My first week ... Will it get worse?

[McKenna_who_has_HCV]

Hello ..
This is my first week of treatment.  I am taking pegasys, ribavirin and incivik.  I'm 5 days in and so far my side effects have been mild.  Flu like symptoms the day after my first injection, and other than that just intermittent nausea, fatigue, low grade fever, and aches throughout the day.  But nothing severe.   I was just wondering if the side effects tend to get worse as treatment progresses.  I understand everyone responds differently, but am hoping to gain some insight.

Thank you

[Idyllic]

Ugh. My Contacts. I will be honest I wear my contacts until it feels like someone threw sand in my eyes so I have always felt like I have a high tolerance for discomfort. Or so I thought. These days I need to change my lenses out more often (rather than wearing the 30 day lenses for a couple of months). Not since I started treatment have there been so many times I have just wanted to claw my contacts out! I have discovered along the way there are often common sense reasons my contacts are suddenly annoying.

1. The side effects of lots of OTC meds (antihistamines, antiemetics and an antidiarrhoeals) can be dehydrating. That means you might need to drink more water even though you may not be thirsty.  Most importantly it also means you lenses are not getting enough moisture even though they might feel semi-OK.

Be careful since many (most)  lubricating/rewetting drops contain boric acid which ultimately irritates and dries my eyes out like crazy. Plus they tend to fog up your lenses once your eyes dry out again.

I find good ol' saline solution gets the job done.

[McKenna_who_has_HCV]

Thank you all so much for your response.  I'm so glad I found this site.  While I have a wonderful support system between family, friends, and coworkers.  And a great guy that I met after being diagnosed, who been amazingly understanding and supportive.  I don't know anyone who has actually been through this before.  And unfortunately doctors and nurses really only have the facts.  

I also had my gallbladder removed a month before treatment and am being treated for peptic ulcer disease so I'm getting a triple whammy on digestive issues.  But I did realize very quickly that water and ginger ale are my friends.  Unfortunately, I hate ginger !!! Has anyone tried a ginger supplement, something in pill form, with any success?

Has anyone had issues with contact lenses?  It seems like since I've started the treatment I haven't been able to wear my contacts, they are too irritating and uncomfortable within 5 minutes of putting them in to consider trying to wear them all day.  

[JasmineT]

Eat your fat, drink your WATER.  Fortunately i do have something good to say about incivek.  I am cured!  Hope that helps.  I also never really had any runs.  I occasionally had nausea, I used ginger chews and that worked for me.  

There were times when I thought I was hitting bottom or at least all downhill just to discover for no apparent reason I would have a good week.

Someone here equated tx to a box of chocolates, each day you take a bite and you never know what will be in the center.  Can't look at chocolates the same way now either! ;-)

You may wish to look up pharmacokinetics for pegasys etc.  Here is a link, paragraph 3 says steady state is achieved for interferon in 5 to 8 weeks.  http://www.natap.org/2002/jan/011402_3.htm. Not sure that has anything to do with how you will feel.

[yolie71]

Like everyone else the side effects varies my worst time was on the Incivek. I think the itching with no rash was the worst. Your skin tends to get extremely dry and I found that the Gold's Bond lotion got me through it the menthol in the lotion helped alot. Flu like symptoms after the injections but it was not on a regular, some weeks no symptoms then other weeks not feeling good at all. Did feel mild depression and very easily annoyed but at week 28 with dual tx of PEG and RIBA doing fine hardly any symptoms just insomnia every once in a while and have been NEG and UND since week 4. Drink plenty of water and make sure you get your 20grms of fat in. Ate so many bagels don't want to see another one. Good luck sounds like you are on the right track.

[betsy615]

It does get better I am on week 20 and have been virus free since 4 weeks. There will be good days and and bad ones hang in there

[madad00]

  12 weeks on incivek was the worst for me, my sides changed every week. i stopped counting when i got to 30 sx, but the ones that stick out the most was the intense itching with no rash. it was mostly under the skin and scratching only made it worse along with hot or cold showers so i stopped showering for about 6 weeks.  also had painful butt problems and some heart issues/arrhythmias that i now take a beta blocker to help with.  i also contracted walking pneumonia at week 8. i had a fever that kept getting progressively worse for 12 days and ended up in the ER and stayed for 7 days at the hospital.  at least the food was good and i didn't have to cook.
      

   my biggest concern before starting was the possible depression and anxiety issues, since i was having panic attacks and feeling miserable about starting treatment but to my surprise i actually feel good when doing the Pegasus injection, kind of like having a few beers and some Viagra.  very unexpected. also when i do the injection  (i do it during the day so i can drink lots water and pee)  it feels like time speeds up and the day goes very fast, which i don't mind, the faster this is over with the better.

  weeks 14 to 39 were mostly uneventful, fatigue being my biggest complaint. i'm sick of having to take naps through out the day. also if i do any physical labor for extended periods of time - like yard work for more than an hour or two - it can wipe me out for several days. so i learned not to push myself, even if i'm feeling good while doing it.
  week 40 till now week 45 the depression kicked in and my irritability has gone up. i tend to be pissed off at everything lately and i can't get happy about doing things i like to do. it isn't fun not enjoying anything but i know it's the meds and i have only 3 weeks left.  
good luck with your treatment - ad

[working dog]

if you don't eat 20 grams of fat each incivek dose it won't work as well...get a cbc every week to keep an eye on your blood counts....talk with your doctor about rescue drugs if needed.....my symptoms weren't that bad until about the 8th day into tx....then bad rash ...acid reflux....anemia..burning a h...ringing ears.....among other things...its way to early to tell how you'll pan out....just make sure to take the incivek on time....it works great for most....get a pill organizer....let the folks your close to know you may say things you don't really mean....good luck......billy

[ziggy353]

I have been on the treatment twice before.  This is my third time, the Incivek is the worst for me. I don't have one good think to say about it.  I have eaten so much fat to help coat this medication. Still having to go to the bathroom more than 10 time, trying everything and nothing working at all.  The Dr. has taken me off of it, however I'm still having the same symptoms. I do know It will take a while, I just do not want to eat. I pray for you that you will be okay. God Bless

[coeric]

the side effects may change with time.  i found the flu like symptoms were the worst early in treatment.  the rash hit at day 6 and peaked about weeks 9 and 10.  also the eye problems - flashes of light and loss of visual acuity started at week 2.  make sure you tell the doc about the rash or vision problems as soon as you experience them. hopefully you will not. after about 12 weeks i experienced sadness which has since turned into apathy.

[ceanothus]

The meds do build up in your system over time, so many people do experience worse side effects over time - but some don't, and we can hope you will be one of the lucky ones! I'm on week 43 of 48 and have had the roller coaster effect that OH mentioned. I've been sick most of the time, but the intensity varies a lot. I do remember my worst period of all started sometime during the second week on Incivek, when the nausea suddenly became severe and I couldn't keep anything down. A quick phone call to my treating team got me an Rx for Zofran, which worked incredibly well and enabled me to continue. Be sure you know how to reach your physician during odd hours. If you start throwing up your Incivek it has to be dealt with immediately – any reduced dosage of Incivek  presents a real risk of having the virus mutate into a drug-resistant form. Hopefully you will continue to do well, but be prepared for the worst too, and know how to get through to your doctor in an emergency. Best wishes!

[belle19]

sounds like you're doing okay.  just remember to drink tons of water.  it really helps with the sx.  and try to exercise it also helps, even if it's just walking.  good luck.  belle

[Advocate1955]

Don't be surprised if you get a rash or diarrhea from the Incivek. Also u may notice more fatigue as time goes on. But it sounds like you're doing well this first week, so hopefully you'll continue to do well.

[sadmommyjoy]

People vary on symptoms, but usually they worsen as you get more meds in your body. Just try and take one day at a time. Best wishes.

[orphanedhawk]

Think of it as a roller coaster ride, though for some it's more like
a merry-go-round.
Nobody can predict how easy or hard it will be for you.
Just remember whatever side effects hit you, they will not last and we are here to help:)

[adamben101]

I've been on this for 46 or more weeks.  Never had anything to complain about with sides.  Stay strong and make sure you take al your meds and drink water.  You'll get through just fine.

[Greta2012]

My symptoms seemed to ebb and flow, exhaustion being the worst.  Go easy on yourself and don't overdo it.  Drink tons of water!

[marivirginia]

well you may not have worse side effects...it sounds as though you have identified most sides...welcome..glad you are doing well!
Mary