just getting started tonight

I am starting pegasys tonight. I am a genotype 1 and have a years therapy to go.  Does anyone have any advise for a rookie?  what should i expect?

[OkieJim]

Howdy, I started today also. I'm geno 2b 1+Mil viral load cirrossis. TX is Pegasys/Copegus.  Took my Copegus this morning and plan on shot around 8PM. It sounds like we're getting ready to go for one wild ride.  It will be interesting to see how each of use fairs thru this.  I'll keep going ifn you do HAHA!!

[myrtles]

Howdy to you too.  Thanks for the response. I did not take the pills yet.  I was going to start both tonight.  What has your dr said about all this?  Has he/she been encouraging? Soory to hear about the cirr.  I have little scarring and am hoping to prevent it with these meds.  are you going to inject 1 thou mil?  yes...i'll keep going.  i'll be back on monday to find out how you are doing...are you working?  I am wondering if the sides will be bad.  what have you been told?  I look forward to hearing from you.

[TomWill]

Expect to get the chills your first night. I took my first shot 30 weeks ago and have not had the chills like the first night return. Take a hot bath or shower for relief. Remember drink lots of water. By the way I am a 1a also. Have been clear since week 8. Good Luck.

Tom

[myrtles]

how are you doing?  are you working through the treatment?

[OkieJim]

My Dr. has just said I have a good chance of clearing.  Other than that I got vacinated earlier this week for HEP-A&B as a precautionary measure.  This board I have been following for quite some time to learn from others experiences. Yes I plan to continue working please please.  I'm an automation support engineer and the brain fog part is what scares me the most.

[oldhippiechick67]

Does any one know what happens to our posts from early Aug and July??  the page just ends, and the Archives show stuff from 1999 and 2000.  Good Grief!! Its a shame to lose the past few months cuz I certainly learned a lot from them!
  Myrtle, the thing is, there was some very good, helpful, and informative posts back in those recent/but not so recent, posts about first shots and what to expect.  There is a site, janis7hepc.com  that has stories, and www.hepatitisdoctor.com and later on folks will check in here and probably give you some more suggestions!  Just scroll down this page and read read read, and I am sure the folks will be dropping in soon.
  I too am a type lb and am on #10 this weekend.  The first few weeks were rough, felt crappy and tired, VERY tired, weak, short of breath with activity.  But everyone is different...some have lotsa side effects, some have a few.  It seems pretty common to run a fever and have chills, aches, bone pains and such with the first shot.  Take some tylenol for it if it does happen.  Seems to take about 5 hrs post shot for that to kick in, if it even does happen.  Be strong, you are not alone in this battle, and you can do it!! We are here for you!  Best of luck to you,  OHC67

[myrtles]

I am glad to have someone to start with.  Are you a Christian?  I am and have been for about 7 years.  Do you know how you got hep c?  I got it from sharing needles in my druggie days (20 yrs ago).

[myrtles]

Thanks for the encouragement.  I will be here alot I think.  I feel better already!! I appreciate all the help and advise!!

[OkieJim]

Not sure how I got mine many things I have done during my 50+ years.  Yes I am Christian and I pray for all of us on this board and the world. I resently learned that smoking accelerates the damage HCV can cause I have quit now for 7 days. Been alcohol free for two years now. Drugs been done with those for several years. I have been hydrating for two weeks now that was what had been suggested on this board.  The flu is most likely what we will feel.  Alot of people have used other meds to fight off other sides I plan on using my faith to help me make it through this.  His love always makes me feel better.  Gotta get back to work now see ya and good luck tonight. My prayers will be with you.

[pearse]

Just getting started, well WATER,WATER,and more WATER! Get everything ready before hand. Don't worry if you get the chills and the aches, they are normal. Get ahold of the tv clicker!, very important! Get in your jammies and go for it! If your doing the shot at home i always used ice on the spot i was going to use, it worked for me. Good luck and hope you have no sides.
I am a 1a on week 49 so hang in! cleared at 24 weeks

[AK - Hepper]

Expect some of these things:

To feel pretty crummy for the first month or so
Things to ease up a little after that
To itch like crazy for a month
To get tired real easy
For your couch to get a lot of use
TV and computer too
Time to slow way down
To start dreading shot day for a while, then to start looking forward to it cause you know you're getting closer to the end every time

THIS IS THE BIG ONE
For it not to be as bad as you're imagining right now

[myrtles]

Now I feel really blessed!!  Thank you God for OkieJim!!  I'll be praying for you this weekend too!!

[myrtles]

Thanks for the advise guys/gals??  It means a lot to me.  I'll be sure and get all those things ready. especially the jammies!!

[mofo]

Try and laugh as much as possible, even when you don't want to. I think it's as important as the H2O--------------

[TomWill]

The sides have been tolerable most of the time. I try not to focus on the side effects and instead focus on the prize of slaying the dragon. Over 50% of us will be cured. The first 6 weeks or so were my toughest. Just keep your eye on the prize and your mind on helping someone else and the sides are easier.

Tom

[regmel]

Are you male or female? If you are female, make sure you stock up on the toilet paper.  I know you guys just have to shake it a couple of times, but us women need lots of TP after drinking all that water.  Always plan your trips around bathrooms.  Regina

[Martee]

That was pretty funny...I certainly agree. :)

[HepCinLA]

Please remember to post throughout your treatment.  Would love to hear how you're doing.  I won't start txt until later this year.  I absolutely dread the thought of txt b/c of all the sides but the more I learn what to expect the more I realize that txt, while difficult, is manageable.

Good luck to both of you!

[jonihs]

at the bottom of these threads is an archive place to click, but I don't know how much help it will be, cuz I don't know how far back it goes.       Joni

[moonbaby]

Did my first shot Wed. ...chills came almost exactly 5 hours after injection, but since I had taken the riba an hour before chills set in, wasn't sure which was to blame. I didn't get much sleep that night. Lots of muscle/joint pain, but my GE ordered Norco for pain and that helped some. Next day I had to pee every 15 minutes or so but the chills left. Less muscle/joint pain. I have been running a low grade fever (99.8-100.3) the last couple of days and seem to be getting more short of breath. I have been trying to quit smoking and have cut down to 1/2 pack/day.
Seems like I feel worse about an hour after the riba dosage so I am taking it first thing in the morning ( so maybe effects will be worn off before kids get home) and right before bedtime so I can sleep through symptoms.
Anyway, I am in this for the long haul with you guys!
Giddyup, Oakyjim, and Myrtles, glad to have some company for the ride!

Moonbaby

[Tosser]

I also started tx. 10 weeks ago, and the only thing predictable seems to be that everyone is going to experience slightly different effects. I really didn't have much trouble at all until the third week. Then it hit me like a rock. Everything I tried to do became 10 times harder than before. Around 8 weeks I started having some days that were okay. Those days are nice, but nearly all the symptoms still come and go in waves, and are very unpredictable. Some days of the week that had been fair, become not so good, and vise versa. For most of us, so I have read, it does get easier, as is my experience at this point. If I had to start all over, I wouldn't hesitate a bit. I want rid of this monster, for all of us! You must dig deep to turn all your feelings and fears into positive thoughts. The first card my wife brought me said, "YOU CAN DO IT". Love her heart for being so supportive. I hope you all have the support of your friends and loved ones, and especially the guys here...that's what there here for. Together, we can all "DO IT".

[Galen]

For all those with links to post where they won't prmently fall of the face of the earth in a couple of weeks, there is a place on the hepsong site for posting links.

[giddyup]

took my first shot with some rib, walked over to the computer and there was this thread-excellent. O.k. Oakyjim and Myrtles,lets do it!

[new-sojourn]

Also notice how your shot effects you.  For some of us, it was like a shot of speed.  I did mine(3xwk) in the morning and had the cleanest closets and cupboards and files.  My other joked it was too bad I 'only' had to do 24wks, w/48 I could have gotten to the storage locker!

  Also, he gave me all my shots.  It was really bonding and kept us both in tune to the tx.  Eat a carb & fat to increase drug absorbtion (buttered bagel, toast, etc.)I also liked to walk right after my shot.  I wanted to pump that med all thru my body.

Good luck and be open about what you're doing and how its effecting you.  Its all about YOU now.

[Galen]

The archives have not been kept up since this was a doctor moderated forum.  After a certain length of time, the old postings just drop off into never-never-cyber land not to be seen again.
As for all the newbies, welcome to the best patient-to-patient forum on the web.  Make sure you read all old postings because much of the info you need has been asked and posted time and again.  This is all new to you, but there are a lot of us around who have been around the track, some more than once.  You will find the folks who post the most are newbies like yourself because you have the most questions and fears
First thing you need to have is a doctor who is listening to you closely and monitoring you very closely for the first couple of months.  After the first 2 months or so, you may only see him/her about every 6 to 12 weeks, but will have regular lab-work done.
Drink about a gallon of water and juices a day (soda and caffeine count against your total), take a couple of Tyelenol or ibuprofen (whichever your own doc reccommends) about an hour before your shot, have a few extra pairs of comfy jammies, and a clear path to the bathroom.  
We only get 6 new questions (threads) a day here, so please try to ask all your questions at once instead of taking multiple threads.  If there are no new ones available, feel free to add onto an existing one.
We are all in this together, so stick around.  BTW, there is a site for all the old Friday Night Fight Songs and member photos at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hepsongs/
Please join us there and post your pic so we can meet properly!
Galen (shot 46 tomorrow!)

[Dirac]

I just want to add something.
I am about to finish the 48 week treatment.
I used a new tooth brush every week right after
the shot and used my razers to shave only for one
time. Good luck.

[latrobe]

good saturday morning to you. hope you're over the worst effects of the shot. did you take a tylenol or something first? sometimes that can help.  seems often the first shot is difficult--injecting something and the effects of the pegasys can hit hard the first time.
there's a lot of new folks here and you all need to understand how important it is to drink the gallon or so each day. you can count clear juices as part of the needed intake. gatorade or on of the sports drinks that help with electrolytes is good too.
many of the side effect can be relieved by the water intake. really keep track of the fluid intake. count your ounces.

the other thing i can suggest is getting one of those shower filters that takes chlorine out of the water...it can help minimize soem of the rashes and itching.
please keep us all posted on your progress.
best,
macky

[OkieJim]

First one out of the way.  Boy was that scary.  I had been drinking alot of water for last two weeks and had quite smoking a week ago.  Last night I was expecting the worse. I prayed for all of us including myrtles.  Things went just fine very little sides I was restless with wonder and worry.  I'm continuing on the water thing, I do believe this has been helping.  Also I did my Copegus first yesterday morning and then right after my first shot in the PM.  Not sure if by taking the riba first in AM without the Pegasys may have got my body ready to take the shock better. Who knows as everyone has said. I'm taking one day at a time. God bless us all and we can do this.

[AK - Hepper]

My first shot was easy, too; the second one was a different story. I stayed on the couch all week feeling bad. Did #27 last night, don't feel too bad this morning, just a little interferon hangover. Stick it out, it gets easier as you go.

Hey Dirac, just curious, why did you change toothbrush and razor every week?

[OkieJim]

Hey you where did you go??  I'm thinking of you and how you are doing today. I've been mowing fields trying to get ready for a time when I might not be able to.  I hope my prayers worked for you, they did for me so far. Remember teamwork!! I've been pounding the water and gaterade down today had a bowl of cereal and getting ready to do a subway.  We gotta keep eating and drinking fluids if were gonna make this trip.

[giddyup]

I'm a little light headed today with a small chill. Other then that I,m good. Thank you all for the advice and support.This forum has helped me greatly in understanding and preparing for Hep c and its treatment.I'm very grateful.

[MajNeni]

Congratulations to all of you who got #1 this week.  Looks like a large "class"!  Drink that water, and put one foot in front of the other.  
If you feel really weak or tired or otherwise terrible, call your doctor!  Docs routinely monitor according to the protocol at 2, 4, 8... weeks; some people may need more checks early on, so don't hesitate.  
Maj Neni

[Dirac]

Hello, I did that for the following treason:
"not to re-infect my self".
In fact we had this discussion here 48 weeks ago about using the
sources of infection like tooth brushes during treatment.
I don't want to scare you guys, and I beleive that it didn't
do any thing for me but I tried to be extra careful during this
journy. I wish you all the best of luck.

[MajNeni]

You could achieve some of the same safety margin by switching toothbrushes etc. frequently, and bleaching the used ones... bleach ~10 minutes, rinse throroughly... rotate to sanitized ones...  and NEVER SHARE!  It's also a good idea to sanitize combs and manicure type equipment after use.
Keep your own set, away from family and friends.

Dirac, it's wonderful to see you reaching the end of tx!  Congratulations, and enjoy your detox.  You'll be clear when the leaves turn!  

Maj Neni

[AK - Hepper]

Wow, I never even considered that. Something to think about, what does everyone else have to say about this???

[OkieJim]

I hope this Sunday is treating you well. I have not hear from myrtes since she started???  Last night was my tough one flu and aches all night. I may have worked to hard during the day mowing and such.  Today I feel ok.  Keep up to good work and we will keep in touch. God is with us.

[giddyup]

Hey okiejim, I cleaned up around the house today, actually got my 21 year old son to help[wonders never cease]. Had sweats all day and spent time converting fluid ounces into liters and quarts exc.a little extra spacey today.Time for some tv. Best wishes

[Dirac]

Well, I remember that some people supported this idea
and many others cosidered it as a crazy one.
Just to cool down, there are many people who are SVR now
who did not consider it at all during treatment.
But I just did that to ease my mind.
Dirac