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Starting Treatment on Wednesday and Feeling....

I have been lurking here for a number of months and I am finally starting treatment this Wednesday.

I am feeling anxious and very scared.  I don't know what to expect and yet i know this is the right choice to make.

I'm hoping for no side effects, or at least minimal, but want to prepare for the worst.  

What do I have store for my first injection?

Thanks to all for all your support.
36 Responses
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116701 tn?1210259164
Hey Flojo - I am on week 14 or 48. First shot I broke out in a sweat and had light flu like conditions but not so bad. It was around week 6 when white cell dropped that I felt the worst. As beamish said mental attitude is everything. These folks are some of the best encouragers you'll ever be around. Good luck to you and you will be in our thoughts and prayers. Dale
Helpful - 0
92903 tn?1309904711
Just a friendly piece of advice - if you go in for the low-rider look be sure to keep a close watch for fresh whispy ones creeping out of the rear hatch. Or, put another way, make sure the whale tale ain't sporting a goatee.
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85135 tn?1227289772
All I got from my first shot was a bad case of nerves. Best of luck to you and please let us know how it went.

Dana
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Avatar universal
Thanks for sharing your experience about your first two shots.  I too want to take life one day at a time and not project.  

I do believe i can make myself sick just by thinking too much.  Thanks for the prayers, I have lots of people praying for me and I do believe in the power of positive energy.

I will be a couple of weeks behind you, watch out for your heels.

Have you been able to work?

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Avatar universal
This is my plan for my shot night...get home from work, eat well, play with the grandkids (get them every Wednesday night for a few hours, they are one of my greatest sources of joy), send them home, pop in a good movie, take my shot, lay in bed and watch the movie, pray for no side effects.

My significant other will be here with me and many people will have me in their thoughts and prayers.  I know all will be well, if only i could convince my brain what my gut knows!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi and welcome,

The first shot I found to be the worse, with chills, fever and very flu like. If you can, try and take shot around 5PM because you'll start feeling it about 4 to5 hours later and you may sleep through the worse which is what I did.  Good luck and welcome to the trip of a life time, I do #9 Sunday.


                    Beagle
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Avatar universal
I think algernon said it best, whatever makes you feel at ease..
sounds like you have a good plan, can I come over!
Hey, you know what,I think alot of what I have been feeling is "pychiatric" symptoms, you know that real anxious feeling, where you feel like you could crawl right outa your skin, I started feeling that lst nite, and I talked to myself about how it is just a felling, and this too shall pass.
My hubby didnt have any reaction until after shot 3, and that was the huge drop in his hemo, but now they have him on procrit, and it has helped.  Will your doc give you resue drugs if you need them? Did you talk about it at all? Mine will.
lilmoma
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Avatar universal
You are about to venture down a tuff road. But be assured you can handle it. My wife has actually been on Tx constantly for 2.5 years. Which is way beyond proticall.( sp? ). But she is post-transplant now 3years. And God bless her as she has run the gamet of sx's, and like a timex watch she keeps ticking. They have had to adjust doses to try to deal with sx's a number of times. She complains most about fatigue, headaches and overall yucky feeling. But all have been tolerable. You'll be o.k. and if Tx. is too much or too little your Dr.'s will adjust. When Eva had her transplant these combo treatments were not being widely used. However today they are the first and only line of defense. And as you adjust and deal with possible sx's rest assured your doing the right thing. I hope you have a support network around you beyond these words here. Bless you for your courage to fight. Good Day!!!!!!!
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Avatar universal
Sounds to me as if yu gotta GOOD handle on attitude-v important!! treat yourself well on trx.....My 1st shot experience:hot flashs(i can now relate!!!) mild flu-like symptoms,no big deal..the apprehension outweighed the reality..Shots do not effect much at all now-week 16- the riba probably my least favorite med,but again,DOABLE......Slaying Dragons is hard work,just keep your eyes on the prize-SVR..
GOODLUCK
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Avatar universal
yep, we discussed anemia and I have the script for procrit already.  I will be on an increased dosage of riba and plan to do tx for 72 weeks.  YIKES, that seems like such a long time.

Yet, when i think of 72 weeks in terms of my entire life, it's just but a speck of sand.  I've been through some rather horrific events in my life and I've always came through it on the upside...just doesn't always seem that way while i'm in the thick of things.

I know all will be well, if only I could only get my brain to cooperate.  I am feeling so anxious, i just want to start now.  

I plan on keeping busy this weekend, hope my partner can keep up.
Helpful - 0
92903 tn?1309904711
If you get them, expect the fluey feelings to set in 3-8 hours after the shot. Tylenol PM, (Tylenol + Benedryl) can work wonders. Most liver Docs seem to think that's an OK thing to take.

As someone mentioned, it's more the long haul that counts. The Interferon sides are more dramatic, but they pass. Then it's time to settle in for the long march with the riba.

You can do it though. It's just left-right-left. Hang in, waiting is the hardest part.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
lilmoma says.........My vision seems to be effected

Yet your husband still lets you give him is shot? Does he not know what just one little mistake could cause. I mean being bitten by a horse is one thing, but taking a chance on losing his family jewels. 'OUCH'
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Avatar universal
ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You manaed to do it again!!!!!! I think I laughed until I ruined my make-up, tears coming down. Yeah, vision or not, the guy would rather I hit him than do it himself!!!!!!!!!!
It really is pretty funny huh?! Just call me doc debora, but I think nurse ratchet is more fitting.
Me: Hey, what do you mean that hurt?! I'll make it hurt for ya!
Him: Did I see you sharpening the point on your emery board?
okay, enough of my sickness.
lilmoma
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Avatar universal
Next week is shot 7 for me. I started out having headaches,fatigue and body aches and not sleeping. By the 3rd week headaches slacked some, was sleeping some better on and off
but my new symptom was run to the bathroom and hurry. By the 4th I had added a few other things, like neck and shoulder pain. Some shortness of breath if I walk to far or over do it which I am prone to do. The depression got worse and fatigue is much worse, the brain fog you all talk about is on and off days and I have to agree that the Riba is worse for me than the shots but its hard to say what symptom comes from which drug or the combination of both.
Whats the good news? I found this forum with some great people that I can vent to, listen to, laugh at and give me more support than I have in real life. I am adjusting to the life changes and accepting more each day of what Hep C is and what limitations I have because of the medication I take and this disease. Its all starting to come together in a good way, even though this is a hard road.
I think flo for me, having a good support system in place is very important. The symtoms I have had is like a roller coaster and everyday or week is somewhat different, some go away for the day or week, others take its place. I do have days that are sooooooo good, too, when I compare it to my bad days, I feel blessed. With things I can't do any more very easily, I replaced it with something I can do now to keep a positive aproach to life. Some ppl don't have many symptoms, some have alot of them. It just depends on the person I think. I take it a day at a time and that works well. I felt anxious and scared and still am somedays. Just hang in there

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Avatar universal
flojohead, the worry is the worst part, some take a couple of tylenol before their first shot. You'll be fine.

goof says...You can do it though. It's just left-right-left.

Goof shes starting tx not joining the army.
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Avatar universal
Opps posted before I was done. sorry.
Flojo, my prayers are with you, set up a support system, prepare for any of the symptoms, and take it a day at a time and know we are all here for you and understand what you are going through. hugs to all
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Avatar universal
your vision gets any worse and we'll be calling you nurse hatchet.
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92903 tn?1309904711
Army? What army?

That was just my advice for riding in a car once both butt cheeks are scorched by a heating pad...
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119874 tn?1189755829
I take shot #10 on Monday so I'm not far ahead of you.  Shot #1 did nothing to me--I kept waiting for it to hit.  In fact, the shots don't seem to bother me much.  The ribavirin seems to pack more of a whallop for me.  Everyone is different (that's the mantra, I'm afraid).

Just prepare well for your shot night.  Whatever makes you relax, laugh, feel loved--set it up.  I follow the same elaborate ritual every week and I think it helps me.  Be sure and take that Tylenol on shot night and drink lots of water.  You'll do great.  We're all here for you.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just took my first shot last night.  I have been scared about it for months.  I am glad it's over, the worst part was the worry.  I have had a headache and my knees hurt (joint pain) I'm really tired. So far that's all. I'm still concerned I have 47 weeks left, but all is well so far.
Good luck
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,

I just took shot 4 last night and wanted to let you know that, for me, the worst thing of all was the waiting and worrying before I started tx. I have not really had any bad reaction, feel a bit more easily tired, had a couple of headaches, but I think the relief of starting actually meant that I felt better than before. The fear of the unknown is really difficult to deal with, but keep positive, hopefully it will not be as bad as you are imagining.

As for the Riba, I do have moments of anxiety, which I think is caused by the pills, but I just talk myself out of it and remind myself why I am doing this, and I think about the others from this forum who are going through the same thing and it really helps to think I am not experiencing this alone.
On shot night I make sure I have my hot water bottle ready in my bed, I get a good movie, get the kids to bed as early as poss, get my painkillers ready and I'm set to go. I agree that it is important to drink plenty of water, I am a similar weight to you and I drink at least 2 litres a day, I think this helps bigtime.

Best of luck to you, really try and relax, and go squish that virus!! :-)

xx
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Avatar universal
OK, just realised that you didn't even mention your weight!!! Sorry, blame it on the riba!! (I am 130lbs and drink at least 2 litres of water.)

xx
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Avatar universal
Well we have all been EXACTLY where you are right now!  I hope you find out just like I did - the anxiety is MUCH WORSE than the actual effects.  In fact I was so nervous and anxious...that I took the shot and passed out overnight for about 14 hours straight - I wore myself down worrying myself to death.

Get the remote...a nice blanket...and a big glass of water (make sure you drink a LOT on shot night) and snuggle up with your significant other.  Make it a "date night" or something and trick yourself.  ;-)

Take two tylenol before the shot - just for insurance.

I bet you will be just FINE and you will be posting the next day going WOW WHAT was I such a wreck about?

(Remember if it was really THAT BAD none of us would be doing it right?)

BEST of luck.
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Avatar universal
EJR
i do mine on friday nites,like the flu for 72 hrs.Oh yeah i did #31 1.8 pegasys-1200mg riba...I drink close to a gal of h2o daily, helps alot seem to flush it out better and take 3 liquid advil on fri/sat/sun.
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