Guest guest Posted April 5, 2004 Report Share Posted April 5, 2004 When I met with my doctor a couple of weeks ago he said he had never used Pegasys before, had always used Peg-Intron but was willing to use whatever I wanted. However, he would have to contact a marketing rep from Roche to learn about it. Well, I called his office again today and he said Roche never got back to him, and he has been unable to find a Dr in this area that uses Pegasys. So now I am faced with either finding another doctor who used Pegasys, or going with Peg-Intron instead. I am at their website: http://www.pegasysinfo.net/pegasys-ribavirin-interferon.htm but they do not list doctors there that use their product, of course. I'm almost ready to just say screw it and go with Peg-Intron. I don't want to waste more time searching for and making appts with new doctors. By the time I get this set up we'll be halfway into summer. I would much prefer to just get going on it now, even if I can't use Pegasys. Thoughts and suggestions? Thx, Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2004 Report Share Posted April 5, 2004 My first reaction is that if this doctor were truly interested in obtaining the best treatment for his/her patients he/she would put more effort into finding out about all of the ones that are available. I suggest that you go to http://www.rocheusa.com/contact.html and fill in the form completely. Tell them that your doctor says that a sales or marketing representative has not contacted him/her when requested, that he/she offers only the Schering treatment, and ask them to contact him/her. Give them his/her address and phone number. There aren't any studies comparing the efficacy of Pegasys vs. Peg-Intron. I would say the success rates aren't significant enough to worry about. If you are comfortable with this doctor I would say go for it. Have you discussed how he/she will deal with the side effects? That's far more important than the issue of Roche vs. Schering. If this doctor doesn't even want to put the effort into finding out about all available treatments, what's this doctor going to do when you feel like shit, hate the world, and can't sleep? Doug > When I met with my doctor a couple of weeks ago he said he had never > used Pegasys before, had always used Peg-Intron but was willing to use > whatever I wanted. However, he would have to contact a marketing rep > from Roche to learn about it. Well, I called his office again today > and he said Roche never got back to him, and he has been unable to > find a Dr in this area that uses Pegasys. So now I am faced with > either finding another doctor who used Pegasys, or going with > Peg-Intron instead. > > I am at their website: > > http://www.pegasysinfo.net/pegasys-ribavirin-interferon.htm > > but they do not list doctors there that use their product, of course. > > I'm almost ready to just say screw it and go with Peg-Intron. I don't > want to waste more time searching for and making appts with new > doctors. By the time I get this set up we'll be halfway into summer. I > would much prefer to just get going on it now, even if I can't use > Pegasys. > > Thoughts and suggestions? > > Thx, > > Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2004 Report Share Posted April 5, 2004 <GUFFAW> I like this one. Doug > from what little I have read, you really need both. To use only one > would not do any good. Nadine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2004 Report Share Posted April 5, 2004 <GUFFAW> I like this one. Doug > from what little I have read, you really need both. To use only one > would not do any good. Nadine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2004 Report Share Posted April 5, 2004 Thanks Doug. I just filled out that form now. I also contacted the Hep C Support Project in San Francisco earlier and the Director replied saying he would contact the local Roche rep and have them contact my doctor. In my last appt with him he said he would be seeing me weekly and doing lab work to monitor my platelets and white blood cell count, etc. He did spend time discussing the sides but didn't say anything about how they might be treated. He was ambivalent about milk thistle and antioxidents in general; he obviously is not into the alternative type treatments. He talked about mood swings and depression, hair loss and of course the nausea. Perhaps he plans to treat them as they occur. Or perhaps not at all. Perhaps I'll just ask him in my next appt next week! He said he'd be checking my viral count after three months. Thanks for the advice Doug! Ray Doug Nicholson wrote: My first reaction is that if this doctor were truly interested in obtaining the best treatment for his/her patients he/she would put more effort into finding out about all of the ones that are available. I suggest that you go to http://www.rocheusa.com/contact.html and fill in the form completely. Tell them that your doctor says that a sales or marketing representative has not contacted him/her when requested, that he/she offers only the Schering treatment, and ask them to contact him/her. Give them his/her address and phone number. There aren't any studies comparing the efficacy of Pegasys vs. Peg-Intron. I would say the success rates aren't significant enough to worry about. If you are comfortable with this doctor I would say go for it. Have you discussed how he/she will deal with the side effects? That's far more important than the issue of Roche vs. Schering. If this doctor doesn't even want to put the effort into finding out about all available treatments, what's this doctor going to do when you feel like shit, hate the world, and can't sleep? Doug > When I met with my doctor a couple of weeks ago he said he had never > used Pegasys before, had always used Peg-Intron but was willing to use > whatever I wanted. However, he would have to contact a marketing rep > from Roche to learn about it. Well, I called his office again today > and he said Roche never got back to him, and he has been unable to > find a Dr in this area that uses Pegasys. So now I am faced with > either finding another doctor who used Pegasys, or going with > Peg-Intron instead. > > I am at their website: > > http://www.pegasysinfo.net/pegasys-ribavirin-interferon.htm > > but they do not list doctors there that use their product, of course. > > I'm almost ready to just say screw it and go with Peg-Intron. I don't > want to waste more time searching for and making appts with new > doctors. By the time I get this set up we'll be halfway into summer. I > would much prefer to just get going on it now, even if I can't use > Pegasys. > > Thoughts and suggestions? > > Thx, > > Ray It's a pleasure having you join in our conversations. We hope you have found the support you need with us. If you are using email for your posts, for easy access to our group, just click the link-- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hepatitis_C_Central/ Happy Posting --------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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