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Hepatitis C

Hello,

I am sooo nervous I start treatment tomorrow.  I am taking the shot before I go to bed.  Any advice???  Also I have been down lately and not myself.  Never have been depressed before and always have been healthy.  I went to the dr.s yesterday to learn how to inject and they put me on Paxil.  Anyone ever taken that?  So many new things going into my body.  I am real nervous on how my body will react and how I will feel.  I start the Paxil tomorrow also..

To refresh your memory I am 25 year old female, Genotype 3a.  found out in March.

Thanks
Shelli
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Avatar universal
Thanks for your advice. How are you feeling?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yup I would think that most of us actually were prescribed a good AD during treatment (preferably BEFORE we started because it takes a few weeks to kick in).

I'll be thinking of you tonight.

Some little helps: put an extra blanket on the side of your bed, even if it's hot out where you are, just in case. When the Interferon chills kick in...it doesn't matter if it's 120 degrees - inside your BONES feels cold.

Make sure you bring up a COUPLE bottles of water or drinks.  You would be shocked how much this stuff with keep you awake making you drink (and pee) all night long.  Many of us take sleeping pills now as a result but STILL have to wake up several times a night just to get a drink (or pee!)

Make sure your family knows that tomorrow is your "day of rest" and they can expect NOTHING from you.  Let them know that even if I LOOK fine...I might not be. HepC is not worn on the outside and people can't always see how we feel. In my house rule is "Saturday is day of rest" fend for yourself! End of story!

Put fresh batteries in the remote.  TV (and even those dumb infomercial shows) can be your best friend.  Resting as much as humanly possible on shot night / day after is the BEST thing we can do...but it gets BORING...and I can find myself watching tv shows I had NEVER thought I'd EVER watch.  Blockbuster the night before might be a good idea...but I usually am too brain fogged to be able to hold to a whole movie so I watch junk that doesn't matter and can drift in and out of sleep at will.

A heating pad nearby is a good idea too in case you get some muscle aches or pains (and at times when I've been freezing with chills I've even used it like an electric blanket LOL).

Well those are my special hints that have gotten me through.  The last and most IMPORTANT one is...make sure you have ice cream (personally I'm on fudgicles) in the freezer.  Not only is it a good treat = but it really helps with the dry mouth AND...everybody deserves to have their special favorite treats that are easy for us heppers to eat ... on REST DAY!

Best of luck!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey Everyone,
I just wanted to know how long you have known to have hep before you decided to get the treatment? are some of you in early stages and waiting till better meds come out? or do you recommend getting treatment ASAP. I am in stage 1.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey Everyone,
I just wanted to know how long you have known to have hep before you decided to get the treatment? are some of you in early stages and waiting till better meds come out? or do you recommend getting treatment ASAP. I am in stage 1.
Helpful - 0
137025 tn?1217764741
I am laughing, because nygirl's comment about popsicles is soo true, I ate a lot of them on tx and even after doc stopped tx, I still eat them.  50 calories, a little sugar and some water, what could be better for a dry mouth or an upset tummy?  I love green ones and fudgesicles.  Anytime day or night.  I will start tx again in about three weeks, am stocking up on popsicles.  Hope all goes well tonight, you will be braggin in a few weeks about how easy the shot is, I guarantee it.  I'm watchin the board here, soon, I will be another one of us, shots and all.   Again.  I'm not looking forward to it, but not scared this time.  Take care and let us know how it goes.  Some folks have a "first shot party" and have family around to help, but only if you got calm, smart family.  Eat those popsicles and watch the tube.  You'll be a okay.  Long journey ahead, you're taking the first step today.  One less step is a good thing.  Take care.
Willow
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
That is a personal decision each of us makes based on our own personal situation. I couldn't live with the virus without trying to get rid of it so I started treating as soon as possible after I was diagnosed. Others choose to wait and live with it. It's a very tough call.
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Avatar universal
This is normal and there are many here on paxil durning treatment.  Tonight is your first shot so you may have a fever, chills, etc.  Take 2 tylonal before you do the shot and drink plenty of water during treatment.  Just know we are here for you and your not alone.

Beagle :)
Helpful - 0
85135 tn?1227289772
Welcome to first shot night. I had mine in the doctors office under the direction of the NP at about 4:00 PM. I went home to wait for the sides to kick in. After hours of waiting, nothing happened and I got bored and went to bed. The chills and fever didn
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Avatar universal
Hang in there...you are way too strong to let this trip you up.  And listen to all the posts here.  The help is inavailable.  I did follow the advice of drinking lots of water, even tho I hate water, and it did make a major difference in reducing the sx.

The time will fly by.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
way
I'm three weeks into treatment with 850mg pegasys and 1000 copeg (ribaviren)
My first shot was bad-Fever,chills,nausea and body aches --three and a half hours after injecting. I didn't pre-medicate. I don't know why. I guess I thought that tiny shot wouldn't effect me, that much.
Since then I've taken 800mg of ibuprofen about an hour after the injection and don't notice ANY Sx at all. I guess the problem I had the first time was due to the fact that my body never had these drugs before. Now after injecting It seems like I get some flu symptoms about a day or two later but don't know whether it is from the interferon or riba.
I keep reading this board and waiting for the side effects to start but so far I've been lucky. Either that or it takes a few months for them to start kicking in.
I would definately pre-medicate!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am nervous myself.  I start next thursday.  Let me know how the first night goes.  I saw my father go through this treatment and I am not looking forward to the effects.  I know everyone is different but let me say that what my dad went through was rough.  I wish you all the best though.  I am also about your age.  Im 30 and hoping that being younger may be a benefit with what we are in for.  I am going to take it before bed time myself in the hopes that I do sleep through some of the effects.  Good luck and God bless.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Welcome to TX. There is really nothing to be nervous about as I have learned over the years what will be will be. Each persons experince with tx and the drugs is unique we all share one thing in common we are trying to make ourselves better.

I was expecting the worst when it came to side effects and  have to say I have been pretty lucky so far just finishing up week 15, shot night was no problem no fever no chills. The riba has had somefun with my body but soooo far nothing I can't handle. many here save shot night for friday so they have the weekend to recover if needed. I like to enjoy my weekends so I save my shot for monday and yes i still manage to go to work and be productive.

As you can't here enough here stay in touch drink lots of water and listen to your body. If you need to move a little slower so be it. If your too tired to go out partying all ngiht then don't. Yes it is ok to lie on the couch and watch tv and yes it is ok have some ice cream, unless your a diabetic like me, or a popsicle or three.

hang in there and all will be
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
the first night was the worst and that was just fever and chills, the 2nd shot was just a little  chills and in the morning a little drowsy kind of wake up ready for a nap, be sure to eat with the pills in about 3 weeks every thing will start meshing, and thats the time you need to keep an eye out for anemia, how many riba pills are you taking a day? im going to do 29/48 and as of yet do not have anemia so it dont effect us all that way right away im having a slow gradule slope down just watching to...DRINK LOTS OF WATER i like mixing a little juice with it  every so often it helps..Good Luck and keep us posted.....
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Avatar universal
I was so nervous about the first shot...found this forum the day I was beginning. When i did the shot it seemed so easy i wanted t do it again..."What that's it, I worried for 2 years about this?"
What Mrs. O described is pretty much how my first shot went, and bed most of the next day. By a few weeks in I stopped taking tyle3nol on shot night. I must admit though I still put the instrutions out in front of me each time so I don't brain fog through one of the steps. For the last few months(I do shot 41 this week) the day after the shot has been my most productive.
Be Well, you'll find suggestions for just about anything you face here.
don
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I know we are all different, but you shouldn't have any sides on Friday at work, at least from the riba.  The riba takes a good week to get in your body good, and then look out for the gradual anemia about weeks 3-5.  I haven't taken any AD on treatment at all, but mid treatment I had to get ambien to sleep.  As long as I slept I could deal with it!  I never had fever with the shot, but I had some bad fatigue, and I can see the apathy Goldyn/Cuteus were talking about.  Friday night is my shot night, too, but funny enough, my fatigue usually hits Sunday instead of Saturday.  I found the dread of treatment much worse than the treatment.  Once I started, it was not near as bad as I thought it would be.  Good luck and let us know how it goes!
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Avatar universal
Thank you all so much. Im in tears over here.  I am so touched by all your kind words.  I hope eveyone is doing well.  I will talk to you all very soon.

Shelli :)
Helpful - 0
100019 tn?1335919717
I took my first shot at 8 pm went to bed at 10.00.  Woke up at midnight with fever, headache and the most bone chilling cold I've ever experienced.  Had 6 blankets on me and thought I was going to die.  Lasted till about 4 am and then suddenly was gone.  Had a headache that lasted till about 6 pm.  Never had another shot like that one again.

I had done lots of reading from people taking a first shot so I knew that was a possibility.  

Hopefully, you will be like many of the people here and your first shot will be like nothing.  But if you should experience the fever and chills - just know that it will only last a few hours and it will never be that bad again!!

Good luck to you sweetie!  We're thinking about you.  Valorie
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Avatar universal
Keep strong and you will be all right.  Just remember you are a fighter or you would not have gotten this far.
We are anxious for your post tomorrow.
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Avatar universal
I'm sure you'll do fine.  Try not to worry.

It took my body a couple of months to adjust to all the treatment drugs my doctor put me on.
Helpful - 0
91778 tn?1252555170
Don't worry you will do fine. Like NYgirl said Drink lots of water. My first shot, I didn't fell anything that night, but the next day I got chills and fever and headache. But second shot and then on just night sweats. If you can, plan on taking Sat to rest. You will feel better Sunday. take care
Helpful - 0
137025 tn?1217764741
Everyone gets the jitters before the first shot.  Believe me, soon the shots become a piece of cake, really no pain involved in them.  I always used an insulin syringe, never hurt as long as I let the alcohol dry, but then doc switched me to Redipen and the needle was a bit bigger, little bit of a sting.

I am concerned about you starting Paxil the same day you start tx, Paxil takes about three weeks to totally work and you can be a bit jittery with a small belly ache from the Paxil.  So you will be feeling both the tx and the Paxil, but believe me, hanging in tough with the Paxil will pay off.  Just might be a little lala for you for the first month.  Starting Paxil earlier would have been better, but we all cope with what it put before us as best we can.  Perhaps make plans today to be extra kind to yourself for the first month or so, enlist extra support, do a little research on the initial side effects of both Paxil and tx and then prepare for them.  By all means, take some advil before first shot, will help with the fever you may get.  My first shot gave me the perfect raging fever for 8 hours and then it was gone.  I got shaky and achey, ate a lot of popsicles, and I cannot over emphasis the goodness of drinking lots of water.  In fact, start adding extra water today, to be over hyrated.  Seems to help with the shakes some.  good luck to you, post here tomorrow night, I will check the board about 8:00 p.m. Pacific time to see if all went well.  Get the first shot out of the way and then take it one day at a time.  I can say this as I did tx once and am now getting ready to try again.  Not fun, but realistically, we don't have many options.  It could be worse, but I'm not sure I am going to focus on anything more than just living in the now and taking extra good care of myself and relying on those who love me.  Peace to you, it will be okay.  Honest.
Willow
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Avatar universal
Well Mishelli we ALL know how nervous you are believe me!  We've been there for SURE!

The good thing is that most of the time you find out...it's NOTHING like you think it's going to be at all. I worked myself into an almost nervous breakdown being so sure it was going to be DREADFUL...and on shot night never even had a peep of a fever or anything.  NOTHING! Yet I passed out as if dead because I worried so much I wore myself out.

Most likely you'll be just FINE.  Just drink a lot of water tomorrow and make sure to take two tylenol BEFORE you do the shot. Don't be nervous.....just jam that sucker in and get on with your life.  

It IS doable..you will see for SURE!

I'll be thinking of you tomorrow as I do my own shot and wishing you the best of luck!
Helpful - 0
119874 tn?1189755829
I'm also 3a and just finished a few weeks ago.

I got down and out just before treatment started too.  I think it's a common response--part of the psychological prepwork.  The first few weeks are scary because it's all unknown territory.  By the end, I didn't give a second thought to those injections--took a couple of seconds and I was off to something else (in the beginning, I went through elaborate preparation rituals...).  By the way, I had several days when I felt totally depressed (usually just for a few hours at a time) but they were early in treatment and I really felt fine emotionally for most of the rest of it.  

The time will go by more quickly than you expect.  At first, I treated myself like a sick person and time really dragged.  After a few weeks (and treatment for anemia--keep an eye on your hemoglobin levels!) I started keeping a more regular routine--tried to work some, tried to exercise some, tried to clean out a closet...--and time went much more quickly.  Just because we're on treatment and don't feel as good as usual doesn't mean we have to give up our entire lives when we're on treatment.  You'll still be you.

Good luck on your journey.  And remember that you have friends here along for the ride.



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Avatar universal
what meds are you on? some say Pegasys is easier on the sides. I had no major problems on my first shot, on  a Tuesday. For wks I wondered if anything was being absorbed by my body. I emptied the vial contents each time too.
I chose not to do ADs, and play it by ear. My GI agreed. Only three wks of the 72-74, I felt like I wanted to get off the world. It passed. Apathy is a big one that follows you most of tx, and I am not sure if ADs help with that one. Some members reported they still felt the apathy big time.
Take analgesics before you need them, don't wait until it hurts  bad, it will take longer for them to work at that point.
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