Went to the doc today. Meds ordered.

[wed1942]

Finally my meds have been ordered and I'll probably start treatment this Sat if they come in time or else next Sat. The doc wants me to take the Pegasys on Sat. PM's cause I work 12 hour days on Wed and Thurs and an 8 on Fri. He thinks I'll be too tired to take them on Friday. Any opinion on that? I was thinking if I took it on Friday it would give me more time to recoup. Guess I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and go with what he says. He told me to be sure to take the Ribaviron with food. I know I've read that some suggest eating fatty food when taking it. Any feelings on that?
I will be by myself when I'm going through treatment. Has anyone had any major problems when first starting the treatment or do you think I'll be OK to be home alone?
I asked him about Alinia cause I keep reading what all of you are saying about it. He said he would order it for me if I wanted but then decided that he would rather I start the regular treatment and then if need be he would add it later. What do you think?
Have you all had the Hep A and B vaccines? I've had B already but not A. That's another thing he feels like I should get.
Oh, he didn't think it was necessary to preload with the Ribaviron.
So please give me any suggestions you can think of. I'm hoping I asked the doc all of the right questions. It gets overwhelming. Thanks for any suggestions you can send my way.

[billstrong1969]

Hey sweetie!  I just started treatment 2 weeks ago (as a matter of fact yesterday was my 2nd shot) and yesterday was also the hardest day for me thus far.  My viral load was 10 million (stage 2) so we're about the same there.  I also have TERRIBLE headaches that seem to never go away.  It almost feels like a really bad lack of caffeine headache.  My doctor prescribes me pain meds as well as anti-anxiety medication so I'm set there.  As far as the Tylenol is concerned, I've been told by my doctor that it's fine to take as long as you're not exceeding the daily recommended allowances which is 2,000 milligrams.  I was also concerned about that too as it sounded funny that Tylenol was recommended for body aches associated with treatment so my doctor prescribes me Vicoprophen which is of course Vicodin with Ibuprophen.  Anyways, for me thus far it's been a little rough but I'm not a quitter and will remain on this until it's determined whether or not it's working for me.  You know?  I mean I have to at least give myself the chance for it.  Some people can't handle the side effects at all, but then I've been told that they're different for everyone.  Goodluck to you and stay in touch with the forum here as they have been a tremendous help to me so far through this experience.  HUGZ!

billstrong1969

[wed1942]

Thanks for the info.

[bluehound]

Hi,  About the Tylenol, had a really good pharmacist look up Tylenol and told me it was better then Motrin but to only take a maximum of 1000 mg of Tylenol in a 24 hr period.  An Extra Strength Tylenol is 500 mg per tablet.  So I take Regular strength Tylenol which is 325 mg per tablet and I can spread the 1000 mg limit in 24 hrs out over the day a little better.  

[GingerB]

Thanks Wed.
You sound like you have a good attitude.  I think keeping strong is important - (easy for me to say - it has only been 4 weeks for me).  
With my first dose, I  was so concerned how I would react - but it wasn't bad at all.   The sides have been gradually for me - so it is as if my body is adjusting.
Wishing you the best...Ginger B.

[wed1942]

Good luck with the VL test. I think last night it really hit me that I was going to be starting on all of these meds. Didn't sleep a whole lot. I feel perfectly fine right now so I dread what it might do. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed and saying lots of prayers that I glide through with minimal side effects. If not I'll deal with them as they come.

[GingerB]

Hi wed1942.   My doctor said it is ok to take tylenol as long as I don't exceed the recommended dosage.  Since I run a fever in the evening, I take tylenol PM when I go to bed.  I am generally not a good sleeper, but with the Tylenol PM, I have been sleeping better.  No headaches for me, but I never was one to have bad headaches.   Your doctor sounds like he is doing all the right stuff - that's nice to have a good doctor.  Today is my 4th week viral load test...I'm a bit anxious.  Take care....Ginger B.

[wed1942]

Thanks for the words of encouragement and for being someone who is making it through without too many side effects. Hope I can be added to that side of the list. I don't sleep a whole lot anyway so maybe that won't be any worse than usual. I can see where it might be easy to get down in the dumps doing this alone though. My kids have all moved out of state so it's me and my pooch. Hate to always depend on friends but I'm glad they are all there for me. Just hope they stick around during the treatment and can put up with me. I'm trying to forewarn them so they know I might be riding that roller coaster.
I can and I will do it. No choice. Just hope it's an easy ride. I HATE roller coasters.

[NYCMark]

Good luck starting your treatment.!

Yes, it is recommended that you take your ribavirin with a fat-containing meal. It helps the absorption of the medication, and eases the possible stomach side effects. I don't really think that eating fatty foods is a cause of fatty liver, but it can't hurt to eat a generally less fatty diet.

I wonder why your doc didn't want you to take the shots on a Friday (presumably AFTER you finish your long day's work...) I agree with you that it would give you more time to recover. I took my shot late in the workday Friday just for that reason.

I would think it a good thing to get the hep A vaccine. esp since your doc recommended it.

Treatment IS different for everyone. I was able to work throughout, but many others become too tired/ill to do so. Insomnia and depression are common risks, so watch out for them and let your doctor know if these are a problem.

You can certainly do it! Best luck.

Mark

[wed1942]

Thanks so much for all of your comments. I'll definitely call the doc if I seem to be taking a slump mood wise. I'm just really ready to get started with this so I'll be closer to being done. My doc has me scheduled to get VL tested at 2 wks and at 4wks. I was a little surprised that he was doing them so early into the treatment. Plus I'll be having CBC's done every two weeks. He's ordered this as a standing order for six months. At two weeks and four weeks he also has ordered a hepatic function panel, metabolic panel and PT. So I guess he's covering it all. He has ordered the Heptimax screen for the VL. Think that's the one I keep hearing is more sensitive. I won't go back to see him until I've been taking the meds for four weeks.

I'm still kind of confused as to what the VL should be once treatment starts. My doc was saying something about 10 to the Log of 2???? He totally lost me when he started talking about this but I figured I could get this info from the forum. He's from South Africa so I think sometimes his wording is different than ours. Mine was 9,340,000 in Nov and that's the only time I had it checked. So what are they looking for it to drop to?

GingerB you said you were taking Tylenol for a fever. Don't they want us to avoid tylenol with the liver problems?

Is anyone having problems with headaches? I get really bad ones anyway and that's the one thing that totally puts me out of commission. My doc said he would order Imitrex for me if I needed something. That's one side effect that concerns me. Hopefully I won't get that one.

Thanks again.

[Deb_c430]

Some good advice here, it is different for everyone, always hit me hardest first shot,  Then I balance out till around week 13, 3 month mark. Then Bam!

When I was on Peg, I also had shot on Friday to get through the worse of it, with out worry.

Some great advice watching moods, crying jags and so on, call someone asap.

Very best wishes!

Deb

[GingerB]

Hi.  I do my shots on Tuesday and I do not really know if I feel sx from the shots. On my 3rd shot, I did feel weak, but I also had a fever that day.  During that night, I had some night sweats.  But other than that, I do not really know the side effects of the shots.  I have been running a fever every night and I take tylenol.   I have been feeling tired so I do things slower and rest when needed.  Tomorrow will be shot # 5 for me, so I do not have much experience and am just taking it one day at a time.  I also did not preload with the riba.  I do take my riba with some healthy fat in my meals.  I drink a lot of water each day,  My stomach is not too bad, but I don't have as much of an appetite as I used to.  Anyway, I think your doctor sounds ok to me.  Good Luck!  Ginger B.

[charm27]

I was out of work and still am (going on shot #12) by sx have been lousy. I am planning though to return very soon though, I have to.get back to work real soon will have to just take it very easy.

Hopefully your sx will be minimal.
Best of luck.

[KDH59]

Treatment is different for everyone. I was hammered by side effects and was out of work for the whole 6 months of my treatment. I am a NON Responder to Pegasys. I would really limiting your fatty intake while on treatment. A healthy diet will help the side effects. Plus Having HEP C you have a greater chance of developing a condittion called Fatty liver. So stay away from fat.

If you are by yourself it is important you remember to notice depression changes. And tell your DR. of every single side effect you have...Please don't wait for your "next" appointment if something is wrong go see your DR..Hope your treatment works... it can get hard......HANG IN THERE <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<   Kirk