Took Interferon for granted - - BIG MISTAKE

[bluepeng]

Hello all,

Took my 5th shot Friday night.  As usual, Saturday I was hyper and doing stuff around the house.  I felt ok.  Just like I felt OK for the most part after shots 2, 3, & 4.  I was happy that the sx calmed down for me and I was looking forward to smooth sailing until July.   Well, today, I feel like death.  The men with the sticks must have come in the night except I don't see any bruises.  No energy.  A feeling of general malaise.  My ears are ringing.  A bunch of other complaints, but it all boils down to feeling like ****.   So the minute you stop respecting this drug, it kicks your ass - period.  I don't understand why the previous weeks were so manageable and all of the sudden this?  Has anybody else had this happen?  My Dr. told me that after 4 weeks you pretty much have the sx you will have.    

You guys said I could complain, so here I am.

Blue.

[Docsgold]

Hang in there.  I know how you feel.  I was pretty angry when my thyroid went, but hell, I knew these things could happen.  It has been a very long cruise, but you do get back to land again.  I am almost there.  And for as bad as tx can be there are days and weeks when you do feel quite normal. Keep us posted on how you are doing.  Good luck.

[bluepeng]

First, let me say .. Revenire, it was YOU (and a number of others), but particularly YOU who hammered me on quitting this **** .. and I didn't.   I took what you said very literally and you didn't mince words -- I needed that.  I actually told my doctor what you said .. (paraphrased) "Get up there and give yourself that shot and SUCK IT UP!"   He laughed.  Of course he told me not to pay attention to these boards, but  .. hey, if I didn't .. I wouldn't be here posting.    

I want people here to get it that I'm grateful for ***every one of your responses to my posts***  I don't want to be melodramatic about it, but man, it helps.   I don't want to hear about losing my damn Thyroid though.   I'm not sure what it's for, but I definitely want it .. and I want it healthy too.  

I like the idea of looking at the disease as the enemy.  I certainly am committed to treatment now ( or as my nurse says "motivated") and I'd be flipped if they pulled me off for some reason.  I'm getting my second blood test tomorrow  (every 2 weeks initially).   Haven't heard about the first, but I'll find out tomorrow.   I still feel like S**t.   This treatment is like a long cruise .. you leave land and you're not going to see it for a LONG time .. in between .. ANYTHING can happen.

Thanks again.

[honey1616]

I agree with what Dale said in slowing down and remember you are on some heavy duty drugs.  It is weird because there is just no saying what day, week or month will be good on tx.  When you have a good one,,,you get out there and try to catch back up for the bad ones coming.  Baby yourself and try to do things that you enjoy at home,,,It will pass soon and you will feel better in no time...Good Luck to Better Days!

[sofarsogood]

I remember doing well Blue up until the 5th week. I played intense sports until that week. That is when the rash started and sides multiplied. It is OK to feel like ****. It is the drugs. Slowwwwwwwww Downnnnnnnnnnnn time Blue. Life may change now. This is going to reveal character. You can do this and slow down.

Dale

[carolhab]

well put bluepeng - feeling like **** is it...I am just a couple of weeks ahead of you... there are days where I can't really describe what it feels like, I just want to go home and go to bed..... I do take tylenol almost every day, and trazadone to sleep sometimes.. but some days I just drag myself through.. lately I have been having anxiety over the next few days ahead of me, and whether I will be able to accomplish what I have planned, but I am trying to go just one day at a time....  I know my brain is foggy, and I try to live with that and know it is tx and not early dementia (I hope!).. I just want to ackowledge your feelings, some days are just bad, they is no way around it... but, I think there will be better days also... and I keep hearing stories here about people who have cleared, so I know it is possible, and if one year of this ugly tx might give me more healthy years in the future.. I'm in - also - this is one of my not-so-crappy days - I might give you a different answer if this was one of my bad crappy days!!!! :-)    
in the battle with you
sammy

[Docsgold]

I certaintly have to agree with you.  I have 9/48 left to go.  I seem to have gotten everything listed, but am still chugging along.  Thyroid gone at 3 months, of course the shortness of breath, rashes, brain fog, etc.  Just went to the eye doc who says I have a spot on my retina and wants me back to see the specialist on the 1st, did I ever have diabetes, and my WBC has dropped dramatically, and I have had 4 episodes of near fainting lately.  Funny how we sound like basket-cases and feel like doggie-do-do, but we manage to work and carry on.  I was undetected @ 12 weeks and am determined to be undetected 3 & 6 & 12 mos post tx!!!!!!

[Docsgold]

Sorry, must have been the brain fog!

[Better Angels]

I don't know where your Doc got the idea that whatever sides you were going to experience  would have happened by week 4.

My husband accumulated sides like souvenirs from this freak show we refer to as "treatment." He had them all the way through his 48 weeks, and then developed more once he stopped. He is 9 months post-treatment and still encountering new and exciting little hitch-hikers that had apparently accompanied him on his trek to SVR, but just hadn't revealed themselves until now. Yet, SVR he is at least up to this point.

You're not alone, you will encounter people here who have endured every imaginable side, and for that you can be grateful because they can either give you guidance or at the very least will empathize. Under the circumstances, both are enough!

Good luck to you, stay strong, I wish you the best.

Debbe

[cuteus]

plus 5 wks into the riba is when it starts affecting your hgb levels.  any lowering of red cells is going to decrease your energy levels considerably.  don't believe is the interferon only. your trip to hemolytic anemia land might just  had gotten started.