Interferon

[ranice]

Last week I took my first injection of interferon and got really sick.  This week I took my second shot and felt nothing.  My dr told me if I don't get sick the meds are not working.  I was hoping not to get quite so sick this injection but to feel nothing I am worried it is not working.  Has anyone else been through treatment without getting sick and the treatment worked?  Please let me know I am worried.  Thanks

[Willy50]

No, I really wasn't referring to you.  

I'm not certain I read your post, it's just that I've read many where people either worried about it being bad, and it wasn't, or wrote that it was like nothing, what was with all the complaining only come to some understanding of what people were talking about after a few weeks or months.

A lot of it has to do with built up expectations that TX has to be a certain way.  I've noticed a wide range of results for different people.  I have an internet friend who had no sides and cleared, SVR'ed years ago.  Obviously, treatment worked for her in spite of the fact that she had few/ minimal/ no sides.

willy

[suezeeque]

I was one who said, "what's the big deal?"  However, over the weeks, I get progressively weaker and weaker.  I actually had a burst of energy today, washed some dishes, did some laundry...

Perhaps what the doctor meant was that treatment WILL make you feel like crap.  If it doesn't, you aren't taking your meds.  ;)

[slideman]

I have been on triple tx for 16 wks, 12 of incivek. I had a shot about 2 wks ago that made me sick in about 15 minutes, and I could taste it. I think maybe I pulled the needle out to soon and got some in a small vein in my stomach. I told my Dr about it because it kind of scared me. I did tx 10 yrs ago and had bad sides but nothing like this. Dont get to uptight about a shot making you sick and another one not. Its not an easy thing to do, and as time goes on you will fing a lot of things that are different from the week before. Not all are bad!! Just different.
My Dr also told me not to inject at a 45 degree angle. Seems like all the Drs have a different idea and it has caused me a lot of greif to get conflicting info. Sometimes I think the Drs should have to do a month or so of int, just so they know for themselves this aint know joke!! Kind of like what law enforcement people do for tasers!!

[beeblessed]

Hi there.  I understand your concern, as I have had minimal sides.  But I have not seen anything to support the idea of being sick throughout as the only way of "winning."  Be thankful for the good days and know that the bad days will come and go.  Here is a link to my journal of side effects for the first 4 weeks when I was only on the SOCs:

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/314332/Side-effects--day-by-day

Every day is a little different. Don't feel bad for feeling good.  As long as your Interferon is not leaking out onto the floor, it's gettin' in there.  Make sure to do it about a 45 degree angle.  To be even more sure, check out the Pegasys website that has a video on how to give an injection.

http://www.pegasys.com/pegasys/injecting/how-to-inject-pegasys.htm

[Willy50]

I also disagree with that overly simplistic/incorrect statement.

This is early in the treatment.  It is quite common for people to take a shot and say "what's the big deal?"  
The sides *can*  build some over the weeks and months.  From what I see it just varies a lot from week to week and from person to person.  Not always much rhyme or reason.

willy

[willbb]

The side effects are different for everyone. Some get very ill feeling after their first shot and then  subsequent shot .feel nothing at all  like yourself. Others feel different effects as they get deeper in to treatment.
Are you treating with the triple therapy and   it sounds like your doctor is somewhat misinformed stating "if you don"t get sick,the meds are not working.Seems a much too general comment.
Always best to be under the care of a knowledgeable specialist in the treatment of HCV especially with the addition of thses new drugs..

Good luck and welcome..
Will