New to this

[liz276]

I have just taken my first shot of pegasys 180 and 600mg of Ribovarin 2 times a day. My Doc said it would take about 12 hours for me to feel any side effects. I took the shot Friday @ noon and my 3rd dose of Rib. I feel nothing at all. I have read a bunch of stuff from people who said it was horrible. Does it take a few shots to feel crappy? I shot it by my self in the right thigh and had to let go of the pinch to hold the needle to draw back on plunger. Not sure I drew back enough. Did not see any blood in syringe so I injected it. When Ipulled the needle I think I moved it and a little drop of blood came out of injection site. and I have a little bruise and feels like a raised area under the skin. If I went into a blood vessel what happens to the pegasys? Does it still work? or was the shot wasted? Don't get me wrong I do not want to be sick, my doc said one of her patients felt fine the whole time. I'm just curious if it takes a while or maybe I'm one of the lucky ones that will go through this and feel ok. Any input to this would be greatly appreciated. I have had Hep C since I was 17 and never knew it was C . My liver is at the beginning stage of Fibrosis and my viral load was about 300,000. My doc said I should do this treatment now. Am scared to death about the side effects. What is in store for me when they do kick in?  Thanks Liz

[blondie717]

Im just happy your ok. and happy to hear some positive input.

[pj1881]

180/600.... Im on week 11... Week 10 I began to really notice the Riba rash on my hands, and the occasional RAGE... Most of the time I feel pretty good, but at times I can feel the drugs in the roots of my teeth and throughout my body... Totally bearable, but noticeable... First few weeks were fine...

[liz276]

Thanx for all your info, Makes me less frightened of what's to come. I have been reading some awful things from people and was getting more & more terrified. Until I read your info. Gives me hope that all will not be sooo bad. That I'll get through it. Have to stop thinking of the negative and just go with the flow. Been living with this for 40 years. Will be 58 tomorrow.
Hope the next 47 weeks goes by as quickly as the last 40 years did!!!  Again Thanx, Liz

[RobertBeWell]

Forget the pull back. All it does in needlessly complicate the procedure, and makes it take 3 times longer than it should.

Also, I've found that going straight in at a 90 degree angle to the skin all but eliminates any marks. Make sure to pinch up a good hunk of meat.

[hcvJames]

if you hit a vein even the slightest pull back would show enough red to be seen. Quite a few people don't pull back at all.

Usually people do have a reaction to the first shot, along the lines of a mild day cold. Maybe it's a sign you will be one of the lucky ones. My next shot is #43, so far sides have been very mild. I have been lucky, my body has accepted the meds very well without much help on my part (I did give up beer!)

All the Best
Congrats on getting started.

[mk_]

on the drawing back in injection, I had the same question when I started tx, as I tried to following the instruction exactly, but a few the first few shots I gave up and shot straight in. I don't think IFN is wasted as long as it goes under your skin.

There is no change that that small short needle would find major vein or artery around the recommended injection area. If the needle hit the small blood vessels, they would rupture and IFN would still stay under the skin. Skin might bruise.  That's an answer I got and I think it is plausible.

About the side, I felt like hit by a truck next day. And with varying degrees until now. But some folks did long hauls without any major issues. So everyone is different. good luck with the tx.

[willbb]

Hi liz, I am just starting wk. 3 of pegasys and also so far so good as far as having no or very little sx. We are all nervous starting out so you are certainly not alone! I think from what I have read since joining this site is that everyone reacts differently , so try to enjoy the days you feel good and as desrt says "maybe you might be one of the lucky ones and breeze thru. Hope so and good luck!

[desrt]

Cool graphs of PEG IFN alpha 2a vs PEG IFN alpha 2b levels in relation to viral load.

http://www.medhelp.org/user_photos/show/168497?personal_page_id=1234

[desrt]

A lot of people who take Pegasys seem to take longer to start feeling poorly, both on a week to week basis and over the course of treatment than those doing Peg-Intron. (In other words you feel your poorest two to three days after shot and it may take you a month or two to build to any degree of fatigue.).
Or you might be one of the lucky ones and breeze through. Here's hoping it's the latter.

[paen53]

You're not alone. I don't know of anyone that hasn't felt nervous prior to that first shot. The fellow that was with me on that very first night thought I'd never actually do it because I was paused in mid-air for so long.  It did get easier over time, but I always had that "hang time" for some reason.

I was one of those that didn't have any side effects (sx) early on - until about week 10 when my hemoglobin began to fall. Even then, I didn't miss much work at all, most of that being for Dr. appointments. I went out exploring ice flows on Lake Superior in January the week after I started - though I wasn't doing much of that towards the to be sure. I think I began to feel noticebly less perky by about week 20 but still able to continue with a normal schedule of work and socializing. Towards the end, it got rougher for me, but note I had to extend to 72 weeks too, so that's par for that course.

I gave up trying to draw back - seems I bruised more that way. I think alot of people have forgone that too and they may comment later on. I was all for anything that reduced the stress of injecting.

Later into tx, I would take a Tylenol P.M. at shot time (Friday evening). I'd have a good night's sleep and a decent weekend before starting to feel punky but Sunday night/Monday morning. A couple of "off" days then feeling pretty good by Wednesday and Thursday - just in time to repeat the process. "-)

Everyone is differentt though, and you'll find your "groove" in time and make any adjustments you need to ride it out. Best of luck to you!

[IMstacie]

Welcome Liz.  I can tell your nervous but it sounds like you have it down.  I was sooooooo nervous when I took my first injection.  Some folks don't have any side effects (sx), some have mild sx, and some have horrible sx.  Everyone is different and you may be one of the lucky ones.  I think half the battle is knowing and the preparation for it.  What is your geno type?

Oh, I alwas mention this and you may already know it but keep copies of all your labs and keep track of your start date.

Good luck to you.

stacie