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rash

Hi guys. I have had little bumps all over my legs. They itch a little but mostly just bother me that they are there. I do have them on my torso also but not as bad. Anyone had this happen. The doc says benadryl but I think my employer prefers me to be awake at work.HA HA. Yeah, she's crazy like that. Also I have had some hellacious heaartburn for 2 days. I just hope I can make it 24 weeks at the job. I am only ten days in and I feel pretty tired. Can't wait to get home and lay down. Anyway I pray for us all. We can make it. Right? I spend alot of time getting rid of the gallons of h20 I drink everyday. No coffee anymore.
12 Responses
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691935 tn?1421027090
I had the rash for 4 solid weeks every place but my head & hands.  I used benedryl  (1/2 tab) in the evening & claritin in the morn.  I washed with aveeno body wash and used aveeno anti-itch cream after the shower.  Rash is gone, still slightly ichy and still using the Aveeno products.  
Helpful - 0
288609 tn?1240096756
For me the GERD?or heart burn is worse with spicy or fatty foods. I have no problems with frozen yogurt or ice cream. Yum Yum.
Helpful - 0
547836 tn?1302832832
i get itchy rashes around my joints 2 days after i take my neupogen following headache and tylenol.  and i'm week 33 out of 48.  didn't have any rash issues before the 30th week.
Helpful - 0
9648 tn?1290091207
I didn't have an answer for the rash, but I have had heartburn . . .

I had heartburn before tx, probably a few times a week. About week two of tx it got significantly worse. I couldn't even reach down to pick up something without an attack. (I'm thinking this was probably really GERD). I had been taking papaya enzymes, but they weren't enough. I would sometimes just sip water to cleanse my esophagus. And then poof, about two weeks later it was gone. Now it's better than it was pre-tx.

So, I'm not sure I have any advice other than to just hang in there.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you all for the info. I do so appreciate it. I am a nurse and take care of patients but it is hard to care for myself. Guess I am not doing too well being the patient. I have a new appreciation for people who are ill. As far as the heartburn, this is day 3 and it is not going away even with Prilosec. Think I need maybe something stronger. Oh, well I guess this too shall pass. Thanks again. You guys are great. I wish I could give some words of wisdom but I am too new at this .
Helpful - 0
683664 tn?1330966324
Can we make it?  YES WE CAN!!

I think my skin was worst at around wks 4-6, but I've been on Riba reduction lately so it is not so bad.  The cream which worked the best for me was CeraVe, which I bought at the hospital pharmacy (didn't find it at WalMart).  My PA used it for her baby's eczema, and she recommended it.  It is unscented and really stays on the skin, provides a nice coating and is very soothing.  Once my skin got under control, I've only had to use it once a day.

One of the hard things for me was getting used to taking all these extra drugs to combat the sides of the tx drugs.  I had terrible nausea, heartburn, and diarrhea at first and I would wait and take the meds after I had symptoms.  I finally started taking the meds for heartburn (I use Pepcid AC) and nausea with my first Riba dose.  It was such a relief to feel better, I got over my feelings about taking extra meds.

I used to love my morning coffee and can't drink it anymore either.  I'm in wk 15, the sides come and go, but coffee just doesn't agree with me anymore.  So I'm right there with you!   Sure hope you feel better soon.
Helpful - 0
179856 tn?1333547362
Keep your skin as hydrated as you possibley can with a good OTC lotion (after trying them all many of us old timers four that Gold Bond Triple Threat Anti Itch worked the best because it was very thick and lasted a long time) and apply it SEVERAL times a day.  Once the rash starts to go way do not stop using it or the rash will come back ( I made that mistake and learned the hard way).

Sun/tanning can aggravate it as said above.

Make sure you are drinking as much water as you can and just continue to hydrate and it should help it alot.  If it doesn't.......see a derm doc because although it sounds like the dreaded riba-rash to us, it could be something else that needs attention.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Oh, I feel for you!  My worst weeks were from week 12 to about week 18 when my rash was at it's peak.  I found that if I took a small dose of liquid Benadryl (the children kind) PRIOR TO my shot and also PRIOR to each dose of riba, that the rash was not nearly as bad.  If I take the adult Benadryl pills, I get groggy but I can tolerate the children's stuff (I take 1 teaspoon at a time).  Prior to figuring out that taking benadryl prior to the meds would help, I was miserable.  I hated to even have clothes touch my skin and I had to figure out ways to dress for work that would conceal that I wasn't wearing a bra (because it hurt my skin).

I also use Eucerin Calming Lotion or  Aveeno products and Gold Bond (green bottle with red lid) worked sometimes but other times it hurt my skin.  I find the Eucerin lasts longer.  I also use over the counter hydrocortisone cream for the extra bad spots but I try to use that sparingly.

As far as your heartburn, I have not had that problem (thank goodness) but my doc told me that, if I did, I should use Prilosec and take it daily, not just when you have pain.  I've read that you should not take a lot of Tums or Mylanta unless it's 4 hours away from the time you took your riba because they can block the absorption of the riba.

Best of luck to you!!
Helpful - 0
288609 tn?1240096756
The rash is one of the worst sides for me too. The sun aggravates it even through the car windows. I also agree that hot water causes it to flare up. B4 TX I went in my hot tub all the time and it helps my joint pain. Now I have tried to go in it right after it was cleaned without any chemicals and it still causes problems. I have also found that if anything rubs my skin it will flare it. I finally did go to a dermatologist and got an ointment that doesn't seem to do much. I use a lot of lotion and try to drink lot's of fluids. It used to be just on my arms and hands but now it is all over.
I have run into the heartburn gastric problems and it really does help to take Prilosec 2 x a day to coat your stomach and protect it from these harsh meds.
My take on this for myself, I am in no way an expert, is that the meds go after rapidly reproducing cells. This includes HCV, skin, hair, mouth, eyes and intestinal tract etc.
We also heal slowly so they are not replaced as quickly, get thin skinned and heal very slowly. That is why a lot of people have a low WBC & RBC count.
I work in the medical field too in a very physical job and was worried if I could work or not. I have been able to but I did reduce my hours a little and have to take some days off esp time off for MD apts. I signed up for partial SDI and they cover the day's & hours I miss up to 60% of salary and my medical benefits cont.
hang in there, you can do this.
Connie
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, I was only around 10 days in when the little bumps came on my arm, starting from elbow to wrist.  Must have been several hundred of them. They itched and when I scratch them could see them spread so I stopped touching them.  The next morning the itchiness stopped and the bumps weren't so big.  They are still there 2 weeks later but they don't bother me much and when they do I use Aveeno cooling menthol lotion and that helps.

I did notice the rash came within a few hours after taking a very hot bath, so by any chance did you take a hot shower or bath the day they came?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It's th dreaded RIBA rash, many of us have suffered it. Get an OTC skin moisturizer (Cetaphil is the one I settled on) and apply it twice daily. That should keep it in check. For "hot spots" your dr. can prescribe a steroidal cream that can be used. I fought this for 4 or so months. good luck, jerry
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yes, we can do this...I've often told my husband that I admire this group of ppl here so much, for putting up with the sides & putting the rest of their lives on hold to do this...then, I remember that I am one of them...I'm very proud of myself. And you should be pleased as punch with yourself, too.  This has  not been easy, but the alternative is unacceptable.  

I got Riba rash about 3 months into tx...for me, this is one of the worse things that could have happened, aside from "sudden death."  I do not do well at not scratching an itch...it's driving me over the edge.

The benadryl the dr. recommened is topical...a lotion, gel or cream to rub onto the rash.  I had some success with Claritin...orally, a couple times a day as the itching started in again.

Good luck, girlfriend.
*peg**
Helpful - 0
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