Starting treatment - any preparation tips?

[miss moneypenny]

Hi,

I am starting Peg-Intron and Ribavirin next week and wonder if any of you have any tips on what preparation could help?

I have got back up for the school run, shopping etc, but wonder if anyone had any tricks that helped them physically prepare.

Also, I am going to be on 90 (somethings???) of the peg and 800 riba, and I am around 130lbs, geno1b with low viral load - (so trying for the shorter course if clear at 4 weeks). This dosage sounds quite low compared to others, anyone have any ideas about this.

thanks in advance,  and  hope you  are  having  a  warmer day than me  ( -5 this morning!! ) xx

[FlGuy]

With your name, should have assumed UK.  In the US popular over the counter (no perscription) include:
Tylenol - acetaminophen
Advil - ibuprophen
Aleve - naproxen
aspirin - aspirin
Not sure which one yours maps to. For shot #2. try to do it yourself with the med person a spectator.  You'll get good at it in no time. Make sure they teach you the best target areas so you can rotate.

[andyarundel]

In my however so humble opinion, a FDA Fast Track designation means little as it deals with marketing claims. What would be nice is if Vertex had applied for a  FDA Priority Review and Accelerated Approval, which

[cuteus]

your riba seems a little too low for a geno 1.  I was given 1000mg for my 135lb wt. There is a formula somewhere. I never memorized it. Double check the dose since riba is most important in the beg of tx.

to all just starting the trek; best luck and zero sides to you all

[Mister beagle bailey]

Hi,

Glad you decided to treat and all the advice given to you is right on the money.  My only question is why your only getting 90 (?) of the Peg.  I'm geno type 2B, viral load before tx was 318,000 and my Dr. has me on 1200 of Peg and 800 Riba.  My treatment will be for 24 weeks and Sunday will be shot #5 with 19 to go.  I would ask the Dr. why only 90 on Peg, you need to ask questions, it's very important to know all about our treatment and be very involved in all that goes on.  I have learned that from all on this forum and it really helps to understand all that is going on with your body.

Good luck and you will make it.  All on this forum are of great help, much knowledge, and they really care. We are all here for you.

  The Beagle

[Forseegood]

Hi, I don't want to besmirch anyone's doc, or anyone's opinion  for that matter, because in the end, they are all just opinions...but I go to a pretty well respected hep doc myself that sits on all these boards and does all these consultations with different drug co's...and he told me that there is really no one that can predict when these meds will become available on market, because there are too many variables beforehand that haven't happened yet, and no one can see into the future...

he said the fact that it did get fast tracked and has done so well so far does bode well, why wouldn't it?, he said if anyone was going to squeeze his head for an estimate, based on certain factors to continue to go well, and they have learned from past drug trial mistakes in formulations......he said 3 more years....that doesn't take into account that the phase III trials will be here way before this happens...so to me it's like all things re Hep C, until this stuff actually happens, it's all speculation and your doc is way, way on the conservative side of things which is her perogative, she also prob wants you to treat now which is understandable...

But there are so many, many grey areas with this disease and these treatments, future and present, and if all the docs and researchers are so conflicted about it themselves, with so many opinions....as is quite evident, all we can do is study as much as we can, see all the different opinions, then decide for ourselves which are the better plans and theories...

my only problem is (and I don't include you in this Veg, because I know you and I don't think this is your case) is that some people will form grudges and grievances with certain people,  and forget the objectivity or principal of a sitution in order to "win" arguments for ego gratification....meanwhile there are people who are non-responders and relapsers who need objective info on these new drugs...as much as there is...and I just wanted to point out that 7 years down the line is a very, very conservative estimate, to say the least, I haven't heard that from anyone I've spoken too...respectfully, to your doc and anyone else who feels this is more the case....

[2irish]

Good Luck, it sounds as though you are really getting prepared.  Tylenol is acetaminophen...so whatever you have that contains that would do.  Also, your equivalent to gatorade is what you call lucozade.  Again, good luck & you will do fine.  I promise you the anxiety beforehand is worse than anything else on tx!!! England Forever!