day 18 of treatment; need encouragement

Hi Everyone,

I am new to this forum and have never posted online. I started treatment at the beginning of the month for genotype 4 I am taking Ribovarion, Pegasyus and Solvaldi (please forgive my spelling). I had my first blood draw yesterday and was told that my white blood cell count and platelettes are low, is this normal?

Additinoally, my ALT/AST levels have increased since before starting treatment? Does this mean that treatment isn't working? Is it normal for it to increase before decreasing? I am feeling very discouraged because most people have stated there's start to normalize. I took a lot of IBU this weekend due to pain from the pegaysus could this increase it? I am still waiting to get my viral load back to see if it has decreased it was 20,000 when I started.

Anything will help, I am feeling pretty low and alone.

Thanks.

thanks I appreciate it

Kitty

Best of luck to you. You can do this...you MUST do this, I don't know anything harder than ESLD.

Hang in there. You are one of the lucky ones with good timing for beating this bad boy! I have no knowledge of tx but I DO know that the alternative is far worse.

I wish you all the best. There are so many others that are treating now and they will help you over the rough spots. Drop in anytime you need....we are here for you.

Mae

I am seeing a GI but I have only met with him once. I had a liver biopsy done before treatment and I had 0/4 scarring and 1/4 for inflammation. In April my ALT/AST levels were 47/32 within normal range, yesterday my ALT/AST levels were 131/86 high. My Hep C RNA quant by PCR H was 8695 in April (I have no idea what this means) I had this repeated yesterday but won't have the results until Saturday. I know in March my ALT/AST was elevated but not as high as they were yesterday. So I guess these levels can fluctuate from month to month? I am 26 years old and have had had hep c for the last 7 years.

So far side effects haven't been too bad, just tired and achy on the days I take the pegaysus.

Thank you so much for reaching out to me and helping to explain these things to me. I really have no idea of what any of it means. Appreciate it.

It is normal with Pegasus (which is interferon) to have that rotten day, or few days with injection. If you go to Alaskan in Florida's thread, I gave Alaska some tips my husband used for the various sides. Hope you are drinking the water for the side fx.

As David stated...you don't want to use Ibuprofen with liver disease. Tylenol yes, but not over a normal dose. Your labs will fluctuate...it is blood numbers and they move around. The doctors are looking for trends, not hard numbers. But red flags on your labs let them know to re-test, or have you change something. You want to complete, and beat this thing.

Be encouraged. Take it easy and know there are going to be bad days...but you have too many beautiful days in your future when you are free of this miserable, Hep C. Depression and anxiety are side's of your treatment. Try to see the end game. Big Hugs

Hi kitty, if your platelets are dropping, ibuprophen is not a good choice. Ask for a viral load at 4 weeks. Is 18 days accurate? Or are you at. 4 weeks ? At 4 weeks, 8695 is too high of a v/l. Please get back to us on that.

Genotype 4 is rare in the US. But you still follow the protocol for geno 1. You'll be fine
Barry

Kitty,

With the onslaught of the new treatment, you will never lack encouragement from others who are going through, or have completed their regimen.

It's a happy time here for many folks who have suffered with this hepatitis horror for so long.

There is light at the end of the treatment tunnel :)

Hugs,

Hi SLC Kitty.
The rise in ALT/AST is most probably ibuprophen and perhaps lack of hydration. My doctor recommended that I not take anything for headaches if I could help it.

I am treatment experienced with interferon and ribavirin, so I knew what to expect. I did not make any major decisions at work or home during this period and tried to stay aware whenever talking with coworkers or strangers that I was on some pretty strong medicine.

The ribavirin causes your red blood cell count to drop. Some develop anemia. If you research, you will find that anemia is a good indicator of one who will experience SVR. The HCV virus will cause platelets to drop in general, so that is something that one notices before ever starting treatment.

I had two or three headaches, fatigue, and major anxiety. Obsessing over small things (stuff that really don't matter) was my problem. Drinking plenty of water, 1/2 ounce per pound of body weight, is the best medicine. Your body needs the H in the H2O. Drink 3/4 oz. per pound if you are exercising everyday and taking vitamins, supplements like magnesium, or other nutritional supplements. Sleep is always important. I got in bed at 8 p.m., still daylight, and stayed in bed until 5 or 6 a.m. Getting plenty of sleep, at least seven hours, is of utmost importance to not feel grumpy. Don't lay out of work.

Eat, maintain your weight. The ribavirin and anemic type state causes one to lose their appetite. Do not look at this as an opportunity to drop 20 or 30 lbs. You will end up looking like you have AIDS and people will take notice and start giving you the pariah treatment. Force yourself to eat a good serving. Treat yourself to goodies, but avoid large portions of sugar and salt.

Another thing that helped me to stay positive is the awareness of new combo treatments coming out at the end of 2014. Treatments with a 100% response rate, so if my current treatment didn't take, then I would be cured at the end of the year or in 2015.

Good luck and I wish you the best.