Aa
One shot down, only 47 to go
I finally got started on my tx this past weekend. My sx weren't as bad as I thought they might be, which I think is great. Mostly body aches... can't figure out if it is joints, bones or muscles hurting because it seems to be all of the above.
I was wondering if most people had the most sever sx at the beginning or later on in the course of tx. What did you experience?
I was wondering if most people had the most sever sx at the beginning or later on in the course of tx. What did you experience?
I am glad to hear that those other medical things you were concerned with have resolved and now you can treat. My first week was not bad at all, but now I am taking shot 7 today and my condition is much more challenging. It has helped me to adjust my expectations and realize that I cannot do what I once did, but that this will only be a temporary situation for me and by next year I will be back to my old self. And, I have the hope of SVR as well. Then, any sx I am having to adjust to and deal with will be well worth it all.
We have to always have our eyes on the "big picture" and not let our day-to-day experiences cloud our reality. It is easy to be negative when we don't feel well and there will be days like that while on tx. Instead of fighting all this, I have finally accepted it and all that goes with it. I have been able to make peace with tx and now my focus has shifted to the Cure. I imagine how my life will be when I am SVR and that this is just the process to get there. Sort of like how I suffered getting my BA in middle age after my kids left the nest. It was grueling, but I had a goal foremost in my mind and nothing was going to stop me from obtaining it. I look at tx the same way.
I know you will do fine, Diane, and we are all here to offer encouragement, support, or prayers whenever you need it.
jaz
We have to always have our eyes on the "big picture" and not let our day-to-day experiences cloud our reality. It is easy to be negative when we don't feel well and there will be days like that while on tx. Instead of fighting all this, I have finally accepted it and all that goes with it. I have been able to make peace with tx and now my focus has shifted to the Cure. I imagine how my life will be when I am SVR and that this is just the process to get there. Sort of like how I suffered getting my BA in middle age after my kids left the nest. It was grueling, but I had a goal foremost in my mind and nothing was going to stop me from obtaining it. I look at tx the same way.
I know you will do fine, Diane, and we are all here to offer encouragement, support, or prayers whenever you need it.
jaz
My side effects came and went with no pattern. Good days then bad days. My rashes started after about 3 months and got worse all the way to the end. They got really bad. I was a mental case on my treatment. Lots of depression. I was in nowhere land. I wish you the very best!
Good for you!! Hang in there, I am right behind you....will let you know when I do first shot. happy Spring...
Wanted to wish you well. I know how that end of tx feels you just want to take the last shot and get it over with...Long journey but a job well done.
Wish you good health.............
Charm
Wish you good health.............
Charm
Wanted to wish you well with your treatment, Diane. Everyone is different on treatment, I rode the first few weeks well and then hgb crashed at Week 4, felt like I got hit by a Mack truck but then adjusted to that feeling also ... it came so quickly but then you get adjusted to your "new normal". Lots of different things came along ... nausea period of weeks and weeks, could sort of eat, could eat only certain things...just go with whatever comes your way. Keep an eye on your labs, treat your side effects, get your rest, change your expectations to adjust to your differing capabilities, pay attention to your "quality" of life over quantity and ROLL with it .... all the best to you, Diane.
Trish
Trish
Every one is different. But generally the muscle and joint aches as well as fever tend to subside over time. Over the course of tx, different things like itching and skin rash can go on which is impossible to predict.
The best advice is to drink LOTS OF WATER. Sounds very simple and no big deal, but on tx is so easy to forget. I've found as soon as I start getting itchjng and rashes that I need to increase water intake and they clear up within a day or two.
Also try do something about any sxs before they become a major problem.
Get adequate sleep.
Good luck.
aleks
The best advice is to drink LOTS OF WATER. Sounds very simple and no big deal, but on tx is so easy to forget. I've found as soon as I start getting itchjng and rashes that I need to increase water intake and they clear up within a day or two.
Also try do something about any sxs before they become a major problem.
Get adequate sleep.
Good luck.
aleks
Congratulations on the beginning of a long journey. People are right, drink lots of water! I didn't have very bad symptoms at first but they developed over time. The best advice I can give you is to take each symptom and deal with it individually. The symptoms come and go. There is a wealth of information on this forum for any symptoms you may get.
The best to you Diane! You can do it!
The best to you Diane! You can do it!
Yes Ma'am!
I remembered what you said about drinking water, and you are so right!!! Every time I started feeling kind of yucky, I'd drink another glass of water, and I'd feel better.
I remembered what you said about drinking water, and you are so right!!! Every time I started feeling kind of yucky, I'd drink another glass of water, and I'd feel better.
Later - definitely. The first few weeks were a breeze. So do whatever you can to remain proactive about it all.....don't take it for granted (drink your water young lady!!!) so you can try and keep them at bay as long as possible!
I honestly did not have terrible sx from my first shot - just some chills and the flu-like achy sort of feeling. For me the ribavarin was harder, because my hgb got hammered. It took about 3-4 weeks before I began to feel the effects of the hemolytic anemia, and by about week 6 or 7 it really crashed.
Diane, this may not happen to you. Plenty of people do this tx with mild to moderate sx - these people just don't bother with internet forums much because they feel ok.
I hope your tx continues to be easy. At least you are over the first hurdle, and that's a real accomplishment.
jd
Diane, this may not happen to you. Plenty of people do this tx with mild to moderate sx - these people just don't bother with internet forums much because they feel ok.
I hope your tx continues to be easy. At least you are over the first hurdle, and that's a real accomplishment.
jd
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Like JD, my hgb tanked at week 7. So did my seratonin...but nothing Zoloft couldn't fix. Hgb stayed low throughout, but I still managed work and school.
Listen to your body. Like NYGirl says.....be aware of the sx and hit them hard...before they hit you. One of the best things you can do is to keep up the water-drinking. Also try to eat good nourishing food. Admittedly, I was totally addicted to ice cream and licorice....but I did eat well when I could.
Good luck to you and CONGRATULATIONS on getting started!!!
Isobella