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A Poll About Scars from Treatment
Hi there. Just wondering.......if you have scars at your injection sites and/or from a rash......what have you used that has helped clear up your skin, especially post tx?? I have been using body oil and Medicated Gold Bond Lotion for general daily moisture, but am curious about scars.
I was fine until about week 15 maybe, then overnight, my stomach injection sites became chapped and itchy. Now, at week 20, my thigh injection sites are patchy too. Started using Neosporin and the chapped is better! What has worked for you??
Bee
I was fine until about week 15 maybe, then overnight, my stomach injection sites became chapped and itchy. Now, at week 20, my thigh injection sites are patchy too. Started using Neosporin and the chapped is better! What has worked for you??
Bee
I hear ya! I had to watch the "How to give yourself an Injection" video a few times to remind me of all the steps. I approach the injections from the side, so they have not been awkward. I agree -- I only want to go through this once. Hats off to the people who have treated multiple times. Hopefully, the drugs we are on and the ones in the future, will kick Hep C butt so hard, anyone will be able to achieve SVR in one go 'round!!
I don't mind the poke because the needle is so small that I barely feel it. The reason I waited so long to inject into my abdomen is because, believe it or not, I find giving the injections, in the thighs or the abdomen, to be very awkward. Because I am a registered nurse and am used to giving injections to clients, I thought it would be a breeze. However, my clients were always in front of me and at the right angle and height. When I am injecting myself, it is backwards and my hands are at funny angles, twisted in towards me. Plus, I am right handed and usuless with my left hand so injecting into my left thigh has been a challenge. It just seemed like injecting into my abdomen would be more difficult so I waited until I had to, lol. Then I got the rash after two abdomen injections. Hopefully soon I can use the abdomen again, although I don't find any area that is easy for me.
It does not help that my hands are not small and the syringes are very small. It makes it difficult to hold onto the syringe and get the interferon injected. I hope I never get diabetes. I will be in big trouble, lol. But a person does what he/she has to do so things are going along as planned and I must be getting the interferon in correctly because I am undetectable.
Man, I hope this works because I really don't want to have to do it again. I sure admire people who have treated 2, 3, 4 times and even one person who is on her eighth treatment. That takes will power and tenacity and a lot of courage and strength.
It does not help that my hands are not small and the syringes are very small. It makes it difficult to hold onto the syringe and get the interferon injected. I hope I never get diabetes. I will be in big trouble, lol. But a person does what he/she has to do so things are going along as planned and I must be getting the interferon in correctly because I am undetectable.
Man, I hope this works because I really don't want to have to do it again. I sure admire people who have treated 2, 3, 4 times and even one person who is on her eighth treatment. That takes will power and tenacity and a lot of courage and strength.
Pooh -- Injections actually hurt a lot less on my tummy. I hope your rash goes completely away soon. Thanks for sharing your journey. It helps.
Belle -- Very interesting that the redness stopped!
Crossroads -- LOL! Thanks Karen. I think we are more itchy on our backs at night, when we are laying on our backs and trapping our bodyheat.
Frijole -- Wow, it's the total opposite for me. Hurts more (though not unbearable) to inject on my thighs. The hair thing, for me, might have to do with ethnicity (I can only guess). I did, however, just discover that I now have beautiful Llama lashes :) No mascara needed.
Belle -- Very interesting that the redness stopped!
Crossroads -- LOL! Thanks Karen. I think we are more itchy on our backs at night, when we are laying on our backs and trapping our bodyheat.
Frijole -- Wow, it's the total opposite for me. Hurts more (though not unbearable) to inject on my thighs. The hair thing, for me, might have to do with ethnicity (I can only guess). I did, however, just discover that I now have beautiful Llama lashes :) No mascara needed.
Frijole, I would follow up on that leg rash you have. If it is following your veins, it may be a different animal. It could be coincidental, but if it is following the veins, I would be concerned it could be something more serious. Best to have it examined, I think.
As noted, my rash got a lot worse and very different at about week 10 or 11. The bad rash first appeared on my forearms with just a few other bumps here and there on my legs. My case manager was frist thinking that my rash was from Incivek and that it would clear once I got off the Incivek. Therefore she did not order anything stronger than the over the counter hydrocortizone cream I was already using. (I was also taking Benadryl at night.) Not ordering a stronger cream or ointment was a mistake. The rash got worse and it spread and popped up in several other spots, not as isolated bumps, but as larger areas of rash. I finally got pretty assertive and called and said the hydrocortizone was doing zilch and the rash was on my thighs, lower legs, abdomen and arms (forearms and upper arms). I saw the doc and got the fluocinonide ointment and also started taking zyrtec in the am and continued benadryl at night. That regimen worked but I can tel you it took a lot longer to work than had it been dealt with right away. Anyway, 1 month after stopping Incivek, I still have the rash but it is a lot better. Many of the original rash sites, like my forearms, are healed and no longer itch or have a bumpy rash. My abdoment is better too, but the thing is, once I get one area under control it spreads to the nearby areas. So my forearms are fine but my upper arms are still rashy. My thighs cleared up but my lower legs still have hot spots and so do my knees. My central abdomen is much better but my side areas are rashy. Over all it is under control now so I can continue the Riba. So I had a late developing Riba rash.
As noted, my rash got a lot worse and very different at about week 10 or 11. The bad rash first appeared on my forearms with just a few other bumps here and there on my legs. My case manager was frist thinking that my rash was from Incivek and that it would clear once I got off the Incivek. Therefore she did not order anything stronger than the over the counter hydrocortizone cream I was already using. (I was also taking Benadryl at night.) Not ordering a stronger cream or ointment was a mistake. The rash got worse and it spread and popped up in several other spots, not as isolated bumps, but as larger areas of rash. I finally got pretty assertive and called and said the hydrocortizone was doing zilch and the rash was on my thighs, lower legs, abdomen and arms (forearms and upper arms). I saw the doc and got the fluocinonide ointment and also started taking zyrtec in the am and continued benadryl at night. That regimen worked but I can tel you it took a lot longer to work than had it been dealt with right away. Anyway, 1 month after stopping Incivek, I still have the rash but it is a lot better. Many of the original rash sites, like my forearms, are healed and no longer itch or have a bumpy rash. My abdoment is better too, but the thing is, once I get one area under control it spreads to the nearby areas. So my forearms are fine but my upper arms are still rashy. My thighs cleared up but my lower legs still have hot spots and so do my knees. My central abdomen is much better but my side areas are rashy. Over all it is under control now so I can continue the Riba. So I had a late developing Riba rash.
bee - I do all my Peg shots in the thighs. They are way less sensitive than the belly. I try to stay away from all places that lok a little bruised. I do use the belly for Procrit and Neupogen. That is interesting that you have not lost any hair. I pull a wad off the shower drain every morning. Today was the first day that there was hardly any in the drain. I hope it is slowing.
pooh - ow that riba rash on your stomach sounds awful. I don't scar easily but I sure bruise easily. The rash - if that is what it is - that I have on my shins seems to follow my varicose vein lines. Interesting but I can't draw a conclusion
pooh - ow that riba rash on your stomach sounds awful. I don't scar easily but I sure bruise easily. The rash - if that is what it is - that I have on my shins seems to follow my varicose vein lines. Interesting but I can't draw a conclusion
I have the same thing as others. Discoloration is just starting to be dark at inj site. Some measle like scars on chest, back n arms from a few months ago are fading. Back is the worst itching n I use dr bonners liquid soap. Triamcinoline, and a mix of jojoba, vit e, and grapeseed alternated w gold bond, olive oil, and oddly enough - cheap ole Vaseline intensive care.
Keeping comfortable n scar free has made me into a full time diva! Lol. Hot baths help aches n cause itchy. Sigh. As Frijole stated. the water is crucial.
Thanks for starting this thread. I need reminders..
Karen :)
Keeping comfortable n scar free has made me into a full time diva! Lol. Hot baths help aches n cause itchy. Sigh. As Frijole stated. the water is crucial.
Thanks for starting this thread. I need reminders..
Karen :)
i got red marks at the injection site when i first started but now i don't get any marks. it ended around week 8. also no scars from rash. i didn't hardly scratch where it itched. i just rubbed. best wishes. belle
About a week after I do an inj. that area gets red and itchy. It is usually a round or oval area about 2 to 3 inches in diameter. Those red areas stay red for several weeks although they get less red and itchy as the weeks go on. Some of my first few injection sites are finally normal again (I am on week 17). I have mostly used my thighs and have used my abdomen for only 2 injections. Unfortuanately, shortly after I started using my abdomen (at about week 10 or 11), I got a nice Riba rash and my entire abdomen was one big red bumpy mess. It is finally clearing some now so maybe I will be able to use it again. I am hoping these discolored areas go completely away but they may not. I scar easily.
The arm rash and the thigh rash are finally clearing and I don't think they will leave scars but I do think some of the rash bumps on my lower legs will leave dark red-purple scars.
The arm rash and the thigh rash are finally clearing and I don't think they will leave scars but I do think some of the rash bumps on my lower legs will leave dark red-purple scars.
Frijole -- My nurse figures I just loaded up my tummy with PEG for a lot of weeks, and that's what caused the patches. I am not getting bruises from the injections at all, as the needles are super small and I am doing a pretty good job (for someone who hates needles) of not hurting myself. This is an after effect. I'm allergic to Benadryl Spray, unfortunately.
Slideman -- Way cool. Hope that one clears up soon :)
Working Dog -- I am hoping your scars go away easily. I am just now hearing from others about this hair loss/growth side effect. My hair isn't falling out but it is severely dehydrated and completely tangled/matted. I'm working on it.
Indy -- Funny, I'm using Dove Sensitive Body Wash too!
Thanks for participating everyone!
Slideman -- Way cool. Hope that one clears up soon :)
Working Dog -- I am hoping your scars go away easily. I am just now hearing from others about this hair loss/growth side effect. My hair isn't falling out but it is severely dehydrated and completely tangled/matted. I'm working on it.
Indy -- Funny, I'm using Dove Sensitive Body Wash too!
Thanks for participating everyone!
Maybe you can get that pony tail from the 70's back!! HAH!! My hair got thinner and I got a sort of bald spot on the back of my head, last time I did tx I just shaved the whole thing. Harder on the girls I'm sure.
Wk 18 and no scars from injections, just biopsy from derm when I had itchy/scratchies on back, thighs and arms-cleared w/Rx. I maintain this by washing w/Dove Sensitice skin, and 2x a day slather w/Nivea lotion Rich formula for dry skin. My belly injection sites are red blotches and have been from wk 1 of tx; I use cream there also. I spent first 12 wks of tx w/PIA rash, so I'm feel better now.
billy congratulations on the new hair. So hep C treatment is the new Rogaine!
Yes, most of my skin problems are from the scratching, not the injections too. I think maybe lack of water creates a problem too -- it has been hard to drink enough water lately.
slide - glad you are healing up.
bee - I think it is important to use differnet products - maybe one thing in the morning and a different one at bed.
Yes, most of my skin problems are from the scratching, not the injections too. I think maybe lack of water creates a problem too -- it has been hard to drink enough water lately.
slide - glad you are healing up.
bee - I think it is important to use differnet products - maybe one thing in the morning and a different one at bed.
no needle scars....but lots of scratch scars..on my lower back....on my thighs..i couldn't stop itching ...was bleeding a watery blood all over...the rash sx i got real bad.....but 2 months post tx i swear the bold spot on the back of my head is growing new hair that hasn't been there for years ...we'll see what happens....billy
I still have one red patch on my stomach from a month ago, other than that I'm scar free!!
Bee
I have been wanting to respond for days--
I am wondering if you can get smaller needles. The needles with the PegIntron redipen are 30 gauge and only 8mm long (less than half an inch) and they leave almost no mark. The only time I had an injection bruise is when I twisted it around to see if I had the right dose set. If you are doing Pegasys prefills, can you screw off the needle and change it out? Same on the procrit. Can you get smaller needles? Now I do get bruises from the procrit but I haven't done any for a month so that is fine. Go light on the neosporin unless you have infections.
The rash is definitely a problem. IT is not, I have finally decided, a riba rash, but a Victrelis rash. The PA too said that the VIC gives a rash. They rxed steroid creme - triamcinolon and a pill - hydroxyz hcl. They help some and I use a lot of Gold Bond. I have found that Solar Caine works too on the open sores I get from scratching. Also Benedryl spray. I mix and match but yes, Bee, still have the itching and the rashes.
I have been wanting to respond for days--
I am wondering if you can get smaller needles. The needles with the PegIntron redipen are 30 gauge and only 8mm long (less than half an inch) and they leave almost no mark. The only time I had an injection bruise is when I twisted it around to see if I had the right dose set. If you are doing Pegasys prefills, can you screw off the needle and change it out? Same on the procrit. Can you get smaller needles? Now I do get bruises from the procrit but I haven't done any for a month so that is fine. Go light on the neosporin unless you have infections.
The rash is definitely a problem. IT is not, I have finally decided, a riba rash, but a Victrelis rash. The PA too said that the VIC gives a rash. They rxed steroid creme - triamcinolon and a pill - hydroxyz hcl. They help some and I use a lot of Gold Bond. I have found that Solar Caine works too on the open sores I get from scratching. Also Benedryl spray. I mix and match but yes, Bee, still have the itching and the rashes.
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