new to the forum

I've been reading this forum and its helped me a lot.  I'm 22 years old and I started taking interferon and ribaviron 9 weeks ago (only 39 weeks left).  I don't have anyone to talk to about treatment except for my doctor.  My friends and family look down upon the disease and get very uncomfortable when I mention it.  So I just wanted to thank you guys for being so open and honest with your posts.  The ones on anxiety and insomnia especially helped me because those are the sides I'm having the most trouble with.  My doctor was thinking about lowering my dose because of the anxiety, but I didn't want to as my other symptoms aren't really that bad.  He said he doesn't like to give medicine for the anxiety, but he gave me ambien to sleep (which didn't work).  I'm not really sure what to do about it b/c I'm worried that if he lowers the dose it won't work, but the anxiety is driving me insane.  If anyone has any input, please let me know.

          Dana

[can-do-man]

Hello and welcome, im also a geno 1 and insomnia is also my biggest side. That why i'm up at 2:00 am posting. I've tried ambien, and i think it was called luntesa (spelling i know is wrong there) and something else. None worked, For your anxiety alot here use xanax and it seems to help them. I use valium 10 mg. Works for me. And its been the best out of the three for insomnia. One of those 2 should cover your anxiety and should help some what with the sleeping. Anxiety should not be a reason for him to lower your dose. Us ones need to stay on full dose and only something more major to lower the dose. Since you seem to be handleing tx fairly well. Glad you found this place, lots of people that know alot here. None of us is doctors but either treating or have tx. Best of luck to you and keep on your doc butt. Hope to see you here often. Take care now

[fishdoc]

welcome kiddo!  My advice, (and I am not an MD) I would just go to my regular doctor, tell him the treatment and stress related to your family attitude is getting to you and you need chemical intervention for the shortterm.  If your hep Doc is a wierdo about supportive chemicals, go to another Doctor just for that. Bottom line, Drs are like everyone else, peculiarities abound.  For example, Can do man is slightly insane.  He envisions himself as a jolly ice cream laden santa spreading cheer throughout the world...and then have you've seen the movie "bad santa"... thats his dark side.... there are some here that can't handle a booger... now what they do with their own, thats a question...
POint is, go around your doctor to a regular md and seek some help.  just my 7.5 cents worth (inflation you know)...

[dyce]

Welcome aboard , Geno 1-a Iam I am , Like you insomnia rules as the worst sx effect. Nothin helps me sleep , tried lunestra nuthin , benedryl kicked the sand man outta the house nuthin works. I don't want to try the ambien, so I been puttin up with it. Sometimes a little food late at nite does help a little, I'll eat a little cerial or something lite on the tummy. I really didn't sleep real well before tx but better than now. Maybe the meds I mentioned will help you, I'd talk to my doc cause I'm no doc and am just sharin my personal experience with this deal.

[Mister beagle bailey]

You already have great advice here,and I have nothing to add.

But would like to say WELCOME to the forum, you will find much help and support here as we all did.

BEAGLE

[can-do-man]

dj83.... For once i agree with fishquack.

Fishdoc says........Can do man is slightly insane...........

Slightly you say? well i haven't been so insulted since you called me a racoon. Want to one of my elfs?

[goldyn]

I also suffer from anxiety and am now taking ativan it helps calm your nerves, its not a ad so you can take it when you feel like it it also helps with sleep , and a lot of docs are familiar with it so maybe you can get him to let you try i take 1mg twice a day if i feel  i need it, it sure helps ease your mind for a while ....

[can-do-man]

Now come on pops, are we showing favorites here? that thread is closed but if you read it then i can't see how you could say that. At least their allowance for a month don't ya think? 10:00 a clock friday night. Be here.

[strator]

dj-sorry you've been going through this alone. See if your doc or insurance will let you go see a therapist, my doc thought I should start tx on ADs and I didn't want to, I went to a therapist who reported to my doc that a wait and see approach would be okay with me. So far so good(week 33) but they will give em if I want. At least you'll have a live person to talk to, and if he's licensed and all and thinks you need something that may be enough for your doc.

fishdoc-Sorry...I posted to you below(Side Effects) about your meltdown comments, but I mistakenly typed the meltdown's do not come and go.. actually they do and though random have gotten easier to control for me.

Be Well,
Don

[fishdoc]

I posted the comment below earlier in the week, and I really believe it.  I can tell strangers I'm being a fishdic, and its ok, hubby has a hard time understanding:

This forum reminds me of the basic military "esprit de corp", the concept that through adversity and common hardships a group of individuals from vastly different walks of life can pull together as a cohesive group with a common adversary. In a war, the soldiers aren't fighting for the cause, there fighting for each other... this group brings the same feeling for me.

"esprit de corps
n.
A common spirit of comradeship, enthusiasm, and devotion to a cause among the members of a group. "

To your health

[can-do-man]

fishy said.... fishdic, and its ok, hubby has a hard time understanding:
----------------------------------------------------------------
Well no wonder, if i just found out my wife had that, Well i wouldn't be having a HARD time. But understanding it wouldn't be easy. Have you looked in to seeing if you can take care of that?

[returntosender]

The absolute best remedy for anxiety is imipramine (beta blocker 10mg) and ativan (lorazepam 1 mg).  Take it about 2 hours before bed and you are good to go.  It continues to work the next day - stops the bodily cues that kick off and intesify anxiety.  This is what they give people for "panic" disorder. I dont think that these drugs in these small doses are a problem at all.  How you will get your doc to give it to you I dont know.  Mention the panic aspect - maybe he will research it a bit - a lot of docs are afraid of lorazepam becauase it is controlled.  I think ambien is way more dangerous and I think it promotes anxiety the following day.

I have to add some benedryl as well but I have slept pretty well during tx. The tx did make me anxious at times but as I look back it was more fear of the unknown  - what was going to happen next kind of thing.

Pretty impressive of you taking this on at your age. I wish I had started treatment when I was in my 20s but they really didnt discover what this virus was until I was past 40.  By the way, anxiety is a problem for people in their twenties even without riba and interferon.  Hang in there.

[dj83]

Thanx for the advice, I'm seeing my GI doc in a little over a week, so I'll talk to him then.  Depending on what he says, I might go to the regular doc too.  I have good insurance, so going to a therapist should be an option also.  We'll see what happens.

[sunspot]

Most of the modern anti-depressants will help with anxiety. Some of the older ADs will help you sleep (Trazadone (sp?)). I wish you luck on both.
BTW, im a Dana also (male type).

[Pdilly]

Gosh reading all the drugs you have to take for this and that how does anyone work?   I will have to continue at the office because of insurance and it does not sound like it will be easy.

[Ruby360]

Dana.. hope your feelin better!  
I was also overcome with anxiety and insomnia while on THE TREATMENT of interferon and ribatron.  I tried lexapro which is easy on the liver and it helped after a few weeks, it needs to get into your system to fully work.  I also tried baths as hot as you can tolerate at bedtime and not to eat too much, just litely at night.  Always take a couple of Advil before bed to help with the leg pains you can get when lying down. I've been clear now for 1 1/2 yrs. and feel pretty good.
All The Best
Ruby