What's so bad about treatment?

[moopertan]

I started treatment about 4 weeks ago with pegasys and Ribavirin (in conjunction with a study drug)

I had heard literal horror stories from people about the treatment.  I gotta tell you, this isn't bad at all.  I have a bit of dry skin and i get headaches once in a while, but nothing a couple of ibuprofens doesn't take care of.

Am i just really lucky or something?  i mean, really, i feel pretty fine.  i'm working, i go for walks everyday, i'm sleeping alright, appetites good, i'm pretty much living my life like i always did (i am trying to drink as much water as possible- maybe that's helping?)  no fatigue, no depression, i mean, if this is it, this is a cakewalk.  i was expecting to feel like hell based on what i'd heard from people.

really, i don't understand what all the fuss is all about.  this is nothing.

anybody else having a real easy go of it?

[GSDgirl]

One thing to note, I didn't know about fat with the riba but I was getting the propper amount.  I SVR'd even without the fat and not much of anything else in my stomach, couldn't eat much.  

[willbb]

I am in wk.8 and so far it has been tolerable for me,  just be thankful , its a long haul and hopefully,however things could change down the road.  

Copyman brings up a good point,,are you taking your Riba with a high fat food to ensure the best possible absorption?

All the best with it!

[copyman]

I hate to ruin the party but there is a possibility that you are not getting enough ribavirin. It is great that you feel good but that could be a sign you are not getting enough riba.

Are you going to get the important 4 week PCR test? This will tell just how good the meds are working and if you are in fact getting enough.

best of luck

[paen53]

So far so good, and I hope it continues for you. I did pretty good until week 8 or so when my hemoglobin really started dipping, but even then thought I was doing "pretty good" until about 8-9 months in when the hgb held in the low 9's with dips into the 8's. Major butt dragging going on then.....

I think it depends upon alot of things - our age, staging, family support, type of job (demanding/physical vs. sedentary), overall health going into tx - so many things come into play. And still it's a crap shoot. My motto was to enjoy the good days as best I could and roll with the punches. Best of luck to everyone in the throes of tx.

[James10500]

Sx are different for everyone.  Unfortunately they vary week to week.  I have to believe people wouldn't need to ADs, PKs, sleep aids, procrit, neupogen....ect if it was a cakewalk for everyone.  Make a "fuss" that's pretty funny.

Good luck with the rest of your tx, may you be UND at week for and have normal bloods.  

[eureka254]

It's good to get the flip-side:  I think hearing positive accounts of how treatment CAN be a "cakewalk" for some will help other readers a great deal.  It's unfortunate that a good number of people do have a very difficult time of treatment and suffer terribly,  but very fortunate for you that you're not one of them.  Not understanding what all the fuss is about is the one ignorance you DO want to keep and hold on to with this treatment!

The hope is that you'll continue in this vein and suffer little or not at all.  We can certainly attest to many who need support and sympathies for what they go through during treatment, but it's always good to cheer one on who can give us positive and encouraging information.  Wishing you a continued 'easy go' of it. Best of luck. ~eureka

[T246]

So for so good for you, hope that stays as is, all of this accumulates though, so you may experience some issues.  I did pretty well, exercised 5 days a week for almost a year.  I was very happy to be finished at 64 weeks though, this wares on anyone.

Try and keep your weight where it is

[Trinity4]

Just depends on who's telling the story and how the sx related to them.  What I thought was a cakewalk might have been horrendous to someone else....vice-versa

Trinity

[RobertBeWell]

For many people, myself included, the side effects are nothing more than an annoyance. I'm coming up on week 11. About the only thing I ever get is a little itchy now and then.

Give yourself some time though. At four weeks, you're a noob. Wait till you're six months into it and see if things are still going as well. Hopefully, they will be.

Remember, the only difference between a medicine and a poison is the dosage.

I wish you continued good luck.

[R Glass]

With this stuff, you never know. Keep your fingers crossed, you may be one of the lucky ones. All this can also change very fast. Drinking water definitely helps but it is not the miracle worker of your mild sx. Best wishes, R. Glass

[blondie717]

Hey, I take shot 6 tomorrow, and no sx yet to speak of. my tounge got sore one time, study doc said get oragel. He said it was inflamation from interferion.  it went away. with one dose. I hope you stay sx free.   Like me....Hope you SVR. with your study drug and Soc... Hey we might be in same study?