To the people on TX

[brown_eyed_grl]

How do you feel today? If you wouldn't mind sharing, I am curious as to how people are feeling in each phase of tx. Bad or good I really want to try to prepare myself for whatever tx throws at me and w/your help many of us will gain so much strength and courage from your posts.

God Bless you strong heroic people!! :)

xoxoJulia

[Cindy10]

Not always, I actually sleep really well, but maybe once or twice a week I have a hard time staying asleep all night.

[brown_eyed_grl]

Do you have sleepless nights every night? The consensus here seems to be that sleep is definitely compromised. Not looking forward to that..

[scubadiver30]

Same here. Also a 2b on week 14. UND from week 2. The first 8 weeks were doable and I was working without problems but now I've been off work for a month and my sx keep gettin worse.
I have thyroid problems, sleepless nites, itchy skin, and general malaise. So do keep a Plan B just in case.

Good luck with your tx

[Cindy10]

Just did Shot #20 and hubby did #6 and we are both good so far. Saturdays is a little rough to be honest (achey and tired) and the rest of the week is just fatigue.

[traveler65]

Going for 4 week PCR tomorrow, and 5th shot tomorrow night. Feeling tired, but still able to carry on day to day and even do some light exercise. My hemo has dropped to 10.9, so it looks like I am on the way to being anemic. From what I have heard this is a good thing as it shows the riba is working. I am a gen2 so hopefully only 24 weeks. I am also 65 years old and male, which is not good for responding. Just have to keep my fingers crossed. Don't think I will try again soon with same drugs if I do not clear, but who knows.
Lots of good folks and good info on this forum. I know that my doc has been surprised by some of the questions I have asked based on what I found out here.
Good luck to you.

[mauilady]

I also did my 8th shot last night... the day after seems to be the worst, until Neupogen kicks in. Interferon'sRevenge.  I'm looking forward to tomorrow and the rest of the week!  I've done 3 shots of Neupogen, as my WBCs were getting so low.  (.3 at the lowest.  I wasn't a happy camper.)  The work I do is physically stressful so I'm not operating at 100%.  Did two days in a row of fencing (barbed wire: taking down the old, putting up the new) and the second day was pretty rough towards the end.  You have to take everything one step at a time, stay active, laugh, and try not to let the bad days get you down!  (Or everyone else's bad days, for that matter~)  

[pigeonca]

I did my ninth shot last Wednesday.  My first few weeks were a breeze, then anemia set in and it's been difficult ever since.  I'm still waiting for Procrit to kick in, although the rate at which my hemoglobin is dropping has slowed, so maybe it's starting to work.  I'm pooped most of the times, with legs that feel like rubber.  Food tastes like soap and steel.  Water tastes like old vegetables.  No depression yet, AND I'm UND as of week 4 (I'm genotype 2).

[dperry10]

I did shot 10 yesterday.. Usually do it friday nite, but had things I needed to do yesterday, so had to wait till I got that done, not ever knowing how you will feel the next day.  Its ok to move your shot 1 day back or forward.  

So far this morning, I just feel cold, so sides to speak of.   I was feeling really bad  a couple of weeks ago, before getting Procrit.   I have had 3 shots of that so far, and another tomorrow.   I believe that is kickinging in this week, cuz did not feel as bad.

[painterlady13]

Did shot 30 thursday and for once it really kicked my butt the day after. Usually it is 2 days later I get the sides.  Moving shot back to fridays now so I don't miss work.  Thinning hair, anemic and skin probs like prickley heat,  hurts when jeans or rough material touches it.  But truly all in all not too bad.... especially from what I have heard from others (think I'm in the middle concerning sides) Good luck on starting treatment

[brown_eyed_grl]

Thanks everone! Your responses as a collective group really show me just how doable tx really is. I'd like to keep this thread going. I think it might be helpful to everyone.

xoJulia

[Teufelhunden]

Did #33 Friday. Started feeling it that evening. All day Sat was lethargic, achy, dozed on and off all day. This morning kinda like Sat but not as bad right now. Usually by Sunday evening though I feel worn out. Doing Inf/riba with meds for thyroid right now. Doc stopped my Neupogen Nov but he upped my Zoloft. I guess if I gotta feel like s**t, might as well feel good about feeling like s**t. Wish I was a 24 week, glad I'm not a 72 week. Getting tired of waiting for the 48th week. But, grin and bear it. Thats all we can do. The thought of feeling like a normal person probably drives me on. No, I lied. The thought of the other good folk here at this forum who have it worse than I do drive me on. One day at a time...we'll make it.

[orphanedhawk]

   I did interferon shot 12 on Thursday and Nuepogen, yesterday. I took a hot shower last night as my muscles started aching. Then I slathered lotion all over and went to sleep. I love my heating pad!  Sides consist mainly of fatique and itchy skin. Tweaky muscle stuff didn't start until I began the neupogen. Some mornings I feel nauseous but hot cereal works for me. And there are emotional outbursts that just explode out of me now and then.  Everyday is different.
   There's no way to say how it will effect you but I think for most of us it is annoying not debilatating.

[wyntre9]

Felt lousy.  It was a 5-couch day.  (I do my shots Friday night and I'm on #10).

There doesn't seem any way to predict a response.  I've noticed the 'malaise' seems to lift around 4pm, in general.  Maybe it has something to do with biological rhythms and the natural lull in everyone's daily hormonal cycles.

I dunno but it's frustrating coz it's hard to plan anything.

[Myown]

As far as with me the "staying busy thing" doesn't matter. I have had days where I just hung around and other days that I was busy.

I don't feel anything so it doesn't matter if I am busy or not. The last shot made me mellow, but it didn't last. I wish it lasted a little longer. It was a nice change from who I am.(live wire)

[jmjm530]

Brown: I really want to try to prepare myself for whatever tx throws at me
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The treatment experience can vary with little or no side effects like with "MyOwn" to debilitating side effects that prevent some of us from working or even leaving the house much. I'm finished treatment now, but was hit very hard with side effects for most of treatment and frankly it was the most difficult experience of my life.

Most fall somewhere inbetween "MyOwn's" experience and mine, but no way of telling in advance how the drugs will affect you. Always good to have a "Plan B" in case you end up in the group that can't work, or has to cut down the hours.

All the best with your treatment,

-- Jim

[scoot1]

Hi,
I have 2a and 2c geno's.  I am on my third try on the tx.  My vl was 5.9 million when I started tx this time.  I just did shot 36 tonight. I have been undetectable  for 8 months. The tx has been much better this time around. I have not missed any work.  Other than my hips hurting and low blood counts, I feel pretty good most of the time.

[rosebud57]

hi,
i am geno2, week 14 of 24, supposedly und at week 4. i have been unable to work since week 4 due to unpredicatable sides. currently and for subsequent weeks will take shot on thursday. in beginning the first two days i was pretty much bedbound, lately the sides hit more on the second day (usually when the diarrhea sets in for a day or two immodium can take care of that). lots of sleepless nights and general malise, headaches and fatigue since treatment began. though recent addition of restoril has helped emensely in the sleep department.  many who post are able to continue to work. i felt that i would be one of them. but i was not ,much to my disappointment. have a plan B if you plan on working.

hoping the best to you

[Lilla]

I am a geno 2b, initial viral load 1.8 Mil, with moderate fibrosis according to the blood work done with Prometheus Labs out of San Diego.  Started tx on Feb. 4.  Will have #4 shot tomorrow morning.  Had  3 week blood work done Feb. 23 and will see doc next week for interpretation of that.  So far the worst thing has been fatigue and it comes and goes. I do experience upper back aches thru spine area (don't know if that's related to tx or not).  My appetite is so-so, nothing tasting really good, but am able to eat.  Only thing that tastes good is chocolate (ha ha!)  I have been noticing itching more and more, but that comes and goes as well.  The most frustrating thing is awaking and feeling good, and then all of a sudden I feel as though all energy has been zapped.  I will rest and then feel fine for another go-round.  If this is the worst the sides get, I can handle it, but we don't know that so I take it day by day.  I am blessed with a very supportive spouse.

[brown_eyed_grl]

That is such great news Myown! Why do you think you don't feel the sides? Are you working and staying busy? I have heard staying busy is a big part of feeling good during tx.

[Myown]

I'm did my 8th shot last night and I still feel like I have no meds in me. I do have a rash that just developed on my stomach last night. It doesn't itch, so I don't care if I look like I have chicken pox. If it itched, then it would bother me, but so far I don't even realize its there until I take my clothes off and see spots,lots of them too, ha!

So far so good, easy.