Aa
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Hi I am starting treatment for Hep c 12 weeks with Sovaldi and Ribavirin tomorrow. Was wondering what to expect. Is there anyone who can tell me what their experienced have been?
Hi, and welcome to the Forum, Vix. So I am so late with input, but life gets in the way, some days. THAT, by the way, is a good thing!
As for what to expect: I looked at your profile and see that you are male. Men tend to experience less side effects, generally, than females, or don't talk about them, 'younger' do better than 'older', better health and exercised people seem to have less side effects, or milder ones. HOWEVER, these a very general statements. There are many who continued to work and missed no work or only a day or two. Some a few more dayes.
Generally the side effects that people are really aware of are fatigue, in part, due to the hepc, in part dur to the meds, and in part, for some, due to the drop of Hemoglobin, sometimes into the range of anemia. In some that drop never gets below the bottom of the normal range, so they notice no more than mild fatigue, need for a nap or rest, every day.
DRy mouth seems to affect pretty much everyone. Biotene products, toothpaste, mouth wash, mouth spray, or a similar product made by some other company (there are several) helps with that, but them best, AND MOST IMPORTANT help is to keep yourself well hydrated, When I first joined and asked questions, I was told that the best way to insure that is to frink an ounce of water for every pound of weight up to 1/2 you body weight. I still do that.
SOME experience a 'sinus drainage' sort of cough later in the treatment, but like I said, my tx was 24 weeks, so you may not have that. Dry skin can be a problem, get yourself a good moisturing lotion and use it every day (Yes, I give that same suggestion to men as well as women. It is not about beauty
but about maintaining healthy skin).
I hope I have given you some answers that make sense to you and that you can use. If you have specific questions, ask away. Someone will probably experienced it and have information, suggestions, etc.
This is a great time to have hepc, if you have to have it. Treatment is available and if a person has no insurance, available through other channels.
It is also of short duration, as you already know, and the side effects, if there are any, are usually mild, and certainly doable.
When do you start tx and what is your genotype (Gt) ?
Good luck, good treating.......and on to SVR (sustained viral response, hepc Speak for cure). : -).
Pat
As for what to expect: I looked at your profile and see that you are male. Men tend to experience less side effects, generally, than females, or don't talk about them, 'younger' do better than 'older', better health and exercised people seem to have less side effects, or milder ones. HOWEVER, these a very general statements. There are many who continued to work and missed no work or only a day or two. Some a few more dayes.
Generally the side effects that people are really aware of are fatigue, in part, due to the hepc, in part dur to the meds, and in part, for some, due to the drop of Hemoglobin, sometimes into the range of anemia. In some that drop never gets below the bottom of the normal range, so they notice no more than mild fatigue, need for a nap or rest, every day.
DRy mouth seems to affect pretty much everyone. Biotene products, toothpaste, mouth wash, mouth spray, or a similar product made by some other company (there are several) helps with that, but them best, AND MOST IMPORTANT help is to keep yourself well hydrated, When I first joined and asked questions, I was told that the best way to insure that is to frink an ounce of water for every pound of weight up to 1/2 you body weight. I still do that.
SOME experience a 'sinus drainage' sort of cough later in the treatment, but like I said, my tx was 24 weeks, so you may not have that. Dry skin can be a problem, get yourself a good moisturing lotion and use it every day (Yes, I give that same suggestion to men as well as women. It is not about beauty
but about maintaining healthy skin).
I hope I have given you some answers that make sense to you and that you can use. If you have specific questions, ask away. Someone will probably experienced it and have information, suggestions, etc.
This is a great time to have hepc, if you have to have it. Treatment is available and if a person has no insurance, available through other channels.
It is also of short duration, as you already know, and the side effects, if there are any, are usually mild, and certainly doable.
When do you start tx and what is your genotype (Gt) ?
Good luck, good treating.......and on to SVR (sustained viral response, hepc Speak for cure). : -).
Pat
hello, Vix, I completed treatment with Solvaldi/riba an now cured..ate a lot of peanut butter. You'll do o.k. I was very scared of treatment because of old treatment....so I know how u feel. Everyone will help you get through any problems u have. Take care. Mary
Hmmm, glad you got some first hand extensive info from dear poster!
Just wonerin' where all the other SOV/RIB heads are, Super Bowl is definitely over.... Lol crying in their Starbucks ? :-) NO, not this crowd of awesome folks!
They'll be here!!
Hi :-)
Just checking how you made out & if you started today~
Keeping you in prayer sweet one,
Randy
Hey Vix..Well I ate a bunch of steamed spinach, I ate the superfood salad from Trader Joes but you can p/up anywhere. I'm really not much of a meat eater bcuz of the hormones, but besides iron your gonna want to eat protein,fish,yogurt with blue agave syrup. My taste change a lot so about all I could stomach was raw veggies, fruit, I craved eggs, Oatmeal. It's going to be whatever tastes good to you. I found that any sugary junk was really nasty tasting. Um..craved carbs for the first month and then couldn't eat that anymore. It sounds worse than it is, just find something that tastes good and is relatively healthy. Oh yeah nuts, like trail mix. Try and stay away from red meat unless it's hormone free, puts a strain on liver. And keep vigilant about staying hydrated, soooo important!! If you start to feel fatigued, tired or crabby, that's your body telling you to rest, so if you can, take naps that allows your body to heal. Don't try and exert yourself because it will wear you down and the fatigue will set in. You can take Vit D the limit is 2000mgs a day. You can take 1in the morning and 1 in late afternoon. You may want to eat 5 small meals a day instead of your regular 3 meals just until you know how ur tummy does.
There are liver healthy food lists on the Internet, they are helpful.
Wow sorry, I hope this doesn't put ur brain on overload. No herbal supplements.
This is just my experience, you may find you breeze thru Tx without a hitch. Just keep eye on fatigue, if you get light headed drink water, if it persists give your doc a call could be start of anemia which is resolved pretty much in an adjustment of your Riba.
You're gonna do great, just keep your eye on the prize...SVR. I wasUND in 21 days and still am.
If you need moral support or have ANY questions I will do my best to answer. RBeth is wonderful like everyone here, Caring and knowledgeable
Keep the community posted on your progress we are here to walk you thru Tx.
((((((((((HUGS))))))))) Vix
Peace
Deb
Good to know. I was wondering what some of the foods you ate to keep up your iron count?
Just let me say one thing and that is the Riba is not that bad. I think it gets a bad rap sometimes. Not to say that there are no side effects but they a so minimal in my experience. I was on Sov/Riba 24 wk protocol.
Deb
Deb
Hi Vix....Welcome to the community! I just spoke to RBeth and she said you were looking for some answers to. Riba question. If you tell me what you need to know I'd be happy to help you out :)
Peace and Good Karma
Peace and Good Karma
I'll bump this up!
Phil 4:6 I cling to
You'll do well & asking questions, on this board is a really good thing!
All blessings
Randy
Thanks, I have read up on stats, but I was hoping for some hands on feed back. I understand each person is different and has different symptoms and side effects. Trying not to be anxious for anything and to attain the peace that surpasses all understanding.
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