Plant here starting 24 weeks Sovaldi and Ribavirin today!

We are here for you...just post when if you need a little support.
I don't know anyone that mentioned the RA meds with treatment, so do let us know how it goes. It will be over before you know it! Big Hugs

We'll be following your progress. Good luck. Be gentle with yourself...you may be tired which is normal. My guy felt he could put up with ANYTHING to get rid of this awful virus! Hugs, ML

Plant eater..i posted a reply to you on my thread, but wanted to encourage you and let you know how much support you can have here. Will be monitoring your posts and look forward, with the others here, to being a part of your journey. Eat before ribavirin. Drinks lots of water, my Dr also gave me a rx for zofran dissolves under tongue for nausea and works very quickly, had me use OTC Sara lotion prn itching..incredible. And Tylenol for pain, Benadryl to help with sleep in case you wanted to ask your Dr for anything. Please don't use anything I suggest without checking with your Dr first..we are all different and special. Watch some funny movies, good books. And you'll do super! Cheering for you.
music👱

Day two is finished!! I'm on Sovaldi and Ribavirin for 24 weeks. So far so good- nothing to gripe about really. Some minor stomach irritation and a slight headache but hey, this is SO much better than the old interferon/ Ribavirin regimen (that I could not complete about 17 yrs ago.) We are so lucky to able to use these new meds.
Hope you all have a good weekend.
Plant

Day five on my sovaldi and ribavirin began with an endoscopy. Honestly I was dreading it. This is my third in about ten weeks. I had five banded each of the other times. But since I started the nadolol the varisces look better the doc said. Smaller, and she only banded one!!! It feels so much easier than the other times where I had a hard time swallowing because it felt like I'd swallowed a tennis ball or something.
Any way I'm so happy that the nadolol is helping. I'm also happy to say that the sides from the ribavirin and sovaldi are so minimal at this point. A little dull headache and bit of stomach irritation. I'm drinking and eating after the endoscopy so these will hopefully disappear soon. I couldn't eat or drink anything this morning and so they came back, and the more water I drink and the more I keep a little something in my stomach, the lighter they are. So I know I can get through another 23 1/2 weeks of this. Im so lucky to be able to treat with these new meds! hope all my dragon slaying team is starting out the week well. Sending everyone love,
Plant

Ditto, what Mae said.

I like the Anais Nin quote.

Painter this is a walk in the park compared to the old interferon treatment which I too bailed on mid-way. You should do just fine. I take it you'll be on it for 24 weeks too? I woke up this morning feeling pretty darned fine today. I'm taking this a day at a time, but have to say that I feel VERY positive about sticking with this. When do you start your treatment? Drinking lots of water really helps as does getting a little exercise ( even a walk helps) and eating when you take the ribavirin also helps. Keep plugged in here because these are all tips the folks here offered. We are going to get rid of the virus and that is worth the minor aches and pains that may come with this treatment. Have a great day.
Plant

Yeah.. WTG to go!! Love great news... yes you are in it for the count.. you go guy!!


Sandia

OMG.... we call everyone guys.. where I'm from.. sorry.. you go GIRL!! Super Woman able to leap over tall buildings.. ok maybe not just yet!! very exciting.. very encouraging!! WTG!! keep on girl!!


Sandia

PE,

Mike started feeling better and better when the virus was eradicated. The other time did treatment, with the Inf and Riba, he felt worse and worse and his viral load was worst at 24 weeks than before he started. This time the virus was undetected in 5 weeks and that's when the improvement started. The pills cause no problems that he knows of, though he has bad dermo problems that may have been virus related, not treatment, or perhaps his rejection meds are the problem....who knows. But he energy has been good, his mental focus, etc. He DOES continue to rest for a while most days after lunch.

Hugs,
Mama Lama

I've finished day ten! I've had some minor aches and pains daily, mostly headaches and slight flu-like symptoms but nothing compared to that brutal interferon! They seem to only last a few hours then go away, usually coming a couple hours after the ribavirin/sovaldi. I got my first set of labs back ( looked online) and haven't spoken to the nurse (she just does hep C patients). I see the nurse next week but am alarmed that my bilirubin has jumped up quite a bit. My total bilirubin was .9 last month and now is at 2.5. My direct bilirubin is at .6. Is this a problem? I really don't want to stop the treatment as I have cirrhosis stage 3-4 and need to get RID of this nasty virus.
I hope you are all having a great week slaying dragons.
Hugs, Plant

Ok Painter, we are on the same team for sure! I hope that you are hanging in there too. Keep your eye on the prize. Let's have something to really celebrate on Christmas.
Plant