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Starting treatment - any preparation tips?
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
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
Forsey: You are going to do just great. Your teeth are going to be fine. Your hair is going to be fine. Your going to be fine. And your going to put this behind you. C'mon down to the river baby!
Veggie: I got my approval for procrit at 11, and was using it at 10.5. That held for a while then I started a downslope that triggered an upped dossage of procrit. The drop turned around in the low 7's. I think 7.0 was the bottom, but I can't seem to dig up that week's paper. I'm taking 1,200 riba at 165 lbs. I also started high Folic Acid not long before the turn-around.
Veggie: I got my approval for procrit at 11, and was using it at 10.5. That held for a while then I started a downslope that triggered an upped dossage of procrit. The drop turned around in the low 7's. I think 7.0 was the bottom, but I can't seem to dig up that week's paper. I'm taking 1,200 riba at 165 lbs. I also started high Folic Acid not long before the turn-around.
Congrats on making the decision to treat. Probably the hardest part of all. I'm a year and 3 mos post tx, former 1A and still undetectable. Here are some things that worked for me:
1. Drink tons of water.
2. Get a humidifier.
3. Put together a contact/support list with all your friends, family and Dr's info.
4. Keep a file with all your lab reports, insurance stuff, etc.
5. Monitor your sides closely and work with your GI to manage them.
6. Treat yourself to massages or whatever type of pampering you like.
7. Humor, humor, humor.
8. Light exercise like yoga classes, walking and lots of stretching.
9. Post here frequently so we can know how you're doing.
10. Most of all, keep your eye on the prize.
I see you will be starting on peg-intron. I found that Pegasys was easier to use and had far fewer sides. You may want to check into it.
Best of luck to you and keep us posted : )
Gail
1. Drink tons of water.
2. Get a humidifier.
3. Put together a contact/support list with all your friends, family and Dr's info.
4. Keep a file with all your lab reports, insurance stuff, etc.
5. Monitor your sides closely and work with your GI to manage them.
6. Treat yourself to massages or whatever type of pampering you like.
7. Humor, humor, humor.
8. Light exercise like yoga classes, walking and lots of stretching.
9. Post here frequently so we can know how you're doing.
10. Most of all, keep your eye on the prize.
I see you will be starting on peg-intron. I found that Pegasys was easier to use and had far fewer sides. You may want to check into it.
Best of luck to you and keep us posted : )
Gail
she doesn't even know I decided to tx..LOL I made the decision on my way home from TO after talking to my husband, so your theory about her wanting me to treat is way off base...She said I could wait another 4 years and get another bx and see where I stand then, but my common sense tells me that if I wait another 4 years I am then going to be 58, now given the odds of responding going dramatically down once the age of 60 is reached, I can't wait that long...And, compounded with that, if I waited the 4 more years, and my liver progressed I am facing a double whammy, age and damage...And make it even worse case scenario, I am now 58, worse liver damage, and NO new drugs, I am basically screwed...I am now facing a life threatening illness and going into the converntional treatment of a drug combo that can do potential long lasting damage and only a possible 25% chance of clearing the virus! My name is vegas but I don't want to take that gamble on my life...
They (the clinic in TO) have been told they will be part of the Phase III Vertex trials and that it will NOT happen for another 2 years...Now, if the trial goes into effect in 2 years, can it be possible to have the drug hit the market in 3 years? I honestly do not think so...But, I may be wrong, and I hope I am..No one has been more of a watch and wait advocate than me, but sometimes we have to put our fears aside and rely on the numbers, nunbers never lie, kalio will agree to that being an accountant, and my numbers say I can enjoy a 60% chance now, or a 25% chance later, which would you pick?
You can afford to wait, you're not as old as I am....
*dippers*
They (the clinic in TO) have been told they will be part of the Phase III Vertex trials and that it will NOT happen for another 2 years...Now, if the trial goes into effect in 2 years, can it be possible to have the drug hit the market in 3 years? I honestly do not think so...But, I may be wrong, and I hope I am..No one has been more of a watch and wait advocate than me, but sometimes we have to put our fears aside and rely on the numbers, nunbers never lie, kalio will agree to that being an accountant, and my numbers say I can enjoy a 60% chance now, or a 25% chance later, which would you pick?
You can afford to wait, you're not as old as I am....
*dippers*
Hey great list! will keep all this in mind, especially about the yoga, hope I can still do that, cept I might nix the Power Yoga, just a little Hatha...early in the morning...
Goof: like Kalio and Friole and some others, I'm hoping that on some fronts I'll actually feel better...at least I'm hoping, more shall be revealed, just hope you have a few life jackets left on that river...
Goof: like Kalio and Friole and some others, I'm hoping that on some fronts I'll actually feel better...at least I'm hoping, more shall be revealed, just hope you have a few life jackets left on that river...
Don't think I saw this in the reponses. Start early with the moisturizing lotion, and keep at it. Staying ahead of the curve on that one will help.
Best wishes. Waiting and the pre-tx anxiety is rough. Once the train finally leaves the station, it's not so bad, I don't think.
Best wishes. Waiting and the pre-tx anxiety is rough. Once the train finally leaves the station, it's not so bad, I don't think.
Best of luck to both of you on your treatment. Once you get passed the initial "shock and awe" type thing...you will find it's doable. Otherwise NONE Of us would be here would we? ;-)
Anise - you'll be just fine. Plus chances ARE that you will lose a bucket of weight on tx anyway (I sure hope so since you want to!) Right now ... I'm tired of hearing skinny jokes.
My doctor was going to start me at 800Riba - and I was about 130 or so when I started (more towards 125 maybe). Still that is the weight based dosage. I had to beg for the 1000 which is the mfg. recommended dosage.
One little note: make sure you order/pick up your new medications at least a week before you actually need them in case of insurance problem or mailing problem or whatever. Twice I've almost not gotten mine in time. Talk about going crazy!
Veg
"Dr. Jenny Heathcote told me yesterday that Vertex 950 will NOT be available for 5-7 years"
My doctors have told me the same thing - that it is more likely the 7 and later. I think hype surrounding investment and stuff could easily make it appear in the news and press releases as if it would be much sooner...but I tend to think whatever their press is saying it's double that at least. Marketing isn't necessarily the TRUTH = it's what they want to sell unfortunately.
There are drugs that work right now (for some). They ARE worth trying first. It's nice to want to wait for the newer EASIER (hopefully) and better drugs - but with a 50% cure rate for Geno 1s and an 80% for Geno2s...it seems a worthwhile bet to me to try that first.
I am so relieved that you are getting on the crazy bus. I can't tell you. I was so worried about you - your health hasn't been good and well...I just want you to be BETTER so much. I'm very happy that now you have a chance at SVR and are going to DO IT! You've already won..I know it.
Anise - you'll be just fine. Plus chances ARE that you will lose a bucket of weight on tx anyway (I sure hope so since you want to!) Right now ... I'm tired of hearing skinny jokes.
My doctor was going to start me at 800Riba - and I was about 130 or so when I started (more towards 125 maybe). Still that is the weight based dosage. I had to beg for the 1000 which is the mfg. recommended dosage.
One little note: make sure you order/pick up your new medications at least a week before you actually need them in case of insurance problem or mailing problem or whatever. Twice I've almost not gotten mine in time. Talk about going crazy!
Veg
"Dr. Jenny Heathcote told me yesterday that Vertex 950 will NOT be available for 5-7 years"
My doctors have told me the same thing - that it is more likely the 7 and later. I think hype surrounding investment and stuff could easily make it appear in the news and press releases as if it would be much sooner...but I tend to think whatever their press is saying it's double that at least. Marketing isn't necessarily the TRUTH = it's what they want to sell unfortunately.
There are drugs that work right now (for some). They ARE worth trying first. It's nice to want to wait for the newer EASIER (hopefully) and better drugs - but with a 50% cure rate for Geno 1s and an 80% for Geno2s...it seems a worthwhile bet to me to try that first.
I am so relieved that you are getting on the crazy bus. I can't tell you. I was so worried about you - your health hasn't been good and well...I just want you to be BETTER so much. I'm very happy that now you have a chance at SVR and are going to DO IT! You've already won..I know it.
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