First day went well!

[WriteItDown]

My husband just finished Day One.  He did great.  Very very mild flu symptoms, slept fine.  

Probably I'm just reaching here, but is there any correlation between how one responds at the start and what will happen later?  Or is it all just one big mystery depending upon what the tx gods feel like throwing at you?

Also my heartfelt thanks to everyone on the board,  just for being here and for the great gift of offering strangers your wisdom and support.  It means a lot.

[WriteItDown]

Yup, I am grateful for all I have learned here.  This way, if he gets any sx, at least I will have a small clue as to what to do to help.

[jonney4141]

amen!!!! helps to know before hand.

[nygirl7]

Sides come and sides go.  I developed a severe case of anemia at week 3 but I was taking way too much ribavirin and brought it on myself really. About week 10 I got the tongue ulcers. Then at about week 20 my thyroid failed. At week 30 I developed the fevers. By week 35 about 75-80% of my hair had fallen out. At about week 48 I developed the autoimmune skin rashes. When I finished at 72 I was pretty much shot by then.

you cannot determine what will happen and in reality having the anemia is often a good sign that you are getting enough riba into your system.  If you aren't having some sides it's often an indicator that you aren't getting enough of the meds.

There are solutions to most of the sides that can help alleviate the pain and aggravation.

Usually everybody will get the lethargy and there is just not much you can do about that except rest every free minute you have.

If/when some sides come you will be prepared for them because you are doing all of your research beforehand. That's a good thing!

Good luck!

[WriteItDown]

Thank you for your kind words.  Sorry you are having sides now -- but it's great that you've done over 30 weeks -- I hope it gets better soon.

I think I am the same way as your partner -- for example I slept kind of poorly last night, because I was so over-sensitive to my husband's every little toss and turn.  Then when he woke up at his usual time this morning, I was worried because I thought it was still night-time, but of course it's just a dark, cloudy day.

However, I'm happy to say I didn't show my husband this anxiety, because I don't want my fearful nature to effect him.  So I'm going to the gym and writing everything down (my coping mechanism), which usually calms me.  And maybe I'll have some ice cream as well.... :)

[justme53]

I glad your husband had an easier start to tx. I also had a good start...was even hiking in below zero weather a week later, but now in the 30's (week-wise), I'm like lalapple and having more of a struggle. It's like a coin toss regarding sides......

Having a good tx team is invaluable. I sometimes think that's the "tx-breaker" and makes all the difference between comp[leting or discontinuing tx.

You're so right about taking care of yourself too. My partner is very supportive, but on my worst days, he gets headaches and insomnia when he never did before. I think that stress as a caregiver may be the cause.

Best of luck to both of you!   Pam

[WriteItDown]

Thanks.

Lalapple, I am very hopeful my husband will only have to do 24 weeks of treatment, so if that happens and he's like you, maybe he'll miss out on most of the bad stuff.  Thanks for calling me an angel -- I sure do have my moments of non-angelic behavior, though!  My mantra for the treatment is to stay patient and count to ten!

Jonney, I will certainly be paying close attention to him -- he might ever call it "hovering" (but in a good-natured way). We're lucky because his docs and nurses are very supportive and experienced with the treatment, and have continually reassured us they will do all they can to get him through it and manage his sx.  

I am sorry you're getting hit with the sides... but great your spouse is there for you. I am just glad if I can help him get through it.

I am certain I will be posting here a lot, since this is my way of dealing with my own anxieties -- and I gotta take care of me, too!

[jonney4141]

it really depends on each individual. pay attention and keep asking questions if need be. some people are fine and can work and do what they normaly do, and others (myself) get hit with sides. The sides can be put under control thru doctor, and rescue meds can make things easier. Thank God you are being supportive of him!!!! My spouse has been very supportive of me, and that means so much to me. keep posting on here if you have questions, I know i asked many questions myself in the beginning and nobody steered me wrong.

[lalapple]

that's wonderful news, you're such an angel, watching over him :)

how one responds both to the drugs and the drug side effects really varies depending on the individual.  for some here, they had fever flu like symptoms starting their first shot.  i felt fine until my 30th week when the drug really built up in my system.  but for others, it got better towards the end.