i'm 56 and have just started treatments

[mike331]

if i did not get sick the 1st week of treatment of pegasys & copegus what are the chances of me geting sick or bad side effects later in treatment? i've heard from different sources that it will differ between people but was needing reassured. i'm also taking vitamins & fruits & vegetables & stopped smoking altogether& no caffeine& have not drank in 20 years& am drinking plenty of water daily so i'm trying 2 b as healthy going into all this.

[meakea]

Mike...after reading your post, my impression of you is that you will do well with treatment and I don't say that because you did well with your first shot but because you are doing everything positive for yourself to help minimize your side effects.  Keep doing what you're doing and, most of all, keep that positive attitude.  One shot at a time and you will get through it.  I was 53 when I started treatment so us "oldies" (haha) can do it!  :)

As far as your "vitamins" be sure your doc knows what you are taking and be sure they don't include iron as part of the vitamin (or at least don't include iron unless your doc says to do so).  Iron is typically a no no with HCV.

I had side effects all through treatment but I never had them all at once.  It was kind of like waves that would come and go or maybe more like a rollercoaster.  Just deal with each one as they come (if they come) and you will do fine...remembering that there is an end to treatment.

Keep up the great progress!

[curehepc]

We r on chemo, don't push too hard. Forget abt exercise and normal stuff. Just taker easy. This stuff is a snake in the grass and no walk in the park.

[mike331]

all of you will be in my prayers and keep me in yours....at least now i'm not in the dark about what to expect as i was scared at first now i'm a bit calmer...this has helped me to be positive again as i'm now 30 minutes into my second shot and going into the second week. Thank you all for answering so quick and being concerned...GOD BLESS TO ALL!

[Junebug812]

Hi Mike,

My experience has been similar to the folks above, although I did get pretty sick on my first shot night. I started tx Dec. 3rd and on Xmas day that is when I think the Riba really started to show its true colors. Ever since Xmas, I've been struggling, but not as much now as I did in January, February, and 1/2 of March. I was given Procrit at the end of February for the anemia and that helped a lot.

I just finished tx on Thursday. My hemoglobin has dropped since last month so I'm now back to struggling with the anemia. I think all the stuff you're doing to take care of yourself is bound to have a positive affect. The unknown is kind of hard but just take it day by day and be sure to be extra good to yourself!

June

[researchmonkey326]

First of all - keep doing what you are doing.  Living as healthy as possible is only going to help.  undersiege, flcyclist and I are going through very similar experiences but are at different stages of tx.  My first seven weeks was so easy compared to how I have felt this week.  Mostly then I had sun and heat sensitivity and some manic thing going on.  But in Week 8, it has kicked my butt into submission.  The one thing that is becoming evident is that for me, stress plays a huge role.  I have a very supportive boss that knows I'm in the trial but my job can be extremely stressful as it was this week and it's the worst I have felt.  I'm hoping to bounce back after the next two days off (even though today is shot #9).  Good luck and stick around.

[flcyclist]

Some have major reactions and some sail through the first weeks of trt.  I was surprised how well I felt, but at week 5, I would no longer describe it as easy sailing.  The waters are getting a little choppy.

After a few weeks you might start feeling the Riba kicking in, since it takes some time to saturate your blood cells.  Try to stay active and continue to eat well.  Best of luck with your trt and pop in and let us know how things are going.  This is an informative and entertaining forum.  

[undersiege]

Mike, concrats on getting started, I am 58 and a 2b also started tx in feb  and I'm on week 14 of 24. I had very little liver damage but just got sick of having hepc. My 1st shot was easy no sides at all but as time goes on you may have some. My sx was a cough and out of breath, weak, very sensitive to sunlight. Has not been as bad as I thought. I wish you the best and I will keep up with you on this forum.

[Anne1717]

Hi Mike - You already said it - it differs.   I started from a very healthy spot as well and really am struggling with the side effects, but, the sides that were so debilitating in the beginning are not the ones i struggle with now.  One of the reasons it is so unpredictable is, you don't know how your blood will react.  If your counts really drop, then you are going to suffer certain corresponding side effects.  I haven't lost my hair, I am not depressed or angry,  I am no longer nauseous, but boy the exhaustion is oppressive.

My NP said in her experience, the sides come and go but the one constant is the extreme fatigue, and small women have the worst of it.

Whatever you may or may not have, keep your eye on the ball and you will get through it.

Anne