pegasys

[cb867]

I start pegasys in July. Are the side effects really bad? I know everyone is different.. Do most people lose some of their hair? I just wanted info from someone that has been on this.

[vob]

Started my first shot a week ago. Had all the side effects which lasted about 6 hours. Uncontrollable Shivers like someone in the movies with drug withdrawal symptons, itching   vomiting, nausea, asthma like attack trouble breathing, cold, head aches    then the next day and the whole week had no effects. 2nd shot no effects. Actually I feel better than I felt for a  while, surprisingly I do not feel tired.

[hopeful51]

This is the second time I have tx. The first time side affects were minimal.
Lost some hair I have alot no one noticed and lost weight... never a bad thing for me...

This time am tx for 72 wks(only 57 more wks to go) Sides have been different had sores in mouth got some meds it went away. Then felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest for about a month that has also gone away.Now I have the ribba rash have medacation for it and it is really helping, and I am lossin' more hair
last time hair loss lasted bout 3 months
The fatigue both times I have been able to power through.
I think that with all the drugs we now take that our bodys do start to adjust.
It can be diffacult but try and be patient the sides for me kinda come and go. Gee can't wait to see what the next one might be Ha Ha.
Any rest you can give your liver is a very good thing.

Ask your Doc lots of questions you are your own best advocate.
Read everything you can.
Get copies of your test resuts.

The people on this forum are a wealth of knowledge.
Let us konw how you are doing when you start tx..... It is do able...
Best of Luck
Hopeful51

[jonney4141]

For me it has been a wild and crazy roller coaster ride, at times i feel that i should of left well enough alone, but i had severe pain on my right side under ribs, and i had extreme fatigue (no matter how much sleep i got) and i thought i had some sort of arthritus and could hardly make it up my stairs actually had all kinds of joint and bone pains, rhematologist is how i found out i had hcv. i feel that i was lucky to have had those pains cause now i can do something about it, whether it works or not at least i can say i tried. the doc said i am responding. that is the only reason i keep taking this stuff, it has made my life rough, i no longer work, my blood is all whacked out, i am anemic, i have horrible rash's i have rage i think i can say i have had just about all of the sides at one week or day , i have not lost hair and i have not lost weight, i also had the horrible mouth sores but it did not stop me from eating lol. I have to take my life one day at a time, and thank God that my husband is understanding and that i have people praying and have a roof over my head and food to eat. I don't know how others maintained their jobs cause there is no way i could of continued working. please don't let this stop you from treating, but it's things that could possible happen to you, and i was glad i knew about this stuff before hand, and studied and asked questions.

[newleaf09]

The side effects vary from person to person, depending on yourindividual immune system.  I never had the flu-like reaction but most do.  I've had the others, though, the low platelets and neutrophils.  You just can't know until you get going.  There are some who have very little side effects except for a bit of fatigue.

I think at least half of the patients or more have hair loss. If you had thin hair to begin with it will be noticeable.  It's mostly noticeable to your own self.

It's not fun, but it is actually kind of interesting and it is bearable.  Certainly beats the alternative.