Re: could poeple please post thier experience with interferon/ribaviran therapy

[Guest guest]

My personal experience so far (1 month) has been no side effects except being nervous about the whole thing and having bad nerves, (what's new?), sometimes my stomach is icky like tonight right after my injection. I inject on Friday with the interferon and have to take the ribavirin caps (4 a day) for 20 more weeks. My dx is HepC - Geno 3. Of course you don't feel great taking all this junk. I feel really really tired on Saturday and Sunday. I think I'm tired most of the time but my doctor said my blood work looked good and there's no indication I can't continue the treatment. What else, - oh I work full time at a pretty high profile job. I'm not bald or anything and I guess I look pretty normal. I'm starting not to sleep well at night but I don't even think that's a side effect of this stuff!! (LOL) I was worried when I found out that Hep C people are on the American's With Disabilities Act. I thought I was in big trouble. I think I am luckier than most people so far and I hope you are too. I've read some very astonishing and disturbing things about side effects that most people I talk to don't have. Its important to have a good doctor. At first I hated my guy but now I think he's OK. He just couldn't believe I was making such a big deal out of this when I have an 85% chance for a complete "sustained virulogic response" or SVR. I am older than 32 but younger than 100- LOL. Seriously wish I was 32 I think I'd have this thing beat before I could even worry about side effects. I want to say I don't have side effects but of course I do - I hate to take all those ribavirin caps they gag me. The injection is a baby needle and it absolutely does not hurt at all. However, its not fun at all. No one wants to have this disease. If you can get rid ouf it do it. If I were you I would definitely go for it - you can do this I bet. Believe me - you DO NOT want to screw up your liver. I recommend Astanga Yoga to keep in good shape. Good Luck! Peace & Love - Abby >> I am trying to find out what i can expect to feel like when i start > treatment soon. I understand the possible side effects, and i > understand everyone responds differently and different poeple tolerate > the drugs better than others. I would just like to hear exactly what > it was like to be on these drugs. Will I be able to work part-time > about 20 hours a week, and will I be able to go to school 4 nights a > week still?> > I am a 32 yr old healthy male with no symptoms> Genotype 1, and a low viral load of 155,000 UI and will be starting > treatment with interferon and ribaviran in a month> > thanks Everyone>

[Guest guest]

Hi Rich,

Fancy running into you here! LOL! One thing I want to add to the comments here

is that

your treatment is individualized, based on your labs, your physical response,

your

emotional response, etc. After being on treatment for 3 months, I had to reduce

my

interferon by half. I was very concerned that my results would be compromised,

but

fortunately they weren't. Six years ago when I did the treatment, we didn't have

the extras

like procrit, etc to help with low blood counts. These things, plus the support

of people

who have been through this only increases your chances of compliance, and hence

success. I felt like crap for the first 3 months on treatment, but I dragged

myself to work

(special education teacher - 3-5 year olds with disabilities- no easy task even

on a good

day!). I used my sick days, too, but with the support of my coworkers, husband,

and

support group, I made it.

Best wishes,

> I am trying to find out what i can expect to feel like when i start

> treatment soon. I understand the possible side effects, and i

> understand everyone responds differently and different poeple tolerate

> the drugs better than others. I would just like to hear exactly what

> it was like to be on these drugs. Will I be able to work part-time

> about 20 hours a week, and will I be able to go to school 4 nights a

> week still?

>

> I am a 32 yr old healthy male with no symptoms

> Genotype 1, and a low viral load of 155,000 UI and will be starting

> treatment with interferon and ribaviran in a month

>

> thanks Everyone

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Jackie

>