starting treament

[tammykerry2003]

i am hepc 1a i  start treatment next week i am wandering what to expect i will be doing a 48 week program i also have a rh factor blood does that matter i guess i am just scared they say you are really sick its that all the time are just the day you take your shots i guess i just need to know what i can look forward to  thank you

[kcmike]

Your welcome!  I didn't find this forum until around week 16 of tx and now I sure wish I had found it sooner.  People here are very knowledgeable with the latest new fine tuning of tx plans.  Being a gt-3a it is very important to have early and frequent viral load test to determine exactly when you become UND.  I am gt-1b so not up on your types specifics, but have heard it is very important for 3's to reach RVR (UND by fourth week) .  Also, request the most sensitive test you can afford.  The Quest TMA is rather popular here with a sensitivity of <5 IU's.

mike

[shaddamom]

I found out today that I can go to class tomorrow..... I won't be leaving class with Meds, but I may be picking them up next week...... seems like my Dr. is on vacation and there is a small question that he needs to answer before I can really start (the question he is needed for is 'do I need any other dr's reports or am I already good to go".  Dr is due back in the office monday, and if he says I am ready, i can go pick up my meds...... the class tomorrow is kinda like auditing a class in college---I am there, but not officially to begin tx. Wish me luck----- I am anxious to get started..... before I have a chance to chicken out. LOL  not really

[alagirl]

I just started my tx last friday.  It's not a picnic, but neither is it the end of the world :)  The first two or three days after the pegasys shot are probably the most difficult in terms of feeling achey and that type of thing.  The ribavirin makes me a little nauseaus but people here told me to take it with food, preferably food that has fat in it, and I'll tell ya, that was great advice!  Helps a lot.

Which medications are you prescribed and at what dose, and then people can probably give you more info about side effects.

[shaddamom]

Hi Tammy, I am getting all my ducks in a row to start treatment soon - hopefully I'll be in the Oct class, maybe Nov.  I have found forum to be a wealth of info..

Mike,  Thanks for your info on the timeline of interferon.  It will be very helpful in dealing with my sides when I get started....

BTW I am genotype 3a and am looking at a 24 week plan.

[tammykerry2003]

thank you i guess i am just scared i guess eveyone is thou huh i am sure i will be fine i hope thank you for the advice

[kcmike]

We welcome you to the class of October 2007.  I am not in your class, I was in last years October class and completed tx last month.  You have several members in your class and should perhaps start a thread asking them to identify themselve as a means to introduce yourself.  As you all pass through tx you can share your experiences and the vets can guide you on your journey.

Briefly, my first advice is to wait and see how you will react to the meds.  In general pegylated interferon has a mean absorption half-life of 4.6 hours.  Maximum serum concentration occurs between 15-44 hours post-dose and are sustained for up to 48-72 hours.  What this means is the effects begin about 4 hours after the injection, the peak of the funk lasts about 1.5 days and the hangover lasts up to three days.

Most pick a Friday shot night.  Saturday and Sunday are couch days and hopefully you can return to work on Monday.

The ribavirin is a different story and you and your classmates will each have tales of "brain fog" to laugh and cry about.

Hopefully others will respond about the rh factor as it wasn't a problem for me.

Good luck,
mike