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237222 tn?1202508641

Flu symptoms getting much worse at week 12

Hi everyone!

I haven't post for a long while, now, since the end of the summer.  I started therapy the 20th of November and have been half of the week in bed, the other have crawling around the house and shops and even if some times I think it is getting a bit better, the next week something hits even harder.....  now I have definitely devised a pattern (before it was generally sooo bad that I just couldn't put my finger on which of the side effects were worse):  My headaches, lower back pain and stubbing  pains in my body, specially legs are getting are playing an increciendo sonata that is getting the best of me.  

I know there is a rescue drug used in America, but very difficult (and expensive) to get in the UK.  Anyone knows the name of it??  Some time I think (specially when I feel like my brain is melting) that I cannot carry on like this, and will ask to have the meds reduced...  any other suggestion?  I was thinking in acupuncture and/or massage (are there specific for chronic pain?), or reflexology??

Thank you !!

Amateur  
8 Responses
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264121 tn?1313029456
I think a lot of people here are on xanax to help them sleep and vicoprophen for the pain, and then the phenergan and zofran for nausea.  So that's probably the norm.  Some are on stronger pain meds, but I am probably on the heavy side with the pain meds.  I go to a pain clinic to get mine.  You might see if your doctor will refer you to one if whatever he/she does isn't working.  

Everyone has difficulty with the treatment drugs but its expressed differently for everyone, and my personal feeling is that the treatment drugs tend to exploit what our natural weaknesses are.  In other words, I have migraines anyway, now they're mindsplitting.  Rheumatoid arthritis runs in my family, so of course, painful joints were my first symptom on the interferon.  I tend to do very bad the first few days after the shot, then start to feel ok right before the next shot, then it starts all over again.
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Avatar universal
Hope it helps, I used  a lot of his links,    
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237222 tn?1202508641
Thanks for the link, Deb.  I will have a look
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237222 tn?1202508641
Thank you very much!

I take good note of demerol, to ask my consultant for it next week.  I hope you are not suffering too much.  I almost feel like I have no reason to complain!

So I see that maybe there is not such thing like a specific drug for the flu???  Somehow, I was convinced I heard something here......

At least, if demerol can take my pearcing headaches away I provably could cope with the  rest.

amateur
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264121 tn?1313029456
to me it sounds like you are having primarily issues with pain and fatigue.  I haven't kept up with your treatment (I can't remember anyone's treatment protocol because my memory is so bad) so I don't know which medications you're on but at the outset, I wanted to make sure you're getting regular bloodwork done, and to see if you're anemic.  If so, do you take procrit for that.  It helps a good deal with the fatigue to at least have a normal blood count.

I am also having severe leg pain, so I feel badly for you.  I have horrible aching in my long bones and joints, plus stiffness in my joints, and more of a shooting pain on the outside of my calves and thighs.  I think that last one is nerve pain.  I am strong pain killers and it STILL doesn't take the pain away, so I can't imagine you going through that without anything.

I take morphine and demerol for pain.  (morphine for body pain, demerol for migraines)  I take phenergan and zofran for nausea.  I'm going to try lyrica again now that I've figured out that some of the leg pain seems to be nerve related.  That drug isn't a narcotic and it does seem to help some people with extremity pain.

Anyway, keep us up to date with how you're doing and let us know if there's anything we can do to help.  Hope you feel better.
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237222 tn?1202508641
I know I have to hold on.. I know.  That's why I want the rescue drugs!  I am tired of being an amazon or spartan.  

I think Eprix  is used against anemia, and I am -almost- OK on that.  I need something specific to contrarrest flu symptoms...  I thought I heard commenting about it in this forum a few months ago..

Amateur
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Avatar universal
moa is right, and some great comments!

Same here. I am with you!

I am sure national Health should have an equivelant rescue drug, I am in US.  Have you been to a website called Hep C boy? Not sure if he is active still or not,  but he had some great links and such he is in UK also.
http://www.hepcboy.com/

Not sure this will help, but good luck.
Deb

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232778 tn?1217447111
There are different drugs available. In Canada, I was eligible for Eprix (EPO), but fortunatley, I did not need it. There are various anti-depresants and other options too. I used sleeping pills around time of injection, just to get me in a good routine, but I think these ultimately lead to more tiredness as well.

Water helps. I also think it helps to try and be active, even just one trip outside each day (easier said than done, I remember waking up only a few weeks ago, and not wanting to get up, but having too). This treatment is "hard-core" for many, and hard for others who have not gone through it to understand, but, if your results are encouraging, then please do your best to stick with it, making use whatever support you can find.
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