Some more questions

[RR]

Hi all. I am just having some anxiety issues here.

I am curious what symptoms you all have? I seem to have the nagging achiness and joint pain. I am so worried that it gets really intolerable and I won't be able to take care of my kids.

A little info on your situations and what you have been through, etc. if you feel up to it would be really appreiated.

Thanks,
rr

[Ambush]

I'm the one who had the sticker on my Pegasys box and questioned the pharmacist.  Of course, her explanation was so technical, I can't repeat it, but I found the following that may be what she was talking about?  Hope this helps some.....I still can't find anything directly linked to interferon, but the site below addresses liver disease and meds so may apply....?
ambush :)
Interactions can occur when one drug (or herb, or even food product such as grapefruit juice) speeds up or slows down the metabolism of another. If a substance inhibits CYP450 enzymes, drug processing is slowed and drug levels in the body may rise too high, causing intensified toxicities and side effects. If it induces CYP450 enzymes, drug metabolism is accelerated and drugs may be eliminated too quickly, causing concentrations to fall to ineffective levels. If multiple drugs are metabolized by a shared processing pathway, there may be a "bottleneck" as they compete for the same CYP450 enzymes.
taken from:
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/news/newsLetter/advocate0503.html

[pearse]

Check with your insurance co about the Doctor charging you. My kids Doctor wanted 10 bucks to sign working papers, I called BC/BS and they told me that unless they had that in the contract they could not charge. Hope this helps.

[harley dude]

Thank's ya'll, Ive calmed down some(alot) since yesterday, I talked to my supervisor at work today and he said I should have come to him long time ago about working less, he said your a human being and said even though your GI doesn't think so- I was going to terminate him yeterday because I was so freaking mad. I called at 5:03 pm and the office had just closed- kinda glad it did because I really didn't want to go through the hassle of switching GI's this late in the gmae. Also the Nurse (not the GI faxed my employer a letter stating how I was feeling and should cut my hours back- she knew I was just about ready to through in the towel, so she went around him and sent the fax anyway(Bless her Heart), she's a wonderful and Very caring person, the complete opposite from my GI- (you know his kind. he has 2k gator shoes with matching belt, Rolex and has $ signs rooling in his eyes when he looks out and sees about 30 patients in the sitting room- That's OK he will Have to Face Big GI in the sky oneday, and I don't believe he will need his Rolex and Gator shoes where he'll be going-- well now that I've "Vented" let me go do my Shot (Big # 37)-- See Ya'll and Have a "Side Free" or at least a partial side free weekend. Ya'll are the Greatest-- HD

[jonihs]

The only thing I've run into is that you are supposed to avoid grapefruit or the juice while on xanax. It was on the bottle, so I asked the pharmasist. He said some enzyme in the gastric juices that breaks the xanax down too fast and therefore you end up w/ too much in your system, maybe even O.D.. As for all other tx. meds no-one has said anything about it and I ask as I have "barely compensated" cirrhosis and am trying to take no chances  not needed!    Joni

[cindee]

I also meant to tell ya, if the pain gets really bad, you can get pain meds. If you do test negative for Hep C....go see you regular doctor....you could also have fibromyalgia, it's brought on by trauma and or stress, or BOTH. Prayers, Cindee

[Eyedeas]

Grapefruit juice causes the body to metabolize a number of different meds at different rates than they're designed for.  ADs are one of those drug groups.  It seems to affect the time release properties of meds so you'll get either too much or too little at a time.  Neither of those choices are a good one.  Ask your pharmacist about your meds if you like your grapefruit.

Kim

[honey1616]

Congratulations on finishing up!  And I know its been a long road!  Chest pains and skipping of heartbeat...would be so scary!! Glad you made it and wishing you some much needed...side free days!!

Harley, Yep...I would have to reconsider any dr that didn't have my best interest in mind.  And those hours are just way too long for you to do on this tx.  The doctors just have no idea...my husband also works 12 hours alot and comes in just wiped out but when we say anything to our dr about it...He acts like he has no idea.  Charging 75.00 though to write up a note...I know I would be looking for a more understanding dr.

[Fubarcat]

I think your doc sucks!  How long could it possibly take him to dictate a little note and have it typed up to help you out?  Don't know if you have the ability to switch docs in the middle of treatment, but I'll be damned if I wouldn't start looking around.  It's bad enough we have to go through this treatment with some of the side effects that people suffer, but to not have the sympathy/empathy of our physician - one who should know as well as we do what these meds can do to us - is outrageous and unacceptable.  There is no way that I could work 12 days in a row.  I work "normal" working hours and still find that about every 2-3 weeks, I need to take a day off just to sleep all day with no interruptions from husband/kid.  I hope you get your note, but I hope you start looking for another M.D.  Good luck.

[Freebird]

I didn't want to waste a thread,But wanted to share some info,I was supposed to do 48 weeks and the doc wanted me to do extended to 52weeks this friday is finally my last shot.It sure hasn't been easy .Two days ago I started having chest pains and heart beat skipping I ended up in the hospital My potassium levels had dropped too low ,I can't stress how important it is to drink gatorade and juice along with the water I usually eat lots of bananas to this also seems to help some with the leg cramps,I just got to my last week and thought I had it made in the shade ,this has really made me sick,but only one more . For all the new ones on treatment good luck and you can do it. For now I have cleared . the best to all.

[mumsie]

I've seen postings in clinics $45.00 for note for work or $50.00 for full check up for ins ect, so yeah I think it's legal,but still, he's your Dr. for real not a walk-in clinic.

[harley dude]

I've been on tx for 37 weeks- been feeling  run down lately,I work 12 days straight(9hr days)and 2 off and on and on with the same scheld., I asked my GI to write a note to my employer so I can go back working 5 days and than off 2, so on and so on (that is what my employer wants, a note from my GI, called him today and he said he would rather see me work the longer shift- I called back and said I was going to discontinue tx unless he would work with me and get my work week shortend- He said he would write the letter for $75.00- Can you beileve this A- Hole- is this even Legal, can't you report someone like this to a ethics board of something. Any advice please HELP- This Dude really pissed me off today.-- HD

[Revenire]

I was diagnosed in October of 2002 and started treatment in January of 2003. The doctor said he wanted me to feel good during the holidays.

I know my telling you not to get too freaked out about this isn't going to stop you from doing so but I will say it anyway. You need to find out where you stand via a biopsy. For all you know you could be a type 2 or 3 with minimal damage to you liver.

[cindee]

I found out July 2002 and started tx. Dec.6th. I did the combo ribavirin/pegasys. It is tough. Name all the sx. and I had them all @ once, many times. Then add all the other sickness, like urinary tract infections, upper resp., etc. It's really rough sometimes. We're all pulling for ya, and we'll always be here for ya! Now I've been diagnoised w/ fibromyalgia! We're a "tough" bunch here! And sometimes I still cry. It's like my friend I met after I started tx., she had started one month behind me, and we both agree...if we want to have a "pity party", so what....we deserve it!!!! LOL prayers, Cindee

[RR]

Hey, thanks for the response. I am pretty sure I am going to test positive. In fact, I have made the follow up with the gi specialist for next week.

I feel pretty crappy. Pretty tired alot. I just thought it was overload, kept thinking that one good night of rest would set me straight, I guess.

The aches are not too, too bad. They come and go. Scare me more than anything. I am just worried they will get really to the point where I can't function. So, I was curious if they might maintain at this level or get worse. But probably, like everything else with this disease--there is no rule of thumb.

And the emotions I am going through right now, I didn't know I had that many tears in me. LOL. I go from five minutes of optimism to 40 minutes of complete fear.

So, the doc told you and at what point did you start treatment?

This is tough. Really really tough.

[nolee]

You don't mix grapefruit with certain (if not most) cholestrial meds such as Lipitor and others. But Cranberry juice and tx, yum yum.....:) ~Neal~

[britpeter]

Can anyone direct me to a posting concerning warnings about Grapefruit and combination therapy. I think someone mentioned it during the past month who was starting tx and had warnings on her packaging?

[cindee]

Hi, I read your last post before answering this one. You shouldn't be so worried. Even if you do test possitive, life goes on. You might be jumping the gun here. When I found out I had Hep C in July 2002, I really only had one symptom, and that one was fatique! I was tired all the time, and a friend of my daughter came in our home one day, and I was asleep on the sofa, after work. She is a nurse. When I told her I had been having trouble staying awake @ work, and then it would take all my energy to climb to our second story apt. (thank God we didn't live on the 3rd floor)! Anyway I went into her doctor office, and saw a wonderful doctor she recommended! He did a few test on me, and called me @ work a few days later and asked me to come by the office, he needed to talk to me. That scared me to death. When I got there he told me I had Hep C. I didn't even know what it was. He told me he had already set up an appointment for me to see a liver doctor. Of course I cried after leaving his office and went straight to my parents and told them. I called my boss and went back to work and explained what I was told. We went straight to the ladies room and cried and cried. Finally she sent me home. When I say "fatiqued" I meant fatiqued!!!! I had called in work several times before I was diagnoised, because I couldn't get out of the bed to get dressed for work! When I worked I would come home, climb the stairs and pass out on the sofa; clothes, shoes, jacket and all. I would sleep for about 3 or 4 hrs, get up, grab a bite to eat and go back to bed and sleep till the morning. I never had the side effects you have talked about until AFTER the treatment started. I was also told I had had the Hep C for 20 to 30 yrs. As for Pamela Anderson...I wouldn't believe anything she says. I've never heard of Hep C showing up as soon as she said hers did. And she didn't go thru the combo tx. either. I think all her hipe was for publicity. We all on the forum had MUCH to say when that article came out! I heard last nite on Jack Van Immpe that she's going to start teaching ....get this....Sunday School. I'd like to see how she dresses for church!!!! LOL  So don't get so stressed. I made it thru 48 wks...it's not fun, but I'm still here. If have to do it again, I will. Whatever is wrong w/ you, may be something very simple. Prayers are with you, Cindee