After the 1st Shot. Does it get better ?

[coocoo626]

The first night after the shot was pretty miserable. I had chills for about 3 to 4 hours, dry heaves, muscle ache, fever, you name it. Now 4 days later I feel "normal" pretty good actually, not look forward to the next shot in 3 days. Will the side effects be as severe or will they start to decrease ? Its so frustrating having some of my friends that call saying I shouldn't feel sick cause they know someone that wasn't sick on tx. I appreciate them calling but I would like to scream at them !!!! That's one thing that is different my lack of patience and tolerance my fuse is very short !!!!!! I try to keep my mouth shut, practicing the old " if you can't say something nice don't say nothing at all ".

[rogieman]

oh by the way, everytime I see my doc she ask me if I want to hurt myself or others? and I said I have always wanted to hurt people when they don't use thier turn signals!! lol, but of couse I would never act on it.  thankfully I never got the ribarage they talk about.

[rogieman]

my first shot was the worst! just like you descibed it to a T. now at 18 weeks they just make me feel like I have the flu all weekend. I actually had one weekend I didn't get sick for some reason. no energy but not sick. I think the ribivirin messes with me more than anything else over a long period of time.

[thegypsy9164]

My first shot 6-years ago was total hell.  I shook until I thought my teeth were about to fall out of my head.  It was as bad as severe opiate withdrawal.
This time, it was not that bad at all.  Like someone else said, the riba is what really gets me.
Yes, some people tend to tolerate the treatment well while others are very sick throughout.  Regretfully, I am one who is very sick throughout.  I'm just trying to hang in there since successful treatment nomatter how hard (in my opinion) means we will never have to go through this again...EVER!
Love to all
Joey

[geterdone]

The first 12 weeks are going to be bits of a roller coaster ride (for most) because the meds are building up in your system and take about that long to reach cmax. The first reaction is not necessarily an indication of how the rest of treatment is going to be but you do have to remember that your body is being hit by some very powerful drugs that will be changing a lot of things and at a very fast pace going forward and I would be more concerned if you were not having a strong reaction in the beginning of treatment because of possibly being under dosed for your weight which does not seem the case here, lol.
Good Luck getting through the next eleven weeks and hold on.

jasper

[Gert2]

I've been tx since nov.   my husb since dec.  I had my 1st not so bad weekend this past one.....my sides are bad,  my hubby is just starting to get tired.... I'll treat for 48 and he will do 24.... I know things will get better.  I wish you the best...
Gert2

[FlGuy]

" if you can't say something nice don't say nothing at all ", I think that was Thumper in Bambi. For many people on treatment following that adage would mean that they are fairly silent for a number of months.  You may find that the interferon affects you differently during the treatment.  Sometimes it's bone-rattling discomfort all over, other times not so bad.  The apprehension tends to ratchet things up a bit.  For me, I expected the worst and was pleasantly surprised on those 'not so bad' weekends.  Good luck.  

[Magnum]

You're suffering the typical symptoms of this treament. Trinity suggested Tylenol. Check with your doctor as far as a regular dosage, which could have an effect on your liver. One thing to watch out for is your temper. As time goes on, you may or may not get very angry and tempermental, even depressed. Have your doctor monitor that and stay away from morons and losers. Otherwise, you should do fine. Good luck in clearing...

Magnum

[annieCinMD]

In my case, only the first one was bad - fever, chills, etc.  Now I may wake up with a headache the morning after my shot, and am pretty tired, but nothing even close to that first one. I'm with the others, the Riba is what's making me most miserable.  That takes a bit longer to hit full force. Your "friend" shouldn't be saying things like that to you.  Everybody is different. Some don't have sides. My friend had worse sides than I do. She had a horrible time, with 2 rounds of TX, and she said it was worth it. (She cleared on round 2). Hopefully, #2 will be better :)

[GSDgirl]

It usually does get better for most people.  Just wait till the Riba Rage kicks in  LOL  Things come out of the mouth that shouldn't.  

When I got diagnosed we had previously let hubbys dau & her hubby & their 2 kids move in.  Needless to say it was a disaster even tho I warned EVERYONE what might possibly happen in the way of treatment.  One day I finally had enough and told the bltch to either clean up after her family and live in my house under my rules or get the f*ck out of my house.  They left soon after and I lived in peace.

Your friends have no idea about treatment even tho they mean well.  Maybe tell them that is actually worse than chemo, thats what I did.  Good Luck and may the sides dissapear!!!

Denise

[Trinity4]

It's hard to say coocoo. Everyone is different.  Some don't experience any reaction after the first shot and but several weeks later have similar side effects to what you have experienced.  Some people post the first shot was the worst and with subsequent shots side effects are minimal or they don't experience any side effects.

Typically, the first shot is the toughest for most.  The first three months are usually the worst but it seems to get better after that.  Take a couple of Tylenol prior to your shot after a couple of weeks you may not even need that.  

Short fuse, fatigue, memory loss are common while treating.  

Good Luck.  It does get better for mot.

Trinity

[GTBill]

I just started my tx last thursday but I previously ran 6 months of interferon (alone) about 12 years ago. That was a shot three times a week and after about a week you don't feel much of anything from the shot. So hang in there. It should get better. My problem is the ribavirin. It's kicking my butt.