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23 years old g1 sovaldi, riba, and interferon injections for 12 weeks

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Posted 7/14/2014 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hey there I just found this forum last week and thought it would be nice to talk to some people that know what i'm going through. I am 23 years old and got hep c from my mother who had it when i was born. Apparently the chances of that are really slim so i'm just a lucky duck ha ha! Anywho, I just started treatment today. Took my riba and sovaldi this morning and so far i'm a little more tired than usual but no other side effects noticed. I am nervous for the injection so i'm taking that this evening like my doc has recommended. I look forward to not hurting all the time. It will be nice to live a normal twenty something life.
Posted 7/14/2014 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
This won't be fun, but getting rid of the virus will give you the chance to live a normal life.
Posted 7/14/2014 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Miah bear,

Sorry you had such bad luck. There are so many people treating right now with such apparent success that news posts are much more uplifting and the sad ones fewer.

This is the place where you can bellyache, seek advice and support, and get the cheerleading to get you through treatment. You can do it because to NOT do is ever so much worse...trust.

Hopefully you'll get cured and come back and help other folks :)

Best,
Posted 7/14/2014 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
Miah, Welcome to the Hep forum. Themister , my husband, treated twice with Interferon/Riba....but without the wonder drug....Solvaldi. You may feel fluish on shot day. Themister was shaking, cold, low grade fever, and flu-ish the day he took the shot.

With the Riba...did they let you know to drink 50% of your body weight in oz. of water per day? That helps with the side fx.

How long will your treatment last? Let us know how it goes. . Big Hugs
Posted 7/15/2014 6:09 PM (GMT 0)
I am very thankful to have people to talk to who understand what i'm going through. Thank you all so much for listening! I took the shot last night around 7 and thankfully have had no flu like symptoms at all. I did keep waking up because i was having some body aches and couldn't get comfortable.

They did tell me to drink a ton of water and as a result i had to pee about 10 times last night ha ha! It could be much worse though so i'm not complaining. I also woke up with a terrible headache that i cant seem to shake but other than that i'm feeling pretty good :D.

To themiz, i will be on the treatment for a mere 12 weeks which i hear is a cake walk compared to what it used to be. I will keep you all posted on how it's going. Thank you so much for being here for me everyone it helps so much! Big hugs back to you :D
Posted 7/16/2014 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
Mia bear...excited for you starting treatment. Will be looking forward to your posts. Everyone here is supportive and many can share lots of wisdom...glad you found this forum...its the best for caring and support. Just 12 weeks...you can do this!!! Have s blessed week!
music👱
Posted 7/16/2014 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Music...thank you for the kind and encouraging words. I feel like i have been given such an amazing opportunity and I am so thankful to have it. I look forward to talking to everyone on here!
Posted 7/17/2014 5:34 AM (GMT 0)
M bear.. we'll be here through the whole walk ... hang in there.. you got this!!


Sandia
Posted 7/21/2014 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
Well week one is over and week 2 starts today. For the past four nights i have been having a really hard time breathing after i take the ribapak. I already have asthma so this is a serious issue for me. Last night I almost went to the emergency room because it got so bad. I feel like someone is sitting on my chest and my lungs cant work how they should. My inhaler seems to do diddly squat. I called my doc this morning to see what i can take or do to make this better because i cannot keep doing this every night. Even as i sit here i have the worst burn when i breath in deep, if anyone has any suggestions i would greatly appreciate it.
Posted 7/21/2014 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
    hey Miah,  one of the side effects from your treatment, is shortness of breathe.  and yes, the riba is the culprit. 

     reading thru your post, i dont see what your liver status is.  did you have a biopsy, or other staging test done?

      your dr will re evaluate your tx, to see if you have other options, or if everything will be fine.  Either way, you will be fine.  you are treating in a favorable time for Hep c.  so many new weapons coming out for everyone, regardless of genotype, to snuff out this beast.

keep the faith Miah,

barry

    

Posted 7/21/2014 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
Barry my liver is pretty good considering, i have no scarring that they can see and my hep c levels were very low last time we checked them. My liver doc says it has nothing to do with the riba and i think he is wrong so he sends me to my pcp and i am now on a higher strength inhaler and some prednisone. Will this fix the problem? I surely hope it helps because i cannot do another night trying to sleep sitting up :( Thank you so much for the kind words they are much appreciated.
Take care
~Miah
Posted 7/22/2014 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
Miah, I feel for you with the asthma. Maybe some of our dragon slayers with asthma will chime in and let you know if they had issues.

I rarely discuss my own health problems here, since this is the place for my husband's disease ; ) But...I developed asthma in my 50's with a dangerous bout of pneumonia. I was in hospital twice, and it is no fun to not be able to breath. For the first year I was on some breathing contraption with the pipe...lol...an inhaler, and the purple discus steroid, and still struggled. Over time they were able to decrease me down to just a puffer, as needed. Now it is only a few times a year. (Yay!). Just a thought of something I found that helps. Have you tried drinking hot coffee when this starts (with your puffer)? I sometimes can avoid my puffer if I get the hot coffee fast enough. I keep yucky instant for this purpose. I heard hot water works as well.

I do hope hope you find out the culprit, if not the riba. Big Hugs
Posted 7/22/2014 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
Miah,

I am the caregiver in our family too, and have no liver disease, but, like theMiz, have late onset asthma as an adult after a terrible lung infection in my 50s.

I take a daily inhaled steroid, Symbacort, and a nasal sprat, Veramyst. Then I use my rescue inhaler, Albuterol, as needed, like at night. I am most affected by pine smoke in the air (bad for brush fires in Florida), certain perfumes, AND anxiety.

If I am having a bad episode, the albuterol comes with a nebulizer dose that you breathe in for 15 minutes.

I coordinate this care with a pulmonologist, not a PCP. When I am having a bad time, they put me on oral prednasone as well. Which I HATE. But it does the trick.

If I go to the ER I get an injection of Solumedrol, some albuterol nebulizer treatments, another Solumedrol injection afteer some hours and then usually let me go home.

It is NO JOKE.

I can't surmise if the riba has respiratory side effects, we have not had others complain of serious breathing problems. Call both a pulmonologist and your hepatologist....I agree, it is no fun to sit up all night gasping for air!!!!!

I do know that ribs has anxiety as a side...could there be a connection there?????

Good luck and many hugs,

Mama Lama
Posted 7/22/2014 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
well, i dont know what to say. i also dont agree with your doc, but i dont want to start any drama. maybe the best way to approach this, is with a few questions for your liver doc. did your dr know you had asthma before starting tx. also this is a rough tx to tolerate compared to upcoming therapies. you have little liver damage so you could easily wait a few months for better and safer treatment. ?s for your dr
1. can ribavirin cause shortness of breath, or temporary anemia?
2. why am i on this treatment?
3. can i wait for better tx options coming soon?

interferon also causes anxiety and depression in some people

what i am saying here can be reviewed on any hep c tx website. i dont know if steroids will fixit. and im not sure if prednisone can hinder your tx. another good ? for your dr.

well, best to you Miah
barry
Posted 7/25/2014 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
Miah,
How are you doing? Have they been able to get you any relief for your asthma and breathing?
I start the same treatment as you are on next Thursday..I have "dry cough" issues due to chronic sinus...so anticipate having similar issues ....Have they given you any xanax to relax the breathing?

Take care and stay in touch. Wishing you well.

ZenCat
Posted 7/25/2014 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hey.. Guys!!! Is it rite place to share about cirrhosis!!! Lately I take ultrasound and doc thinking am having cirrhosis.. Anyone tell me how accurate is ultrasound to diagnose liver cirrhosis!! Doc take more blood to test but result not yet came .. Am mentally and physically in killed with that .. Scar to death .. !! Can anyone tell me how much accurately ultrasound is regarding cirrhosis diagnose ...
Am hep B since long time back!!

Help me!!
Posted 7/25/2014 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
A liver biopsy is the surest way to tell if your cirrhotic.
Posted 7/26/2014 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
@Ten10...

I am one of the Moderators of the Hepatitis Forum.

It would be good if you Posted a NEW TOPIC just for your story.

You with get more feedback and support with your own thread.

I agree with David, that you need to see a Hepatologist and have a liver biopsy or fibroscan to determine if you DO have cirrhosis.

People with cirrhosis can often live a long time with few symptoms IF they live a very healthy life....NO alcohol, very healthy diet, low fats, low salt, get exercise and rest when needed.

In the advanced stages, cirrhohsis can cause many problems...with memory and strength. But many serious illness can cause problems.

Many can get a liver transplant if things get bad. We have members here who have lead a clean life for many years and worked the whole time...some have not.

It is up to YOU and your body's general health.

We look forward to hearing from you in your own Topic.

Mama Lama
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