the rash

[harty29]

As the rash continues to get worse and worse and spread to areas that are impossible to reach, I'd like to ask if anyone has visited a dermatologist for help.  I'd rathe rnot add another doctor to my speed dial, but wonder if it might be worth a visit.

[Mister beagle bailey]

Almost all of us get that riba rash.  What many of us found that helps is  GOLD BOND TRIPLE ACTION LOTION sold in drug stores or walmart.  There are 2 types and they both work, but I get the one in in the green bottle because it's extra strength.  Try it and see if it works for you.  Also drink lots of water every day, it helps to flush out the toxic waste in our body and keeps us hydrated which is very important and helps a bit to get that bug we call a virus out of the body.
What's your stats, like geno type, viral load and if your trating or not.

Hope this helps you,

    The Beagle

[GoofyDad]

I saw a dermatologist pre-tx. She gave me some Clobex ointment and Zyrtec antihistamine. I don't use them often, but they do seem to nip things in the bud when I pull them out.

[Moniker]

My liver doctor sent me to a dermatologist. The dermatologist didn't seem to know about riba-rash, and when I told him about it, he went on the internet to research it, and then he looked up from the computer and said, "ah yes, you have riba-rash".

The dermatologist recommended a skin cream product called Aquaphor. Aquaphor is available at Walgreens. Aquaphor has worked well for my rash; it's helped me a lot. The doctor also prescribed a pill called HYDROXYINE which is for treating itching. I haven't used the pills because the cream helped enough.

Bob

[strator]

Hey there- I've recently had a down and out fight with the itch and rash. Actually I don't care much about the rash but the itch was waking me up at night and probably sending my BP up from stress. Most everything here I tried an gave some relief. Most people seem to do well enough with maybe an aveeno  bath oil, and lotions. So far I've had the best results from Sarna which is menthol and camphor people here suggested or a WalMart knock off(go figure) of Aveeno's daily moisturising lotion.  Also again from suggestions here I got my doc to give me a script for Hydoxine like Moniker and others said. Brand name was Atarax. Man it helped. I got some sleep and if the itch was sometimes there in the night it was subdued. Overall even though I don't use it 3Xday as prescribed(only at night) it seems the itch overall hasn't been as bad. Good luck with it, what a difference in my day with a little sleep and without no sooner getting bundled up in layers for work and the itch attacks. really think it had a lot to do with getting even more irritable than the usual riba personality.
Peace and wellness,
Don

[GoofyDad]

I second the vote for Aquaphor. Used it on my baby's bottom till he was out of diapers. Not unlike vasaline, but seems way better. A tad pricey - you can ask the pharmacist for it in bulk too.

[beamishboy]

i recommend warm bath of olive oil....Strator-if yu stick with xtra-virgin will reduce those knowing comparisons with the overcooked pasta

[strator]

beam my man No matter what havoc these meds may reak on ya, you are one sharp cookie! I picture you sprawled upside down head hangin off the sofa, battling the anemia, a soft voice from the monitor catches your ear. There's beam ever the gallant, reaching one hand up above your head to the keyboard.. gotta... Strator ...nee..needs help... gotta tell...xtra vir... get it thru ..his noodle...aldente!
smile through the haze my man, we love ya here.

[GoofyDad]

Whazzup? You're putting the oil in through yer noodle? You usin' a turkey baster or something? They sure didn't show that on the pegasys video...... you sure you got your videos straight?

[can-do-man]

Where you at girl? hope everythings ok. Or you just playing hide-in-seek?  if so 123 alli alli in come free.

Maybe its the garden? You did know enough NOT to plant yourself?

Hope you didn't get ahold of any bad goats milk or nutin like that. Or mix to much whey with your whoa, or to much gue with your glue. Maybe you turned a smoothie into a woosie and are out there trippen and a flippen? Let us know worped minds are a wondering.

[GoofyDad]

I was askin' about her too. She made a cameo showing a day or two ago, then poof - like the dentist suctioned her up in the vaccuum hose.

Speaking of planting forseegood in the garden, anybody ever see the movie Motel Hell? Oh what a fine literary piece was that. Come to think of it, I stayed up watching that on HBO when I had my acute hepatitis attack in.....let's see.... about 1981. Prolly haven't thought about that movie since. What a coincidence.

Ohhhhh Forseegoooooood...
Don't make me start a poo thread....

[Mister beagle bailey]

There are a few missing besides Forsee.  Where is Vagas, iceboy and the others.  

              Beagle

[harty29]

Geno type 1a.  Low viral load.  Biopsy was a shock - Stage 2.  Hated the thought of this poison in my body so my decision to treat was easy for me.  I put it off a few months since my son was getting married in Poland.  Started right after that.I'm on around week 20 (I had to stop a few weeks because the riba was killing me.  Started up again once all my blood work started looking better.)  I work full time.....but that's all I do anymore.  The fatigue keeps me on my couch most evenings.

[harty29]

Worst side effect - it consumes my thoughts!

[dyce]

I too am wondering where Iceboy ,vega,magnum have been. It's been a long time and I hope thier doing fine.

  Shot 8 last night, your getting close to 1/2 way done. I just hope your cbc test comes back with a good hmg number! Over all even though your experiencing sx's, you seem to be always upbeat and encouraging. I just hope I can handle the tx as well.

  Hope all goes well on this fine day and may you get to svr realstate soon!

  Dyce

[NYgirl]

Make sure to keep your skin WELL covered with lotion. The Triple Action Anti Itch Gold Bond is very thick and seems to stay on your body.  For some reason the bumps and itch seem to me to be exactly related to how dry my skin is.  If I keep putting on lotion every day - they go away.

Also hydrocortisone.1% is very good for the spot where the itch is driving you mad.

Remember  moisture on your skin is the best medication in the world. Keep on lotioning!  Tring the Gold Bond (it's a green bottle with a red top) it saved my life!

[cuteus]

strator; I am so glad the Atarax is working! I was worrying about your beauty sleep. I still have a bottle of those around here somewhere, and the darn Procrit...


harty, you said you missed a few wks of treatment, is your dr going to make up for that time? how is your viral load? what was it at wk 12 of tx, was the missing wks after or before wk 12?
You don't want to go thru this hell again! I gather you had to stop the riba due to low hgb. your dr does not prescribe blood boosters?
I hope he does not stop tx again, and uses other form of intervention, it is better for a good chance at SVR.
and I hope is not too many questions, I just worry about the dr jeopardizing your SVR.
good luck to you

[Mister beagle bailey]

Hardy-- That's called BRAIN FOG and we all get it, don't worry it's normal.  Glad you started meds again.  Did they check for anemia?  Almost all on tx get anemia, it's something to look into if your Dr. didn't check. Since you started tx again, how long will you have to treat for?


Dyce --- You'll be able to deal with treating don't worry. You'll alway be able to come here for support, of cause you know that already.  Wish the ones missing would just drop us a line so we know their alright. Time goes fast while your treating, can't believe I did # 8 for me it went fast.

   Hope all havea great day,

                         Beagle

[harty29]

Yes, anemia is a problem.  I've been doing the procrit once a week for the past two months and just recently started neupogen every other week for the white cells.  Lots of needles.  Lots of side effects.  But, by far the worst is what you call the brain fog.  (Glad there's a definition for it.)

[wMich]

I will forever connect Tx with the smell of Gold Bond Triple Action! I tried it on my face for awhile with marginal results but I do find it soothing to use elsewhere. The menthol fumes were killing my eyes! After playing mad scientist with creams and lotions for several weeks I found that washing my face with a slightly abrasive but oily scrub followed by a little 1% cortizone cream worked really well on the dry scaly patches on my face. They cleared up in a few days after many weeks of trying different things. The cracks at the sides of my mouth and eyes still come and go despite using Aquaphor, Neosporin LT, etc. I think someone mentioned that these mouth cracks can be fungal? My tear ducts are swollen and sore now too. My doc wants to see me on these emerging sides this week. I'm still drinking 2 1/2- 3 qts of water a day and am in week 30/48. I tried some of that Rx "magic mouthwash" on the mouth sores this weekend and it didn't seem to give much bang for the buck. Sheesh, 90% of my sides are now above the neck. Whaddya know! It could be worse I know. Call me "Crusty" and keep pluggin away!  ;-)
- Lee

[NYgirl]

Since I found that Gold Bond Med I've only heard of one person it really didn't work well for and I felt so bad cause he really really needed it (Strator) But he found other things that have been working so maybe he can put in his input.

I know that it's not good for your face (duh tried it too) but it works so WELL on the body. Even getting in the shower the next day I can feel it on my skin - still coating it - hasn't come off on to my clothes.

I think the key is to find something that works and KEEP putting it on. Not just when it's bad.  The hydrocortizone .1 is AWESOME for spot putting it on to get rid of the maddening itch.  Between the two of them and the Aveeno Lotion that I am putting on my face (no menthol whew - but Aveeno has that oatmeal anti itch thing going on too) it's helped me SO MUCH.

I'd better go put mine on now before I forget to before I go to bed.

[Mister beagle bailey]

NYgirl gave you good advice for your face. About the mouth sores, try PEROXYL by COLGATE it's not a mouth wash it's a antiseptic oral cleanser.  It worked wonders on me, in about 3 days it was gone.  Try it and let me know how it worked for you.  You can find it in drug store in the same area as the mouth wash.

Good luck I hope it works,


   Beagle

[Mister beagle bailey]

Some times you may need the procrit increased again.  That's what I'm doing, some people get it every 5 days to keep the HGB up.  Let me know how you do.

Your on your way to SVR,

          Beagle

[bwave2u]

harty, i feel for ya! i did 48 weeks,had the riba rash the entire time. cleard hcv for only 2 months, went back on tx, got the rash back instantly! i tried aveeno, oatmeal, gold bond, baby shampoos & body wash. just about everything! Thought i was going to lose it! I was tearing my skin up in my sleep & my plateletes at the time were 19 so you can imagine how many times i woke up covered in blood. my dr finally wrote a script for loratadine tablets & mometasone cream 2x a day. works very well for me. good luck harty.

[wMich]

ny: I think I'll add that oatmeal stuff to my arsenal. I may even get some of that much needed fiber!
beagle: Peroxyl it is and thanks for the tip!         - Lee