My first shut tomorrow, any advice?!!

[pink86]

hello everyone

I just want to remember you that last week I went to my doctor to read my Fibro test result, and it was very minimum:

Fibro test score 0.27 (F0-F1)
Actil test 0.25 (A0-A1)

Any way, I should start the treatment last week, but because I got Flu, I decide to delaying it to this week!

So, tomorrow my first shut!!
I need your advice for the first time, what I should do to avoid the side effects??

I'm 22 years old, HCV with viral load 700,000 Iu, genotype 1!!


I wish all the best for everyone..

[Rockerforlife]

I dont think eating the flesh of anamals is that bad...i still eat teh ocassional bird,fish and cow...itys just that i dont rely on it to sustain life...choose salmon and smaller fish,,,less mecury...organic chicken and meat is pretty good....reasin why i prefer to get ny protien from whey and eggs is becuase its less taxing on the liver...BTW...imlove to eat moose and wild rabbits

[Trinity4]

I agree with you must eat.  When my whites and platelets started tanking which usually happens to everyone I wasn't eating very well.  (First 8 wks)  That's when I made up my mind if I had to force it down, I was going to eat.  Have never had a problem with the reds, as I do like my occasional steak or burger.  Within 2 wks, all numbers back to acceptable levels.  No resuces needed.  Not to say it was because of the food, but I felt a lot better if I kept my body well hydrated and well supplied with nutritional foods. Protein is important and not everyone likes or uses supplements so keep a good balanced diet going.  Even though Rocker :) thinks you will be immediately stricken with every dreaded disease possible if you consume fish, chicken or red meat, protein is important so get it anyway you can.
Trin  

[bigdude]

Thats right what Rockerforlife says.
Tap water is bad!!!  You should to drink a lots of water everyday.
Sushi made me feel good, and yes lots of green leafy vegetables.
The only thing that will stop you from losing muscle, is to move eat and sleep well.  

[Rockerforlife]

My advice to eat tons of organic veggies and get your protien from organic sources too...take a good organic whey powder to keep from losing too much muscle mass..the weight you may lose be muscle,not fat...advoid tap water...just eat good wholesome foods and good clean water,,,not too much else ya can do...just take it easy on the scuba diving and mountian climing too...ys might wanna take a good multivitam without iron or vit a...Marcia got a good connection on the vitamins

[bigdude]

You got lots of very good advice here. I'm on my last week of treatments. Yes eat drink and sleep a lot.
The one thing I would add is try to stay active. Take a long walk or play some ball.
You will feel much better and not get depressed. You got to fight the feeling or it will take over and you wont get anything thing done. Don't think to much, don't feel sorry for your self, so it's better to go to work. If I had to do it all over again I would go about my life like nothing was deferent. Don't worry It will be over and you will feel much better after: I all ready feel much better.
bigdude

[Isobella]

Sounds like you are off to a great start!  Congratulations!

I find small frequent meals help the nausea.  Almost like (healthy) snacking all day long.

And again, drink lots of water.  Can't tell you how much that will help.  

Be kind to your body and rest when it tells you.

Take care and keep us posted.

Wish you the best!

Isobella

[sunqueen]

I got some tiny individually wrapped pieces of crystallized baby ginger root at the Asian Market and can carry them around easily. I bite off a little piece and suck it for a while then chew/swallow. It has helped when the waves of nausea come. Ginger ale works well too but I can't lug those cans with me everwhere I go each day.

[Kristina538]

Congrats girl - you did it!!!!!!

Please don't forget to drink lots of water - even my dipsy nurse recommended this and I know it's really helped.  I fill up my pump bottles every morning to make sure I get enought during the day.   Best wishes for a good week :-)

Kristina

  

[can-do-man]

Ginger ale worked for me, some like ginger tea. Wishing you the best.

cando

[pink86]

what I can do to get over from the nausea feeling???

[pink86]

Today I woke up in the morning and I felt so nausea!
Having headache and I felt like I'm gonna throw up, but I didn't lol.
It was not so bad I can handle it, and that is the only thing I felt in whole day and still !!

How many days the side effect takes usually??
The side effects is it from the syringe or the pills??

[Marcia2202]

Good going!!! You did it!!

Yes, the meds dry you out, that's why you should drink water frequently. I cannot answer the other questions. I'm only starting next Tuesday.

Hugs, marcia

[nygirl7]

I think that all of us have done all except the very first instructional shot at home after that.  SO much easier than having to go out to do it!

yes the drugs make your mouth extremely dry - that unfortunately is not likely to change for the duration of treatment.  At least it didn't for me.

sounds like you are doing just FINE pinkie - keep it up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pink86]

My doctor told me that the first 4 shot I should take them in hospital, after that take them in any medical care in my area!
I don't wanna take it there, I wanna take it in my home!!

What ever, so I should drink a lot of water, take Panadol after my shot and have rest!

Today I took my shot at 3:30 pm, I didn't feel with any thing, now it's 9:00 pm, I'm stile ok thank God!
Maybe a tiny bit tier but not so bad like I read about the treatment, and I hope to stay like this for whole the treatment!!

Are there any chance to get start the side effect by tomorrow??
I feel like my mouth is dray.. is that because of the drugs?


Thank all for comments, I realy appreciate your help.

Thanks again..

[sunqueen]

Drink lots of water before and after your shot!  Also, I didn't pay too much attention to rolling the pre-fill in my hands for a minute before injecting. I had injection site reactions the first few times. Then I was reminded to gently warm the contents and haven't had a big blotch since. I also let the alcohol swabbed area dry completely too and don't have the burn sensation anymore. At first I swabbed and shot immediately.

You'll be fine. I stopped being a nervous wreck about doing it right after the fourth shot. It takes a little bit to get a routine and be comfortable.  Take Care!

[jmjm530]

I also would not pull the plunger back for the first couple of injections unless you're self-injected before. It's a bit tricky and probably unecessary although I did start doing it around my tenth injection. Do not inject in or near your belly button or along the waist line. Your medical team should review all this with you and supply you with materials that include instructions and an injection site diagram. Also you can warm up the Pegasys by leaving it a room temp for a few minutes before injecting or *gently* roll it in your hands per instructions.

As to Tylenol, I took it for the first couple of injections but found it really didn't make much of a difference, so I stopped. My personal feelings are to err on under (not over) medication in the beginning. You can always add meds if the sides are intolerable, but if you over medicate you will never know if you need all the stuff you're taking.

Good luck!

-- Jim

[Wilful1]

I don't pull the plunger back I just go for it.  It doesn't hurt at all!!!  Drink lots of water.  I'm only 4 shots ahead of you.
Best wishes,
Wilful

[lalapple]

hi there!  you're just a couple years older than i am and i am about a couple of months into treatment ahead of you!

just remember to not panic during your first couple of shots bc it's really not a big deal bc you're probably gonna be on tx for 48 wks...

the Pegasys doesn't hurt at all and the needle is really short.  you really can't be afraid of needles during this tx.  i had neutropenia as soon as i started tx and had to be on Neupogen to keep my neutrophils and white blood cells up.  Neupogen is also an injection med.  and bc i have to be on Neupogen, i also have to have my blood work done every week.  

don't panic, i'm not telling this to scare you.  remember, everyone is different.  some ppl get anemic from the drug and have to be on Procrit which is also an injection drug.  some ppl go through entire tx without being on any other drugs, while others are not so fortunate.

i think tx is worth it bc i'm thinking for my future!  and i think you've made a great decision to start on tx!!!

here is how i do it:
-pick an area of skin in areas on the lower tummy
-wipe with alcohol
-pinch it up
-insert needle (30 to 45 degree angle)
-pull back slightly to make sure you didn't hit a blood vessel (and you won't bc the needle is so short so don't panic a lot of ppl don't pull back the plunger anyways)
-push the plunger slowly
-pull out the needle
-wipe with alcohol again
-and you're done!

[nygirl7]

Follow along with the directions once you start doing it on your own. That was GREAT advice to me because whenever I'd start to get to do the shot the phone ring would or someone would come to talk to me and I'd get confused and wonder if I was in the right place and doing the right thing.

Also don't worry about the exact positioning of the needle or get toooo technical. I was a chicken and basically I'd line it up - close my eyes and just jab and plunge away. Sounds goofy but.........worked for me!

Good luck!

[Isobella]

Congratulations on starting treatment!

Hopefully the sx will be easy on you.  Drink lots of water, it seems to help.

Let us know how you do.

Wish you the best,

Isobella

[Marcia2202]

Just wanted to add to Trinity's post. In case you don't have Tylenol in your country... It is paracetamol. Brand names... Panodil, Panadol, Doulipran...

I wish you all the best with your treatment.

Marcia

[Trinity4]

Side effects are usually unavoidable.  You can take steps to help minimize them.  Tylenol several hours after injection will help reduce the fever, chills, and achiness.  Most people experience the worst side effects after the first several shots.  Drink plenty of water and rest as much as possible.  Take your riba with meals and make sure there is sufficient fat content to help with the absorption of the riba and lessen nausea.  
Resting when ever possible is very important while on tx. Fatigue is one of the most common side effects and over taxing the body throws the metabolism that much more out of sync.  As you progress with tx, you will learn what works best for you.  Adjustments must be made in our lifesytle initially because the body is trying to become accustomed to these very powerful drugs.  Good Luck with tx pink -  hope all goes well.
Trinity