side effects on TX

[niki12]

I read all the messages on this site and It really kind of convinced me to opt to do the TX but then I go and read messages on Janis's site and I get scared to death on how they talk how awful the text is and the sides and complications.  I realize that there are sides and effect people different but there is not much of any encouragement that the test is not that bad and worth it.  Are these just old messages I am reading of people on older types of Interferon treatment????

[dutch_boy]

Of all the reading I've done about peoples experiences in dealing with this Hep C from diagnosis through and after treatment, I've never read such a well capsulated description of all we go through....I can certainly relate to everything you wrote although I'm only week 18/48 in treatment.  You hit the nail on the head with your synopsis however.  Thank you for making the experience crystal clear and I agree so far for me...even with all the tough days I have.....the fear and waiting in the beginning was much worse than the treatment itself.....so far!
Thanks again for sharing your experience. Scott

[artgal]

I also take my shot on Wednesdays. I did this originally as I thought I would not feel good the days immediately after and I wanted to be "there" for my kids (good energy, etc.) on the weekends. Actually, I rarely feel anything that I can directly relate to the shot. I always take 1 or 2 liquid advil, but I feel no different in the mornings. I do, however, feel general fatigue (of course now that I am quite anemic this is understandable) and off and on nausea most of the time. But sometimes I think that is more related to the ribavirin and since that is a twice daily thing there is no way to plan around that! Like everything else, everyone seems to react differently to the shot -- some feel the worse sides immediately after, some it seems to hit several days later. You can always move your shot day up or down by a day each week if you really need to change the date based on your sides.

[Tallblonde]

I can't relate to the last part of your synopsis because I'm not on treatment.  However, the rest of what you wrote is dead-on.  It perfectly describes what the last 19-20 months have been like for me.

Susan

[chellski]

i take my shots sunday nites; i have off mondays and the kids are off to school.  its a great day to not feel so good and its usually my worst feeling day too.  I enjoy my weekends and usually spend them running kids everywhere.
i like hearing all comments whether ur feeling good, bad, different sides;  its all good info.
thanks all-
chelle

[bon_vivant]

Hey... I Got A SHOT Buddy Now (jaro).... as I do mine on Weds. too....

Kids have gone to pick up my script now... doing # 9/72 tonight...  I picked weds, because cause I did Fridays Last Round, & discovered that I get the greatest sx about 3 days after injections...

Soooo I'd rather feel bad on the weekends, & save my weekdays for being productive... I am actually speedy or something for the first 72 hours.... so Weds thru Saturdays are my ambian nights, & the days I tend to use the zanex for anxiety too....
:)

[jaroman]

I chose Wednesdays b/c I want to be in fairly good shape for the w/e.  I am not working outside the home now!  Of course, I will have to see how it goes.
I believe I feel a little "speedy" too.  Got the benadryl ready!
A few muscle aches starting, but not bad.  Put down almost a full gallon of (tap) water today.
Cuteus, I will be waiting for your results tomorrow.

[rifleman]

I see.  That makes good sense.  Too bad about the 72 weekends shot to hell, though.
DJL

[terriri]

It

[cuteus]

so you quietly slip by us and started on your own? This is a good time to start posting as it will be therapeutic to share the off feelings, if they come.  I felt fine on pegasys the first 4 wks or so. then anemia came and crappy I felt.
4/5 weekdays I wanted to stay home in bed, but did not. staying home would have been worse than the distraction of work. Push yourself to move, and rest when your body asks you. Drink enough water for your body wt and a couple of glasses more for good measure. You do not want to overdo or underdo the water.
I will find out tomorrow if my negative vl still holds 6 mo post tx, also a 1a and female, early fifties.
be well

[rifleman]

Just curious about why you will be taking your shots on Wednesdays.  None of my business, but it seems most folks prefer Fridays.  I will be doing mine on Fri as well so I can work during the week.
Hopefully you'll feel fine.
DJL

[jaroman]

This is my first post here, though I have been lurking for the 6 months it took me to decide to do tx.  Today was the first shot!  It has been only 4 hours, but so far, I am fine.  A bit of headache(tightness?), mainly fear.  I took 3 tylenol an hour or so before.
I am a 1a, vl 6.7 million, probably infected for 30 years, 46yo female.
All the comments from people here really help.  It is important to hear from those doing just fine.
Thank you.

[GALLIUM]

i drank power-aid as i like the taste better than gator-aid.
have gotten so used to drinking a gallon of the stuff daily that i still do. finished treatment in march. but still have a few problems if i let myself get dehydrated.
when i first started comming here almost every post always ended with the reminder to drink lots and lots of fluids.
if  your not happy with the taste of the water and a slice of fruit to it (i like lemons and limes).

[Tallblonde]

You may want to reconsider drinking distilled water.  Here's an explanation as to why it's potentially dangerous:


"Nature's action generates an electrical charge on the minerals taken up by the water, converting them to the biochemically active ionic form that makes them more available to both plants and our body.

Distilled water equals dead water. It contains no electrically charged minerals. Moreover, if you drink distilled water you leach minerals out of your body.

Drinking distilled water is particularly serious for people who live in a hot climate where sweating depletes a whole spectrum of minerals."

Susan

[rearfang]

I disagree that it's a bad idea to post if you are having no sx. I, too, was scared s!@#less after reading so many horror stories. While I feel for those who are having a hard time, (and there's no guarantee I'll continue to be so lucky), I think it's important to let people know the range of possible outcomes on tx.
Lauren

[layla]

I did not have any sides for months at first then my thyroid went and I had all sorts of problems.

I drank carbonated water the entire time. It was great for me. LL

[twotells]

I wouldn't worry about the type of water too much.  I think distilled water is mainly good for steam irons.  I never had a problem with tap water (except occasionally the taste) and spring water is great unless you are taking it out of the spring yourself (in that case, filter it with a good water filter).  Dave

[cuteus]

when your body is dehydrated it loses minerals so it makes sense to replenish what you lose. I have been drinking spring water with no problems, tap water is another thing.  If you do not have an ultra sensitive tummy you should be ok with regular water.
actually, the water dept where I live has a campaign stating that tap water gets tested and certified whereas bottled water doesn't have to be tested for anything. Find a good quality reputable supplier.

[chellski]

hi niki.  I just took shot #8.  I'm 48 yr old female; type 1; biopsy showed stage 2; 1mil.5 vl.   The worst side so far was the dizziness and the runs day or two after shot.  After week 3 the dizziness kind of went away; still get the runs after shot nite.  I'm tired but rest when i need it.  Showed signs of depression and got medication for it.  Other than that some joint pain; nothing yet to medicate.  I look forward to work because once i get up and go; i'm there and just get thru the day.  I'm a widow with three daughters (17, 14 &11)  That will make anyone weary and weepy (ha kidding) anyway, thoughts of seeing my girls get married and enjoying grandkids keeps me determined to stay on tx and be well one day like so many others on this board.  I'm all they have and I am going to be here for them and their families.  I know the hard part has yet to come but as long as you focus on a reason to get thru; you will.  And since you've found this site; you have found OZ.  It's where I come on a daily basis to read all the advice the wonderful people here give each other and newcomers alike.
wishing you the best - not to sound corny but you've got to be worth it!
<3 michelle

[rifleman]

I have an artesian well, so I don't have to deal with treated water. Is it the best tasting stuff I've ever had?? Hell no.
I feel bad whenever I hear a geno 1 say that the first 24 weeks went ok, then everything went down the tubes.  6 months of treatment seems like a lot, but it is nothing compared to a year or more.
I'll post if I have sx, or if I do not.  A friend of mine got his legs blown off by a roadside bomb in Iraq last year.  He said he'd trade places with me in a heartbeat.
DJL

[Moeymitt]

My Gi informed me that 90% do not have serious sx. I happen to know a lot a gals in my town that only had mild sx, and, my doc said the same thing, stay off the internet. People feeling good are not going to bother coming on the net but I wish they would. We who are needing to start tx need encouragement. I, like you was all set and then the other day I read a forum about a guy who was having a terrible time after tx and I got freaked out again. truehep guy was a real help to me, I wish he would come back and visit with us. I hope he has gone on to have a nice hep c free life.  Good luck

[Kanzou]

I haven't started tx yet but drink distilled water only. Its flat tasting and has no flavor vs tap or bottled spring. Why distilled? Because it has no impurities. Tap water and bottled spring water have minerals. Around those minerals lay bacteria.

As a post tp'er I'm highly prone to infection. What you don't feel knocks me on my ass. Its been a little over a year since the tp. Two weeks ago I drank a bottle of spring water to see if I could handle it. Doctor said go for it. I'm now fighting off an unknown "stomach virus."

[texasgal]

I am not sure what type of treatment you are thinking of, but I have been on Pegasys and Copegus and was a non-responder.  I was on that medication for 3 months and was taken off because it wasn't working.  Currently, I am taking daily infergen and copegus and when I first started at the beginning of April, I thought I was gonna die.  I almost couldn't handle it.  There was a whole lot of dizziness, nausea, fatigue, fever.  Almost to the point of having myself taken off.  Then one day my doc told me to drink a gallon of gatorade and see if that made me feel better.  I thought he was crazy, but I did it and the very next day and since then, my sides have been virtually gone.  So, now, my advice to you is if you want to start treatment, just prepare for some pretty rough times, but they won't last forever and then you can get through them.

Linda

[sunspot]

Rifleman. After you start tx, if you have no sides, please post as such. I think having no sides on tx is information worth sharing.

On a personal note, I

[snook_man]

Everybody reacts differently to the meds, your gonna hear it over and over. Most of us build up this fear of the medications, and sit there waiting after the injection for the spiral downfall. For many, it never really comes. I cruised right along till about week 25 or so.  
Honestly, I'm on week 32 right now, and I'm feeling it. I take the days for what they are worth, and try not to focus to much on the bad ones. The mornings are rough, and the last thing I wanna do is get up and go to work, but I do. And once I get going, I feel better. I didn't start losing weight till after the six month point. Starting weight was 176lbs, and currently down to 158.. These meds should definately be marketed as the summer slim down!!
My Dr told me from day one, average weight lose is between 20-30 lbs. Both of the HCV specialist I have seen, advised me right from the start to stay away from the internet. Hell, thats like telling a little kid not to touch something!! It just made me wonder what I was missing!!
Now, I just trying to take it easy and serve out the rest of my time. The meds are definately gonna take a toll, but the key to getting through the duration is determining beforehand, exactly how much YOU are gonna let them!!
When you read the stories on the net, ofcourse most are gonna be bad. People that cruise through and seem not to have the major side effects are not going to need the support.
Personally, I drink distilled water. You ever read what is in tap water? Liver friendly diet is to avoid chemicals and minerals.