Dreading my second Peginterferon injection later

[Copenhagen23]

Hello everyone this is my first post. I just started Sovaldi + Ribavirin + Peginterferon for  Genotype 1a a week ago. The side effects from  my first injection were a doozy. I felt it working in about 10 minutes and I had a cloudy flu like feeling within an hour. I went to bed and in the middle of the night I had muscle pains, hot and cold flashes, cramping, and the most diesel headache I have ever had.  It occurred to me that I may have hit a vein even though I grabbed the skin on my stomach and pinched a good bit of it. I went in at about a 30 degree angle and put the syringe almost all the way in to my skin. I'm not looking forward to feeling those side effects again because I felt like my whole body was wrenching like I had been poisoned from some kind of snake bite.

Has anyone had better luck with less side effects on their second injection? It's Friday and I actually just started to feel normal again after the Ribavirin sides had been kicking my butt most of the week. I was able to go to the gym yesterday and do some light lifting, but I'm anticipating another weekend of minimal activity. I hope I'm more prepared and more hydrated this time around, and maybe the shot will not be as bad. Could use some positive reinforcement.

[rosefoster]

I seemed to have worse side effexts as treatment has gone one. My 1st 3 weeks I just had mild side effects (tired, achy,  minor flu like symptoms). My 4th week I woke up feeling full blown flu symptoms im the middle of the night, but the subsided the next day. Week 5 was back to the "easier" side effects. The 6th injection had me feeling sicker than I have ever felt in my life. The night of I  got sick only once. The next day however was soo aweful. I couldnt eat, burnjng hot one sec, freezing the next, and I threw up for about 3 straight hours (which was super painful! ). I just took my 7th shot so we will see how it goes. My doc gave me the same advice as sandi. Drink lots of water and take a motrin about 30 minutes prior to the shot. Also just trybto keep your head up. So many people have done it...we can do it too!

[hepc4Sandi]

I had 1 cup of real coffee every morning, just had to increase my water intake a bit more—another 10 oz or so. Caffeinated drinks dehydrate you. So just limit them. No point in totally depriving yourself. :-) I am so glad your second shot went well.

[daroga]

Why have you been cutting down on coffee? Coffee is supposed to be good for liver disease.

[Copenhagen23]

I'd just like to note that the second shot was much better than my first. Besides feeling only slightly fluey, it was very tolerable and I actually felt pretty good the morning after. Now I just need to get used to the Ribavirin. I miss my morning cups of coffee. Ever since starting treatment I was a 4 cup a day drinker to having 1 small cup of decaff in the morning, and Gatorade during the day.On the bright side I have been meaning to cut down on my coffee intake. Hopefully when treatment is finished, I will not depend on caffeine like I used to.

[Copenhagen23]

Thanks everyone. Hopefully the second shot will go well. Sounds like it's pretty common for the first shot to be the worst shot.

[Setzy]

Hi - I just started peg/riba/incivek exactly 4 weeks ago, and much like mzkity, I only reacted really badly to the 1st injection (really bad chills esp). I felt nothing in the last 3 injections (I even hit a vein in the last one, it was bruised badly right away, but other than that I felt no flu-like symptoms).  I also have been taking an extra strength Tylenol & Benedryl right before my shots, but it seems to have been largely unnecessary. Good luck!

[mzkity]

Hey there!  My first injection was the same way. It was just horrible. But it never happened like that again. So here's hoping your second shot doesn't cause that "please call an ambulance feeling" but I doubt that it will. Just remember the water. It should be with you at all times. You also can take an extra strength Tylenol. But really, poor the water into you, tons of water!!  Good luck!
Here's to SVR!!       Kitty

[hepc4Sandi]

Try injecting it into the top of your thigh, that is what I did. My doctor had me take 2 motrin 1 hour before shot and 1 tylenol 30 minutes after (check with your doc on that, I had no cirrosis). But every time I got my shot the same thing happened to me. I felt it within 10 minutes, and had to go to bed an hour or so later. Make sure you drink plenty of water ( half your weight in ounces... 140 lbs =70 oz.) Plus extra if you drink any caffiene. I didn't get the headaches, but I felt flu like for a day and a half. I know some people only feel like that on the first shot. I just celebrated 1 month UND post Tx, so it is worth the really minor Sx. Hang in there, you will be sooooooooo happy you did!

[celtictiger67]

hi copenhagen thats exactly how i felt with my first injection of interferon and that was it second to end of treatment was ok hope your next one is ok
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