you awake.)  Shot - about an hour before bed whatever night you choose, with a couple tylenol to ward off the flue like symptoms.  And be sure to drink plenty of water  at least 1 oz for every 2 lbs of your weight.  I have tried to stay working thruout treatment so I take my shot on fridays so if I am sick I can be at home and have time to get thru it.  I have just 10 more to go out of 48. and it's truly been a long year.
Again Good luck and keep comming back the people here have been a godsend for me during my treatment.  Hopefully you will find some good suggestions that will work for you.