RibaRash Fix Advice and Other Posts

[NYgirl]

I have had the WORST possible case of RibaRash for MONTHS.  Nothing could get rid of it and I was literally ripping my skin off.  My sides are now so scarred from the itching which I even did in my sleep!

For Christmas my 17 yo daughter went out and bought me every single itch relief thing on the market.  It was cute, I have tried them all now.

Anyway - I finally tried one product and now

ALL OF MY RIBARASH IS COMPLETELY GONE IN ONLY THREE DAYS!  

I just had to come in here and let you know it worked for me and I pray to God it would work for those of you with this chickenpox itching scratching nightmare of RibaRash!

GOLD BOND MEDICATED TRIPLE ACTION RELIEF FOR DRY AND ITCHY SKIN BODY LOTION.  It's a green bottle with a red top.  

I showered and then put on a good coat of this stuff and almost immediately the itching stopped which was nice.

BUT NOW THREE DAYS LATER IT IS COMPLETELY GONE! MY SIDES AND LEGS AND ARMS AND BACK ARE CLEAR OF THOSE HORRIBLE LITTLE WELTS!

The other lotions I used were just not as RICH and THICK as this stuff and in only three days.........EVERY SINGLE ONE IS TOTALLY GONE.

I hope to GOD it works for any of you out there. I've been using Aveeno lotion and oatmeal bath and hydrocortizone but that made it better but didn't get RID of it.

I REALLY BELIEVE THAT MOISTURIZING AND HYDRATING YOUR SKIN IS THE KEY AND THIS STUFF WORKED WHERE NOTHING ELSE DID!

Debby

[beamishboy]

thanks for the moisturizing tip--i've been lathering stuff on 3,4 times aday;but my back,up where i can't quite reach ,is breakin out&itching..i will definately try the gold bond...i've used everything else, olive oil even emu oil!-which works kinda --thank your daughter,my 16 yr old did me a very nice care package:homemade cookies,herbal green tea,goatmilk bodywash and an Archie Comic (and inside joke,that i don't get fully?) Week 7 and hanging tuff............

[Moniker]

Debbie's right; there are bad sides, and I like to complain about them too. But, treatment is doable - I tell my doctor what's happening and get the problems made easier. Drinking a lot of water is important.

I'll look for GOLD BOND MEDICATED TRIPLE ACTION RELIEF FOR DRY AND ITCHY SKIN BODY LOTION at the pharmacy. I'm half done with treatment now; I'll take shot 25 tomorrow, Thursday. Treatment is going well for me. I'm glad I'm, on it.

I want to tell you Rockerforlife, treatment is an experience. It's been a good experience for me, and I'm looking forward to SVR. I can see you're serious about it, will take good care of things, and will do real well. I look forward to following your progress. It's another adventure. Very doable. If it weren't doable, there wouldn't be so many people doing it.

Bob

[NYgirl]

Wow it's already time for you to start already? Where has the time GONE!

You know I think a big problem is that we (and I sure do) use this forum as a whining board about our sx and it scares the cra*p out of people.  The sides I'VE experienced (except the anemia) were ALL TOLERABLE but I enjoy whining about them so much!  (Insert embarrassed face here if I knew the smilie!)

I mean the ribarash was just terrible BUT not the end of the world.  It's JUST very itchy. But the way I make it sound is that I was going to peel myself from head to toe right?

Worry about them as little as possible.  It's all totally doable. Make SURE you get that HGB monitored especially around weeks 3 - 5 when it could drop fast.  If you can stay on top of that you will do so much better!

Honestly I hardly eat any meat whatsoever - I've never been much of a carnivore although I adore a good cheeseburger just about more than anything in life.  I do totally cop to eat ice cream although just recently I switched to the frozen yogurts not for any reason except I found the flavors more fun right now. :)  I eat so little that even if I just want donuts I'd have them.

I'm 5'7 and weigh less than 120 now so every calorie I can shove in is a good thing.  You'd be surprised...on supermodels being 117 looks FABULOUS on me I look like a skeleton just skinny skinny skinny.  maybe their implants would help out! hahaha.

Just kidding.

I am so excited for you. You've been on here so long you know what to do and look out for so you have SUCH A HUGE ADVANTAGE over the regular person starting. Do you realize fully how lucky you are...you are going to WHOOP this thing!

Debby

[wMich]

I love (and have adopted) your oft-used term "doable" when describing sides and the rigors of Tx. For the first time I've seen some changes in my skin over the past 2-3 weeks, redness and flaky, almost scaly patches on either side of my nose. They're not extremely itchy but rashlike. The various goops I've used so far have only delivered short term relief so I will try the Gold Bond. I do run a hunidifier in the house and drink mucho H2O. Thanks for the tip!                 - Lee

[strator]

NYgirl - I'm calling my nephew broker- sounds like Gold Bond is the investment of the week. (Insider tip - the canister of Gold Bond Triple Action Body Powder on the bureau in Dad's Room says it's distributed by Chattem co from Cahttanooga, TN). Thanks.

Rocker-for me different sx come and go throughout the day. Yesterday my muscles ached(wk 15) today I spent crawling, and climbing around, over and even through ductwork, back and forth , end to end above a 9 store strip mall. Even the itch usualy hits for a little while, then diappears for a while. There's nothing(legal)I was doing pre tx that I'm not doing now. I may have ot break it up some, and try for a nap after work, but ya learn to organize better so you can balance production and rest within tx.
Hey isn't the 6th of Jan 3 Kings Day. That's a pretty good hand to bet on.
Don

[amommy]

Just wanted to say thanks for the advice about the gold bond.  I haven't bought it yet, but I plan on having it on hand!
I just got back from CVS and picked up my drugs.  I have a question though.  I will do my shot tomorrow evening, but should I start the Riba in the morning tomorrow or should I wait until I do the shot tomorrow night?  I am so scared i've been jumping down my dh's throat all day.  A few cuddles from my little girl has made me feel better though.  Thanks for the reassurance on the sides too.  I try to tell myself that it MAY not be that bad!  Besides, my kid naps every day, I KNOW that I'll be able to sleep for an hour or so each day, which I hope helps! :) Wish me luck! And wish me some rest tonight :)  
Thanks to all!

[2irish]

Good luck..you will do fine, i promise!  keep a positive attitude and keep hugging that little girl!  i took my riba dose (3 pills) at around 5 or 6 at night on thurs. i had taken my shot earlier that day at the dr's office.  i waited all day & night for side effects and THEY NEVER CAME!  Just make sure you take 2 tylenol right before or after your shot.  the one time i forgot, i felt crummy & headachey.  I am on #14/48 tomarrow night.  we can share shot night.  again, good luck

[jmjm530]

Not sure there's a rule when to take what on day #1. In my case, I took the riba right after breakfast, the riba again after dinner, and the first shot about an hour before bedtime. All the best with treatment.

-- Jim

[2irish]

hey, jim, how are you doing?  still starting to feel better?  getting out more?  I hope so...you are so close to the end & you have been so stoic.  hope i end up being as strong as you when the going gets tough!  were you able to enjoy christmas?  enjoy is a funny word when you are on tx, isn't it?

[Tyree2005]

Hi NYgirl,

I am glad you found something that works for you.  I saw my MD today and she gave me a scrip for Zyrtec.  I also use the gold bond healing skin therapy lotion for my extra dry hands.
I have not heard from you in a while and I sent you a email.  I guess you have been busy for the holiday.  I hope you had a peace full one.  Well at least you were blessed with a stop itch any sx that you can get rid of is a blessing.
Much Love to you
Tyree.

[dyce]

Hi Jim. Congrats on nearing end of tx.I read in earlier post that you work out at the gym.Have you ever use whey?Ive read that this will raise glutithione levels.also Ive found thru some reading n-aceytle cystein will also raise glutithione.this being a powerful body anti-oxidant do you think this might help some of us with hihg viral loads?

[jmjm530]

Thanks for asking. I had a really good 4-6 weeks, was feeling better overall, physically and mentally, almost normal at times --  hgb up, ANC up, platelets up,  got off the couch, got things accomplished, good spirits, etc -- but the last week or two, feeling very sluggish and sleeping a lot, maybe because I was coming off some antibiotics and/or another infection as I had backed off the GERD meds which may have triggered some tonsillitis/sinusitis, who knows. Also ANC back down to 500 as of yesterday (they were up to 1700 w/o Neup) and platelets also relatively down (70 from 110) but fortunately hgb still holding just above 13.

I just took my 44th shot an hour ago so only have 4-8 weeks left depending. That makes it easier at this point especially from a mental point of view, and a lot of this is a mental game, especially at this point as the body can really weary the mind. Fortunately, I was able to get my business, financial and even a little of my social life in order while feeling well -- so with those ducks in place it's easier now to sit back and do nutin':) And with phase 2 of the late Fall shows about to start (24 and American Idol LOL) the last few weeks should be a cake walk!  

So, congrads on making it to week 14, how are the sides treating you?

-- Jim


-- Jim

[BronxRican007]

All

I'm on shot 18 and feel bad most of the day but the treatment is horrible and doable. I've worked everyday at a desk job (not efficiently). I've had purely miserble days but manage to press on. When I feel miserble I come here to whine. It's the survivors and folks in tx now that keep me going.

Hopefully I will be as upbeat and optimistic later in treatment.

Hang in there...and whine on
br007

[strator]

I believe I asked just that question in a panic the day I was to take my first shot.  ended up taking the Riba w/dinner. Tylenol about 8:30 and shot at 9:30. Bed at midnight, some chills at 4am, the next day was no worse than having a mild cold or flu. That week I was actually a little disappointed, where are the sx? I said. They eventually came. They come, and they go.
Bet your ittle one just loves the heck outta ya.
Tomorrow Night take 2 Hugs, and post us in the morning.
We love ya too.
Don

[jmjm530]

I haven't been to the gym for a month, but yes I go regularly, and hopefully will start going again when have some more energy. Right now, just use something at home called the "Total Gym" about twice a week.

Don't really know a whole lot about supplements and their effect on viral load but I think it's always a good idea to run everything by your doctor to make sure they're liver friendly.

On a personal note,  at this point in treatment (week 44 of 48-52) probablly not a good idea to start adding anything, liver friendly or not.  

However, once treatment is over, I'll go back to my previously healthier lifestyle which included eating beter and exercising more. Also at some point, I'll probably conservatively start to add some supplements as long as they're liver friendly and def will look into Whey. Thanks for the suggestion.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

C'mon man, you can whine better than that. LOL.

Tell us just how miserable you feel -- you've got a captive audience here. :)

Glad to see you're dealing with things so well at least from a mental point of view. The mental game gets more and more important as the body weakens.

-- Jim

[Moniker]

I was thinking about the side effects. There was one I enjoyed a lot. When I began treatment, I started having incredibly vivid dreams, in full color with great detail, interesting characters, wild plots. I slept very well when I started tx, and I would wake up and remember really amusing dreams - not bad dreams, far out, cool stories. Now, at week 25, I don't get those cool dreams anymore, and now I'm having a harder time sleeping. Maybe you'll get some pleasant dreams too when you start tx. I know some other people have reported having those tx dreams too.

Another side benefit is that now I have a great excuse to be lazy and procrastinate. In the morning I tell myself, get with it, get moving, and then I think, no take it easy, you're on treatment, and I just lounge around some more.

I also eat all I want, and don't worry about gaining weight because they told me I would probably lose weight when I went on treatment and therefor I ate pie and ice-cream if I wanted to, and didn't worry about it. I've put on 11 pounds these 25 weeks.

If I can think of any other ok side benefits of tx, I'll add them later.

Bob

[cuteus]

it is best to ask your dr what he wants you to do. some Rx 2 pills in the am and 3 at night and others do it in reversed. Ask the dr when he wants you to start the riba, that way you are both on the same page.
good luck tomorrow.
I felt nothing the first day of the shot, and don't remember any significant effects afterwards either, but I was on Pegasys.

[gr8faith]

I received my 6 month PCR results today, virus is still clear!  Went out to celebrate tonight!  To all of you just starting out and those who are midway and near the end, keep on at it, stay the course and know that tx will be a distant memory at some point.  What a year it's been, and I can totally agree with the eat what you want, do what you can and be lazy as much as possible. I have been off the meds for 6 months I am still eating what I want, doing what I want and being lazy as much as possible! In a good way. :)  I think one of the best benefits of tx for me was learning to let others (my family) do for themselves more, letting them do for ME more, and not being so anal about all the little things that used to drive me nuts.  Now they don't understand why my post tx hasn't changed me back to supermom/wife. LOL!!!  I rather like the new me, and yes, my hair is still fuzzy and I have continued with the short cut I got during tx when it was all falling out and getting thinner.  It is much more sassy and fun than the long hair I used to have.
I also took up a new hobby, making jewelry and have been in craft shows and found a great new outlet for fun, not to mention extra spending $.

Blessing to all and Happy New Years!

candy

[strator]

ALLLRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!!! Wow I love hearing people tell upbeat things about post tx. Congratulations on being clear,  and a creative outlet!
Don

[Moniker]

I thought of two other nice things I've experied on treatment:

I stopped having sensitive, unpleasent, sick sort of feeling in my lower right side. If I pressed under my ribs, it was a sort of sick feeling, less than real pain, but not nice. That feeling has gone away. Hooray!

The second nice thing was I stopped getting the stiff neck sort of fatigue I used to have from the hep c. I would get so tired, I'd drink coffee to try and get awake. I would also raise my feet over my head to try and get the blood moving to my brain so I wouldn't be so fatigued. That particular variety of fatigue has left me since I've been on treatment. Now I have fatigue from the ribavirin, which is more of an out-of-breath sort of feeling, as if I've done a lot of exercise when I've really only just walked up one flight of stairs. I prefer the riba fatigue because I know it'll go away when I finish treatment, and hopefully the hep c won't come back.

Bob

[Moniker]

I'm happy to hear your good news! Your like a light at the end of the tunnel. Gives me hope to see that light.

Bob

[GoofyDad]

Jim reports: "Right now, just use something at home called the "Total Gym" about twice a week."

Me, I'm watching the Suzanne Summers 'Thigh Master' video these days. We each do what we can.

----------------------------------------------
amommy:  
I was told to be sure to start riba in AM before evening shot. Dunno why - but they made a point of it. Break a leg, sister.

[amommy]

I just wanted to thank you all again for your reassuring and kind responses.  I have a call into the doc about when to start the riba today.  I had kind of mentally prepared to take it this afternoon and the shot a few hours after, I'm not sure I can break that thought process at this point!! lol  
You are all so wonderful.  Strator, thanks for the advice.  I plan on doing exactly as you say and getting hugs like crazy from my girl!  Keeping my eye on the prize at this point- just wish it wasn't such a long and potentially torturous process :)