Bedwetting, Boogers and Heptimax

[BeatHepC]

<b>Bedwetting</b> - Well not bedwetting in the 'classical' sense, mind you. But this past week - as I'm spinning in bed at night and commiting 'attempted sleep'- I have begun to soak the sheets like 2 solid hours of a Richard Simmons 'Sweating-to-the-Oldies' video. Anyone else ever get to enjoy the pleasure of this lovely sx? (rubber sheets, perhaps?)


<b>Boogers</b> - Another lovely sx that has reared it's head lately is the most amazingly dry, crusty, blood-enhanced nose this side of the Sahara. Should I just go ahead and snap the damned thing off now and be done with it? Or does it actually improve at some point during tx? (pollen-time isn't making matters any nicer, either)


<b>Heptimax</b> - the lab my doc uses doesn't use the Heptimax test. For my 12 week PCR I most certainly DO want the Heptimax. How have others here who have wanted/demanded the Heptimax handled this type of situation - in terms of finding a lab, getting your doc to sign off on it and getting insurance to cover it?

[cheriums]

Yeh, hyperthyroid could be keeping you awake, too.  I don't know why anyone WOULDN'T use a saline nasal spray -- I certainly would, and do, along with a saline gel into the nostril.  The ho ho ha ha irony of the nose stuff is, my nose runs constantly both ways.  I've rubbed the skin off the front wiping wiping wiping.  While post nasal drip causes the throat-clearing, rattle-voice weirdness.  Meantime, the nostrils get so DRY during the night!  Steam, spray, gel I use it all and it all helps, in the AM.  
However, after all the  suggestions I've given others about mouth ulcers, nothing is working for me now.  The magic mouthwash now seems more irritating than helpful (I have the ingredients and mix it myself, so I've tried leaving out one thing at a time, too).  The kaopectate no longer helps.  Benzocaine hurts so much going on, then only provides 10 mins. pain relief.  ... I guess I should start a new thread with this?
... no wonder you're so beat, Beat'  You have my sympathy, and I wish I could offer more help.

[honey1616]

Hey there Sleeping Beauty!! LOL  I wondered where you had been and I'm getting worried about you sleeping so much???  Why is that since you are not on tx at the moment?  Were you tired from Hep C before starting tx last year? When will you be going to Duke?  I know this is alot of questions but have seen you few and far between and you are in my prayers!!  We all love when you can stop in with us and of course the laughs...You are so much fun!! Love You and please wake up and feel good!!

[cindee]

Hey there, I didn't sleep as much last nite and today. And YES I was very fatiqued before I found out I had hep c. That's the reason I went to the doctor, because I would come in from work, barely make it up a flight of stairs, crash on the sofa; fully clothed...shoes, coat and all. I would sleep about 4 hours, get up..sometimes eat a bowl of cereal and go back to bed and then draggggggggg myself out of bed to go back to work. My daughter's friend, who is a nurse, was over one day when I woke up, she talked me into going to see her doctor. He's the one who ran blood test and diagnoised the hep c. I love that man....I always tease him about taking him "home" with me!!!! But shhhhhhhh, my husband doesn't know that!!!!! LOL
I guess it's the hep, that's making me sooooooo tired. I feel like ****! I go to Duke on April 28th. My viral load is still 1,930,000, so it's still up there. Girl I just knew I'd beat this thing!!!! But for some reason I didn't. At least I only relapsed...better than non-responding...huh? Oh well I hope in this clinical trial I will not only be helping myself, but helping others down the road. God has me here for a reason, and I think that just may be the reason. I'll keep ya posted on the Duke thing. I don't know much about it now. I've beeb tokd to be prepared to stay 3 and 4 days at a time...from time to time. I'm really excited about the study and I'm SO READY TO KICK DRAGON BUTT THIS TIME!!!! I know I've already got 'em pinned!!!! LOL I can see him on his back kicking like heck. He has to be...48 darts!!!! I think tx next go round will be easier, cuz I know what to look for, as far as sides go.
But one thing that sorta got me, was when I called Duke and the answering machine says, if you want ...so @ so..press 1, "if you are in a clinical trial, and are having problems with your medications", press so @ so....And INDY if you're reading this, where is the...."so @ so" button?????? LOL Anyway Honey you get my drift? I've missed you all so much, I'll try to stay awake...anybody with cocaine...send it my way...ONLY KIDDING GUYS!! You take care and I'll talk to you soon. I Love ya Girl, Cindee

[Showboat]

I have bumps on my arm (between my wrist and elbow) that I got soon after starting tx.  They usually are just "bumps" no color to them....sometimes they flare up and turn red, then they itch.(but that is a like a rash, I guess)
A couple of years ago, I got a pea sized bump (same thing, no pain....) I had it removed.  It was a "fatty growth" nothing serious, but I had it removed anyway.  I would check with your Doctor......just so you have piece of mind....

[harley dude]

I sweated for 2-3 months, one night the bed was so wet I thought I water pipe broke in the attic. I guess it's just something alot of us go through. You have to realize how much and how many different kinds of meds we have in our system at one time, plus alot of us run fever(could be high) in our sleep and you no when a fever breaks you sweat alot. My wife would call me sweat Man. I just recently got a small knot on my forehead about the size of a pea and it won't go away- doesn't hurt or itch- just won't go away- anyone had this problem with bumps that kinda just stayed around.-- See Ya'll- Harley Dude

[DebbieDo]

Well, I can say the nose driness is a side......Like someone said get a humidifier.......this really helps and try saline nose spray........Keep your fingers out of there. You dont want to cause an infection  Blow easy, you don't want to create another problem........I had this really bad until i did the above............Deb  :)

[cuteus]

Yes and yes, constant clearing and now a morning cough.  I figure is better than some here that  cough their brains out through tx.  I will take the clearing over that!

[audreywald]

I would have welcomed bed WETTING in my 2nd week. It would have been a vast improvement over what happened.

Outside.  In the back yard. Came here and cried, screamed, raged... later I laughed. I think I will always tell the story laughing , now!

Got naked outside. By the grace of God no one saw me. I asked my grandson to help me clean up. He declined due to the fact that it made him want to throw up. Threw the pants away.  Up until than my most embarrasing moment was when I stepped on a moving treadmill at the gym. Had to go to the ER in an ambulance and the docs were coming to look at me, no one had ever seen treadmill marks on a face before.

The laughs just keep on rolling in.

[CARUU]

YES!  I had a hoarse voice and had to clear my throat a lot.  I think it started even before tx. The horaseness improved, but the throat clearing has continued.  I use Biotene mouthwash to get the yucky stuff out and help change the bad tast from the meds.  I also have other Biotene products that were given to me by my dentest (toothpaste, gum, gel) that help a little. caruu

[raheem]

I used to wet the bed when I was a kid.....of course I was standing on my bureau at the time and it was my brother's bed!  It's tough being the youngest sometimes. Actually, I don't seem to sweat much at all on tx, however Procrit does increase RBC, HGB and HCT and I definitely feel warmer from taking it.  I don't know if you are on it. The booger issue on tx is quite common I believe.  My nose feels quite full sometimes and all that comes out is a couple of rubbery strands of mucous, no blood.  The shower helps to loosen things up. I'd stay away from saline nasal sprays. My Cobas Amplicor HCV RNA QuantiTative test has a lower limit of detection down to 600.  My Cobas Amplicor HCV RNA QualiLative test has a lower limit of detection down to 60.  Luckily, I've been clear since week 12. I'm a little unsure why some folks are insisting on the Heptimax test.  I know it can detect down to 5 or 10 IU/ml.  For example, if I find one test says NEGATIVE, <60 IU/ml and to be sure I simultaneously get a Heptimax test and it says POSITIVE, 59 IU/ml.....then what?  Quit tx? Extend tx? Increase the dosage?  I'm going poison myself for 48 weeks and that's it. If I relapse, I'll still live my arguably normal life and wait for something better to come along.

[cindee]

I had trouble with nite sweats for awhile. I would get up sometimes 3x a nite and change Pj's and sheets. I slept on the sofa during this time to keep from waking my husband, after the first nite it happened. But it only lasted for a short time, then went away. I started sleeping with a fan beside me, because I would get sweaty at my neck. I hope this ends for you soon. Prayers are with you, Cindee

Honey, Hey girl, I haven't posted in a while. I have been sleeping 16 to 20 hrs at a time! My fatique is worse than ever! I too had the gruffy voice and clearing my throat all the time. Since I'm done with the first 48 wks of tx. my voice is back to normal, but I still have to clear my throat a lot. I hope you and your husband are doing good. Love ya bunches!!! Cindee (aka) Sleeping Beauty! lol

[honey1616]

Alot of times, my throat is kinda hoarse, dry and am constantly have to clear my throat.  Do you guys have that and what do you do for it?

[bunkywoo]

Nasal spray is the some-what answer to the nose problem. It helped me a little, but I think the problem started getting better after time went on with tx. I would also cover my head with a towel and turn the water on super hot and breath deep.
This was probably the most irritating side that I experienced.

Heptimax - I usually would get my blood tests done at the hospital but they did not do the Heptimax test, so I had to find a Quest Lab to do it. It ended up being much cheaper than getting tested by the hospital as far as my deductible and co-pay were concerned.

Good luck and know that each shot you take is one less shot you have to take.

Laurie

[honey1616]

Bedwetting...Yep...My hubby went through that really bad about week 8 through about 12, I believe and then it stopped.  I mean it was so bad...He would wake in middle of night soaking wet and sheet was too wet to sleep on and yes...right through to the mattress.  lol rubber sheet would be great!  We just pulled sheets back and covered with towels so not to ruin the mattress.  Like I said,,,about time it was getting really bad...it quit!  Hope same for ya!

[relentless]

Bed wetting....can't help you.  Dry, crusty, bloody nose....you bet.  Get a humidifier and use every night at bedside....also get saline gel and spray at the pharmacy....they don't cure but they help ALOT.  

New tests by other than Hetamax go down the <50 which is pretty much conclusive negative result.  I'm not sure why some Docs don't use heptamax but it is either cost (and profit to Doc and hospital) or the handling of the specimen, which I believe requires freezing and special handling and shipping (to California ??)

Good Luck......everything comes to an end....even TX

PS....try yoga and meditation

[thanbey]

1) Have your thyroid checked for the night sweats.

2) Get a nasal spray to lubricate your schnoz. There are ove the counter ones you can try before resorting to a prescription. This is common with hepatitis C, and treatment.

3)You can take any written lab slip to any lab. Even when it is written on one lab's order sheet (this is marketing) you can still have the test at any lab your insurance will cover and that you choose. Sometimes physicians have a financial relationship with a lab or pharmacy, but you have the right to make this decision independently. I think Quest labs do the Heptimax. Check the phone book.

I hope this helps,

thanbey