Well boys & gals, had to stop my riba today.

[orleans]

How long will I maintain a useful amount of riba in my blood? I was 100% compliant until 1/30, that is 26 weeks. I suffer migraines and they have progressively become more numerous the last 3 months. I decided I was gonna make 24 wks no matter what. Was intending to do 36 weeks as a RVR. Starting last tues. EVERY time I took my Riba I got a headache. Imitrex is the only thing that works for me but you are not supposed to take more than 4 doses per month. My Neuro. says 8 doses a month are safe. 1 or 2 doses a day is NOT good. Gonna see if I can get in to see him but he can be tough to get to. Soooo, back to my ???. I know riba has a very long 1/2 life. Anyone know how long I can go without it before re-starting it would be a waste? jerry  

[orleans]

Hey lady, Just seem to have run out of wiggle room. 100-200mg of Imitrex a day is really the only other option I see right now. Maybe my Neuro. has a trick up his cuff! jerry

[orleans]

Did a 4 week lead in with the Alinia. If you add that it would 30 weeks. I have struggled with Migraines for 15 years. Around 6-8 per month for the last 3 years. (Funny note, before I was dx, 2/06 I was a moderate daily drinker. 3 drinks MAX. Back then I only had 2 or 3 headaches. After dx,not a drop. That is when the headahces got legs. Go figure!)
The reason I am convinced it is the riba enough to deviate from my plan (remember I have been 100% compliant up until this past fri. 100%) is that when I take my riba it gives me a funny feeling in my head and upper chest in about 30 min EVERY time. A week ago tonite an odd thing happened, at the same time the riba was doing it's thing I had a migraine on set, a feeling I unfortunatly KNOW only too well. I blew it off but it kept happening, for a week! I have taken over 1000mg of Imitrex in a week. That stuff can STOP a 55 year old mans' heart! I have to break this cycle and riba is by far the prime suspect. I am a RVR, 2weeks UND and ALMOST decided to stop tx at 24 wks any way (28wks w/lead-in) If I were not stage 3 I WOULD have as the DATA for this is overwhelming. I decided to go 36wks for good measure. It is rare for me not to meet my goals but I am not (try not!) foolishly inflexible. I see my Neuro. thurs. , maybe he can help. I dread telling my Hepotol. as his earlier comment was that maybe I should just not treat the migraines. Ofcourse, he has never had one. jerry

[Trish77]

The odds ARE in your favour with an RVR and low viral load combined and solid full adherence all the way to Week 30.  It's a helluva roll of the dice just the same and I hope you win big.  

Trish

[geterdone]

You maybe one of the ones that just can not tolerate both compounds in your system at the same time, kind of like a magnet with their polar ends, instead of embracing they are repelling and it is just not working for you. I think your running the danger of losing what you have worked for up till now. As others have said, ditch the alinina hold the riba at 600mg and see what happens but to stop the riba all together at this juncture may or may not jeopardize you achieving SVR but are you really sure the dice are in your favor even with the RVR?

jasper

[geterdone]

I have a question for you, when did you start the alinina? I am reading the intor and you said you have completed 26 weeks and the headaches started about 12 weeks ago and came on slowly and then progressed to this point of reducing the riba thinking it may be the problem. But you are still having problems with the headaches and you have reduced the riba down to 600mgs and are saying the problem still persists. I don’t think it is the riba or the interferon but the alinina. Just my 2 cents but maybe you can clear it up for me.

jasper

[orleans]

my dr gets offended if you mention a study. he's the expert ya know. i have had to make my own decides. he was supposed to be a big wig, professor, text book writer etc. etc. my belief is that there are just too many patients on the conveyer belt because of this epidemic. already changed drs once so i'm just gonna muddle through