feelin worse after feelin good

[flyinferg]

Hello folks, I am almost half way through my one-a-day experimental pills (times 2 drugs). Not to be too fussy because it hasn’t been that bad, but I feel as though I am getting worse each day. Do I have a cold and I don’t recognize it ? There is a bad cold going around. For the past week I have felt “icky”. Stomachache, headache, nausea, tired, achy joints.  I was thinking that my body would adjust and adapt. I wondered if anyone had feedback.
(By the way, I went from 13 million to undetected within the first three weeks. I am in  phase 2 of a bristol-myers test). Thanks in advance, Madeleine

[Wildorchid1121]

Hi Madeleine,

The symptoms you are experiencing are identical to what almost everyone describes at one point or another, the famous flu-like symptoms. I too had very bad headaches and my stomach was just a mess. Sometimes all I could tolerate were crackers. I had to "force" myself to drink water.

In my case, I felt worse with each passing day; I was on TMC435 (Simeprevir), with pegintron and ribavirin. During my treatment, TMC435 study was being conducted by another pharmaceutical. The trial med was only for the first 12 weeks, then just the pegintron and the riba alone for the rest of the study.

My word of advice to you, no matter how sick you feel...DO NOT GIVE UP! You are doing the right thing...STAYING POSITIVE.

I treated the first time in 2004 in Cincinnati, Ohio, 48 weeks with riba and interferon only, and 6 month after finishing tx, the Hep C was back and worse than ever.

I moved from Cincinnati to to Atlanta in 2010, with a referral to see a doctor in Atlanta. During my very first visit in 2010 he asked  me if I wanted to be part of a study that would be starting in 2011 which he "promised me would be my cure." I held on to his words like if I was holding on to dear life.

I started study on April of 2011, and finished on October 4, 2011. I moved to Florida on December of 2011 so unfortunately the only lab work done was in December and the results were not given to me. Driving to Atlanta just for lab work was out of the question, it is after all a 10 hour one way drive.

I had lab work done on October 3, exactly one year after finishing, just so I could officially say I was Hep C free. I got the results this past Monday.....

Viral load: BELOW DETECTABLE LEVELS, or UND as many refer to it.

I am Hep C free, finally after having it for 34 years. So all I can say to you is to have FAITH, eat healthy, drink lots of water, and imagine yourself soon being Hep C free. Keeping a positive attitude, and being optimistic as you are, has proven to be the best way of dealing with any disease.

I will be looking forward to your postings and updates, I know soon you will be another TMC435 success story as I am today!

Best wishes to you!

[flyinferg]

thank you for taking the time to respond to my vague question. i understand that i should have worded it differently and perhaps you have a suggestion about the following question. will a person start adapting to the treatment drugs and feel better as time goes on OR do the treatment drugs drag the body down over time ?
i am on the bristol-myers drug daclatasvir (BMS-790052) and TCM435. I am in the phase two study through UCSF. i do have regular lab work and the intake nurse has been very professional. i am super optomistic about the future of this particular drug combo. i take one pill of each, once a day with food. it is only a three month regimen.  madeleine

[countrygirlcansurvive]

Are you in the GS7977 Trial? What are the drugs they have you on?
Everyone is different with sx.Flu like symptoms are one of them.The headaches can be managed with the dosages of what they want you to take,but you have to stay ahead of them.Drink more than average of water,that flushes out the toxins and helps a lot with the sx.The stomach aches I'm not really sure about this could be a virus that you caught.I drink at least 10 bottles of water a day.Hope you start feeling better soon.

Country

[his3707]

Im not familiar with your trial but the results you report sounds really fantastic!  Make sure you continually talk to your study doc about your sx.  Hopefully they will be doing regular labs and that could give you some insight as to why you are not feeling to good.  What trial are you in?    Take good care of yourself on treatment.  try to stay clear of people who are sick.  The last thing you want is to get the flu on top of any sx you are having .  Hang in there and best of luck!