Re: catching a cold on interferon treatment

[Guest guest]

I would check with your Dr about any OTC medicines you are thinking about taking. I always call mine to check about anything I am adding whether medicines or supplements, just to be on the safe side. I don't want to take anything that is going to hinder treatment or have an effect on my liver.

Hope you are feeling better soon!!!

Ally

On 11/3/06, richlee7 <rnewton8@...> wrote:

I think I am catching a cold while I am on interferon treatment. My throat is a bit sore and I am congested and coughing up green stuff, and I feel like hell.Any suggestions for dealing with a cold while on interferon/ riba treatment?I was thinking of taking Zicam, Mucinex to break up the congestion, and drinking lots of juice and resting this weekend.Thanks for any suggestions.Rich

[Guest guest]

I TOTALLY AGREE ally,, good post! and GREAT ADVICE!Ally <4thMoon@...> wrote: I would check with your Dr about any OTC medicines you are thinking about taking. I always call mine to check about anything I am adding whether medicines or supplements, just to be on the safe side. I don't want to take anything that is going to hinder treatment or have an effect on my liver. Hope you are feeling better soon!!! Ally On 11/3/06, richlee7 <rnewton8tampabay (DOT) rr.com> wrote: I think I am catching a cold while I am on interferon treatment. My throat is a bit sore and I am congested and coughing up green stuff, and I feel like hell.Any suggestions for dealing with a cold while on interferon/ riba treatment?I was thinking of taking Zicam, Mucinex to break up the congestion, and drinking lots of juice and resting this weekend.Thanks for any suggestions.Rich Jackie

[Guest guest]

I TOTALLY AGREE ally,, good post! and GREAT ADVICE!Ally <4thMoon@...> wrote: I would check with your Dr about any OTC medicines you are thinking about taking. I always call mine to check about anything I am adding whether medicines or supplements, just to be on the safe side. I don't want to take anything that is going to hinder treatment or have an effect on my liver. Hope you are feeling better soon!!! Ally On 11/3/06, richlee7 <rnewton8tampabay (DOT) rr.com> wrote: I think I am catching a cold while I am on interferon treatment. My throat is a bit sore and I am congested and coughing up green stuff, and I feel like hell.Any suggestions for dealing with a cold while on interferon/ riba treatment?I was thinking of taking Zicam, Mucinex to break up the congestion, and drinking lots of juice and resting this weekend.Thanks for any suggestions.Rich Jackie

[Guest guest]

Call your doc, you will need an antibiotic if you are coughing up green stuff!richlee7 <rnewton8@...> wrote: I think I am catching a cold while I am on interferon treatment. My throat is a bit sore and I am congested and coughing up green stuff, and I feel like hell.Any suggestions for dealing with a cold while on interferon/ riba treatment?I was thinking of taking Zicam, Mucinex to break up the congestion, and drinking lots of juice and resting this weekend.Thanks for any

suggestions.RichJackie

[Guest guest]

good advice, i am seeing my doctor today. i will admit though that i

have been taking way too much OTC pain medication, i had a migraine

headache that i would not go away all day yesterday, i almost went to

the ER. Today I just have severe bodyaches.

I think I

am catching a cold while I am on interferon treatment. My

> throat is a bit sore and I am congested and coughing up green

stuff,

> and I feel like hell.

>

> Any suggestions for dealing with a cold while on interferon/ riba

> treatment?

>

> I was thinking of taking Zicam, Mucinex to break up the congestion,

> and drinking lots of juice and resting this weekend.

>

> Thanks for any suggestions.

>

> Rich

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> Jackie

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[Guest guest]

Ask your doc for some REAL Pain MEDs,, just for while you are on treatment!richlee7 <rnewton8@...> wrote: good advice, i am seeing my doctor today. i will admit though that i have been taking way too much OTC pain medication, i had a migraine headache that i would not go away all day yesterday, i almost went to the ER. Today I just have severe bodyaches. I think I am catching a cold while I am on interferon treatment. My > throat is a bit sore and I am congested and coughing up green stuff, > and I feel like hell.> > Any suggestions for dealing with a cold while on interferon/ riba > treatment?> > I was thinking of taking Zicam, Mucinex to break up

the congestion, > and drinking lots of juice and resting this weekend.> > Thanks for any suggestions.> > Rich> > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jackie>Jackie

[Guest guest]

How do you politely tell your doctor you want things like

prescription pain meds and also I would like a Benzo or something for

when I feel all wirey on this stuff. I tell them that the inteferon/

riba makes me real jittery and that i cant sleep at all and that

benadryl does not work but they just shrug me off it seems like. I

have a hard time being adamant about getting these types of meds. I

used to be a former drug addict and so I used to scam doctors for

these types of meds when I really did not need them, so I am not used

to actually asking them when I do really need them.

I think I

> am catching a cold while I am on interferon treatment. My

> > throat is a bit sore and I am congested and coughing up green

> stuff,

> > and I feel like hell.

> >

> > Any suggestions for dealing with a cold while on interferon/ riba

> > treatment?

> >

> > I was thinking of taking Zicam, Mucinex to break up the

congestion,

> > and drinking lots of juice and resting this weekend.

> >

> > Thanks for any suggestions.

> >

> > Rich

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> > Jackie

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> Jackie

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[Guest guest]

How do you politely tell your doctor you want things like

prescription pain meds and also I would like a Benzo or something for

when I feel all wirey on this stuff. I tell them that the inteferon/

riba makes me real jittery and that i cant sleep at all and that

benadryl does not work but they just shrug me off it seems like. I

have a hard time being adamant about getting these types of meds. I

used to be a former drug addict and so I used to scam doctors for

these types of meds when I really did not need them, so I am not used

to actually asking them when I do really need them.

I think I

> am catching a cold while I am on interferon treatment. My

> > throat is a bit sore and I am congested and coughing up green

> stuff,

> > and I feel like hell.

> >

> > Any suggestions for dealing with a cold while on interferon/ riba

> > treatment?

> >

> > I was thinking of taking Zicam, Mucinex to break up the

congestion,

> > and drinking lots of juice and resting this weekend.

> >

> > Thanks for any suggestions.

> >

> > Rich

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

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> > Jackie

> >

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>

> Jackie

>

[Guest guest]

Well Rich YOU have to convince your doc that you are not scamming them and that YOU really DO need pain meds as the Interferon is causing SEVERE joint and body aches and you need something for sleep such as Restoril. Tell your doc that you belong to a support group and this is what they advocated FOR YOU! Tell your doc that as soon as you are done with treatment, you WILL stop taking them. Tell YOUR DOC that MOST if not all patients on tx DO need something MORE than tylenol or advil for the severe body pains and fevers that you get with the INF shot... and remind him that the Interferon DEPLETES the seretonin in your brain so that you end up with insomnia and MOST if not all on tx need something for sleep as well. This is NOT abnormal! I have known several who needed ativan for the jitteriness they felt and the anxiety as well.. Are you on an antidepressant? YOU SHOULD be if you are not as I said, the INF depletes the

seretonin and causes SEVERE depression in 'most' ppl... I think you need to sit down and have a 'serious' talk.. There is the patients bill of rights and you DO have the right to have your pain controlled whether or not you have a past history of addiction.. but YOU HAVE to convince him that YOU WILL STOP when you are done with tx.. and you also have to realize that while on tx,, YOU WILL NOT get high on these meds,, I take huge quantities of Morphine and do NOT feel ANY buzz at all, it only makes it so that I can get out of bed... I hope that helps.. jaxrichlee7 <rnewton8@...> wrote: How do you politely tell your doctor you want things like prescription pain meds and also I would like a Benzo or something for when I feel all wirey on this stuff. I tell them that the inteferon/ riba makes me real jittery and that i cant sleep at all and that benadryl does not work but they just shrug me off it seems like. I have a hard time being adamant about getting these types of meds. I used to be a former drug addict and so I used to scam doctors for these types of meds when I really did not need them, so I am not used to actually asking them when I do really need them. I think I > am catching a cold while I am on interferon treatment. My > > throat is a bit sore and I am congested and coughing up green > stuff, > > and I feel like hell.> > > > Any suggestions for dealing with a cold while on interferon/ riba > > treatment?> > > > I was thinking of taking Zicam, Mucinex to break up the congestion, > > and drinking lots of juice and resting this weekend.> > > > Thanks for any suggestions.> > > > Rich> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

Jackie> >> > > > > > > Jackie>Jackie

[Guest guest]

Print this out and take it to your doc!!! THE PAIN PATIENTS BILL OF RIGHTS2004 The RIGHT to have it UNDERSTOOD that Chronic Pain is a progressive disease of the nervous system; caused by failure of the body's internal pain control systems. Also to have it understood that pain is a malignancy in the sense that when left untreated, intensity increases and spreads to areas that weren't previously affected, damaging the sufferer's health and functioning. The RIGHT to a medical professionals' honest attempt to find adequate, if not aggressive treatment allowing the patient a normal life as much as possible. Also with the understanding, a patient does not have to be incapacitated and covered with

bedsores to be suffering in pain. The RIGHT therefore, to have an “honest attempt” by a doctor at lowering pain levels, reducing suffering through restoration of functioning in life activities to as close to normal as possible and hopefully arresting and reversing the damage done by chronic pain to the nervous system. The RIGHT to be prescribed some form of relief however "short-lived" it might be during our search for a pain specialist that will regularly see us and treat our condition. Pain is the 5th Vital Sign and is by law, to be treated and relieved by those in the medical field. The RIGHT to refuse prescriptions of Anti-inflammatory non-opioid medications such as Motrin, Naprosyn and Vioxx. These medications, called

Nsaid's, kill 16,500+ patients each year through bleeding from the stomach and toxicity in the liver and kidneys. Might as well shoot us, than allow us to die unmercifully from these deadly meds. The RIGHT to not be seen by doctors who begin office visits with frowns, scowls, shaking heads from side to side or any other preconceived negativity towards us. It's rude. It's degrading. And by all rights, should be punishable by law. The RIGHT not to be labeled as "doctor shopping" or a "drug seeker" when we change doctors. It's only that we continue to have pain, that we seek out others to treat us. It's “continued pain” that causes us to seek out others to treat us. Who doesn't expect answers when seeing a doctor? And who in their right mind doesn't look elsewhere when answers aren't forthcoming? The RIGHT to not be lectured about the dangers of DEPENDENCY. For patients who truly suffer from intractable, on-going, never-ending pain – who are already dealing with a permanent problem called pain - and for whom the word "euphoria" is more associated with making it through the day without contemplating suicide, than any effects from medication - never experiencing a "euphoria". In fact, dysphoria and/or depression is observed more typically with the use of narcotics than "euphoria" in the pain patient. Dependence is a physical phenomenon, not a sign of addiction. The RIGHT to not be regarded as an "addict" or "druggie" or any other negative derogatory when we dare to ask a medical professional for treatment of our pain. Psychological dependence (addiction) should not be confused with physical dependence. The RIGHT not to be judged or viewed with any preconceived notions when we are lucky enough to receive proper pain treatment. After all, proper pain management means "able to function normally". That's all we want - to be normal. The RIGHT to no assumptions made if patient takes medication and appears to be functioning somewhat normal. The assumption that a patient taking opioid medications is automatically an abuser just because with proper treatment they are able to function somewhat normally is PREPOSTEROUS! The GOAL is to get patients to the point where they can function somewhat normally. The concept that you must be all but crippled to qualify for opioid therapy needs to end! The RIGHT to be treated and viewed by everyone, as human beings who only want

to live like everybody else. Normal, without pain, sharing joys with family, attending church, grocery shopping, taking in a movie, fixing dinner...loving life. richlee7 <rnewton8@...> wrote: How do you politely tell your doctor you want things like prescription pain meds and also I would like a Benzo or something for when I feel all wirey on this stuff. I tell them that the inteferon/

riba makes me real jittery and that i cant sleep at all and that benadryl does not work but they just shrug me off it seems like. I have a hard time being adamant about getting these types of meds. I used to be a former drug addict and so I used to scam doctors for these types of meds when I really did not need them, so I am not used to actually asking them when I do really need them. I think I > am catching a cold while I am on interferon treatment. My > > throat is a bit

sore and I am congested and coughing up green > stuff, > > and I feel like hell.> > > > Any suggestions for dealing with a cold while on interferon/ riba > > treatment?> > > > I was thinking of taking Zicam, Mucinex to break up the congestion, > > and drinking lots of juice and resting this weekend.> > > > Thanks for any suggestions.> > > > Rich> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jackie> >> > > > > > > Jackie>Jackie

[Guest guest]

thanks for the input. I will be having a serious talk with my hep

doctor. I am highly upset as they no this stuff that it makes you

have insomnia and jitters and bodyaches. I am going to tell him that

I want to comply with treatment but he is making it very difficult

by me telling him i am having these symptoms and then not

prescribing me anything. I am going to insist on a benzo for the

jitters, and maybe a mild pain reliever to take as needed when i get

those severe bodyaches, and also something better to sleep. My

primary care doctor gave me trazodone, and i told him i did not like

it. Why do they try to prescribe and antidepressant for sleep

anyway? i want either a benzo like restoril or a hypnotic like

lunesta that is actually made for sleep. and yes i realize this

stuff is habit forming, but i will not be abusing these meds, just

taking them as prescribed, and come off of them when i get done with

treatment. I am starting to think that will be the only way i will

even be able to get through this treatment is with these type of

medication. Especially as i am having a weird side effect from the

ribiviran. It makes me feel stoned out of my mind sometimes and like

i am tripping or having a flashback. I am going to call the Roche

hotline and see what they say. i may need to lower my dose on the

riba if i absolutely have to.

Anyway, I am rambling. thanks for the support.

I think I

> > am catching a cold while I am on interferon treatment. My

> > > throat is a bit sore and I am congested and coughing up green

> > stuff,

> > > and I feel like hell.

> > >

> > > Any suggestions for dealing with a cold while on interferon/

riba

> > > treatment?

> > >

> > > I was thinking of taking Zicam, Mucinex to break up the

> congestion,

> > > and drinking lots of juice and resting this weekend.

> > >

> > > Thanks for any suggestions.

> > >

> > > Rich

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

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> > >

> > >

> > >

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> > >

> > > Jackie

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> > Jackie

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> Jackie

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[Guest guest]

Yes Rich, talk with your doc, there is NO reason whatsoever for you to have any more discomforts during tx especially when there ARE meds to help you with them... I took Norco7/325's for pain, Restoril for sleep and RLS, soma for muscles on shot days, provigil so that I could wake up from the pain meds etc,, you might need to get a couple different kinds of sleeping pills as your body adjusts to each you will need to switch around to keep them effective. YOU DO need an antidepressant while on tx and the best one, I say that because I took it and because I know several others who also had success with it was Celexa and Lexapro.. they have fewer side effects and really can help.. The reason that the docs give you an antidepressant for insomnia is because, especially while on these drugs, they deplete your brain of seretonin which control BOTH sleep and mood.. I, for one would be very resistant to Paxil, or Zoloft; and Prozac as I know several ppl who went on

them while on tx and have been UNABLE to get off of them, even 4 or 5 years AFTER finishing tx... I started with Celexa and then when Lexapro became available, I switched to that as they are basically the same med,,, I weaned myself off about 10 months ago and had NO problem getting off both the sleeping pills and the antidepressant. I liked the Norco for pain becasue it has a lower dose of tylenol 325 mg per tab along with 7 mg of codeine for pain.. but even after 3 years on that,, it was starting to become less effective and I did NOT want to up my tylenol intake so my doc switched me to oromorph which is morphine as it is partially cleared through the liver but mostly through the kidneys.. its much more liver friendly and now for about a year I have taken 60 mg twice a day at 12 hour intervals and only occasionally do I have to supplement with a 15.. typically I hurt more when the weather IS changing, the barometic pressure really kills me when it changes.. My doc

gave me 45 tabs of the 15 instant release and I still have about 28 or 30 of them more than a year later.. so it works well for me. I have No 'high' associated with taking it, but I am able to get out of bed without crying... so its a good thing I think.. I am now almost 4 years post tx, still hope to be undetectible still, Ill know in Feb when I have my yearly PCR and Im down to taking ONLY the Morphine, the provigil and some GERD meds... SO I think Im doing quite well even tho Im still very disabled.. Talk with your doc,, and DEMAND that he treat you fairly. I personally think that 'some' docs think they need to punish us for getting this disease so by making our treatment harder than it needs to be might make us think twice about doing anything risky again... some of them put themself in place to be our judge and jury and executioner THATS WRONG.. I was just VERY lucky to have such a wonderful doc who knew me as a paramedic and knew

that I was educated on this disease and he also knew that I would not ask for something unless I needed it.. I HATE PILLS! Let us know what you find out! OK? Good luck! jaxrichlee7 <rnewton8@...> wrote: thanks for the input. I will be having a serious talk with my hep doctor. I am highly upset as they no this stuff that it makes you have insomnia and jitters and bodyaches. I am going to tell him that I want to comply with treatment but he is making it very

difficult by me telling him i am having these symptoms and then not prescribing me anything. I am going to insist on a benzo for the jitters, and maybe a mild pain reliever to take as needed when i get those severe bodyaches, and also something better to sleep. My primary care doctor gave me trazodone, and i told him i did not like it. Why do they try to prescribe and antidepressant for sleep anyway? i want either a benzo like restoril or a hypnotic like lunesta that is actually made for sleep. and yes i realize this stuff is habit forming, but i will not be abusing these meds, just taking them as prescribed, and come off of them when i get done with treatment. I am starting to think that will be the only way i will even be able to get through this treatment is with these type of medication. Especially as i am having a weird side effect from the ribiviran. It makes me feel stoned out of my mind sometimes and like

i am tripping or having a flashback. I am going to call the Roche hotline and see what they say. i may need to lower my dose on the riba if i absolutely have to.Anyway, I am rambling. thanks for the support. I think I > > am catching a cold while I am on interferon treatment. My > > > throat is a bit sore and I am congested and coughing up green > > stuff, > > > and I feel like hell.> > > > > > Any suggestions for dealing with a cold while on interferon/ riba > > > treatment?> > > > > > I was thinking of taking Zicam, Mucinex to break up the > congestion, > > > and drinking lots of juice and resting this

weekend.> > > > > > Thanks for any suggestions.> > > > > > Rich> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jackie> > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jackie> >> > > > > > > Jackie>Jackie