How much water should combo patients be drinking per day?

[mremeet]

Hi, I'm going to be starting combo treatment in less than two weeks and have a question. I've been researching and communicating with people who are in treatment, or who have already been through it (sometimes multiple times). I've heard over and over again that you should drink a LOT of water every day. Most combo vest have told me to drink at least a gallon a day, as it will really do a lot to lessen your sides. They even seem to say it ike this: "Getting ready for treatment? Better learn how to drink a lot of water REAL soon." And say it in a way like "Ohhhh you'll be sorry if you don't...you'll learn alright!" I also asked my RN about this and she confirmed that you should drink a lot of water and that it does significantly lessen sides. But, of course I've never been through this, so what do I know? Not much, so I'm hoping those with actual, extensive experience can tell me once and for all if this is a wive's tale, or it really is a good idea. Thanks in advance for any and all responses.

[Snookmiester]

At week 30 something of tx, I developed a serious rash and allergic reaction all around my chest, armpits, and abdomen.. Dr thought it was allergic reaction, and we narrowed it down to wife switching laundry detergents on me. The rash was severe, severe enough to be checked daily for a week, and ordered to take presidone as a LAST resort. I was told that it was not good to take, but if rash did not go away, to use it as last resort.
Presidone shocks the immune system, and halts the natural response. It actually sort of turns it off. Well, common sense during tx is that we are trying to accelerate the response, stimulate and strengthen it to kill the virus that it was unable to do on its own. One nurse went as far as stating that the short "free" period of presidone tx, it might give the virus an opportunity to replicate, or rebound.
I never took it, but I know others on here have.

[sfbaygirl]

Wow, that makes me feel better! If I have to continue with Neulasta and bone pain, I am NOT going to suffer like I have in the past. I am feeling much better today after taking 2 pills over 2 days. I won't have to take it again for a at least 3 weeks now that the bone pain is gone. It makes such a difference in my QOL. My hemo says he will give me more, but that I should NOT take them much if possible. I didn't get more last time. I hate to think it could ruin my chances of SVR.

I figure since I am taking 180 instead of the 135 Interferon that was prescribed that should make up for what I lose....justify, justify. LOL I do feel quilty taking it, but the pain is too brutal.

[jmjm530]

Listen to your doctor.

When I was wasting away on treatment my doctor suggest anabolic steroids if I continued to lose weight and muscle.

Here's what a well-repected researher/hepatologist has to say about Prednisone and Hep C treatment:

Dr. Dieterich:

"...Oral Prednisone is the perfectly fine to use. I have treated people with it for most of their time on Peg and ribavirin and still gotten a cure!"

Complete Q&A here:

http://tinyurl.com/lqn4j
-------------------------
Like everything with the Hep C process, you have to weigh risks and rewards. If a steroid will help you stay on treatment, that's often preferable to not taking them and having either to cut down on treatment drugs, or worse, stop treating.

All the best,

-- Jim

[Bill1954]

Hey Debbe,

Boy, this cr@p is unpredictable-- going by the book, Greg would-have-should-have done so much better as a super-responder; I sure would have bet on *durable* SVR for him.

What were his doctor

[Kalio1]

I would check it out with the pharmacist and the doctor I was told some types of steroids and all sulfa drugs were off limits on tx but I have't had to take them either so I did't look into it. It is hard to get a straight answer when you ask about drug combos you get different answers from differet docs it ca be frustrating. If you get a chance let us know what you find out. Hope things are good with you.

[jmjm530]

Sorry about your husband's relapse. It seems to fly in the face of the statistics that say SVR is durable to around 98%-99. Someone recently asked a question over at "Janis and Friends" wondering if anyone relapsed after being non-detectible after six months. No one said they did. In your husband's case, a false negative at his six month post is always a possiblity, but then there's that 1-2%.

You mentioned that your husband had an EVR at day 18. Do you happen to know how sensitive the test was?  Was he tested after that or did they wait until week 48? Do you happen to know the sensitivity of his six-month post treatment VL test?

Hopefully your husband will stay negative this time even though he cut treatment short. Some speculate that the "training" the immune system gets the first time carries over into subsequent treatments.

All the best.

-- Jim