Aa
Standing on the diving board
I need some support. I am about to start treatment on Pegasys/Ribavirin but keep putting it off ( the pills are in the drawer and the syringes are in the fridge)
I am the caretaker of my 4 year old son, 83 yr old mom with Alzheimers/Dementia. I had their needs covered for the 24 weeks and arranged for help around the house. A week before treatment I was named Power of Attorney for a 95 yr old former neighbor (she was my grandmothers best friend) whose only living relative, a granddaughter, left her living in a rodent/bug infested place. I promised myself that once I got her into a nursing home and cleaned out her place, I would start.OK did that .
Now we just found out that our business ( self employed) has to relocate within 30 days. The building we have been in for 16 years was sold and the new owner has hit us with a 110% increase. On the phone with realtors...making appointments to see new space..
I want to start but I am so afraid of the side effects. I am looking for support and any helpful hints on how to minimize the side effects. I read about consuming a meal before the shot and keeping hydrated. Please, can anyone give me their personal tips on what they found worked.
Thanks
Shupeg
I am the caretaker of my 4 year old son, 83 yr old mom with Alzheimers/Dementia. I had their needs covered for the 24 weeks and arranged for help around the house. A week before treatment I was named Power of Attorney for a 95 yr old former neighbor (she was my grandmothers best friend) whose only living relative, a granddaughter, left her living in a rodent/bug infested place. I promised myself that once I got her into a nursing home and cleaned out her place, I would start.OK did that .
Now we just found out that our business ( self employed) has to relocate within 30 days. The building we have been in for 16 years was sold and the new owner has hit us with a 110% increase. On the phone with realtors...making appointments to see new space..
I want to start but I am so afraid of the side effects. I am looking for support and any helpful hints on how to minimize the side effects. I read about consuming a meal before the shot and keeping hydrated. Please, can anyone give me their personal tips on what they found worked.
Thanks
Shupeg
The immunity issue depends on which drugs you are taking. HCV can quickly build up resistance to some of the newer drugs. If you are on SOC my understanding is that it is not a problem.
From my own experience I would advise you to sort out that business move first. Sx became slightly easier after about week-11 but I could barely work at all while on treatment. Some people obviously can work the whole way through, but if it turns out that you can't it could affect your chances of success.
From my own experience I would advise you to sort out that business move first. Sx became slightly easier after about week-11 but I could barely work at all while on treatment. Some people obviously can work the whole way through, but if it turns out that you can't it could affect your chances of success.
I agree that you want to start treatment when you can complete it, this was made clear to me. You have a high chance of clearing and many people work while on treatment, but most of us try to lighten our loads as much as possible to take care of ourselves. Good Luck Mary Ellen
You have a really heavy load going on!
Something to consider:
If I understand it correctly, if you start treatment and then stop it -without completing and without achieving an undetectable viral load (for the correct amount of time) the virus builds up an immunity to the drugs you use so that resuming treatment later on means that you will have less chance of success.
So you probably do not want to begin treatment until you are very sure that you can complete it.
Something to consider:
If I understand it correctly, if you start treatment and then stop it -without completing and without achieving an undetectable viral load (for the correct amount of time) the virus builds up an immunity to the drugs you use so that resuming treatment later on means that you will have less chance of success.
So you probably do not want to begin treatment until you are very sure that you can complete it.
Well now, another way to think about this, is that when these problems disappear, will there be a whole new set of problems? Has anyone ever been problem free?
Being aggressive in my quest to get rid of this, I'm jeopardizing my fairly new well paying job to start treatment ASAP in the new clinical trial.
Mine was a decision that took a lot of agonizing thought. Yours, is a decision that take a lot of thought and I doubt that any one person can solve it for you.
In the end, it’s up to you. I asked everyone’s opinion here on the same subject, but in the end, I made the final decision. I wish you the very best in making your final decision...
Magnum
Being aggressive in my quest to get rid of this, I'm jeopardizing my fairly new well paying job to start treatment ASAP in the new clinical trial.
Mine was a decision that took a lot of agonizing thought. Yours, is a decision that take a lot of thought and I doubt that any one person can solve it for you.
In the end, it’s up to you. I asked everyone’s opinion here on the same subject, but in the end, I made the final decision. I wish you the very best in making your final decision...
Magnum
I agree with the guys who said move and then treat. Obviously you have little liver damage and do fortunately have the time to wait. Treatment is doable however it's long and arduous (even if you are only doing a short course you'll see it SEEMS very long). Different sides come at different times however most all people experience some form of extreme lethargy and also the inability to get a goods night sleep thanks to the ribavirin serum level in your body.
Do the move - then dedicate yourself to six grueling months fighting the battle. You can do it but why make yourself crazy and do it all at once?
Good luck.
Do the move - then dedicate yourself to six grueling months fighting the battle. You can do it but why make yourself crazy and do it all at once?
Good luck.
Try to get a viralload test as early as possible , week 2 and week 4 is the best ( week 4 is a must) and if you UND that early you might even only have too treat for 16 weeks since your viral loud are so low and also your liverdamage.
I think stress is something you should awoid the most, because that increases the sx a lot so it was and is in my case anyway.
Good luck and God bless, keep in touch!
ca
ps also make sure the vl test ( PCR) is a sensitive one like the heptimax >5 iuml
I think stress is something you should awoid the most, because that increases the sx a lot so it was and is in my case anyway.
Good luck and God bless, keep in touch!
ca
ps also make sure the vl test ( PCR) is a sensitive one like the heptimax >5 iuml
Geno type 2 is the easier type treat...just go fo it,your odds are 80% to clear...if it was me i would even tx a little longer cause i had mild sx,,,,you are gonna be fine.
Quote: "My Genotype is 2A. My viral load is currently under 100k. Liver biopsy reported stage 1.Treatment protocol is 24 weeks".
Well that doesnt sound bad at all. Viral load below 400k is considered low by many liver specialists. However there is a strong assumpion that with low VL and good condition of liver, side effects are going to be low but other factors like age , physical condition etc also counts. But no one can predict how your body is going to react against this interferone, its still a mystery which could only be solved by self experiment.
I think you should also consult your doc about delaying the tx or waiting for some 2-3 years further for new drugs. Which supplement you were using since 1990? looks like it worked for you.
I'll again recomend that just put your chin up and go for the tx as no matter what your stage is, every day HCV in your body means some further destruction. I have VL 272k with healthy liver (no sign of destruction so far) age 30 without any noticeable symptoms but my doc suggested for early treatment.
Well that doesnt sound bad at all. Viral load below 400k is considered low by many liver specialists. However there is a strong assumpion that with low VL and good condition of liver, side effects are going to be low but other factors like age , physical condition etc also counts. But no one can predict how your body is going to react against this interferone, its still a mystery which could only be solved by self experiment.
I think you should also consult your doc about delaying the tx or waiting for some 2-3 years further for new drugs. Which supplement you were using since 1990? looks like it worked for you.
I'll again recomend that just put your chin up and go for the tx as no matter what your stage is, every day HCV in your body means some further destruction. I have VL 272k with healthy liver (no sign of destruction so far) age 30 without any noticeable symptoms but my doc suggested for early treatment.
I just want to say from my heart-Thank you to everyone who posted to my original comment.
My Genotype is 2A. My viral load is currently under 100k. Liver biopsy reported stage 1.Treatment protocol is 24 weeks.
I was diagnosed in 1990 and suspect that I have had it since 1975 when I had surgery as a teenager.That is 33 years. Since 1990 I have been taking supplements faithfully. In '04 I gave birth to a healthy little boy (virus free). My decision not to treat in the past was largely due to the Gastros I had who were monitoring my voads and overall health. After my son was born, my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimers/Dementia and has come to live with us. It was then that I started feeling some of the stress and symptoms of the disease.
How does genotype and viral load factor into side effects?
I was diagnosed in 1990 and suspect that I have had it since 1975 when I had surgery as a teenager.That is 33 years. Since 1990 I have been taking supplements faithfully. In '04 I gave birth to a healthy little boy (virus free). My decision not to treat in the past was largely due to the Gastros I had who were monitoring my voads and overall health. After my son was born, my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimers/Dementia and has come to live with us. It was then that I started feeling some of the stress and symptoms of the disease.
How does genotype and viral load factor into side effects?
I agree with geterdone...move first...I am in my 5th week of tx with mild sx. I have worked through the whole 5 weeks but I do have a husband who wants me to quit...my last day is Friday this week and not a moment to soon as I am becoming more tired. My job involves a lot of walking and I am now experiencing shortness of breath.
Once you have the move out of the way, brush up on your sx and remedies for them (not that there are a lot of remedies) and then considier a start date. Don't fill your plate leave yourself plenty of time to rest and you should make it through.
Once you have the move out of the way, brush up on your sx and remedies for them (not that there are a lot of remedies) and then considier a start date. Don't fill your plate leave yourself plenty of time to rest and you should make it through.
Me personally, I would wait until the business relocation is completed before starting treatment for the simple fact before you start the treatment you may want to eliminate as much abnormal stress as possible. Don’t know all the particulars but 24 weeks may sound short but you are right the side effects are going to be a little cumbersome in weeks 3 through 8 or so, then again maybe not, but few can escape them. Weeks 1 and 2 should be a piece of cake, like riding up a big roller coaster as the concentration levels of the meds start to build up in your system. If you have read the pamphlets provided with each drug and the side effects with each then you can figure it is not going to be easy in the beginning. I worked through out treatment and it is due able and am sure others will chime in to help you along in the journey. Welcome to the forum shupeg. Like that handle, shupeg don’t bother me, shupeg don’t bother me, lol
jasper
jasper
share your particulars like genotype, Viral Load, biopsy result, treatment duration etc
Dear First of all Welcome on board. U r at right place to discuss your problems and issues.
Dont worry about the side effects , its different in all persons and normally are controlable. I am a 30 year old male, running my house and having family of 4 persons. We havnt had any other source of income except for my job. I am an accountant and consultant so my job demands a lot of concentration and mind n boy alertness. I am in the third week of my treatment. So far side effects are very very mild and i havnt had a single hour off from my job. I am doing my work with the same concentration as was doing before. Belive me i am living a normal life that even no one in my house know that I am on treatment. My side effects include
1-A mild fatigue (tiredness which appear next morning if i take shot in evening, i managed it by taking shot in noon and passing that tired period during my sleep)
2- very mild pain in joints for one to two hours(only after first shot, never again)
3-Sleeping problem (again managed by taking shot in noon)
4-Body temp risen up for 1-2 hours after 2-3 hours of shot (paracetamol finingh it in just 5 min)
5-tingling in the body for 1-2 hours (paracetamol again does the magic)
I have noticed and the confirmed from the experiment that almost all of my side effects reduce upto 90% if i take rich food just before the shot. You can see the following tread
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/565540
I am not sure that its going to work for every one but working for me and i think every one should give it a try coz no loss in it and its easy to experiment.
Takinga a lot of water will not only reduces Sx but also keep you safe from being de-hydrated as Tx consumes a lot of water from your body.
take your Riba with food which has lot of protien and fats that not only enhances its effectivenessbut also reduces riba's Sx
One thing should kept in mind, take good n healthy food during tx, forget about weight increase, fats etc. Just give your body full supply of nutrition (from food) so that this dragon doesnt help you much.
The side effects of first shot are usually more sever than the later ones so try to take it on weekend.
in the end, believe me its difficult to start only, then its a routine and you will get use to it very soon. Just keep your chin up and kill the dragon. be sutre that your are not going to be a zombie :)
Dont worry about the side effects , its different in all persons and normally are controlable. I am a 30 year old male, running my house and having family of 4 persons. We havnt had any other source of income except for my job. I am an accountant and consultant so my job demands a lot of concentration and mind n boy alertness. I am in the third week of my treatment. So far side effects are very very mild and i havnt had a single hour off from my job. I am doing my work with the same concentration as was doing before. Belive me i am living a normal life that even no one in my house know that I am on treatment. My side effects include
1-A mild fatigue (tiredness which appear next morning if i take shot in evening, i managed it by taking shot in noon and passing that tired period during my sleep)
2- very mild pain in joints for one to two hours(only after first shot, never again)
3-Sleeping problem (again managed by taking shot in noon)
4-Body temp risen up for 1-2 hours after 2-3 hours of shot (paracetamol finingh it in just 5 min)
5-tingling in the body for 1-2 hours (paracetamol again does the magic)
I have noticed and the confirmed from the experiment that almost all of my side effects reduce upto 90% if i take rich food just before the shot. You can see the following tread
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/565540
I am not sure that its going to work for every one but working for me and i think every one should give it a try coz no loss in it and its easy to experiment.
Takinga a lot of water will not only reduces Sx but also keep you safe from being de-hydrated as Tx consumes a lot of water from your body.
take your Riba with food which has lot of protien and fats that not only enhances its effectivenessbut also reduces riba's Sx
One thing should kept in mind, take good n healthy food during tx, forget about weight increase, fats etc. Just give your body full supply of nutrition (from food) so that this dragon doesnt help you much.
The side effects of first shot are usually more sever than the later ones so try to take it on weekend.
in the end, believe me its difficult to start only, then its a routine and you will get use to it very soon. Just keep your chin up and kill the dragon. be sutre that your are not going to be a zombie :)
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