2nd shot I feel awful

[baybaymac3]

I just need to know that I am not alone, took my 2nd shot on Thursday and have been so sick and in such a fog, I am finally coming out of it today....I mean I have been in bed with such pain all over and so weak oh my gosh, is this the norm, I was on tx a few years ago and it was this bad then...anybody else go through this and also be soooo sick???  Thanks to this board because I am just too sick to get around and nobdy I know (thank God) knows how it feels...thanks for any advice.  Terri

[19Dragon52]

(((Hi Terri!)

I am 4 1/2 months post tx...was diagnosed genotype 1a...Biopsy showed me as grade 2 stage 2.  At this time I am "Undectectable" after 48 weeks of tx... .5ml Pegintron once a week and 1200mg Ribavrin daily.

I remember well how my bad days went...chronic aching & intense fatigue...curled up on my bed in a fetal position...my mantras became, "One Day At A Time" and "Oh God, Please!"  I never had an appetite...lost 60 lbs over the 11 months. I fortunately didn't experience the horrendous headaches that many of my friends on this board have.  Headaches appeared about 4-6 weeks before tx was over but nothing like the others were experiencing.  At one point my mental state was a risk for me (I'm bi-polar).  I barely went out in public.  Experienced Riba Rage quite often.  I still have Brain Fog...it's as if my cognitive thinking went on vacation and forgot to return.  The residuals of the tx medications take a little while to pack up and leave!

No Terri, you are not alone.  You could probably bet your last dollar on each minute, day and/or week being different as you go through this journey and have enough money for a downpayment on a house!  Everybody experiences different side effects at different times but this dragon that we battle is comman enough to hold us together as a caring & supportive family. 

I am sure others will be responding to this post that are currently on tx and you'll have plenty of folks at your fingertips that you will be able to relate to and the same for them.  We all do our best to help each other so you're doing really good by sharing where you are at and reaching out.  Hope this helps you out some...meanwhile... 

Hang Tight & Keep Posting.....
 
             

[Helen]

Terri,
 Sorry its been so rough, Joyce is the voice of experience though so she along with many others here can understand what your going thru. Ive never done tx. so can only go by what others have shared. I just wanted to add that many take a couple of Tylenol about an hour before the shot and if you havent done that you may want to give it a try maybe it will help with some of the body aches, hopefully things will improve by your next shot.
 I hope you feel better soon. Helen

[nialla]

Terri;
i'm sorry you feel so bad.   i feel awful too, pretty much since the beginning, some days/weeks better  than others, but i spend whatever time i'm not working, parenting or appointments, in bed, resting.  did you say you've been on treatment before?  what's your history?

[baybaymac3]

Thank you so much, I am a genotype 1a grade 3 stage 4. Viral load 8 million. Yes a few years ago I went on tx. I lasted 4 months and did go nondectable, but I was so anemic and mywhite blood cells were way to high and again the pain unreal so I went off of tx, I wondered why my Doc did not put me on procrit so that at least the anemia would go away, I did not communicate well with him.  I am seperated from my so called husband once he found out that the hep c came back w/ a vengence he said well you need to go home (to my family) and when ya get it together I can come back, well I am home and in a supportive environement and will never go back...I found a good dr and he explained my illness and said 48 to 72 wks...this is my second doc in AZ and he is a keeper.
How can anybody work on tx I am so exhuasted and in so much pain, bless you, I wish that I could, I have to apply for disability.  This started before tx and is 20 times worse now.  i have a pain specialist, but i am still in so muc pain.  i would love to hear from others and also give support.  sincerely, terri

[Ella]

Hi (((Terri,)))

I'm not on treatment yet, but have so much admiration for you brave people who soldier through it.  It's a pity your doc didn't put you on procrit last time, but the doctor you have this time sounds so much better.  From what I've read and heard, they say that each time you go on treatment it adds years to your life even if you don't respond.
You'll find some comfort and companionship here - people to share your pain and support you through the worst times.

Hope you're on the mend soon. 

[baybaymac3]

Ella, ooops...brain fog, I am grade 3 stage 2.  Ella, why are you not on tx?  Is it your preference, forgive me if I am out of line...I also support waiting, I was going to hold off unitl I was in my 50's or plus, but this disease has progressed to elavated liver enzymes and the fatigue was so terrible that I just feel in order to be functional and have a great future I must do it now.  Thanks for the support friends....Terri

[dadtdave]

I spend many Sat afternoon in the recliner with a heating pad and blanket to combat the flu-like symtoms. I treat it like the flu..I usually have soup on Friday nite, then move to more solid foods on Sat: pasta salad, poatatoe salald coleslaw, avocados, etc(I've had cravings for avacados lately) Sometimes by Sunday I'm OK.  Good luck and hang in there.  Let us know what we can do to help.    Dave






Geno 1, Grade 1, Stage 0 , Week 17

[memarcie]

Terri - I hope it starts to get a little more tolerable for you.  I finished tx 7 weeks ago and the first month on tx was probably the worst for me overall.  Then I started to get headaches about halfway through which I still deal with from time to time, but not nearly as bad as when I was on tx.    That is too bad your first doc couldn't help you more, I'm glad you found a great one now.  That helps a ton having a doc that will help you cope with sx. 

Hang in there,
Marcie

[OZ]

terri
i was in so much pain during treatment, it was 20 fold my normal pain level.  Luckly, I had an understanding doc and who prescribed MS Contin routinely and MS IR for breakthrough pain.  I don't think I could have made it without such good pain management.  Also increased doses of antidepressants, procrit, and careful monitoring of symptoms.  I had several infections while on treatment.  A dental infection in a tooth that previously had a root canal, a fungal throat infection, several skin infections in injection sites, and a urinary tract infection.  Even though I was on procrit it did  not manage the anemia.  I underwent 3 transfusions of packed cells, and finally had to decrease my ribavirin dose.  Without the pain meds, it would have been a nightmare.  My pain was in all of my joints and muscles, could barely move most of the time.
I did manage to work part time.  I don't think I did must real work, but I did show up for a few hours if I could tolerate it.  Luckily I had really supportive coworkiers and employer.
The worst of the sides was the episodes of vertigo.  they were intermittent and lasted for several hour to several days at a time.  I developed balance problems that took a long time to resolve. 
To make a long story short, I did make it through 48 weeks, have been undetectlable for 2 years and I feel much better than I have  in a very log time.
Hang in there.  I would't have made it without the support of the folks here.  A good doctor is really important.
OZ

[mac3]

Thank you friends, really all of you....Oz wow, I too feel if it weren't for pain management I would never so this again....but it just makes it tolerable, you have been through alot and suvived and I am so happy for you and all of you  that stay around for us going through it now.   I know that I have to focus on the future and still take it one day at a time...like I am having my first grandbaby a boy due May 20th, I have years of love and wisdom to share with him and my Children....my marriage may be over but I have great insurance from my husband, a familythatl loves me and 2 days a week that I am functional, I have a new life to plan and do plan on going back to college so that I can have a great single life, I so appreciate all of you, I may be powerless over this disease but one day at a time I can fight the dragon and eventually kisk it's butt. We are all in this together...Sincerely, Terri

[19Dragon52]

(((Baybay)))

This is a very inciteful share...Thanks.  It speaks that we may be Powerless but not Hopeless.

Have A Great Day.....

[Scoot]

Hi Terri,
I hate to hear of all of the trouble you are having.  Drinking alot of water (gallon/day) can really help.  I am on my third go round with the tx.  I have been lucky this time.  After my first week or so, the side effects really decreased.  I still ache all over and I think my hips are dying, but I am able to work and function(maybe a bit diminished but I still call it functioning).  Thanks for sharing your thoughts.  I have really gotten alot of support from this site.  And it is great to read of all of the success stories.  It is very comforting to know that we have a place that we can share our feelings and thoughts, especially with caring people who are all in the same boat so to speak.  I am clear now for 7 months.  My doc has me on a 60 week tx after I cleared. That took 8weeks so it is a long trip this time.  Hang in there and around here.  Take good care and I wish you the best of luck with this. 
Scott

[OZ]

Terri
I decided to go through treatment when I learned of my only daughter's 2nd pregnancy.
I wanted to be around to see both of the children grow up.
We just celebrated his 3rd birthday last week.
The interferon makes the pain worse, as well as the fatigue and other symptoms of hep c.
I didn't think I could ever make it through.   I just took it one day at a time.  And came here a lot.
Folks here truly know how you feel.
Donna

[robin]

Terri...when I did my shots...I timed them for about 30 minutes before bedtime...took a couple of Motrin and a couple of benedryl...that way I slept through a lot of the hard side effects. I also found the longer I was on the shots...the easier it became. Treatment is certainly a time when you go for it day by day. Hope things get better and keep your spirits high...robin