Aa
Sx help
My 4 week PCR came back UND! It just made Friday the 13th a very important day in my life.
While I am on cloud nine, I am having the most difficult time with sx. I am taking cymbalta and have no rage/anger issues. However, since week two (I did shot 5 on Monday) I have nausea that is exacerbated by just about any smell, exhaustion, vision problems, fever,sweats, itchy everywhere and brain fog so bad that I feel like I should be taking my Mom's aricept. Just writing this has taken me 20 minutes. I am drinking water , using lotion and letting others do for me. I made my Gastro aware of these symptoms and he just said I'll see you in a month... my primary is doing bi-weekly CBC's
Is there anything I can do to decrease the sides, especially the nausea and exhaustion? Do they subside as time goes on? I have 19 more weeks to go
and unfortunately I am the primary caregiver for an elderly parent w/Alzheimers.
Thanks,
Shupeg
While I am on cloud nine, I am having the most difficult time with sx. I am taking cymbalta and have no rage/anger issues. However, since week two (I did shot 5 on Monday) I have nausea that is exacerbated by just about any smell, exhaustion, vision problems, fever,sweats, itchy everywhere and brain fog so bad that I feel like I should be taking my Mom's aricept. Just writing this has taken me 20 minutes. I am drinking water , using lotion and letting others do for me. I made my Gastro aware of these symptoms and he just said I'll see you in a month... my primary is doing bi-weekly CBC's
Is there anything I can do to decrease the sides, especially the nausea and exhaustion? Do they subside as time goes on? I have 19 more weeks to go
and unfortunately I am the primary caregiver for an elderly parent w/Alzheimers.
Thanks,
Shupeg
For the itching, especially the scalp. I put some olive oil on my fingertips and rub into my scalp at night before I go to bed. I also use an Oat Lotion and then seal it into my skin with Olive Oil. That seemed to help everywhere but injection sites. Those are still a mess. I have read where many swear by the Virgin Coconut Oil also for itching. For nausea I am with NY ...milk and ice cream. And ike NY says, you might have to try several things out until you find what works. And as you do, then one day you will be done with TX and SVR ... as you are well on your way! Congrats!
If you're getting some relief from ginger tea and crystallized ginger, try ginger root capsules. It's a way of getting more concentrated ginger than you'd want to eat.
GB
GB
I do so appreciate all of the advice, support and comments. I especially appreciate the comment from nygirl that the doctors think we are babies! Remember the movie Brainstorm? I would love to give my doc just one dose of my recorded experiences!
It does make me a bit crazy when I realize that when he (gastro) asks me how I am doing, he isn't REALLY listening. I come from a family of origin where a sick day meant you were contageous, missing a limb, hit by a bus or delivering a baby.
I do take my riba with food, drink my water, never feel bloated, use lotion.Everywhere. I have not tried Gold Bond Green but will give it a whirl. My scalp is also itchy and I have begun to use scalpicin. I have also noticed a small rash on my hip that re appears within 24 hours of my shot.
I am concerned about taking too many things at once. In addition to 1200 riba/day and 180 peg/wk, Armour Thyroid, tylenol and benadryl,my primary's PA has prescribed and I take cymbalta. Last week ,after my body would not clear a congestive cough he put me on z-pac antibiotics 5 days on 5 days off and wants me to take it for the duration of treatment. He also prescribed lunesta for the insomnia (have not taken this yet) He did say that Procrit may be prescribed if necessary. He will repeat the hemo next week.
I drink ginger tea and chew a bit of crystallized ginger during the day and it helps somewhat but it comes in waves, without warning. The exhaustion is beyond my wildest nightmare. I am winded going up a flight of stairs and need to lay down. I am quite pathetic.
The nightsweats may also be menopause- Pile it on baby...
I am exteremly happy to know that I am UND at 4 weeks and determined to finish even if I have to be carried over the finish line in a handbasket.
Love to all of you guys and Thank You!
Shu
It does make me a bit crazy when I realize that when he (gastro) asks me how I am doing, he isn't REALLY listening. I come from a family of origin where a sick day meant you were contageous, missing a limb, hit by a bus or delivering a baby.
I do take my riba with food, drink my water, never feel bloated, use lotion.Everywhere. I have not tried Gold Bond Green but will give it a whirl. My scalp is also itchy and I have begun to use scalpicin. I have also noticed a small rash on my hip that re appears within 24 hours of my shot.
I am concerned about taking too many things at once. In addition to 1200 riba/day and 180 peg/wk, Armour Thyroid, tylenol and benadryl,my primary's PA has prescribed and I take cymbalta. Last week ,after my body would not clear a congestive cough he put me on z-pac antibiotics 5 days on 5 days off and wants me to take it for the duration of treatment. He also prescribed lunesta for the insomnia (have not taken this yet) He did say that Procrit may be prescribed if necessary. He will repeat the hemo next week.
I drink ginger tea and chew a bit of crystallized ginger during the day and it helps somewhat but it comes in waves, without warning. The exhaustion is beyond my wildest nightmare. I am winded going up a flight of stairs and need to lay down. I am quite pathetic.
The nightsweats may also be menopause- Pile it on baby...
I am exteremly happy to know that I am UND at 4 weeks and determined to finish even if I have to be carried over the finish line in a handbasket.
Love to all of you guys and Thank You!
Shu
This is like a roller coaster ride. A Doctor told my husband, "you just get a little tired." Makes you wonder about some of the professionals. I'm on week 14. I have had every symptom at some time, and hate the way I feel right now plus brain fog. Like HectorSF said "keep your eye on the prize." For the rash, I used claritin in the am and benydrl 1/2 tab at night. I used Aveeno wash and Aveeno cream, rash is gone now but still use the cream for dry skin.
Best news you are UND!!
Best news you are UND!!
Excellent news! Congrats to you Shupeg! :)
You are taking the riba with food right?
Unfortunately sides come and go and they do really suck huh. I don't know if compazine is still out on the market (I get migraines and I remember at one point when I asked for it the ER said no but I could have not been clearly then) but definitely if it's that severe I would talk to the doctor again. They think we are real babies and they just blow us off.......my own GI tried to send me for a chest xray when I said I couldn't breathe and an ear nose throat doc for the ringing in my head. Turns out my hemo went down SIX full points in just ten days - he had no CLUE until I kept screaming (well probably whispering) PROCRIT PROCRIT PROCRIT!
Has your hemo been checked lately? My tumble happened at week 2/3 (but I was double dosing riba so I kind of deserved it).
We really HAVE to be our own advocates and really stick to our guns on this treatment so don't feel bad if you have to call back and insist he listen to you.
I found that milk helped me a lot and so did ice cream. As a matter of fact the old timers who were in here when I treated will tell you I almost lived completely on fudgicles the entire time, all 72 weeks. I'd eat 7 a day and maybe not much else but they helped soothe my stomach.
I never found any answer for the nightsweats except a fan....which is fine but you just can't carry one around all day :(
Keep lotioning up and did you try some hydrocortizone? The ONLy rash that worked for me was the Gold Bond in the green bottle. I tried every single one on the market (literally if you could find it at the store I did try it) but that one worked if I put it on several times a day. sometimes for the bad spots that I had scratched raw I put bandaids on them - just so I couldn't scratch that hard, I ended up with horrible scars from it cause I was like a little kid with chicken pox.
I know there isn't much that any of us can do to help you but we can say that we understand.
Fortunately you only have 24 weeks to go total and you are already 90% of the way to SVR, that HAS to help!!!!!!!
You are taking the riba with food right?
Unfortunately sides come and go and they do really suck huh. I don't know if compazine is still out on the market (I get migraines and I remember at one point when I asked for it the ER said no but I could have not been clearly then) but definitely if it's that severe I would talk to the doctor again. They think we are real babies and they just blow us off.......my own GI tried to send me for a chest xray when I said I couldn't breathe and an ear nose throat doc for the ringing in my head. Turns out my hemo went down SIX full points in just ten days - he had no CLUE until I kept screaming (well probably whispering) PROCRIT PROCRIT PROCRIT!
Has your hemo been checked lately? My tumble happened at week 2/3 (but I was double dosing riba so I kind of deserved it).
We really HAVE to be our own advocates and really stick to our guns on this treatment so don't feel bad if you have to call back and insist he listen to you.
I found that milk helped me a lot and so did ice cream. As a matter of fact the old timers who were in here when I treated will tell you I almost lived completely on fudgicles the entire time, all 72 weeks. I'd eat 7 a day and maybe not much else but they helped soothe my stomach.
I never found any answer for the nightsweats except a fan....which is fine but you just can't carry one around all day :(
Keep lotioning up and did you try some hydrocortizone? The ONLy rash that worked for me was the Gold Bond in the green bottle. I tried every single one on the market (literally if you could find it at the store I did try it) but that one worked if I put it on several times a day. sometimes for the bad spots that I had scratched raw I put bandaids on them - just so I couldn't scratch that hard, I ended up with horrible scars from it cause I was like a little kid with chicken pox.
I know there isn't much that any of us can do to help you but we can say that we understand.
Fortunately you only have 24 weeks to go total and you are already 90% of the way to SVR, that HAS to help!!!!!!!
I've had horrible stomach discomfort/nausea (it actually felt like my stomach was bloated and full of rocks).
I've taken . . .
ginger root capsules
digestive enzymes (betaine HCl and pepsin)
Tigan (prescription)
Xanax (half a .25)
I started drinking less water (on the theory that it was diluting down my stomach enzymes so much they weren't working anymore).
In the last few days I'm feeling better. I wish I could tell you that I know why, but I don't. It most likely is the digestive enzymes. And I do think I was drinking too much water for me.
Just keep trying things and by the time you think you have a solution you won't need it anymore. At least that's what tx has been like for me so far. :)
Good luck!
I've taken . . .
ginger root capsules
digestive enzymes (betaine HCl and pepsin)
Tigan (prescription)
Xanax (half a .25)
I started drinking less water (on the theory that it was diluting down my stomach enzymes so much they weren't working anymore).
In the last few days I'm feeling better. I wish I could tell you that I know why, but I don't. It most likely is the digestive enzymes. And I do think I was drinking too much water for me.
Just keep trying things and by the time you think you have a solution you won't need it anymore. At least that's what tx has been like for me so far. :)
Good luck!
I had a some exhaustion and brain fog during the first few weeks and they started slowly fading away around week 5/6 - strange, but I started really feeling great around the time I learned I was UND - then I had one HORRENDOUS day (I really hope that doesn't happen again) and now feel great. I thin my body adapted to it and maybe it's because I'm also UND that I feel so good. About the only thing I feel now is mild eye fatigue and the thought/smell of greasy food isn't pleasant.
Give it a couple more weeks, I think you'll feel better.
Give it a couple more weeks, I think you'll feel better.
Way to go!!! Hang in there. You have about a 90% of SVR. It doesn't get any better than that. Keep you eyes on the prize. Remember this is all temporary. You'll have the rest of your life free of the HCV beast.
I'm sure you'll give some good suggestions on how to minimize the side effects from others more experienced. I only did 12 weeks and didn't respond to treatment, so others know better about the long haul.
Awesome!
Cheers.
HectorSF
I'm sure you'll give some good suggestions on how to minimize the side effects from others more experienced. I only did 12 weeks and didn't respond to treatment, so others know better about the long haul.
Awesome!
Cheers.
HectorSF
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