Please help with Pegintron Ribavarin side effects

[Dee1956]

Hello, I just took injection 21 of the Pegintron.  I find that I am unable to relax or calm myself.  I am way too sensitive, easily hurt, easily misunderstand others as they misunderstand me.  Once upset I just want to scream, cry etc. My muscles are in knots.  I am forcing the water as much as I can I am on Prozac and Xanax however I think I must need something else and was hoping someone would suggest something to help me.  I am afraid I will not have a friend or family member left by my side by the time I complete treatment.  I  had a serious infection last week (boil) which is still draining so I wonder if that could be adding to my distress.  Distressed is exactly what I feel.  I am trying so very hard to keep myself under control however I am  doing a bad job.  As we all have other problems during treatment (we do not get a time out while on tx) I have had many problems.   I treated in 2008  with pegysus,Riba and polymerase inhibitor; I did not experience this, I did not plan for the extra expenses of prescriptions, potions, lotions to control side effects so money is an issue.   I am  trying to do meditation to help however I am new at this.  I was wondering if perhaps anyone else experienced severe anxiety and tense muscles during tx and what did they do to help themselves. Right now I am trying calcium magnesium potassium, zinc.   I would really be so grateful to anyone who could reply.  While I realize I need to ask my doctor I have done that and his reply so far has been to tell me it was in the literature I was given.  Ok, I understand, isn't there something that could help me? I will call again on Monday to let him know it has gotten worse in the past week.  I feel I am at the end of my rope and my mind is telling me to just stop the tx.  I know that it is not the answer, I do not want ESLD or cancer.
I would appreciate any responses.  This forum has been invaluable to me and has kept me on tx when I felt I could not go on.
Thank you all very much, bless you
Dee

[Sentinel13]

Hi Dee: It's great to hear that you are beyond that difficult stage! Cheers, GB

[Dee1956]

I should have come back to this post to update and to thank every one.  I made it through that stage of my tx, once I got some sleep I felt much better. I finished on Feb 17th. It was almost as it I had a few weeks left to go and I hit a brick wall and just freaked out, of course then I had to ask for help in my hyper sensitive state, sorry about that.  I should have waited a day.  The muscle tenseness is much improved.
Thank you all so very much for your response, it means the world to me
I have never known such kind , caring people.  Thank you

OH, thank you so much for the update on me I do appreciate.
Dee

[orphanedhawk]

Oh, that's my normal relationship with the computer.
It's other name is Fckn piece of sheet.

[rockymoe]

I had rage today. I almost heaved my laptop across room. Luckily my senses came back to me and made me think that, that could be a costly rage. I had it up over my head.

[orphanedhawk]

Where yat y'all?
( My buddy from NO taught me to say that)

I'm doing well. My inteferon dosage got lowered which has me feeling more like myself, instead of the raving manic version of me.
Walked 4 miles on Monday. Exhausted on Tuesday but it was worth it.

Just visited my hair dresser, nothing like someone else washing my hair, scrubbing my head to make me feel good.

Shot 22 of 24 tomorrow.
I'm getting close to the finish line.

Thanks for asking.

[bootcampbilly]

would like to know how you are doing orpanedhawk?

[orphanedhawk]

For everyone's information, Dee is finished with treatment and feeling better.

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/343471/End-of-my-treatment-?personal_page_id=337358

[bootcampbilly]

I also have similar anxities with a short fuse etc. Yours sounds pretty bad.

Proxac only works 60% of the time and it does not get to the root of the problem. Western Psychologist just treat symptoms, leaving the root of the anxiety untouches.
You do not have a normal situation due to the meds, which is a big part of the root. However, even though you cannot eliminate that root, you can learn the most important skill anyone can learn, on or off meds. That is how to get to the inner peace that you are capable of reaching, and learning hoe to relax your brain,( that controls your emotions and everything). The problem is that not everyone knows how to meditate the correct way. Most will tell you just to concentrate on your breathing.
Meditetion can be a tool for you but it is something that may take a few weeks  to achieve the desired results ( a tool to use to manage pain and relax instantly).  Take it with a grain of salt but if you want to hear anymore on the way to do this just post me.

[KBFILLY]

I know how you feel. I have 7 weeks left of tx. Since I finished the Incivik I have been feeling worse..But I am UND and have to be positive till the end of treatment..I am on zolft and xanax but the side effects still are there.  I hope you feel better.

[stormy456]

Best of luck to you, Peter.

[Peter2012]

Now nearly finished of my 6th week on PegIntron. The RNA-HCV test after 4 weeks showed viral load of 44, down from about 700,000. They say anything under 100 is considered negative or an "Early Viralogical Response".  The side effects don't seem as bad now, except for an itchy dry rash over about half my body and two more boils from the low white blood cell side effect.

I'm 57 and have stage 4 cirrhosis. The treatment is not as bad as I expected, except for the rash. I feel if I can make it to the last week I have a decent chance of success.

[his3707]

Hi Dee, glad to see your hanging on even if it is by your big toe!  My family has told me they wish I could sleep thru treatment or that they could just sleep through it.  I have been horrible, unreasonable, un everything!  I tried several anti depressants  but nothing seemed to work very good.  I have taken zanax but used it more as a sleep aid.  Didnt work very good after a week.  Went from .5 to 1.5 quckly ( that is 3  .5's)   Got on Lunesta which helped with the sleep.    Now my doc has put me on zyprexa.  It is a mood stablizer.  It is used for several different  phycological conditions.    I have been on it over a week and felt much better fairly quick.  I hope it lasts!  Now I take the Lunesta wether I need it or not and the zyprexa.     I got the zyprexa more for anger management but my study doc is the one who suggested it.  She has prescribed it for many people on treatment.    Check it out or something similar.  Hope you get to feeling better for longer stretches soon.  I am doing shot 39 tonight .  Putting it off until the last minute!  
Lydia

[teetaunt52]

Ask for Lexapro, very mild anxiety meds

[teetaunt52]

I've been in tx 9 mths got 15 weeks left. Hang in there, I know all to well what you go thu! it's  a harsh tx  but i've been told how much better you feel afterwards, i'm just glad to know there is a site i can share my feelings and here about other people's feeling and  side affects. GOD BLESS
victoria

[Peter2012]

I'm now into my 4th week on PegIntron. I'm very tired most of the time. I have chills the night after the injection and feel awful on Saturday, with cramps, nausea, headaches and a bad taste in my mouth. But it largely goes away by Monday or Tueasday. Starting a few days after the second injection, I had a big boil on my ankle. I was prescribed an antibiotic for, it became much smaller after the 7 day prescription but there is still a smaller lump there. I'm developing a rash on my buttocks, and here & there on my legs, but I have been using a steroid-based creme and it's definitely helping.

I'm not really having any serious psychological side effects, except that I have so little energy that I get frustrated doing simple tasks and people around me don't understand.

[ceanothus]

Hi Dee, all I can add is that I've had the same kind of feelings, but not nearly as severe. I think mine are kept more moderate because my hepatologist insisted that I start an AD well in advance of starting the triple tx. In fact, he made it clear that he would not even put me on tx without the ad preceding it. Cymbalta has worked very well for me. Please do insist on better care, and hang in there. We are all rooting for you!

[Dee1956]

I can sympathize with what you are feeling.  When I was diagnosed with Hep C the end of 2007 I was so anxious that I could not think straight. I had family members not wanting me to treat and it was awful as I thought they would be more sympathetic and less judgemental.  I was so afraid and in denial because I was not at risk for Hep C and had been tested back in the 90's.  It will get better.  This is my second time treating, the first time I was very afraid and then it was not as bad as I thought.  In fact I worked through the 43 out of 48 weeks back then.  This time I wrongly assumed that the tx would be much like the last one which was a triple trial.  As soon as you do the initial injection and get through the first day you will feel much better.  The anticipation is much worse that the actual event.  After my first injection I would say about6 hours later I started to get fever and chills and so I took some motrin which helped a lot.  Once you figure out how long it take to fell the injection then you could take it at such a time that you could sleep through some of the sx.
I wish you all the best.  Yes, that is what I have been told, when I feel bad, "it is just the medication"
Thank you for writing, I myself, have printed out many of these posts to help me later.
Dee

[Dee1956]

Thank you so much for the suggestion I will call the doctor tomorrow to ask for this medication to help me sleep.
Thank you
Dee

[Dee1956]

Thank you both so much for your comments they really helped me so very much.  I do not feel so alone when others let me know they are feeling the same.  I know I am lucky to have just taken injection 21.  I guess I am like a few others who felt they had to stop 5 days or weeks before finishing.  I guess everyone has a breaking point.  I am not broken, I am continuing and I appreciate all responses
Dee
Again can-do-man, never even considered the doc taking me off.  At one point he was concerned I had an infection which I did.  No on wants to put me on antibiotics, they want to see if my "immune compromised system" can take care of it.  I am glad they have the confidence that I do not LOL
Dee

[Dee1956]

Thank you so much for your support, for some reason I feel better today.  Yesterday had some bad things happen and then the  Pegintron shot started to effect me and it went on from there, I had heard the side effects from Pegintron could be worse and I did try to get on the Pegysus that I had the last time but no go.  Perhaps that is the difference I am noticing.   I received excellent advise and am going to take it all.  All answers are great.  I think I just let the boil and the incident yesterday really get to me, thus the anxiety and muscle pain and cramps.  Still calling the doc tomorrow as I am not sleeping more than 3 or 4 hours per night, can't nap, so being sleep deprived doesn't help.
Thank you
Dee
Thanks again,
Dee

[candyce1953]

Dee I hope you are feeling better today, I hear myself in your posts, very sensitive, and I haven't even started tx  for 2 more weeks
My fear is it becoming magnified , hearing what u r going thru and the answers from people, are so helpful to others like myself
Thank you do much for being so open and asking for help, I will save this thread for reference during my tx" it is the medication" good thing to remember light at end of tunnel

Also talk therapy is important , I see shrink I find it very helpful, was seeing him every 4 weeks, but am starting every 2 weeks while on tx

I think the sleep suggestion very very important!
Good luck C
Xoxoxoxo

[jules2551]

Nothing wrong with a good cry!  I think WE have all been there, done that, hated, and then felt much better....for whatever reason.

Glad your feeling better :)~~~~

[Dee1956]

Thank you all so very much for reaching out to me.  I was so comforted by everyone's response.  Yesterday was a bad day, I had been up since 3 am, today is much better. Perhaps I cried it all out.:)
All of the people on MH have kept me going with their comfort, support, advice information etc.  I will always be grateful and hope that I will be able to help people when I get to SVR
I wish you all the very best and may we all get to SVR
Blessings on you, good thoughts coming your way
Dee

[jules2551]

Hi Dee....I am sorry you are going through all of this!  You need to call your Dr Monday and tell him you are not sleeping and ask for Trazedone.  A few yrs ago I was going through a death in the immediate family and my anxiety went through the roof.  I couldn't sleep at all...maybe an hour here or there for weeks.  I went to the Dr and he gave me Trazedone.  It was the best sleep I ever had and when you wake up you don't feel hung over.  You have got to get your rest!

Jules