Is It Possible to Have No Side Effects from IFN?

[RobertBeWell]

Does anyone ever get away with absolutely no sides at all? I'm starting to wonder if my IFN is a placebo.

My first shot caused me very mild sides for about 6 hours the next day. I did shot number two Wednesday, and I had no side effects at all. I mean, nothing.

Could it mean it's not working? Or that I'm just lucky?

Guess it really doesn't matter, the only thing that matters is VL count. I'm just curious though. It is odd though, that I'm carrying on all my normal activities, and in addition, renovating a house project, so my every waking minute is pretty much filled.

[missy_jasons_girl]

Idk was he??

[spectda]

But was scott really free?

[RobertBeWell]

Thank you all for sharing your experiences. I sure hope I continue to be relatively sfx free, but I'm also trying to be realistic. Who knows, perhaps I'll get off scot-free.

Robert

[Gordo1977]

My apologies Bill but I disagree.

My first day with peg + rib I was expecting hell but on the contrary only had mild flue like symptoms. The next day which was a Saturday I felt normal. I carried on a full time job exercised ,all with minimal side effects through our entire treatment…I tolerated the drug fairly well but regretfully did not respond.

Gordo

[Isobella]

I had no sides the first few weeks from Inf. My only noticable side was from Telaprevir-and that was only mildly annoying.  I think  the relief of starting tx and killing this virus kept me on a kinda high...I was full of energy.  I was working part time and in school part time. Maybe it was from the Riba...but I was FULL of energy.

I was hit with sides seriously for the first time at week 7.  Not sure if it was the Riba or Inf....whichever depletes seratonin. A quick start on Zoloft fixed me right up. Also took a hit to my hemolobin at that time. Fatigue strikes!! But it was doable.  

All in all...I did 48 weeks of tx including the first 12 with Telaprevir and I will say my sides were very mild.  

The key is to listen to your body.  Hit the sx when you first notice them and try to get the best of them before  they get the best of you. Lite exercise never failed to help me, as did drinking lots of water and taking naps.

Good luck to you.  SVR is worth the fight.

Isobella

[Kristina538]

A co-worker of mind managed 6 months working full-time;  he obtained SVR and was very tired and a bit grumpy in the last 2 months of tx.   I couldn't have worked through my tx.   For what it's worth my specialist said sx's seemed more pronounced if your liver disease was more advanced - but others here have proven that theory wrong.

Baby steps - it's great you're not having sx's; but continue to be kind to yourself anyway - there's a lot going on in that body!!

[Marcia2202]

My first shots were pretty uneventful. It doesn't mean you are not getting the real stuff. I hope you will keep on having mild sides!

[sunshines76]

Hi Griz,
I became UND by the end of week 5 on daily infergen (15mgc) and 1200 riba. I stayed UND through the rest of tx, and am UND 1 months post tx. Now looking forward to my 3 months post tx PCRs.

[missy_jasons_girl]

Yay!! You go Robert, as you know my 1st shot was on Friday and its Sunday and I'm back to my normal self with the exception of being itchy and a lil cough.. I can handle that!! Glad things are going well for you!! Congrats!!

[grizwald]

Did you respond well to Infergen?  Treatment was just discontinued for me after 14 weeks of Peg and Riba and I was told there was nothing else to do but wait for new PIs next yr. I
thought I might get a biopsy (this has never been done) find out exactly what condition my liver is in & ask GI if I could try Infergen or maybe  find a GI who thought that was an alternative to waithig, if my liver turns out as far along as I've been told.
Thank You,
Griz

[sunshines76]

I can say I for the main part didn't have any sx from Pegasys, and I didn't respond to it. Stopped at week 16 or 18, switched to infergen. Infergen was a little harder, and I did feel fatigued, especially when didn't drink enough water, and when I finally got very anemic. Yet, I can't say I really suffered through the tx. It's been more than a month post tx now, and I see my regular energy levels are coming back. It feels great :)

[hcvJames]

I'm into shot #40 no sides to speak of. 2-3 years b4 tx I began to be easily fatigued and lost the ability to withstand high heat/humidity due, I suppose, to advanced cirrhosis kicking in. It hasn't become worse so I don't really blame those sides on tx drugs. I also take a rescue drug, Neupogen, which actually gives me a mild boost sometimes. It's hard to tell if it's the drug or the thankfulness I feel at every shot knowing it truly has rescued my treatment.
Sides could kick in with a vengeance tomorrow so I know every day so far has been a blessing beyond imagination. May your trip be so uneventful.

[blondie717]

You are blessed by god and you and co-study are just too busy for sx. Maybe thats the secrete. stay busy. Oh and you have heard from the other two blessed people. Back to my homemade tamales. oh they will be good. And Bill Im saving you a plate or atleast thinking of ya. deermeat ... Now pray I get a job with pipeline...world here I come I hope

[RobertBeWell]

Maybe that's the secret. Just keep pounding it out. Good to hear someone else is experiencing the same non-issue.

I guess I just feel like "no pain, no gain" but I guess that doesn't apply here.

[CoStudy]

Good for you.

I am in the Lambda study and am not supposed to have very many side effects, come to think of it I don't have many. More from the riba.

I have realized that the more active I am the fewer effects I notice. I am also doing a remodle of a rental property and doing my regular job and do not have any sx. But if I am not doing anything and start thinking about it I talk my self into some sx. Some sx are created by the mind I think.

Good luck to you and I hope it stays this ways. Don't let your mind play games.

[RobertBeWell]

Nope, the IFN and Riba are the real deal, for sure.

I kind of figured I would get SOMETHING going on as I stay on this stuff longer. I should have a couple things off my plate in the next few weeks, then I'm clearing my calendar for tx. I do plan to keep working though.

Yes Bill, Peg Light. All the fun of the real injection, but with zero side effects!

Robert

[blondie717]

Gee Robert, maybe your too busy to have side effects.lol. I have heard of 2 people who did'nt really suffer from side effects. course I have not been on this forum too long as you know.  God I hope you are just lucky and Blessed By God. Your not in a program that uses a placebo instead of INF or Riba are you?

[Bill1954]

Hahaha, like they might have sent you Peg Light by mistake :o)?

I got whacked pretty hard by the first shot (both times), but other than that I found the side effects very manageable. Later on, I got tired, skin and hair changed a bit, and a spell of diarrhea around weeks 30-35 the first time.

No, I’ve never heard of folks walking away scott free; I imagine you’ll get tired of it later on. Good stuff so far, though— keep busy and maybe you'll coast on through--

Bill