Sucessful Treatment with NO side effects?

[zrjl]

I'm a little nervous - I'm coming up on my 4 week testing to see how my treatment is doing. I have had absolutely NO side effects from the Pegasys. Had my share from the riba - but you would seriously think I was getting a saline shot except for the injection site reaction.  Has anyone else not had SX from the injection? And did your treatment work? I've only got 50% odds anyway with Genotype 1a:( I'm hopeful, but worried.

[zrjl]

Thanks for the comments and encouragement!  I definitely feel kinda crappy after this weeks injection - and my throat feels like hamburger, but it's still tolerable. Haven't lost my appetite, actually gained 2 pounds the first 3 weeks - wasn't really counting on that! Thanks to all. I'll let you know what my PCR is as soon as I get it. :)

[Isobella]

Mine hit at week 7.  Still, I had much lighter sx than most here.  For me, knowing what to expect was a huge bonus.  That, and Zoloft and Atarax, lol!!

Good luck to you.  Let us know how your labs when ya get them.

Isobella

[desrt]

Seen plenty of Pegasys users say " Nuthin' to it." for the first 4-6 weeks. I'm surprised your doc hasn't run into this before. I did Peg-Intron and it slapped me upside the head three days out out of seven from day one.

[IAmTheWalrus]

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth! :-)
Good luck. I hope the rest of the tx goes the same.

[zrjl]

Thanks for the comments! I was told that with Pegasys the sx seem to come on later in treatment - when I asked my doc, he told me he had never heard that. The Riba rash was horrible! Thought I was going to itch myself right out of my skin - thank God that cleared up!! I get my thyroid checked this week too, been on Synthroid for years and guessing that will get messed up too.
Thank you so much for your answers - especially the GREAT news that you were both cleared!! Congrats!

[newleaf09]

Nygirl was right; you ain't seen nothing yet.  I just felt a little 'weird' the first 4 weeks, not bad at all.  I did not have shot reactions, either, and you should count yourself as one of the lucky ones that you do not have those.  It's not very common but it does happen.  I cleared easily and SVR'd. I think most people's hemoglobin (the oxygen carrying red blood cell) starts to dive at around 5 weeks and you will definitely feel that.  Tired, tired and tired.  Just keep taking the meds, on time, every day.

[nygirl7]

Don't worry your time will come.........count those chickens now cause once you get the shakes from the interferon you'll be wishing for being back in 4 weeks!  ;)

Actually I'm kidding.  I had literally zero response myself from the interferon.  I thought I had done it wrong - I thought it was going to be torture and made myself so crazy with worry that I crashed for 18 hours and never moved (except to take those ribas).

About week 30 I got the fever...a couple of times.  Still was waiting for the flu to hit all of the time.  Well by week 72 I was covered in an autoimmune rash, thyroid was now dead and I looked like death from all my hair falling out and my skin looking grey and being emaciated.

You know..........be careful what you ask for!  The good thing though is gaining back weight was fun - hair grew back longer than EVER before and I'm cured for 3 years.

You have time.  Don't sweat it.  Don't sweat it at all just keep taking those meds right on time  :) I'm sure you are doing just fine.