Aa
fatique
I am on my 4th week of sol/rib and for the last few days have been so tired, weak and mentally confused. I just can't seem to get enough sleep. I have blood work again next week. I hope this is a minor set back and I will be feeling better soon.
Yeah, that Riba did that to me. Nasty stuff, but necessary I guess. Don't think about now, think of how you will be when it's all over. Bite the bullet, stay the course. Reward coming soon...
Magnum
Magnum
I received a new batch of meds from Walgreens today and they sent me ribasphere instead of ribavirin. Does anyone know what the difference is? I did a search online and did notice the side effects are different.
im on my 3rd week today i have not been able to eat and when i do it doesnt stay down i dropped 11 pounds the first week and now 18 all together any one else have this problem
So glad to hear that things are going well for you!
I will finish Week 17 on Monday morning, and have been improving also. Hmg has come up enough that I am not having to spend most of every day lying down.
Keep on keeping on - the time will fly by. Pat
I will finish Week 17 on Monday morning, and have been improving also. Hmg has come up enough that I am not having to spend most of every day lying down.
Keep on keeping on - the time will fly by. Pat
Hi there, glad you are feeling better. Patra is so right about hydrate. The water is very important. So is resting when you can.
When I treated with Inf and Riba I would come home from work and just crash.
Tx is a roller coaster ride. Take it as easy as you can.
Dee
When I treated with Inf and Riba I would come home from work and just crash.
Tx is a roller coaster ride. Take it as easy as you can.
Dee
I have been on this combo now for 8 weeks. Starting at a viral load of 17 million my virus is undetectable. I blood work keeps improving and I still have 4 more months to go but things are looking up.
Fantastic! Oh, If you haven't been getting copies of all your Lab work, ask for copies and keep them. Like you said then, you can compare numbers, etc.
Most of them are easy to find on line, but there is usually someone on here who will explain what they are and what they mean.
Hang in there and just keep on keeping on - the 24 weeks goes by very fast. (I cannot believe that I am already 1/2 way through.). Hydrate, eat healthy as dkus said, and rest whenever you can. Oh, and be constant with your meds - don't miss doses and try to be right on schedule to take them. This is all stuff I learned on the Forum and it makes a difference.
Warrioring is not for sissies - go kill that dragon!!! : -). Pat
Most of them are easy to find on line, but there is usually someone on here who will explain what they are and what they mean.
Hang in there and just keep on keeping on - the 24 weeks goes by very fast. (I cannot believe that I am already 1/2 way through.). Hydrate, eat healthy as dkus said, and rest whenever you can. Oh, and be constant with your meds - don't miss doses and try to be right on schedule to take them. This is all stuff I learned on the Forum and it makes a difference.
Warrioring is not for sissies - go kill that dragon!!! : -). Pat
I am back to feeling much better. Must have been the shingles breakout that was making me so down and out. I went to the Dr's and had my blood drawn again. Everything is improving after 4 weeks. I am not sure what most of it means but I am comparing August results with Sept. and things are getting better. She did not do a viral load. I guess I will have that next month according to her.
Several things you can do for ourself, whether at work or at home: Hydrate, hydrate hydrate - drink at least one ounce of water per pound of body weight, up to 1/2 of your body weight. Example: if a person weighs 200 lbs, s/he would need at least 100 oz of water a day. Soda, tea, coffee are dehydrating and you would need to drink extra water to twice the amount of the coffee, etc, each day.
I already mentioned liver friendly foods. You can enter liver friendly diet and get a couple of sites that give really good lists. You need protein, 'good' fat and green leafy veggies, and other veggies and fruits.
Someone on another thread mentioned keeping easy to prepare foods in the house, and also, taking at least a 30 minute nap in the middle of the day (lunch hour have a breakroom?).
I know I am missing some things, but maybe someone else will list them. Pat
I already mentioned liver friendly foods. You can enter liver friendly diet and get a couple of sites that give really good lists. You need protein, 'good' fat and green leafy veggies, and other veggies and fruits.
Someone on another thread mentioned keeping easy to prepare foods in the house, and also, taking at least a 30 minute nap in the middle of the day (lunch hour have a breakroom?).
I know I am missing some things, but maybe someone else will list them. Pat
I had decided not to tell work about my condition. There are so many people out there who don't understand the virus that it could do more harm than good. I do have over 300 sick hours to use if needed as my benefits are fantastic. I am just also getting over a bout of shingles that seemed to crop up so I am hoping this is part of why I am feeling so lousy. I slept a lot today and it seems I am feeling somewhat better. Tomorrow is another resting day. I will keep you posted after my check up next week.
Thanks for your help.
Thanks for your help.
We are all so different in our physical responses to treatment. Started my 8th week today on sol/riba and have not experienced the extreme fatigue you are speaking of. My hemoglobin dropped from 14.6 to 12 on first 2 week blood test. I aggressively worked at keeping up my hemoglobin levels. Have a mediterranen style diet. No meat. Daily add a protein drink punched up with carrot juice, greens juice, apple, fresh spinach/kale, flaxseed oil & high potency fish oil. My 4 week blood test showed I had raised my hemoglobin by .2 Now into my 8th week, I still play golf 3x a week but I had over done yoga last week and it put me down for a day. Learned from that and now listen even closer to my body as I have noticed I have about 25% of the energy levels I had before. Heck, it takes me 2 days to clean the master bathroom when before tx I took care of the whole home in 2 days. Showing more respect to these energy levels. Take a 20 -30 minute nap in the afternoon when needed.
Third try' sorry!
As I was saying each person, situation and work place is different, but my point is I was able to continue to work through the tx which believe helped me to stay sane through it.
Having said that, I repeat, that must be a careful, individual, decision.
Are you able, through sick leave and annual leave to schedule taking 1 or, if necessary 2, days a week off, or do you have shortterm and long term disability and can take off more time if needed?
As I said, in msg #1, by wk 10 I was back to 'normal fatigue' and can cope by pacing myself.
I hope this is not too much information. My intention is not to frighten you but to offer you the comfort that you are not alone and that this IS doable. You may have to reach out for help, but it is usually there.
And we are all here to support you, give information, answer question, and cheer you up.
Fighting this dragon is not for sissies, but none of us is that-- we are warriors, together, stronger than we believe ourselves to be. ,You are too.
Having said all that, and looking at the fact that you work full time and may have children, etc, you may want to see what you Hmg is and discuss the use of the Procrit, or even a transfusion with your doctor.
Hang in there and keep on keeping on - one step at a time. Pat
As I was saying each person, situation and work place is different, but my point is I was able to continue to work through the tx which believe helped me to stay sane through it.
Having said that, I repeat, that must be a careful, individual, decision.
Are you able, through sick leave and annual leave to schedule taking 1 or, if necessary 2, days a week off, or do you have shortterm and long term disability and can take off more time if needed?
As I said, in msg #1, by wk 10 I was back to 'normal fatigue' and can cope by pacing myself.
I hope this is not too much information. My intention is not to frighten you but to offer you the comfort that you are not alone and that this IS doable. You may have to reach out for help, but it is usually there.
And we are all here to support you, give information, answer question, and cheer you up.
Fighting this dragon is not for sissies, but none of us is that-- we are warriors, together, stronger than we believe ourselves to be. ,You are too.
Having said all that, and looking at the fact that you work full time and may have children, etc, you may want to see what you Hmg is and discuss the use of the Procrit, or even a transfusion with your doctor.
Hang in there and keep on keeping on - one step at a time. Pat
OOPs! My husband says I have happy fingers - always hitting something.
Continued from above. First, how much does your workplace know and what kind of company are they. Some people on the forum are very careful about letting anyone know about the hepc, so are also careful about treatment. When I treatedv with the INF I really was in the same condition, including the brain fog, I had a job that I had been in for about 15 years and had established a repfor being excellent in my work, plus I had been ther long enough to be protected in my job, plus we had excellent benefits, so I probably could have taken short term disability for the treatment, but I was younger and dumber and didn't think of that. I loved my work, continued, and got then client to check my numbers, etc, on each form we prepared, was slower, but able to accomplish the task. I made the decision to disclose my condition to my boss and my immediate coworkers
Continued from above. First, how much does your workplace know and what kind of company are they. Some people on the forum are very careful about letting anyone know about the hepc, so are also careful about treatment. When I treatedv with the INF I really was in the same condition, including the brain fog, I had a job that I had been in for about 15 years and had established a repfor being excellent in my work, plus I had been ther long enough to be protected in my job, plus we had excellent benefits, so I probably could have taken short term disability for the treatment, but I was younger and dumber and didn't think of that. I loved my work, continued, and got then client to check my numbers, etc, on each form we prepared, was slower, but able to accomplish the task. I made the decision to disclose my condition to my boss and my immediate coworkers
I, too, am Gt3. since you treated w/ Peg before, and relapsed, this is - right now - the only viable treatment available to you (us - I did 7 mo of Interderon in 94/95 and either relPpsed or was a non responder). This is why I do not want to reduce the Riba.
Sol and Ribafo different things - the simplest explanation I have heard was on here: It was explained that the viral chain is like a string of pearls, with knots between each pearl to keep the from all falling off ifmthe string breaks. Well, the sovaldi cuts each bead off the string and then the ribavirin comes in like a battleships killing each of the free floating 'pearls' i.e., the viruses (? is that the correct word?).
We are the hardest genotype to cure - but not to be discouraged as Many do reach SVR. @
Sol and Ribafo different things - the simplest explanation I have heard was on here: It was explained that the viral chain is like a string of pearls, with knots between each pearl to keep the from all falling off ifmthe string breaks. Well, the sovaldi cuts each bead off the string and then the ribavirin comes in like a battleships killing each of the free floating 'pearls' i.e., the viruses (? is that the correct word?).
We are the hardest genotype to cure - but not to be discouraged as Many do reach SVR. @
I am genotype 3a. I do work full time in an office and do a lot of mind work with numbers . Friday was a bad day for me at work, could not think properly and made a few mistakes. I did take my first Tylenol today since being on the meds because of this headache I have had for a few days. I was on a trial 10 years ago with pegasys one shot daily for 6 months. I actually cleared the virus but relapsed 4 weeks after. Hopefully this is just a minor set back.
Been there, done that. On this med our hemoglobin (Hmg) can drop from the Riba, which causes extra fatigue to that which is caused normally by the meds. Some do not experience it, in some the drop is still above 10 and they just watch it
In some it is more and they either reduce the Riba, or give a Procrit injection once or twice a week to bring up the Hmg, or they give transfusions.
having said that, if your ONLY symptom is the extreme fatigue, you might want to rest A LOT, eat very liver healthy foods and give it a chance to stablize, or even come up a little - which can happen around Wk 4 or around Wk 8-10.
What is your Gt. Is this your first ever treatment? Do you work? All these things can affect your decision on what to do.
It is good that you have Labs next week, that will help you AND YOUR DR - decide a course of action.
I talked my Dr into waiting a wk or so and drawing CBCs again. He agreed since my on sx is the fatigue and I am resting all the time (well, most of the time) and my Husband is monitoring me closely and there to help (we are retired so can manage our schedule).
A week later my Hmg had come up - only .2 pts - doesn't seem like a lot, but really made the difference. Still fatigued, but only 'normally' so. Dr. said as long as it did not go down, and/or actually came up a bit, we can continue this way, with Labs every two weeks to monitor. I am happy with that, as I did not want to lower my meds or have Procrit or Transfusions.
Your choice and your Dr's choice might be different - and that would depend on a lot of things, including the questions above.
Good luck, good treating and if you have any questions, ask away.
Keep on Keeping on to SVR!! We will ultimately kill this dragon in all of us!
Pat
In some it is more and they either reduce the Riba, or give a Procrit injection once or twice a week to bring up the Hmg, or they give transfusions.
having said that, if your ONLY symptom is the extreme fatigue, you might want to rest A LOT, eat very liver healthy foods and give it a chance to stablize, or even come up a little - which can happen around Wk 4 or around Wk 8-10.
What is your Gt. Is this your first ever treatment? Do you work? All these things can affect your decision on what to do.
It is good that you have Labs next week, that will help you AND YOUR DR - decide a course of action.
I talked my Dr into waiting a wk or so and drawing CBCs again. He agreed since my on sx is the fatigue and I am resting all the time (well, most of the time) and my Husband is monitoring me closely and there to help (we are retired so can manage our schedule).
A week later my Hmg had come up - only .2 pts - doesn't seem like a lot, but really made the difference. Still fatigued, but only 'normally' so. Dr. said as long as it did not go down, and/or actually came up a bit, we can continue this way, with Labs every two weeks to monitor. I am happy with that, as I did not want to lower my meds or have Procrit or Transfusions.
Your choice and your Dr's choice might be different - and that would depend on a lot of things, including the questions above.
Good luck, good treating and if you have any questions, ask away.
Keep on Keeping on to SVR!! We will ultimately kill this dragon in all of us!
Pat
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