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New member: Canadian with Hep C 1a AND 2, on Peg, Riba and Sovaldi.

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Posted 10/15/2014 3:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hello all,
This is my first post, and I am so happy there is this forum to connect with.
Okay, here I go, I contacted Hepatitis C many over 20 years ago experimenting with drugs. I was fine for years gone by, until 2 years ago I started having issues with my liver. No surprise, I have been diagnosed with 2 strains of Hep C mixed genotype 1a and 2. After my liver biopsy, I again was diagnosed with moderate hepatic fibrosis (F2-3/4) and should pursue an antiviral treatment. I waited until Sovaldi came to Canada, Toronto and it finally did. Not covered by OHIP yet, but if you have a benefit plan, your work will cover about 80%.
I am on week 2 of the 12 week treatment for cure.
Taking: Sovaldi 400mg a day (1 pill). Pegetron Clearclick weekly 120mcg. and also taking Ribavirin: 600mg every morning and 400mg each evening with food. I have to have blood work done every two weeks to monitor.
My reactions to the drugs has been a bit crazy, until I read the wonderful feedback and shared experiences everyone is having, I really feel much better that, I am not alone with these symptoms. I thought I was going crazy. I have had nausea, no appetite, can't sleep, body aches, and I am exhausted. I cannot figure out if I am depressed or not, I did not get out of bed for 3 days, but it was because I felt like I had the worst flu. I keep hoping this weird feeling will go away. I am so tired but cannot go to sleep. I am going to give my self my needle tomorrow, first time doing without the assistance of the nurse, she is in
France for 2 wks. Lucky her. I am a bit nervous, but I am going to march through it.
I wish everyone luck and a healthy recovery. This is one wild ride. Oh yeah did I mention I am truly grateful for the opportunity to get well. :-)
Theo!

Post Edited By Moderator (MamaLama) : 10/15/2014 6:24:34 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/15/2014 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the Hep forum, Theo. You are taking interferon and riba with your Solvaldi, which does make for a more difficult treatment for most. I hope you are drinking 1/2 your body weight in oz of water, per day. That helps a lot with sides! Also, eat something fatty with riba...like peanut butter on soda crackers/toast.

12 weeks will be better, I am sure. The interferon can make you feel fluish within hours, and last a couple of days each shot. You may want to take Tylenol on shot day. Treat nausea like any stomach stuff. Ginger Ale seems to help some. Solvaldi (we think) makes some heartburn type side. Some have used omeprazole or Nexium during treatment. Since you had a bleed, you likely are on one of these already :) If you have problems with sides, talk to you doctor. They do have some meds you can take just during treatment, and stop when the meds wash out of your system....anxiety, sleep, nausea and riba rage are the sides that most find problematic, if any. Some don't have much trouble...but interferon is more difficult....so keep in touch and let us know if we can support you.

Again, you are welcome here. Big Hugs
Posted 10/16/2014 12:32 AM (GMT 0)
Theo. I am partners with a Hep C survivor who took Sovaldi and Olysio last spring. He has been virus free since Week 5.

about 11 years ago he tried Interferon and Riba and that didn't work. It is the Sovaldi that did the trick, I am sure of it. He had a rough time with the Interferon and Riba, but this time I noticed that since the virus was nocked out of him, he started to feel better as soon as the virus cleared..in about a month. I hope it is the saame for you and that the Interferon and Riba and not too bothersome to a person free of the virus..

Also, the course is short, 12 weeks. You can do this. And your doc will help if you get into a bit of trouble with anemia or axiety or the such.

Best to you,
Mama Lama
Posted 10/19/2014 4:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hello MamaLama,

Thank you so much for the positive feedback, and support. It means so much at these times of uncertainty. I am inspired that when the virus clears, people have felt better.
Yes, I will keep plugging away. I gave my self my injection for the first time on Wed. and have felt pretty sick, have not been on line. I think there is defiantly a 2 day response to the injection.
It will all be worth it in the end, and 12 weeks is not a lot to endure for a cure.

Thanks again, for being there!

Glad to hear your partner is undetected. Wonderful!

All the best!
Posted 10/19/2014 5:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hello themiz,

So nice to meet you, no I have not been drinking water, I am sure that is most of the problem, I have no appetite or thirst. I am going to start forcing my self to at least drink 6 glasses a day or 8.
Thanks for the tip on peanut butter. Yes, I have been taking gravel for the dizziness, and nausea. I am in week 3 so things should ease up I hope. When I see my Dr. on the 29th I will have results as how things are progressing.

I cannot thank you enough for the great feedback, I feel much better talking with you and MamaLama.

Thanks for being part of my journey!
Posted 10/19/2014 3:23 PM (GMT 0)
Gift, Your sides will be much, much more tolerable if you drink 1/2 your body weight in oz per day. Basically, if you weight 100 lbs, drink 50 oz per day. Themister would fill up empty Gatorade bottles to equal the amount he needed, put them in the fridge, and force himself to drink it. He treated twice with interferon/riba with diff' doc's and both times was instructed on the amount of water to drink per day. The nurse told us they knew who was treating at the reception desk as they came with jugs of water to appts. Others here have mentioned it makes a difference, as well.

You will be sick if you don't get some food down. Stock up on low sodium chicken noodle soup. Easy to open a can, nuke it, and get that in. It settles. Also, soda crackers and Ginger Ale help. When water starts tasting crummy, put a bit of some juice or Gatorade powder in...to help with that funky taste. Mashed potatoes, chicken, jello. Normal, bland diet helps while sick from interferon/riba.

You can do this! We are here to support you. Big Hugs

Post Edited By Moderator (MamaLama) : 10/19/2014 11:50:10 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/19/2014 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
Good morning Gift, or afternoon...lost track of time this beautiful (in Florida) Sunday....

The water is really important. Sometimes my partner, Mike, puts some lemonade in the water to give it some flavor. He is post transplant and takes so many meds he is careful to drink plenty. He has a 3 liter bottle he keeps in the fridge and empties it every day. GASP. If he drinks another type of beverage, iced tea for example, he dumps out some of the water to keep track.

And when he was on treatment he took a snack with his meds...something with some fat in it..peanut butter on cracker, something like that. He gained a few pounds but he felt good.

Best to you,

Mama Lama
Posted 10/19/2014 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
Lots of water and ice cream goes down easily with plenty of nutrition added.
Posted 10/23/2014 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks David, ice cream I can handle. turn yeah
Posted 10/23/2014 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Mamma Lama,
Florida sounds wonderful! Enjoy!
Thanks for the great tips, I have been putting slices of lemon in the water, and gatorade, also I have been able to stomach the peanut butter and bread and for some reason, fish is going down well.
Going into week 4 and went for 4 wk blood test will get results next Wed.when I go see my nurse. Fingers crossed!

On a positive note, yesterday is the first day I felt like my old self, went for walk and enjoyed the fall foliage.

Thanks :-)
Posted 10/23/2014 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Themiz,

Thank you so much for the guidance, the ginger ale, and crackers are going down well.
And I have been forcing myself to drink lots of water, and yesterday was the first day in 3 weeks I truly felt myself. It felt wonderful, I gave myself my injection yesterday after I got back from walk, and the symptoms, were achy bones, fever and exhaustion. Went to sleep for 10 hours after taking a cold and flu pill.
Feeling better today, still tired, I am fortunate that my company told me come back after treatment in January, so I am able to really just get well.

You guys have really helped me along my treatment journey, and I really truly am grateful.

Thanks again!
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