best time for 1st shot

i will be starting tx tomorrow and i was just wondering when the best time to do a shot is. i am doing the 1st on thursday sometime in the evening. i was curious as to how long after the shot do the sx come on, 1/2 hour, hour, etc. and do i take the riba first in the am then do shot at night. i am so nervous that i am having trouble breathing, like i can't catch my breath. i know it must be anxiety. the injecting part does not worry me, as i once had a past with needles many many years ago. i am just wondering how i will feel after. i have read that the riba should be taken every 12 hrs with meals. i don't get my meds till around 11:00am-noon but i don't want to have to wait until midnight to take the second dose. can i take the 2nd earlier just for the first day? i feel like i don't know a thing, and yet i've read a billion posts. all your help is appreciated. i'm sure after the 1st one, i'll feel better about what i'm doing. thanks soooooooo much!

[jmjm530]

I felt exactly the same way before my first shot and many of us have as well. Didn't know how many riba to take, or when and was worried about side effects after the shot. So much so, that I intentionally made my shot night during the week (Wednesday)so the doctor's office would be open the next day in case something went wrong. Speak about being a baby. LOL.

Anyway, and please run this by your doctor because no doctor's here, but this is my personal experience...

First, most of us don't have a very dramatic reaction after the first shot. The side effects -- and they will come to one degree or another -- take several weeks. Of course you may have a reaction as everyone is different, but chances are you won't feel anything more than being tired and maybe like having a very mild flu which you will sleep through.

As to the riba, I was told it was not important to take it 12 hours apart. That's because ribavirin stays in your system a long time. The important thing is to take it with meals that have at least a moderate amount of fat in them. So, in your case, you could take your first riba with lunch and then your second with dinner.

As long as the riba dose is at least 4 hours apart, you should be OK, at least according to my doctor and my experience.
One thing to remember, don't take any antacids or psyllium (Metamucil) or any other fiber supplements like Flax within two hours of the riba or the riba might not be absorbed as well as it should be.

Some have posted that they recommend loading up on Tylenol or even Tylenol PM on shot night to help with the sides. I took Tylenol before my first couple of shots but then stopped because I didn't need it. My suggestion is not to start loading up on drugs unless you actually need them, which you may down the road.

Treatment can be very difficult, but the first shot that just about all of us worry about usually goes very smoothly. Really nothing to worry about.

All the best,

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Oh yeah, the shot itself. I took mine, like many here, usually one or two hours before I went to bed.

[Imagine]

LOL, (well not real funny I know) but first take a deep breath and breath out slowly. The anticipation on the first shot I think is worse than the injection itself. Who knows you may not feel any sx's at all on your first one. If you do though it should a few hours before you do. Maybe take a tylenol about an hour before injection. For me the first 12 hours was pretty much a non event. The next day I had a bit of a fever and a headache. I am only speaking for myself but the first one was pretty easy. As far as the riba I took mine at 8 and 8 each day. I don't think it's necessary to have a full meal before taking them a snack would do.

Good luck tomorrow, tonight just might be worse than tomorrow night :)

[Imagine]

Strike my comment about meals not being necessary before riba, I defer to Jim's oppinion :)

[jmjm530]

Like you say, I've read that many take riba with a snack (as opposed to a full meal) although a good idea that the snack has a moderate amount of fat in it. Like Crackers with peanut butter as opposed to with let's say an apple. I was just relating my personal experience. Part of the reason I took my riba with meals is because I was only able to eat twice a day due to eating problems on treatment. Therefore taking my riba with those two meals made sense for me.

[ladybug52]

My first shot was the worst. None of the others have been too rough. It wasn't unbearable, but I really felt as if I had a bad case of the flu. Fever, chills, bodyaches, restlessness. It was a one time event and I'm glad I did my shot in the afternoon, went to bed around 8 or 9. Everyone's different. I wanted to get the riba in my body and working asap so I took my first pill in the am and later one around 5. I don't really space them 12 hours apart, just take it when I remember. I have forgotten my pm pill till 7 or 8. Not good since it tends to give me insomnia.
Best of luck, you can do this! You're not alone, we're all afraid of what's ahead. Stay posting. Wyntre started at Christmas and I haven't heard from her. That always worries me when people stop posting.
Take care,
Bug

[Lady E]

I also take my shot on Thursdays. It generally takes 5-7 hours for me to feel any reaction, so I usually do mine around 3 pm.
Even tho the first shot was the most predominant, don't be scared, it's just some chills & some body aches. Nothing too terrible. Just take something for flulike symptoms and try to schedule it so that you can sleep through it. Get a nice warm blanket, keep some water nearby & just try to sleep.
Best of luck to you today. You can do it.
-E

[aquarius64]

thanks everyone! i appreciate all of your help. so do i take the riba first theis morning and then do my shot tonight, or can i wait and take it this evening?

[NYgirl]

I do my shot every week at 6pm since it never really affects me before 4 hours later.  I also take an Ambien after about 3 hours...that way at hour 4 it's 10pm and I can go to sleep!

[painterlady13]

The concensus of the board when I started TX was that most Docs usually want you to start the Riba in the morning so it has time to get in to your system before you take your first shot.  Good luck with starting

[antman]

i'm actually starting tx. the 26th of this month. the Pegasys will be delived this Friday but i have to do the first shot in the Dr's office. it took a long time to get prepared for this fight. i think i'm finally ready to kick dragon butt. good luck to all.
antman

[aquarius64]

thanks everyone! i took my riba about 1 1/2 hrs ago. for some reason, i thought they would be huge pills. just tiny little blue ones. i will do my shot around 6pm. let the show begin>>>