Feeling worse again towards end of 24 weeks program of incivek/riba/pegasys?

[Setzy]

Hi,

I am just wondering if anyone had similar experience - I am kind of afraid that now these feelings will never go away.

Long story short, I was diagnosed w/ acute HepC in Dec - started the incivek triple around May and I just had my 23rd shot of pegasys 3 hours ago and now I am feeling that flu symptom a little.

I haven't had that feeling since week 2, and I thought I've been feeling way better after being done w/ the incivek, until now.

Also since the last couple of weeks I've been feeling weaker compared to ~week11-19. My limbs get a little numb sometimes and I often have a tight feeling in my chest. I have noticed that hair is falling out more. Am I feeling this way because of the constant bombardment of my immune system w/ interferon? I also should mention that I've had to meet several deadlines since around week16 so could the stress also add that much to it?

Thanks for any input. I can't wait to be done in a couple of weeks, I just sincerely hope that my life will be back to normal.

[Livelife777]

Wow
You guys are so brave to go thru that kind of Tx.  I'm really in awe of the determination it takes to get thru a regimen of that magnitude as the Sxs are pretty brutal.  I went the Sovaldi/Ribavirin route, and thought that was nasty.

You will succeed.  You just have to keep reminding yourself of that when things get bad.  As mentioned on this site before, am also a prior cancer patient and will never forget the last month or two of Chemo.  As these are of similar nature they do accumulate near the end.  Expect that to be a consequence of Tx, and try to plan your schedule according to in those final farewell weeks.  My strategy thru Hep C Tx and Chemo was "Time Out"
from work and life as I dedicated my *** in my bed for the remaining couple
of weeks.

Wanted to add on to this discussion to let you know do not get frantic near the end.  You are emotionally and physically spent and frankly have had enough.  This is when the human spirit prevails and you find yourself on an auto-pilot mode.  I do know the most important info in all of this is the fact that your horrible lousy feelings are normal and to not be afraid that something has gone terribly wrong.  These drugs in essence are brutal.

On a positive note, when you look back in an overview of your life this temporary setback will justifiably become a blur.  You will walk away virus free and your new life will await you.  All of the hardship will be so worth the effort and as such a rebirth will begin.  Want you to never forget that when faced with daunting days, and feelings of being overwhelmed.  The end results are so worth the efforts and your life will change in a positive way
forever.

Stay Strong!!!
....Kim

[benjanim]

im 32 yrs old male and 11st week of same tx.

i wish i were you because i have 13 painfull weeks more to complete this heavy tx. don't worry. its about and. and hope SVR for all of us.

[Dee1956]

Hi there, you are very welcome, I know what it feels like.  I was so sick I wanted to stop so badly.

It is normal though you could always call your doctor.  Or....Incivek used to have a help line you could call a nurse.

Try to take it as easy as you can when ever you can.  
Dee

[Setzy]

Thanks Dee,

Yeah, I've been suffering from anemia and I did notice a big difference in the beginning. When I told the nurse that I've been feeling better she told me "oh yeah because your body got adjusted to it". My HGB didn't fall further though, so I am not sure why I am feeling worse again...

I remember a few days where I felt like impending doom and my friend thought it was because I was hypoglycemic...nothing helped. I just had to lie down and sleep.

Thanks for the encouragement though, this is exactly what I needed. I thought I'd get through these last 2 weeks easily, but this push will help me get back on track!