water

I am on tx for 2 months with some side effect I think I can handle so far. I drink 100 oz of water day nothing else [coffe in morning]. should I take in more? or less?

[Mister beagle bailey]

no, I think that is enough water.  I do 80ozs and I'm fine.  In the beginning I didn't drink enough water and had many sxs from it.  Now I make sure I do.  How are your sxs now?

   Beagle

[NYgirl]

You are supposed to take in an ounce for every two pounds of weight. For example if you weighed 120 pounds you would need to drink 60oz.  140lbs 70oz.  That seems to work really well and I can TELL when I'm not drinking enough!

I also drink coffee, tea, soda, juice whatever I want in addition. I know things with caffeine are not good because they can be dehydrating but I have to tell you...after all the water it's such a nice TREAT! :)

[azgrl]

Well I finally did it...last night was my first shot....my experience:  me: honey I'm a little bit nervous about this maybe I shouldn't do it.  Hubby: why are you nervous? Me: well I just know that once it goes in my hair will immediately fall out, my finger nails and toe nails will just plop off, I will projectile vomit myself into blob of snotty slime, my eyeballs will pop out and fireballs will come blazing out of my eyesockets, lightening will shoot out of all my extremeties and I will melt into nothingness.  Hubby: and you think this will all happen in what amount of time.  Me:with 1 minute of the injection. Okay lets get this over with...I love you....don't miss me too much okay?  Hubby:  Um you've been done since you said maybe I shouldn't do this.  Me:  What do mean I'm done?  Hubby:  I already injected you.  Me:  that was it...I look at my hands run to the mirror I still have my hair....holy canoli I'm still alive!!!  Okay let's go have some ice cream and watch a movie.  Hubby: sounds good to me.

So far so good folks.  Just feel like I have a bad nap hangover(you know when you sleep on a gorgeous afternoon and wake up feeling not quite right?) I have an annoying headache and that's about it so far.

deb in az

[Paris47]

I was drinking the flavored water, I'm not
sure, but I think it was making my stomach hurt,
since I have switched to plain old fashioned water,
but still 'bottled' water, I feel much better.
I never thought I could stomach so much water, I can
even drink it warm, luke warm , any temp. My dermatologists
said my skin is prone to dehydration anyway, so he told
me to even drink more than the formula that was just decribed.
anyway, he also prescribed biafine for my skin.
I think, for the itch, since I already have a few scars already, and only on week 3 of tx.
But the Gold Bond is good too, and regular water I think
is best, at least for me, I would like others comments on
flavored water.

[sunspot]

Way to go girl. You jumped over that hurtle. The next one will go even better.

[GoofyDad]

Have you even been absorbing what you've been reading here? The massive hair loss and projectile vomitting doesn't begin until  between 36-and 48 hours after injection. Sheesh!

Also, the Nurse had me applying Extra Strength Bengay to the rhoids from the get go. I'd start on that one right away :)

[big bloc]

I though the same thing. on shot 8 w/small problems. hang in there

[cuteus]

azgirl; maybe hubby switched mirrors, that one might have a permanent pic of you pasted to the back of it.
May your sides be gentle and the ride as smooth as it can be! and get undetect soon!

[big bloc]

my sxs are a whole lot beter now

[NYgirl]

WOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOO congrats on your hair not falling out!!!!!!!!  :) LOL

Pretty soon you will be doing it yourself - I mean now that you know it's not painful or scary it will be SO EASY to do - why you will be a pro like the rest of us in NO TIME :)  Oh the talents we get from this disease hahhaa.

On a serious note now - I guess you didn't have any of the flu sides since you didn't mention it at all? How are you feeling?

I never had the flu sides at ALL I just passed out dead from the sheer nervousness I had - that wore me OUT LOL.  Now when I do it I am tired but that's it - and honestly I think that is because I know I can stay in bed on my "day of rest" :)

Don't forget about the water - it really DOES make a difference.

[friole]

Well, girl, at long last you join the ranks.  Sounds like a pretty smooth lift off.  Hope the icecream and movie were good too.  Now you know -- the anticipation is a heck of a lot worse than the relity.  May your sides be light and keep pumping in that humor
Kath

[anise]

I just did my 7th shot yesterday by myself!  Also, did the 6th by myself (big proud).  Also, feel silly because it doesn't hurt at all.

I had so many of the same feelings as you.  For some reason the thought of putting this stuff into my body almost sent me over the edge.  

I drank a gallon of water 1 month before the first shot and at least 3-4 liters since, my sx's have not been bad at all.  Never did get the flu like systems from the shot, lucky.

[Mister beagle bailey]

Glad to here you sxs are better.  You'll find in time they do get better.

Beagle

[NYgirl]

Sounds like you are up peeing all night long - but it's better than the flu sides!  :)

How is your hemo doing? Around now is when you need to be really careful...that is the WORST thing of it all if you ask me (except killing my thyroid LOL I suppose).  Make sure you are doing your weekly CBCs.

I am proud of you - I remember full WELL what it's like to be a great big grown up chicken trying to do the shots LOL

[azgrl]

The sides are not so bad.  I have a headache and feel slightly tired, but I think nygirls theory comes into play on that one.  I am taking fridays off work, since my hubby is at work and the kid is in preschool I can lounge around and do nothing.  I told my employees and business partner to not call me unless they are telling me I can retire.

I do have a low grade fever of about 100 but big whooptie doo.  I've been drinking water like crazy...my dogs keep looking at me as I go to the pee every 5 minutes like "damn she marks her territory like she means it"  

I do feel weird in my mind though...like if someone were to ask me a question and I actually had to answer them my tongue would roll out on to the floor and I would start drooling uncontrollably.  I hope that goes away.  All in all I hope the sides remain minimal and I'll still take the opportunity to pamper and "feel sorry for myself" by taking long baths and reading my books on fridays.

I hope everyone else is doing as well!!!

deb in az

[anise]

I was up peeing all night long until I learned to drink most of my water before 6:00 pm and to stop drinking around 9:00 pm.  That seemed to help.

I got a CBC test yesterday to have them check for my HGB, etc.  My NP also decided to do a PCR to see where my VL is.  I will get that back next thursday.  I am a bit nervous about it, but she wanted to know where it was at.  We didn't do it at the 4 week mark but at the 6 week mark.

I am so sorry about your thyroid, I am having them look at mine also.

Thanks for being proud of me giving myself shots, it certainly was not easy (with the phobia and all)!!!  Heck, they even draw blood with a butterfly needle.  I guess those things cost a lot of money, but they are being good to me, bless them.

[can-do-man]

Way to go girl, has the beard started to grow yet? Its usually around 24 hrs. oh and watch for the arp pit hair, keep it trimed to around 6 inches or so. Besides that and the roids you'll be fine.

[NYgirl]

A butterfly ahhhhhhh how perfect can it be?  I've gotten used to it now and the vampires could just put a straw in there and suck it out LOL.

I am so glad they are keeping up on your work. You know the 4 week vs. 6 week is no big deal and actually makes more sense if you do 6, 12, 24 right?  You WILL have at LEAST a two log drop that is the worst case scenario so just don't think about it again. It's done. Over. You are killing those suckers by the GALLON and you know it!

I kept thinking because I didn't have the flu sides maybe it wasn't working (paranoia). It's amazing how afraid we can be to be too enthusiastic - and that's so wrong of us to do you know?

It sounds like you are just going to be one of the blessed people during treatment - those who usually don't even come online and post because they just have no reason to!  But I am glad you are here - you know what I"m saying though.

I think a lot of time we scare people from tx but they have to remember we are such a SMALL fraction of the group and we ARE THOSE who want to have support during this time.  I bet most don't need it and just go happily through tx without posting to say gee I feel fine today - as where we are like waa I am itching! I have a bump! I had a slight fever help!  ;-)

[roaming]

Big bloc, what shot number are you on? Hubby did third last night. He can taste the medicine immediately. Went to bed about half hour to an hour later. He said he was spinning like crazy. I don't remember hearing about this one. Is this common?

[Mister beagle bailey]

Hope hubby is feeling better.  Have you had his HGB tested?  When my HGB was down My head was spining.

Beagle

[azgrl]

I'm going for the highlight and braids look for my armpit hair.  It's just too much work to try and trim or shave!!

as for the rhoids those irritating little suckers are lucky I don't pluck them right off, tie a rubber band to them and a big wooden spoon to play paddle ball.  I wonder if they'd be itchy and sore then.....

deb in az

[can-do-man]

says...I guess those things cost a lot of money, but they are being good to me, bless them....... Or you told them about the brick breaking thing? Glad things are going good for such a NICE gal.

[can-do-man]

Might try the paddle thing, heck you might like it. Coruse you buns might get a little sore though. Just start out slow and work your way up.

[anise]

I have to admit, I was a little worried that the treatment wasn't working since I never got flu symptoms, etc.  At least my AST/ALT, etc. have gone down dramatically.  

It would be great if those who have minor sides to post more.  It sure would have helped me to realize that a lack of sides doesn't mean it isn't working.

By the reading this site I have learned so much.  I even use the Gold Bond lotion, great stuff.  One side - my skin is dry!

I hope I continue to have an easier time of it.  My fingers are crossed for the PCR coming this thursday.

Have a wonderful weekend, NYgirl, and don't let that maniac at work ever get you down.  He is not worth your time.  He is lucky to have met you.

[anise]

All I have to do is give them that 'LOOK'!  Then I get what I want :)

[NYgirl]

Said:  He can taste the medicine immediately.

That will stop in a few weeks.  I don't know if the smell stops or if we just get used to it but there have been a LOT of conversations about it coming out of our pores and our pee and I remember that it drove me CRAZY I started using mouthwash and so much perfume ugh it was gross.

Now I don't notice it AT ALL and haven't in a very long time.

With the spinning it sounds like low hemo - are you having him have a weekly CBC to make sure he's not getting anemic?

[Fisheress]

OH HOW FUNNY YOU ARE!  I loved your 1st shot story!  You are a bucket full of humor!  Keep it up, it's the only way to get through this.....

Congrats on getting started, you can glow now with nygirl and myself although she is one hot chick!

Good luck!
Fisheress

[amommy]

Congrats on doing the first jab!  I was laughing so hard at your story because it was ME.  Except, I was a crying mess the entire DAY of my shot, until it was over.  Anyway, keep your sense of humor and you will be just fine!  Remember to come here for any support you need :)

[big bloc]

I am on shot 8 I dont get any effect from it. I will get up sat morn and go to work.[knock on wood] I think it will get better as time goes on. hang in trere

[dyce]

Ha beagel , got my cbc's result yesterday ,hmg was 13.5 from base 15.5. This was after 3 weeks on the meds. I can feel the 2 point drop cause I'm fatigued more easily now, spacey ,but not real bad or bad enough to stop me. I've been working and getting some exercise but have slowed it down alot since starting tx. No dog traing , weight lifting just walking and doing stretching exercises now.Also been eatin red grapes and drinkin the red grape juice . Heard before red wine was good fer the blood,so maybe the grapes will help. The rest of the cbc's are in normal range.

  There's no doubt , the riba is rough on the body, so far no riba rash, but insomnia is one sx I could do whithout and after 8 hours at work it wears me out. The pegasus makes me feel like I got the flu and seems to hit the hardest sun and mon after doin the shot on friday nite which tonite I do shot 5 so here we go again.

Hope all are well, Dyce

[can-do-man]

hey guy, that hgb is still good, not much drop for  5 weeks you might get lucky there. and oh how i can relate to the insomnia, never did sleep buch more then 6 hrs a night. Bt last few weeks 4 hrs and that about it. That where my fagtigue is coming from. Hope all keeps going good for you

[GoofyDad]

Dudes. You boys need to sleep. Better living through chemistry and all that. Your body needs its rest!

[can-do-man]

any suggestions? Doc tried ambiem 10, but after 4 hrs awake, and that stuff on 4 hrs gives you a hangover ontop of the normal, he tried something else, can't remember now what. So he said today we'll try valium 10 and see. Heck i've tried counting sheep, money, even hooters two by two. Which BTW was the most fun.

[amirtracy]

My dr. has me take my 2nd dose of riba 6-7 hours after my morning dose @ 8am to help with insomnia. So i take it around 3pm and so far so good. maybe that will help.  tracy

I just did shot 6 and it seems every week has been different. I think I'm lucky in that it hasn't been debilitating yet but i defininetly feel "wierd" alot of the time. I feel medicated. But i haven't had the rash or the rage of alot of the sx's i've read about. Food doesn't taste the same but i don't think i've lost any weight dammit. my hgb is 11.5 now and i get tired easily but like nygirl says, it's doable...(knock on wood---I do that alot now)...

[jmjm530]

Sounds like a normal treatment reaction. Your two-point drop in three weeks is borderline in terms of whether you need any helper drugs (Procrit) soon.

I needed Procrit when my Hgb dropped three points in a few weeks very early in tx, even though the absolute hgb level was only around 11.5.

What you want to do is try for weekly CBC's until your hgb stabalizes. If you start to feel a lot worse -- and you see that 3 point drop in a short period -- it's time to talk to the doc about Procrit no matter what the absolute hgb level is.

The good news is that the body will eventually acclimate to lower hgb levels, just like what happens when you go to the mountains. And if you're young and healthy -- strong and hearty :) -- have no heart problems etc -- then letting nature take it's way is always an option.

Near the end of treatment my hgb was 11.5, I was power walking several times a week, and felt pretty decent or as decent as you can with these drugs.  As I mentioned before, earlier in tx, hgb 11.5 put me in the ER as I could hardly cross the street by myself.

All the best luck.

-- Jim

[GoofyDad]

I have a suggestion on the Hooter counting..... You wouldn't buy a canteloupe without testing for ripeness, right? 'Nuff said.

Hey - what about that new AmbienCR. I think that's the name - I think it has a time release pill stuffed inside the regular pill. It's for folks like you who complain Ambien doesn't work long enough.

Benadryl works well too, but it needs about 1.5 hours head start, and it will leave a hangover for a good 10 hours after you take it.

Good luck.

[dyce]

Thanks there, a little while back this week,I started taking the riba at 4am and 330 pm , I'll admit the last couple nites I slept better since doing that. I use to take it at 6 am and 6 pm and the riba would still be speedin me at 12 that nite.  No fun takin this stuff ,is it.

Dyce

[anise]

My nurse just read me my HGB over the phone today and it is stabilizing.  I started out with 15.1, then went to 14.3, then 12.7 and now after 6 weeks I am 12.1.  I hope it stabilizes because I don't see my NP for 3 weeks.  

I asked her if taking mega doses of B-12 and folic acid might have kept me from anemia.  She said it was another type of anemia not related to B-12 or folic acid.  

Anyone...... thoughts on this?

[can-do-man]

says....I have a suggestion on the Hooter counting..... You wouldn't buy a canteloupe without testing for ripeness, right? 'Nuff said.

Thats why im so excited about fisheress giving be that poolboy job. i figure besides counting before they leave to make sure their all accounted for the canteloupe thing will help make sure their fresh and not loose. I know its a tough job, but i just hope im 'up' for it... if you know what i mean

[Mister beagle bailey]

Dyce-- your HGB is holding pretty good and you may be alright with that.  Some start to drop but then they stabilizse after awhile, just keep an eye on it.  You'll know if it drops to far, you won't be able to walk far, short of breath,etc.  I get a B-12 shot every week and it gives me a lot of energy and makes me fell better, even my gets one every week for years and her HGB is 17.2.  I take Lunesta to sleep, there mild so you won't wake up feeling like you have a hang over.
The grapes are good, other foods loaded with iron is spinach and beets, plus grape juice is good.

Hope your sxs are better this week and good luck tonight with your shot.  That riba does a number on us so take it easy, no weight lifting or trying to leap buildings in a single bounce. LOL
  
Beagle

Anise-- You could get the B-12 shot it really helped me.  I have more energy and don't get tired as fast.  I was always lead to believe that B-12 pills don't work, which is why they give it by shot, I would give it a shot, LOL.  My Dr. gives it to all his nurses every week.  Hope this helps.

Beagle

[can-do-man]

Thanks, i just seen my hepo today and he told me to space them at 6 to 8 hours, since im usually up late im going to try around 5:00 pm. Where before it was around 8:00pm