Re: Peg-intron arrived

[Guest guest]

Claudine,

Thanks for the advice on when to start Peg. I'll wait till Saturday.

Concerning Neupogen....I live in Des Moines, IA, and go to the VA for

treatment. I usually only get to see a doctor for 18 months before he or she

moves.

The first doctor who treated me with interferon only let me take three shots

and took me off because of low white blood count and low platelets. He said

there was nothing to treat the side effects.

I finally started driving to the VA in Omaha, NE, to see doctors from the

University of Nebraska Medical Center. The doctor previous to the one I'm

seeing now let me stay on monotherapy for 9 months and tooke me off because

of white blood and platelets.

I learned about Neupogen from reading yours and others' postings and

mentioned it some time back to the doctor I'm now seeing. He said he uses

Epogen, which didn't make much sense to me. It took a long time to (this

probably sounds arrogant, but these guys can be a pain sometimes) get this

guy broken in. Every time I'd ask him about something relatively new, and he

wouldn't seem to know much, I'd offer a print-out for him to read, and he'd

say, " My plate is full. I'm too busy to read anything. " I'd tell him, Well, I

wish you were as concerned as I am. Anyway, he's much better now, but it's

been 18 months now, so by the time I go for lab work, he may be gone, and

I'll start with someone new.

I was assigned a nurse on April 1st, however, when the prescription for combo

was first filled. She's going to always be there and is great, so I'll depend

on her. She's the one (I mentioned this to you back then) who said I might

get depressed and that rather than taking patients off treatment, they treat

the side effects. Good.

I had an appointment two weeks later here in Des Moines with my primary care

person for a 6 month hypothyroidism check up and mentioned the Zoloft to him

to see if he could get me started on it early. He showed me his medical book

which said Zoloft is processed by the liver and said I should avoid it if

possible. I asked him if he would come live with my 15-year old and wife and

listen to them being disrespectful to one another and I'd come live at his

house for 48 weeks.

Well, just got up to have a bowl of cereal and looked to see if there was a

response to my email. Thanks. I'll take the shot Saturday. Anxious to get

started. I have 1a and don't really expect to clear the virus, but am looking

forward to my liver getting a bit of a break. I also have read that ribavirin

helps fight off non-hodgkins lymphoma and possibly some other problems that

exposure to Agent Orange has caused some veterans.

Going back to bed now. Take good care.

Your friend,

Gene

[Guest guest]

Hi Gene,

I'd take the shot on Saturday, late afternoon or as soon as you

close down for the day. Depending on how long it takes for sides to

hit, you might even take it earlier. I'm sure you know from past

experience that the first injection is usually the worst, but what

I'm seeing in people on Peg is that those rough side effects last a

couple of days, not just the first 24 hours. As for the low WBC, have

you talked to your doctor about Neupogen? It is now being used very

commonly to treat low WBC during treatment, and can keep you on

treatment at the optimal dose. I would discuss it NOW, since low WBC

is a bit more of a problem with the Peg than with the old interferon.

Good luck! And drink your water, lol! Keep us posted.

Claudine

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I guess that can be a bit of a problem when you never know if you

will keep the same doctor! Epogen is used to build up RED blood

cells, Neupogen is for the WHITE blood cells. Neumega can help build

up platelets. A lot of docs panic too much when counts drop,

especially with the WBC and platelets. Tell them to read the

literature that comes with the medications. It gives instructions on

when dose reduction is recommended, or treatment stopped - and the

counts are pretty low. I think the red cell counts are more

important. When they drop you can really FEEL sick! As for Zoloft,

your liver function tests will be checked very frequently while on

treatment anyway, so if there was a problem they would catch it.

Almost all drugs have some sort of warning about the liver. At least

with us docs are watching for problems! (Or they should be!) Again,

good luck! And think positive!

C

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

HI.I hve been on the combo-treatment for 15 months,after unsuccesfully did two

mono-theraphy treatments.The side-effect with the combo was less then with

mono,but every persons reacts differently to treatment.The side-effects which

effected me most was sleeplesness and brainfog.Also after six months or so the

eyes started to play tricks with me.I still had brainfog after i finished

treatment,after taking MSM it disappeared.Try to do treatment for one year,it.s

more effective then six months.I became not detectable after three months.Now

I.am waiting for the nxt PCR.I don.t think I hve cleared the

virus.(feeling).It.s waiting for the miracle-cure.Treatment is giving your liver

a break,it even can reverse some of the damage and people who had treatment are

likely to develop less cirroshis then non-treated people.Goodluck..

Peg-intron arrived

Hi all,

Wondering what your guys' experiences were when taking peg-intron and

ribavirin, concerning next day symptoms.

My wife and I operate a hair salon and work six days. Off Sundays. Nurse told

me last April that, when the meds arrived, I should take the shot on Saturday

evening because of next day side effects.

Ribavirin arrived last Saturday. Peg-intron came today (box must have been

delayed a while...it had been opened and retaped....the reusable " cold bank "

bag was melted and each individual box felt pretty warm to the touch, so hope

it's still okay).

I'm anxious to get started. I was on monotherapy for a second time a few

years ago (for nine months). Was taken off because of low white blood count

and low platelets. If the sides are no worse than monotherapy, I'm thinking

of starting tonight when I get back home from work instead of waiting for

Saturday.

Your imput would be appreciated. This will be the first time I've taken

Rebetrol and don't want to be sick while I'm adding color and bounce to my

clients' lives. lol... If it's no worse than the three shots of interferon

per week, I'd just as soon get started.

Your friend,

Gene

[Guest guest]

Hi, I am on week 8 of peg intro and Rebetol. I have the powder for injection

so there is no need to refrigerate the med. I mix it at the time of

injection. Can you ask to get your medicine in this form? As far as your

medicine being opened. All of my personal Packages have been opened since

Sept 11. The only one that wasn't opened was from the phone co. a modem I

received. It is a pretty standard operation now.

I took my first shot at night after drinking lots of water all day, with a

motrin and food.

I slept like a baby and woke up and couldn't believe how well I felt.

At my hep c support group the consensus is week 3 is where some confusion is

the worst.

As weeks go on I am glad to take the injection at night after a calming bath

and with a day of rest afterwards.

I truly believe drinking the recommended amount of water is essential. When

I fell behind on my water I got dizzy and a little nauseous.

I wish you the best my friend,

I look at my medicine as my friend, not the enemy, this is what will cure me

and if not it will help me in many others ways as the studies are indicating.

By the way, I am an esthetician!

I would love to have my own salon one day.

Sincerely,

Donna

[Guest guest]

Hi Gene....

I'm sure everyone will have a different answer for you because every reacts

differently, but I had no problem when starting treatment. The night after my

first shot I woke up every hour checking for sides...and nothing felt any

different. I was very fortunate...the worst sides I experienced were extreme

crankiness after several months and the loss of my thyroid probably about 6

months into tx.

Blessings

Tatezi

Peg-intron arrived

Hi all,

Wondering what your guys' experiences were when taking peg-intron and

ribavirin, concerning next day symptoms.

My wife and I operate a hair salon and work six days. Off Sundays. Nurse told

me last April that, when the meds arrived, I should take the shot on Saturday

evening because of next day side effects.

Ribavirin arrived last Saturday. Peg-intron came today (box must have been

delayed a while...it had been opened and retaped....the reusable " cold bank "

bag was melted and each individual box felt pretty warm to the touch, so hope

it's still okay).

I'm anxious to get started. I was on monotherapy for a second time a few

years ago (for nine months). Was taken off because of low white blood count

and low platelets. If the sides are no worse than monotherapy, I'm thinking

of starting tonight when I get back home from work instead of waiting for

Saturday.

Your imput would be appreciated. This will be the first time I've taken

Rebetrol and don't want to be sick while I'm adding color and bounce to my

clients' lives. lol... If it's no worse than the three shots of interferon

per week, I'd just as soon get started.

Your friend,

Gene

[Guest guest]

Claudine....

The wealth of knowledge you bring to us is just amazing. I am so glad you know

so much to guide us through all this. Course, we are here for you too, ya know

<wink>

BTW, remember that folic acid is great for building red blood cells if you start

getting low red counts.

Tatezi

Re: Peg-intron arrived

I guess that can be a bit of a problem when you never know if you

will keep the same doctor! Epogen is used to build up RED blood

cells, Neupogen is for the WHITE blood cells. Neumega can help build

up platelets.

[Guest guest]

Claudine....

The wealth of knowledge you bring to us is just amazing. I am so glad you know

so much to guide us through all this. Course, we are here for you too, ya know

<wink>

BTW, remember that folic acid is great for building red blood cells if you start

getting low red counts.

Tatezi

Re: Peg-intron arrived

I guess that can be a bit of a problem when you never know if you

will keep the same doctor! Epogen is used to build up RED blood

cells, Neupogen is for the WHITE blood cells. Neumega can help build

up platelets.