Hepatitis Forums
Hepatitis C Main Forums => On Hepatitis C Treatment => Topic started by: Shellae on March 22, 2019, 04:04:25 pm
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Hi all. I didn't think I'd have this much apprehension starting treatment, but here I am. I have to eat before I take my first dose, and my stomach is doing flips from the anxiety. I'm gonna do it though as this is the only way to get rid of this virus. So grateful for the less invasive meds today...just have to bite the bullet and swallow them. Glad this forum exists for us all. I read your stories and follow some of your treatment paths and am hopeful.
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Best of luck on treatment and just to add most people tolerate treatment very well with the most common reported side effect being a few mild headaches which may be avoided by keeping properly hydrated the good old 8 each 8 ounce glasses of fluids daily that we all should be doing anyway.
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Thanks Lynn. When I saw the size of the pills I almost fell over. I was expecting little tiny ones. They went down easy though. I think my anxious nature makes things worse than they are.
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Don't be scared! I did it and I am the biggest chicken, and I am undetected. Caught the flu during my treatment but it didn't alter the outcome, and not a lot of side effects. You can do this. Yea the pills are big! I have an anxious nature too. Took them at 9pm with a snack. and actually slept well. I feel pretty normal now and my last pill was in Jan. 2019.
Did 12 weeks-how about you?
Linda
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Thanks Linda. I take them in the evening too after dinner...I slept normal last night. They have me on a six week regime, then another two weeks after that, and after test results, etc. :)
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Many of us cleared after 4 weeks. But take every single one for the amount of weeks prescribed. The time goes by real fast!
8)
Linda
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Heck have you ever seen glucosamine chondroitin tablets some of us older folks take to help with stiff joints? The make Mavyret look tiny in comparison lol :)
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Hey there Shellae,
Welcome to Heplandia! I just finished 16 weeks of Mavyret about 4 weeks ago. I found that it was pretty easy Tx. compared to My ordeal on Harvoni in 2015. Seem to have had more problems during and post Tx. with 12 weeks of Harvoni than the full 16 weeks on Mavyret. Piece of cake. Just remember to take it easy and take care of Yourself as You go through Your Tx. , You should breeze through it. The worst problem I had was trying not to stress over waiting on Lab results to come back! You got this , just remember that there are a lot of knowledgeable folks here on the Forums if You have any questions or need to vent. Not medical people just a ton of experience and brain power that You can use if needed. ;)
Slats
I DON'T THINK IN THE BOX AND I DON'T THINK OUT OF THE BOX......I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THE BOX IS! ;D
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Thank-you everyone for your responses and understanding. Very much appreciated.
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Can't believe it is day 5. No real side effects. I did catch a cold this week.
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Yeah and I had the flu like I said in an earlier post....lasted a month turned into bronchitis and a sinus infection. but hey....I'm cured of Hep C and feel normal again....mostly!
;D :D ;) :) 8)
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Day 7 of treatment. Mouth is still super dry at night, and I am real itchy. Did a really warm shower and slathered with coconut oil, drinking lots of water.
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A little food can also help with that dry mouth.
A.
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I started doing my protein smoothies today. I literally can't get meat past my palette for 3 months now...pork once in a while. chicken rarely, and fish maybe once a week. The smoothies are much easier on the stomach...2 % milk. half a banana, two pineapple rings, 2-3 dollops of Greek yogurt, bee pollen, and 1/4 cup of ground flax seeds...and the 2 scoops of protein powder. It makes 2/3 of a blender and I slowly drink it down. I did this for two years when my thyroid dived about 12 years ago, slowly incorporating solid food. I have been off the thyroid meds for about six years, but my thyroxine is on the low side of OK. My stomach is the first thing to tell me something is off. It's reactions to sugars, fats, fried, and spicy foods has been almost instant lately.
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Shellae,
You seem to have your nutrition pretty well sussed.
I am 3 years or so post - Tx - and my diet has gradually come back to normal - or - at least - a new and better normal.
Like you - I couldn't really tolerate much meat at all.
I used to live on oils (healthy oils) - and oily fish (tinned salmon, and sardines) mostly.
That seemed to keep my symptoms (which were bad), reasonably under control.
Down here (I live in New Zealand) - lamb was always considered to be the safest meat for Hep C sufferers.
... But again - you seem to have a good and healthy diet sorted out for yourself.
Best of luck with your Tx!
A.
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Thanks Andrew. I can do all the veggies in the world and fruit, but know I need protein. Tunas packed in water are best for me of the canned fish. Bread is barely tolerable and I love it when I can eat a little. Sprouted breads and multi-grain are the best for me. Oatmeal is a staple with bananas and pineapple juice...absolutely no added sugars. Nuts and seeds are another. Organic carrot juice is the bomb...yum...and my friend gave me a juicer for fresh carrots. I will be growing carrots this year. Also high on the glycemic index, but I get no adverse reactions. I also add 1/4 cup of the orange shavings back to the juice for fiber. Anaszi beans, lentils and black beans...another staple. I crock pot these, add lots of garlic, onion, vegies, basil, rosemary, and pepper...a touch of salt. I have cut my salt intake considerably as I have high blood pressure.
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Fantastic!
For me (again) - it was mostly good oils, and things high in Vitamin E (for whatever reason).
I used to pursue avocadoes with an almost religious zeal.
... Gentle on the liver.
Meats are best in a medium (like a stew, or whatever).
There are some good, natural gluten free breads down here.
You have to toast them (twice), but ...
Natural sea salt is OK, generally ... or at least, better.
(My blood pressure is high, too - but I seem to be able to bring it down by relaxing, and by using conscious breathing etc.).
Best,
A.
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Will start to incorporate chicken and meats into my beans and make some light beef stews. Thanks Andrew j. That might get me back to more substantial protein intake. I do focused breathing techniques too, and guided meditations/affirmations. They calm me incredibly over the past year of higher than usual stress.
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exercise woks wonders too. From a simple walk, pilates or jogging....works for me.
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Starting on week 3 :)
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Congrats on starting your 3rd week, Shellae! Sounds like you are eating very healthily. Keep up the good work. Those pills will be gone before you know it.
kim
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Hi Kimin The Forest...Yes, The treatment is going fast it seems. I'm surprised in a good way.
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Started week 4 yesterday. I have noticed more energy in the past week. I don't collapse straight to bed after work. Thought it was age related but maybe the hepc fatigued me. It's been years since I've had energy to do anything after work.
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Also that dull achy feeling under the ribcage where the liver is, is gone. Digestion is better too and there seems to be less inflammation in my joints. That could be my amended diet though.
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Glad to hear your doing well on treatment :)
The most commonly reported symptom for hep c is a feeling of being chronically fatigued without other explanation. That really is the only symptom most experience. Most of us cured now feel like that weight of fatigue we carried for many years or decades is now lifted.
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I'm working on pacing the energy spurts. I feel over-energized in the mornings so am trying to calm down and not overtax the extra energy. My thyroid readings are on the low side, and so maybe that is coming back into a better range. Will find out after my next doctor visit. I took thyroid meds for 5 years and stopped them about six years ago as my thyroid balanced out. It was on the low side, but the docs said it was ok to come off the meds as long as it didn't go lower. I was still fatigued but could function. Would lose energy after 5 hours of work, and have been maintaining that pace. I have to work until age 70 to get sustainable retirement income. This treatment has come at the most convenient time in my life. I honestly don't think I could have survived when the interferon was the only thing available. I have friends that have gone through that, some came thru and others succumbed before the newer meds were available as their treatment didn't work.
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Before Mavyret became available most of us were taking Harvoni. Many of us experienced what we called the Harvoni high where we were feeling extra energized like maybe having a little too much coffee. Most found it to be a pleasant side effect while a few did not like that feeling.
I think a couple of other people also reported feeling extra energized while taking Mavyret. Or it could also be from no longer having the virus allowing us to feel normal for the first time in many years.
Hope all continues to go well for you
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I was blood tested today and hope the results are good. Starting my 5th week.
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;DI am so stoked...My blood testing came back and from 8,420,000 a few months ago, has dropped to <15 NONDETECTED
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Hey congrats!
Now onwards to finishing treatment and get that 12 weeks after treatment test that says not detected
Best of luck with the rest of your treatment
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Is there a difference between non detected and not detected, Lynn?
Good for you, Shellae, either way!
Linda
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Is there a difference between non detected and not detected, Lynn?
Good for you, Shellae, either way!
Linda
Probably just a different labs way of reporting results. Of course the <15 refers to the tests sensitivity
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Yes, it actually read <15 NOT DETECTED
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great!!!
Linda
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Yes, it actually read <15 NOT DETECTED
Congrats Shellae! It's wonderful when you finally get to read that on the lab report.
kim