Author Topic: ribavirin and interferon starting next week (Read 22641 times)

Unsure86 · « **on:** December 05, 2014, 02:08:59 am »

I start my treatment next week any helpful tips to get through it would help thanks

lporterrn · « **Reply #1 on:** December 05, 2014, 02:51:45 pm »

Do you live outside the US? I am wondering why your doc is prescribing rib + ifn

LindaMarie48 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 05, 2014, 03:12:04 pm »

I've done this regime twice, once alone and once in combination with Solvadi. Found taking the Interferon about 1 hour before bed along with Benadryl helped alot. Allowed me to sleep thru the worst of the interferon.

gulee · « **Reply #3 on:** December 08, 2014, 11:50:28 pm »

Hey, Unsure86,

I started sovaldi/ribavirin/interferon (pegasys) treatment 12 weeks ago, tonight I took my last pill - finally!!!

The first time I took interferon injection I felt the worst - chills, fevers, sore muscles/joints, and itching - all to the extreme. But those side effects wear off over the next few days, and the next time I took the shot, I felt less side effects, and our body adapt to the med over time.

My doctor gave me benadryl to deal with those side effects and sleeping, it helped me for the first few weeks. I am sure different people respond to the med differently, and the med can accumulate in our body over the course of the treatment to create unexpected, negative physical and mental effects, sometimes they can be difficult to tolerate, but it's definitely worth the effort to complete the treatment as many people in this forum can testify! You can do it!

I summarized a list of things that helped me personally to go through the treatment, but please keep in mind that it's only my personal experience and may not suit you or your situation:

1) My doctor and his team. I have an excellent doctor who responds to my questions quickly and clearly, and his team called to check on me once every week during the treatment. I visited his office twice for blood work during the 12 weeks' treatment. It's always wise to call your doctor immediately if you feel uncertain about any side effect. Don't wait for the next appointment, don't try things you are unsure of, instead call your doctor to explain your difficulty situation/feelings and let your doctor advice you what you should do. I had insomnia and anxiety as well as terrible irritability during the last three weeks of my treatment, and I called my doctor and he prescribed me clonazepam that helped me sleep and function "normal" again during the last three weeks, otherwise I would have a hard time dealing with the side effects.

2) Exercise moderately. My doctor told me the med will reduce my red blood cells and I would feel fatigue and flu like symptoms, and I did gradually feel my energy level dropping, so I reduced the intensity and time of workout accordingly, instead of swimming for ten laps I swam five; instead of jogging I just walked for 2-3 miles. I kept doing it on daily basis to help with my appetite, immune system, mental health, and sleep.

3) Diet. Someone here said drinking a lot of water every day will help relieve some side effects. I did feel really thirsty with really dry mouth during the last three weeks, so I drank a lot of water afterwards, they definitely help. I tried to eat light dinners so my stomach won't trouble me from falling into sleep at night; later I also cut off my daily dose of caffeine to help my anxiety and sleep...

4) Have a support group. Tell your close friends and loved ones what you are undertaking and ask their support, and don't hesitate to reach out when you really need their support at work, home, or when you experience really bad physical/mental side effects (tell your doctor too, no shame in telling your doctor any irrational thoughts or feelings due to med).

5) This forum is a great place to get information and support from friends with common interests and experiences. I am full of gratitude to people here who never hesitated to provide support by sharing their treatment experiences, information, love, and humor! So, please don't hesitate to come back to this forum to ask questions and get support!

To Mike, Zeena, Willie G. and many others I say, "thank you, thank you, and thank you!!!"

12/8/2014

Quote from: Unsure86 on December 05, 2014, 02:08:59 am

I start my treatment next week any helpful tips to get through it would help thanks

BattleTheBeast · « **Reply #4 on:** December 09, 2014, 07:55:31 am »

Gulee,

Great post and congratulations! You made it through and with flying colors! Now you get to let your body and mind recover from the trauma and find Gulee again!

Praying you will be one of the cured.

~Mel~

badbradley · « **Reply #5 on:** December 09, 2014, 10:30:42 am »

Quote from: Unsure86 on December 05, 2014, 02:08:59 am

I start my treatment next week any helpful tips to get through it would help thanks

UNSURE86 Lives in Australia, Treatment plan is INT/RIB only - all that is available presently, Geno 3A, VL 95,000 - Treatment naive?, Fatty liver. Originaly started a thread "INACTIVE" in July. Just wanted this info posted here. Brad

lporterrn · « **Reply #6 on:** December 09, 2014, 10:54:45 am »

Thanks Brad.
OK Unsure, here are some tips:
http://www.hepmag.com/articles/2512_10798.shtml
http://www.hepmag.com/articles/2512_10798.shtml - this is more in depth

Unsure86 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 18, 2014, 11:27:52 am »

Thanks have just done my first week and hasn't been as bad as I thought but this is a strange question I've felt nauseated since having my injection over 24 hours ago but I'm worried that when I shared a drink with my daughter some how I've made her sick is this possible she was just sick not too long ago I thought she was better from the cold she just had

badbradley · « **Reply #8 on:** December 18, 2014, 11:46:59 am »

Hello Unsure86,
It doesn't seem likely that your daughter would have become sick unless you had a cold or flu bug. Don't know which of the 3 climate zones your in over in Australia but it's cold and flu season here. Luck on your treatment.
Brad

Unsure86 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 18, 2014, 12:18:32 pm »

Weather has been up and down lately mostly hot was just worried that some how the med's had some how gotten into her system they sharing drinks and food

Mike · « **Reply #10 on:** December 18, 2014, 12:19:49 pm »

Hi Unsure86,

Make sure you drink plenty of water! I can't stress this enough. You should drink 1/2 your body weight in oz of water per day. For example, if you 180 lbs, you should drink 90 ozs of water per day. If you weight 120 lbs, you should drink 60 ozs per day.

I've done INTF+RIBV twice, and this really helps with the side effects.

Best wishes, Mike

gulee · « **Reply #11 on:** December 21, 2014, 12:00:25 am »

Thanks, Mel!

It's been over a week since I completed my treatment, and I had the same sleeping problem and mental cloud, but suddenly I feel so much more energy and mental clarity today - finally I feel I am getting back to the old, "normal" me!

The good news is my blood test during the treatment and after the treatment both show no sign of hep c virus, and my doctor said I have a very good chance to be cured, but we have to wait for the blood test six months after the treatment...

This Christmas is going to be really special to me! I only hope everyone undergoing the treatment will be able to complete it with determination and support he/she needs and to be cured in the end!

Merry Christmas to you all and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Quote from: BattleTheBeast on December 09, 2014, 07:55:31 am

Gulee,

Great post and congratulations! You made it through and with flying colors! Now you get to let your body and mind recover from the trauma and find Gulee again!

Praying you will be one of the cured.

~Mel~

BattleTheBeast · « **Reply #12 on:** December 21, 2014, 05:35:00 am »

Happy Holidays to you as well Gulee,

I am so glad you are starting to feel better and get You back! Great news on the blood test, now just live your life, be the best you can be and remember to do something nice for someone else, even if it's just a smile at someone you don't know!

Take care of you and let us know how you are,

Mel

JillLynn · « **Reply #13 on:** December 21, 2014, 10:30:38 am »

Gulee.....glad to hear you're getting back to your ole self AND virus free. Merry Christmas to you and yours! Keep in touch with us please. Big Hug!

Unsure86 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 02, 2015, 07:21:59 am »

Just an update go for my 8 week test next week but my 4 week test came back clear so looks like once the treatments done I'm all clear thank god

BattleTheBeast · « **Reply #15 on:** February 02, 2015, 08:08:25 am »

That's great news Unsure!!!!!!!

Congratulations on your results! Let's hope the 8 weeks test results show the same but the odds sure are in your favor now!!!

Mel

badbradley · « **Reply #16 on:** February 02, 2015, 09:06:48 am »

Hi Unsure 86,
Great news! I hope your side effects are tolerable. Hope your daughter is doing well. Thanks for the update. Brad

Unsure86 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 24, 2015, 06:20:41 pm »

I have 9 weeks left of treatment results are looking good so far liver is slowly recovering am just hoping it's better and they don't decide to make treatment go longer haven't had many side effects although just this week not sure if I'm coming down with a cold or just a symptom keep feeling like there is dust in my throat keep coughing and a runny nose hope every one is well

Mike · « **Reply #18 on:** March 24, 2015, 06:30:29 pm »

Hi Unsure88,

I'm so glad you're doing well with the INTF+RIBV. I did this combination, and it sure kicked the crap out of me!

There is something known as the RIBA cough, which is a side effect associated with Ribavirin that some (myself included) have experienced.

Regardless, hang in there, the treatment is working and you sound like a real trooper!

Best wishes, Mike

Philadelphia · « **Reply #19 on:** March 24, 2015, 07:24:47 pm »

Another Australian! Are there many here? Glad it's working for you Unsure86, it didmt for me so I've had to go down other paths to find treatment options. Keep fighting the good fight.

Unsure86 · « **Reply #20 on:** May 27, 2015, 07:35:14 pm »

My treatment ended 2 days ago but when I saw the Dr he said there is still only a 75% chance it has worked I was clear at 4 weeks and 12 weeks and have been ever since but my liver has become elevated any one know if this is a cause for concern was really hoping it was gone but not so sure it will be now

I should have asked the Dr more about it but when I'm there I never think to ask what it may mean

gulee · « **Reply #21 on:** July 28, 2015, 01:15:26 am »

Quote from: JillLynn on December 21, 2014, 10:30:38 am

Gulee.....glad to hear you're getting back to your ole self AND virus free. Merry Christmas to you and yours! Keep in touch with us please. Big Hug!

Hey, Jill and Mel,

It's hard to believe that eight months have passed since I posted last time! I am just checking in to say hello and hope everyone is doing well and things are getting better for everyone this year!

My six-month post-treatment result is good showing "virus undetectable", and my doctor suggests to follow up with blood test every six months or a year going forward...

I feel truly blessed and grateful to people in this forum! Love you all and wish the very best to everyone, and I will check in once in a while to say hello!

lporterrn · « **Reply #22 on:** July 29, 2015, 09:21:05 am »

Fabulous news gulee. Hope you are celebrating your new freedom.

gulee · « **Reply #23 on:** July 29, 2015, 11:33:01 pm »

Quote from: lporterrn on July 29, 2015, 09:21:05 am

Fabulous news gulee. Hope you are celebrating your new freedom.

Thank you so much, Lucinda! My freedom and elation are unfortunately short-lived, though I am grateful to the successful treatment of my Hep C. Today my new liver disease specialist told me that my most recent ultrasound exam shows a 3 cm lesion in my liver that could very likely be cancer. I have ultrasound and blood tests done every six months, if not more often, over the past ten years, every measurement and test result look normal, so this came as a real shocker. My doctor ordered CT scan this Friday to confirm the finding. Life is short!

lporterrn · « **Reply #24 on:** July 30, 2015, 05:21:41 pm »

I am sorry to hear this. Although this might also be benign, the one good thing you said was 3 cm. Keep us posted.

gulee · « **Reply #25 on:** August 06, 2015, 10:17:24 am »

Quote from: lporterrn on July 30, 2015, 05:21:41 pm

I am sorry to hear this. Although this might also be benign, the one good thing you said was 3 cm. Keep us posted.

Good morning, Lucinda,

Want to give you an update, my new specialist called me yesterday about my CT result, they did find a 3 cm lesion and a smaller spot/cyst, but he said there's nothing to worry about at this point, he wants me to do an MRI after two months... The result is better than I expected, and I feel much more relieved and blessed today!

While I marvel at the fast advancement of new medical diagnostic and treatment technologies, I feel that we patients should always be proactive and vigilant to monitor our liver/health conditions by working with our doctors. If one of the medical centers in my town (over 240k population) didn't purchase this new ultrasound machine this year (only one in town so far), I still wouldn't have known the 3 cm lesion in my liver even though I have ultrasound and blood testing every 6 months, if not more often, in another facility over the past five years, and they didn't identify any abnormalities until under this new ultrasound machine.

Thanks again, Lucinda, and have a wonderful, blessed day!

lporterrn · « **Reply #26 on:** August 06, 2015, 01:23:49 pm »

Well, you made my day. I hear from lots of people who have the same outcome as you, but since I've also heard a fair amount of not-so-good diagnoses, I find myself keeping watch with less certainty than I used to. So much of health is learning to wait, hoping, not making up stories. Easier said than done. I am very grateful for you good news.

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Author Topic: ribavirin and interferon starting next week (Read 22641 times)