Re: Do Side Effects Get Better As Time Goes On - Exchange One for the Other?

[Guest guest]

Hi Abby Everyone is different with regards to side effects but lemme tell you what I EXPERIENCED.. I had what I considered moderate side effects in the beginning such as the flu like symptoms.. low grade fever, body aches more than normal, fatigue and shortness of breath that did in fact get worse as I became more anemic.. I have heard stories of ppl having "rigors" with the first couple of shots that did go away in time... I found that in time most of the sides did in fact go away except the shortness of breath and the ongoing fatigue that did exactly like you describe,, get a little worse each week and I found in a very short time after starting tx that I was in bed most of the time.. I slept a lot but never felt really rested and just walking to the car made me huff and puff. I quit smoking 23 years ago and I cannot imagine how much worse that shortness of breath would or could have been if I had still been a smoker.. lol,, I am really glad I

quit... I think everyone is different but if your sides are getting easier,, thats GREAT!!!!!! Just make sure your doc keeps a watch on your labs so that if the shortness of breath is being caused by anemia, he can get you on procrit quickly.. IF you have any heart problems,, the anemia can cause serious issues . My family has heart problems so we watched mine closely and had to fight with my insurance company to get procrit and neupo so that I could continue on treatment... It sounds like you are doing GREAT hon,,, you just listen to your body,, sleep when you need to, eat when you can,, and drink that water,,, you go girl,, go! hehe, jaxabbycsu <abbycsu@...> wrote: I was wondering if some side effects of interferon and ribavirin go away. For example, I had no fluish symptoms after the last injection and all the real red and swollen areas at injection sites are gone. There isn't even a red spot from last week! Also, I wonder if some side effects go away and you get new ones. For example, it's getting harder and harder to wake up in the morning, at the end of the day I'm whipped more than I usually am and I can't walk up as many flights of steps as I normally would. If it wasn't for the increasing fatigue I would wonder if I'm screwing up the injections somehow. Thanks - Peace & Love - AbbyJackie

[Guest guest]

The side effects will go away , but then with the next shot you will feel just as bad. The major side effect is flu like symptoms , but there are things you can do to feel better . Like taking tylenol right before your shot . If you have nausea you can take meds like Zophran , or add a little ginger to your food . I dont think your screwing up the injections you sound like the average person on treatment . lol And yes with time the sides get less

Do Side Effects Get Better As Time Goes On - Exchange One for the Other?

I was wondering if some side effects of interferon and ribavirin go away. For example, I had no fluish symptoms after the last injection and all the real red and swollen areas at injection sites are gone. There isn't even a red spot from last week! Also, I wonder if some side effects go away and you get new ones. For example, it's getting harder and harder to wake up in the morning, at the end of the day I'm whipped more than I usually am and I can't walk up as many flights of steps as I normally would. If it wasn't for the increasing fatigue I would wonder if I'm screwing up the injections somehow. Thanks - Peace & Love - Abby

[Guest guest]

Hi Abby - I'm on week 26 of treatment and I think my side effects

change from week to week. I do think you get more tired as treatment

goes on. I get short of breath and can't walk up stairs, like you

said. I try to take walks at least 4 times a week and I live on a hill

and I just drag myself up the hill - I'm so happy when it levels

off...I have a low white blood count though and I think that has a lot

to do with it. I'm also on Neupogen for that. I have cut back to 6

hour days 4 days a week at work too cuz I was getting so exhausted

working 8 hour days.

I don't think you're screwing up your injections. Every time I do my

interferon and don't feel " that " bad, I wonder too, but sure enough,

the flu symptoms, diarrhea, headache, etc come back! HA! We'll get

through it!!!

>

> I was wondering if some side effects of interferon and ribavirin go

> away. For example, I had no fluish symptoms after the last injection

> and all the real red and swollen areas at injection sites are gone.

> There isn't even a red spot from last week! Also, I wonder if some

> side effects go away and you get new ones. For example, it's getting

> harder and harder to wake up in the morning, at the end of the day I'm

> whipped more than I usually am and I can't walk up as many flights of

> steps as I normally would. If it wasn't for the increasing fatigue I

> would wonder if I'm screwing up the injections somehow. Thanks -

> Peace & Love - Abby

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Abby,

A lot of my side effects went away after the 13th week of tx. The first 12 weeks was helll basically since I had got so many sides and never knew what was going to hit me from day to day but then it all evened out. I just have the fatigue mostly and a continual sore throat oh an insomnia that seems to be getting better, oh and the hair issue, of course. What I discovered more recently was that a lot of what was ailing me was from low hemoglobin so now I take something for that too and feel much better. The fatigue is still there but not nearly as bad and I am getting more strength to do other things. I am finding that I can stay much more active then I had b4 and am enjoying life a lot more too.

My Dr had told me in the beginning that the first 12 weeks are usually the hardest then after that, whatever you are experiencing will be what you have from then on, nothing new. Of course, it is different for everyone. I'm sure my ever dropping VL makes a difference too.

Ally

On 8/17/06, abbycsu <abbycsu@...> wrote:

I was wondering if some side effects of interferon and ribavirin go away. For example, I had no fluish symptoms after the last injection and all the real red and swollen areas at injection sites are gone.

There isn't even a red spot from last week! Also, I wonder if some side effects go away and you get new ones. For example, it's getting harder and harder to wake up in the morning, at the end of the day I'm whipped more than I usually am and I can't walk up as many flights of steps as I normally would. If it wasn't for the increasing fatigue I would wonder if I'm screwing up the injections somehow. Thanks - Peace & Love - Abby

[Guest guest]

I think we need a new doctor. They didn't treat 's side effects at all and his life was hell for six months!Ally <4thMoon@...> wrote: Hi Abby, A lot of my side effects went away after the 13th week of tx. The first 12 weeks was helll basically since I had got so many sides and never knew what was going to hit me from day to day but then it all evened out. I just have the fatigue mostly and a continual sore throat oh an insomnia that seems to be getting better, oh and the

hair issue, of course. What I discovered more recently was that a lot of what was ailing me was from low hemoglobin so now I take something for that too and feel much better. The fatigue is still there but not nearly as bad and I am getting more strength to do other things. I am finding that I can stay much more active then I had b4 and am enjoying life a lot more too. My Dr had told me in the beginning that the first 12 weeks are usually the hardest then after that, whatever you are experiencing will be what you have from then on, nothing new. Of course, it is different for everyone. I'm sure my ever dropping VL makes a difference too. Ally On 8/17/06, abbycsu <abbycsu > wrote: I was wondering if some side effects of interferon and ribavirin go away. For example, I had no fluish symptoms after the last injection and all the real red and swollen areas at injection sites are gone. There isn't even a red spot from last week! Also, I wonder if some side effects go away and you get new ones. For example, it's getting harder and harder to wake up in the morning, at the end of the day I'm whipped more than I usually am and I can't walk up as many flights of steps as I normally would. If it wasn't for the increasing fatigue I would wonder if I'm screwing up the injections somehow. Thanks - Peace & Love - Abby

Stay in the know. Pulse on the new .com. Check it out.

[Guest guest]

I think it's interesting how everyone is affected differently. I'm

glad you're feeling better these days though.

Di

> Hi Abby,

>

> A lot of my side effects went away after the 13th week of tx. The

first 12

> weeks was helll basically since I had got so many sides and never

knew what

> was going to hit me from day to day but then it all evened out. I

just have

> the fatigue mostly and a continual sore throat oh an insomnia that

seems to

> be getting better, oh and the hair issue, of course. What I

discovered more

> recently was that a lot of what was ailing me was from low

hemoglobin so now

> I take something for that too and feel much better. The fatigue is still

> there but not nearly as bad and I am getting more strength to do other

> things. I am finding that I can stay much more active then I had b4

and am

> enjoying life a lot more too.

>

> My Dr had told me in the beginning that the first 12 weeks are

usually the

> hardest then after that, whatever you are experiencing will be what

you have

> from then on, nothing new. Of course, it is different for everyone.

I'm sure

> my ever dropping VL makes a difference too.

>

> Ally

>

>

> On 8/17/06, abbycsu <abbycsu@...> wrote:

> >

> > I was wondering if some side effects of interferon and ribavirin go

> > away. For example, I had no fluish symptoms after the last injection

> > and all the real red and swollen areas at injection sites are gone.

> > There isn't even a red spot from last week! Also, I wonder if some

> > side effects go away and you get new ones. For example, it's getting

> > harder and harder to wake up in the morning, at the end of the day I'm

> > whipped more than I usually am and I can't walk up as many flights of

> > steps as I normally would. If it wasn't for the increasing fatigue I

> > would wonder if I'm screwing up the injections somehow. Thanks -

> > Peace & Love - Abby

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

That's awful. Anytime I have a problem I give her a call and she gives me whatever she can to help the problem. I'm taking 4 side effct drugs now, sheesh, but they help big time. Yeah, maybe a new Dr might be worth looking into if you are not happy with yours.

Ally

On 8/19/06, Dana Burchell <burchedl@...> wrote:

I think we need a new doctor. They didn't treat 's side effects at all and his life was hell for six months!

Ally <4thMoon@...> wrote:

Hi Abby,

A lot of my side effects went away after the 13th week of tx. The first 12 weeks was helll basically since I had got so many sides and never knew what was going to hit me from day to day but then it all evened out. I just have the fatigue mostly and a continual sore throat oh an insomnia that seems to be getting better, oh and the hair issue, of course. What I discovered more recently was that a lot of what was ailing me was from low hemoglobin so now I take something for that too and feel much better. The fatigue is still there but not nearly as bad and I am getting more strength to do other things. I am finding that I can stay much more active then I had b4 and am enjoying life a lot more too.

My Dr had told me in the beginning that the first 12 weeks are usually the hardest then after that, whatever you are experiencing will be what you have from then on, nothing new. Of course, it is different for everyone. I'm sure my ever dropping VL makes a difference too.

Ally

On 8/17/06, abbycsu <abbycsu@...> wrote:

I was wondering if some side effects of interferon and ribavirin go away. For example, I had no fluish symptoms after the last injection and all the real red and swollen areas at injection sites are gone.

There isn't even a red spot from last week! Also, I wonder if some side effects go away and you get new ones. For example, it's getting harder and harder to wake up in the morning, at the end of the day I'm whipped more than I usually am and I can't walk up as many flights of steps as I normally would. If it wasn't for the increasing fatigue I would wonder if I'm screwing up the injections somehow. Thanks - Peace & Love - Abby

Stay in the know. Pulse on the new .com.

Check it out.

[Guest guest]

I agree with you ally, I had a great doc too,, I think that some docs feel it is our punishment for getting this virus so that they feel they are the ones qualified to punish us by withholding meds for the side effects,, maybe they think that if the treatment is awful enough, we wont risk getting it again,,I think thats inhumane and everyone should have adequate side effect meds...I'd never tolerate that..Ally <4thMoon@...> wrote: That's awful. Anytime I have a problem I give her a call and she gives me whatever

she can to help the problem. I'm taking 4 side effct drugs now, sheesh, but they help big time. Yeah, maybe a new Dr might be worth looking into if you are not happy with yours. Ally On 8/19/06, Dana Burchell <burchedl > wrote: I think we need a new doctor. They didn't treat 's side effects at all and his life was hell for six months! Ally <4thMoongmail> wrote: Hi Abby, A lot of my side effects went away after the 13th week of tx. The

first 12 weeks was helll basically since I had got so many sides and never knew what was going to hit me from day to day but then it all evened out. I just have the fatigue mostly and a continual sore throat oh an insomnia that seems to be getting better, oh and the hair issue, of course. What I discovered more recently was that a lot of what was ailing me was from low hemoglobin so now I take something for that too and feel much better. The fatigue is still there but not nearly as bad and I am getting more strength to do other things. I am finding that I can stay much more active then I had b4 and am enjoying life a lot more too. My Dr had told me in the beginning that the first 12 weeks are usually the hardest then after that, whatever you are experiencing will be what you have from then on, nothing new. Of course, it is different for everyone. I'm sure my ever dropping VL makes a difference too. Ally

On 8/17/06, abbycsu <abbycsu > wrote: I was wondering if some side effects of interferon and ribavirin go away. For example, I had no fluish symptoms after the last injection and all the real red and swollen areas at injection sites are gone. There isn't even a red spot from last week! Also, I wonder if some side effects go away and you get new ones. For example, it's getting harder and harder to wake up in the morning, at the end of the day I'm whipped more than I usually am and I can't walk up as many flights of steps as I normally would. If it wasn't for the increasing fatigue I would wonder if I'm screwing up the injections somehow.

Thanks - Peace & Love - Abby Stay in the know. Pulse on the new .com. Check it out. Jackie

[Guest guest]

Oh my word, as if we intentionally went out to get this, sheesh. People like that shouldn't be in medicine anymore but what are you going to do. Unfortunately some people have to put up with horrible Drs just to get tx, sigh, sad.

On 8/20/06, Jackie on <redjaxjm@...> wrote:

I agree with you ally, I had a great doc too,, I think that some docs feel it is our punishment for getting this virus so that they feel they are the ones qualified to punish us by withholding meds for the side effects,, maybe they think that if the treatment is awful enough, we wont risk getting it again,,I think thats inhumane and everyone should have adequate side effect meds...I'd never tolerate that..

Ally <4thMoon@...> wrote:

That's awful. Anytime I have a problem I give her a call and she gives me whatever she can to help the problem. I'm taking 4 side effct drugs now, sheesh, but they help big time. Yeah, maybe a new Dr might be worth looking into if you are not happy with yours.

Ally

On 8/19/06, Dana Burchell <burchedl@...

> wrote:

I think we need a new doctor. They didn't treat 's side effects at all and his life was hell for six months!

Ally <4thMoon@...> wrote:

Hi Abby,

A lot of my side effects went away after the 13th week of tx. The first 12 weeks was helll basically since I had got so many sides and never knew what was going to hit me from day to day but then it all evened out. I just have the fatigue mostly and a continual sore throat oh an insomnia that seems to be getting better, oh and the hair issue, of course. What I discovered more recently was that a lot of what was ailing me was from low hemoglobin so now I take something for that too and feel much better. The fatigue is still there but not nearly as bad and I am getting more strength to do other things. I am finding that I can stay much more active then I had b4 and am enjoying life a lot more too.

My Dr had told me in the beginning that the first 12 weeks are usually the hardest then after that, whatever you are experiencing will be what you have from then on, nothing new. Of course, it is different for everyone. I'm sure my ever dropping VL makes a difference too.

Ally

On 8/17/06, abbycsu <abbycsu@...> wrote:

I was wondering if some side effects of interferon and ribavirin go away. For example, I had no fluish symptoms after the last injection and all the real red and swollen areas at injection sites are gone.

There isn't even a red spot from last week! Also, I wonder if some side effects go away and you get new ones. For example, it's getting harder and harder to wake up in the morning, at the end of the day I'm whipped more than I usually am and I can't walk up as many flights of steps as I normally would. If it wasn't for the increasing fatigue I would wonder if I'm screwing up the injections somehow. Thanks - Peace & Love - Abby

Stay in the know. Pulse on the new .com.

Check it out.

Jackie

[Guest guest]

>

> The side effects will go away , but then with the next shot you

will feel just as bad. The major side effect is flu like symptoms ,

but there are things you can do to feel better . Like taking tylenol

right before your shot . If you have nausea you can take meds like

Zophran , or add a little ginger to your food . I dont think your

screwing up the injections you sound like the average person on

treatment . lol And yes with time the sides get less

> Do Side Effects Get Better As

Time Goes On - Exchange One for the Other?

>

>

> I was wondering if some side effects of interferon and ribavirin

go

> away. For example, I had no fluish symptoms after the last

injection

> and all the real red and swollen areas at injection sites are

gone.

> There isn't even a red spot from last week! Also, I wonder if

some

> side effects go away and you get new ones. For example, it's

getting

> harder and harder to wake up in the morning, at the end of the

day I'm

> whipped more than I usually am and I can't walk up as many

flights of

> steps as I normally would. If it wasn't for the increasing

fatigue I

> would wonder if I'm screwing up the injections somehow. Thanks -

> Peace & Love - Abby

Thanks - i'm so glad someone thinks I might be average. LOL is that

the same as normal almost? Haven't been that in years! Thanks -

P & L - Abby

>

[Guest guest]

YES ,, it IS sad,, we shouldnt have to put up with it either!!!Ally <4thMoon@...> wrote: Oh my word, as if we intentionally went out to get this, sheesh. People like that shouldn't be in medicine anymore but what are you going to do. Unfortunately some people have to put up with horrible Drs just to get tx, sigh, sad. On 8/20/06, Jackie on <redjaxjm > wrote: I agree with you ally, I had a great doc too,, I think that some docs feel it is our punishment for getting this virus so that they feel they are the ones qualified to punish us by withholding meds for the side effects,, maybe they think that if the treatment is awful enough, we wont risk getting it again,,I think thats inhumane and everyone should have adequate side effect meds...I'd never tolerate that.. Ally <4thMoongmail> wrote: That's awful. Anytime I have a problem I give her a call and she gives me whatever she can to help the problem. I'm taking 4 side effct drugs now, sheesh, but they help big time. Yeah, maybe a new Dr might be worth looking into if you

are not happy with yours. Ally On 8/19/06, Dana Burchell <burchedl > wrote: I think we need a new doctor. They didn't treat 's side effects at all and his life was hell for six months! Ally <4thMoongmail> wrote: Hi Abby, A lot of my side effects went away after the 13th week of tx. The first 12 weeks was helll basically since I had got so many sides and never knew what was going to hit me from day to day but then it

all evened out. I just have the fatigue mostly and a continual sore throat oh an insomnia that seems to be getting better, oh and the hair issue, of course. What I discovered more recently was that a lot of what was ailing me was from low hemoglobin so now I take something for that too and feel much better. The fatigue is still there but not nearly as bad and I am getting more strength to do other things. I am finding that I can stay much more active then I had b4 and am enjoying life a lot more too. My Dr had told me in the beginning that the first 12 weeks are usually the hardest then after that, whatever you are experiencing will be what you have from then on, nothing new. Of course, it is different for everyone. I'm sure my ever dropping VL makes a difference too. Ally On 8/17/06, abbycsu <abbycsu > wrote: I was wondering if some side effects of interferon and ribavirin go away. For example, I had no fluish symptoms after the last injection and all the real red and swollen areas at injection sites are gone. There isn't even a red spot from last week! Also, I wonder if some side effects go away and you get new ones. For example, it's getting harder and harder to wake up in the morning, at the end of the day I'm whipped more than I usually am and I can't walk up as many flights of steps as I normally would. If it wasn't for the increasing fatigue I would wonder if I'm screwing up the injections somehow. Thanks - Peace & Love - Abby Stay in the know. Pulse on the new .com. Check it out. Jackie Jackie