Self Injecting - Is it Hard?

[NYgirl]

I just found out that when I start my treatments later this week I will have to learn to do the self injecting on my own.

I've never done anything like this and am not sure that I can (chicken little is my new name).

Has anybody had any trouble? How did you get over it? Is it hard to do?

Please let me know how I am going to do this. I'm just freaked out as it is about being worried about starting the tx and now this made me even more scared.

Thanks guys.

[NYgirl]

Wow Jim that is just FABULOUS new that you've got.  You just KNOW you've got that big fab word NEGATIVE to look foward to don't you? I can see it in your eyes!  ;)

I put a call in to the nurse at the doctors office - AGAIN. I wanted all my paperwork sent over to me but of course...good luck on that right.

Hopefully later today she will call.  I believe he did probably say twice a day but I just thought of it as two pills.

Will let you know.

PS I know you are not for like herb therapy but what do you think of vitamins/herbs in conjunction with tx?

[jmjm530]

Can't really remember how I found this place. Probably just doing a search on google.

Yes, I'll be taking my 29th shot tomorrow night. I'm a 1B with pre-tx  viral load of 1.5 million, non-detectible at week #6. Pegasys 180mg/wk; ribavirin 1200 mg/day.

BTW did you find out how much ribavirn a day you're taking. This is pretty important. Let us know when you find out.

-- Jim

[go-girl]

Hi, I'm in the same boat as you, waiting to be called to get blood work then 2-3 weeks later will start tx, am dreading it as well but anxious to start counting down 48wks of it 24wks more if I don't respond UGH....... am type 1 also. My GP goes over all my results with me, and so does the gastro its all explained that doesn't mean it all sinks in right away, I'v learned alot on this forum, take notes & do my homework so I will be armed. on my lab printouts for blood work there is two columns on the right where it says within range and out of range eg; for AST within range is 10--40 ALT is 1o--55 hope that helps. have you thought of getting another doctor that's a little more comforting? NY has lots of choices I'm sure. LUV NY was there with hubby and grandkid at towers 51 days before they went down we still can't get over it, I walked 14 miles from Bus depot thru C park up to 92nd  St to find husbands moms apt where she was born in 1912, we found it, NY has so much energy, have never walked 5 miles never mind 14, enjoyed every sec, were from Van B.C. 2hrs north of Seattle WA, good luck, will be anxious to see how you make out

[NYgirl]

Thanks everybody!

I finally went over to janis - what a PHENOMENAL SITE! It has helped so much!

Well go-girl it looks like we will be on almost the same schedule...so maybe that will help us both!  I do the 48 and you too and we are GOING to respond we are!  

NY is a great place and I guess bronxrican is from here too!  :)

I love this forum. All the stuff you can't talk to with your regular friends you can bring up in here. I can't wait till I have some knowledge and get to help other new guys out like you guys have done for us.

I also can't wait for NEGATIVE!  :)

[NYgirl]

HEY I AM SO CONFUSED. I dont know if I am figuring my viral load right or if it's got to be timesed to something.

it says this:

HCV RNA IU/ml   568000             IU/ml
HCV RNA, QN PCR 5.75               Log/ml

Does this mean my count is 568,000 or 5,680,000 or something?

I can't figure it out even with the Janis site language.

:( I'm trying but it's so confusing.

[jmjm530]

You have a very low pre-tx viral load. This is good news in terms of treatment outcome.

What you want to do is make a firm  request to your doctors for  a week #4 PCR test in addition to the one they normally give you at week #12. The PCR tests measures your viral load in IU/ml's.  The test should be sensitive enough to go down to at least 50 IU/ml. A good and readily available one is called HEPTIMAX by Quest Diagnostic Laboratories. They have drop-in centers all over.

A week #4 PCR will give you valuable information on how well you are responding to the drug. Don't let your doctor talk you out of it -- it's your liver.

BTW, forgot if you've mentioned it, but what's your stage per your biopsy report?

-- Jim