Checking in w/ qustions

[mawg]

Happy New Year and greetings,

I am on week 12 of tx (as part of the Ideal Study).  My random draw for meds came up with Pegatron and Rebetrol (sp?).  I had a 1.4M VL at start; week 2 was 900K and week 4 was 400K.  Week 12 draw is Monday and I am hoping for the 'undetectable'--I guess I'll know the results in Feb (it takes a lot longer to get results back in the study.)

Q's about sx of tx:

Metal taste--the last couple of days I have had a really strong taste of metal.  Brushing/mouthwash does not help.  Any ideas?

Procrit--can anyone describe how this has helped them?  What about added sx from the Procrit?

Depression-- does anyone not get depressed from the interferon/ribovarin combination?  (after week 4 I HAD to have some help-- Effexor seems to be helping me)

Itching--this is a 'new feature' as of late.  Will this come and go as some other sx have or will this one hang around?  Gold Bond lotion anyone?


I'm sure I will have more questions later.

Thanks,
mawg

[cuteus]

best of health to you...and a permanent SVR.

[Tess Marie]

I haven't checked in for quite some time, but I am going to make it priority in 05. I have picked up so many valuable hints and general information on this site! This is my 2nd. round of treatment, after a relapse on Peg-Intron/Riba. I have taken 6 mths. of daily Infergen/ Riba and the sides have been outrageous. How is your husband coping with the sides and how long has he been taking this? Next week we are changing meds to infergen 3 times per week. I have had 3 VL's that have come back undetectable, Thank God. But, I was beginning to think if the meds didn't work on the Hep C, they were literally going to kill me. I have had a real problem with perception-banging into walls, falling, etc. I am at the point where I do not drive.I am anxious to hear how your husband is handling the Infergen? If anyone else is on Infergen/Riba, I would appreciate your comments also. The treatment is definitely not easy but the chances of cure keeps us all going. I hope you all have a healthier 2005 and let's help each other as much as possible!
I have a wonderful Doctor in Lakeland, FL. if anyone is looking in this area. He is the key and is wonderful, knowledgable and cares.

[cuteus]

I never identified the feel in my mouth as metallic, it was a "weird" change, that enhanced spicy, tangy flavors to the point of pain, and I was not able to savor many of the flavors I enjoyed before. It did not keep me from eating, though. Did not loose or gain wt.

Procrit was prescribed for low red counts and I recall no sides from it, in my case, no negative ones.

Depression could be caused by the meds themselves, the crappy way you continuosly feel or the anemia.  Some studies point to up to 1/3 of people suffering from major disorders during tx. Some drs. prescribe the ADs prophilactically to everyone.  I asked my dr to wait things out and to play it by ear. There were a couple of times I thought "this is it, must get meds", but I always found a way to adapt and the event subsided. It is natural to feel depressed, when the situation warrants it, and the body finds a way to adjust in most cases.  When the body is overwhelmed by other factors, it might not be able to deal with emotions as well and you might need aid with that.

Itching for me was localized to one spot in my back, TG, if it was more general, I would have killed for relief.
Many sides come and go during tx, some remain throughtout and you learn to adapt to them.
good luck

[mawg]

Thank you for the information.  This is really a great forum for answers.

Oh yeah, in my 'profile' I forgot to say that I am a Type 1a and I don't know when I was exposed to C.

[whoaisme]

Hello and Happy New Year to one and all, and a healthier one as well! I don't have Hep C- husband does, here's what I know..
metal taste, common side, try using plastic utensils when you eat, also try using fruit based sides with your meals, jellies and fruit based chutneys and the like. (not sure why but supposed to help)
Procrit (any "blood growth product") is not allowed on the study my husband is now in (daily infergen and riba) it is a dose reduction first. However when he was on pegysus and riba he was prescribed procrit, he was feeling so sick at that point, who knows what was causing what... others will be able to help you on that one.
Yes depression is very common and often antidepressents are prescribed prior to starting the treatment. Keep in mind it can take weeks before the ad's begin to take effect. There are many different ad's available so if one doesn't do the trick there are others to try (not all are liver friendly so best left to the GI to prescribe)
Itching, another common problem, as is the "riba rash" . We have found using lots of aloe type creams, aveeno, and an Rx "triamcinolone acetonide" cream help. I also buy a sunburn type spray with lidocaine and aloe. That seems to help a lot. When he could, swimming in salt water helped as well. I hope this answers some of your concerns.