Re: HCV TX RESCUE DRUGS - NOTE TO MARCIA

[susan400]

Marcia,

I do take Ultram, but I do not take any antidepressants because I don't need them.  I had tried anti-D's in the past and they made me feel worse so I refuse to take any of them.  I take Ultram in small quantities because it helps me with pain a lot better than Tylenol and it's not a narcotic and it really doesn't hurt my stomach like the NSAIDS do.    I don't feel the need for a narcotic on treatment, but that's just me.  I do take sleep meds, but my doctor's office switched me to Restoril and off the Ambien.  I still have some Ambien and can switch off with it every now and then, if I want to, but I've found that the Restoril actually works better for me.  So far, I'm not on any rescue meds as in Neup., or Procrit, or Neumega as they haven't become necessary yet.  I haven't needed any type of mouthwash for mouth sores because I've had none.  I do drink plenty of fluids all day and I use ACT rinse in the morning and at night, it contains no alcohol and is recommended by my dentist.  I use a saline eye drop for my eyes, (Systane) recommended by my ophthalmologist for when my eyes get too dried out.  I haven't needed to take anything for nausea or for any rash because I've had no rash.  I haven't had any oral thrush because I eat plain acidophilus live culture yogurt every single morning.

Susan400

[meki]

Ultram has been my Godsend...

I don't know who created it -- but it's better than motrin --- and not as narcotic'y' as percocets...

And I can work on it -- and I can function on it --- and I go outside and play badminton on it... And I can sing on it...

And it REALLY WORKS for me.

Each person is different.

I take 300 - 400 mg a day. And on bad days (1x a week or so) I'll take an Advil right with it --- and I'm ok.

Best thing to happen to me in a LONG time.

Meki

[susan400]

The ACT rinse is an over the counter rinse that has fluoride in it.  When we're on treatment alot of times, it can make our teeth decay faster and other dental problems get worse.  ACT makes different kinds of rinses so you need to look for the one that specifically says no alcohol.  The reason you don't want alcohol is two fold.  Number 1 reason is that it can irritate your mouth and cause the sores in it because of the alcohol.  Number 2 is that in some of the lab tests that they run, like for trials and stuff, the tests are so sensitive that they pick up the least amount of alcohol in your system.  I had that issue come up years ago, when I wasn't in a trial.  At that time, my physician had been consulting with 'The HEP doctor' on line about what his thoughts were about my case.  The HEP doctor wanted all of this labwork done on me and one of them was a test for alcohol.  I had not been drinking for SEVERAL years and I told them this.  However, many of my products like lotions, hair stuff, etc., contained small amounts of alcohol in them.  He accused me of drinking and I was highly upset by the whole thing because I knew that I'd been sober.  So, I proved my point by totally going through my entire cabinet of stuff and switched all my products to no alcohol products and then, redid his dumb test.  And of course, it came back negative for alcohol.  After I was done with him, I went back to using my products that I liked because they actually worked better for me.  But, the alcohol mouth rinses do irritate my mouth, so I stick with the no alcohol ACT rinse.

Susan400

[Kristina538]

Hi Susan, forgive my ignorance, but what is ACT rinse.  I'm starting tx soon and rinse with saline every morning. And why should we use a non-alcohol rinse (may sound like a really silly question as right through the site I see members recommend non-alcoholic mouth wash).  Hope you can help; and prayers are with you too;  I was heartened today when I heard of a Hepper given 2 months to live in 2001 who managed another 6 years - the woman who told me said 'they really just don't know' sometimes, so God plays a big part, as we do too.  Regards, Kristina