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First day of medication

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Posted 3/16/2015 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
Starting my treatment tomorrow of ribavirin and sovaldi. Do patients show side effects the first day of treatment or does it take a while before you have any side effects : :
Posted 3/16/2015 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
The treatment sides vary patient to patient, HCG...and as much depend on your current state of health. Those with anxiety, for example, seem to be more anxious. Those who get headaches, get some. But not like a cannon ball punching into them...the drugs build up, do their job, and some are affected.

Most find that taking the Riba with a fatty snack (peanut butter on cracker, avocado on their lunch, etc) helps. Eating with the Riba is good. Then there is the KEEP HYDRATED thing. They are saying 1/2 ounce of water per pound of body weight. My Mike is 180 pounds ...so about 90 ounces. He bought a 3 liter jug and tried to empty it every day.

Just a sidebar, if you find yourself snarky (saying grumpy things to folks....my word for another word we don't say here) talk to you doc...there are meds for that! My Mike on Riba was unreasonable and snarky to the nth degree.

This last time he took Sovaldi and Olysio instead of the Riba.

The other side of this is that the Sovaldi seems to rid the body of the virus quickly and folks start feeling BETTER ON the meds because the virus is gone and the rest of the treatment is to be sure that it doesn't come back I guess.

Let us hear how you are feeling,

Hugs,
Mama Lama
Posted 3/16/2015 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
HCG.

Like Mama says it varies. I have been very fortunate to have very limited sides.
Maybe a little snarkier at times, but overall not too much.
I work every day as an accountant, and haven't had to call in sick once.
I am in my 10th week, and just about 2 weeks to go.

I take my meds with Lunch and with Dinner. And I drink a ton of water. My NP said not to drink soda, so I have cut that out totally.

I was never a very sick person, so maybe that's part of why I am handling better than some others. (also in California, so no weather issues).

I should admit, when I was initially told I was to start in October; I started reading about sides effects, and panicked and didn't start. I thought I was going to need to get a Med Marijuana card; anti itch meds, Tums, etc etc. However, once I calmed down and started right after New Years, it has been smooth sailing. I actually thought I had placebos, because I was not having any side effects at all. However, when I received my 2 week labs, the meds were clearly working. I went from VL 5.6million to SIXTEEN (to undetected at week 4); and I have remained undetected at 6 and 8 weeks.

All my other labs seem to come back pretty consistently. I keep an eye on the Hemoglobin. I believe if you go under 11 you are more acceptable to anemia; I have stayed above 13, so that may be an indicator.

Finally, listen to whatever MAMALAMA says. She is very experienced, and she looks out for everyone.
Posted 3/19/2015 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome HCG- I have been on the same medication for 10 weeks. Of course it is different with each person. I found the first few days easy with no side effects. Like LA Survivor I thought I was taking a placebo. For the next few weeks I had really bad headaches and some fatigue. (I have had migraine headaches on and off for years but the sol/riba intensified them). I was able to take prescription meds for the headaches if tylenol did not work. After the first few weeks the headaches subsided and I have only really suffered from fatigue. I can't do as much as I am used to doing and hit a wall if I push too much. Napping helps if its possible when you have a big day or need to go out at night. Not too bad for a cure!

I also eat well, try to exercise when I can, and do not take any other medication/supplements/etc other then what I absolutely have to have. My Dr. said the medicine is too new for them to know the effects of ALL supplements and medication with sov/riba. Its best to keep things as simple as possible.

Hoping that you have an easy time and know you have support here.
GC
Posted 3/20/2015 8:50 PM (GMT 0)
Can someone tell me how long the sleepless nights and feeling anxious will last? I feel like I'm crawling out of my skin. Will the body finally adjust to the meds?
Posted 3/20/2015 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
HCG, call you doc. Sides can be managed. Those with anxiety, sleep issues before treatment often see exaggerated versions of those during treatment. Please remember some important things:

1. HCV can kill you.
2. HCV can lead to liver cancer
3. HCV can lead to cirrhosis which, without transplantation has no cure, and can kill you.
4. The End Stage of Liver Disease is AWFUL....a tough way to spend the last months of your life.

SO...a few weeks of lost sleep and anxiety are NOTHING compared to 1, 2,3 4...think of it as chemotheraphy without the throwing up and lost hair....this is serious.

Sorry to be so straight forward, but...my family has seen all four of the above in all its nasty flavors.

Hugs,

Carol
Posted 3/23/2015 12:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hello HCG. I am almost done with my 7th week on Sovaldi and Riba. From reading others posts, it does seem to be an individual journey. Mine has been a roller coaster ride. First week I was fine. 2nd week I got a bad headache that last for 3 days and then dull headaches on and off that seem to be gone now. Fatigue has been my biggest issue and my hemoglobin did go down enough that they had to reduce my Riba dose. That helped and I'm up to 10.7 now however my fatigue does go up and down day to day. When fatigue does get bad I rest for a while and that helps me get back on track. Past week I've had the itching thing going on, which can drive one crazy, but it comes in attacks rather then constant. Only had a couple of times where I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. Have noticed though, that I can only sleep for 5 hours a night most nights. I think the advice on drinking lots of water really helps. I drink about 90 ounces or so a day. Sounds hard but it isn't. I find these meds make you thirsty anyway. All in all, just hang in there. It's worth it if you can get rid of the Hep C. Everyone on this site is very supportive.
Posted 3/23/2015 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for the support. I do not plan to stop taking the meds. I enjoying living. I have a job where I'm handling millions of $$ and closing deals and with the lack of sleep and concentration it can be frustrating. I don't know if I should take a leave of absence while on the meds. Do most people keep working while on the meds?
Posted 3/23/2015 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
HGC...it depends on the individual.

Some have become quite ill (near death) before the meds were available and they may have a rougher time. The new meds are being prescribed more generally now so folks who are NOT desperately ill are getting treated before the worst of it sets in.

Could Mike work during treatment, before transplant, no. After transplant, maybe. But he was retired and so didn't work before or during or after treatment. Many many DO.

If you need to rest more, rest more. I bet you will do fine. Take everyone's advice about eating with the meds and drinking plenty of fluid.

Best to you,
Mama Lama
Posted 3/24/2015 3:54 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry that you are suffering from sleeplessness and anxiety. For whatever it is worth, I found the first 2-3 weeks to be the hardest. Not sure if my body just adjusted to the medication or I learned to adapt my life around the side effects but it has gotten easier. Sleep or nap when you can and if you cant sleep or remain anxious, your doctor can give you something to help. Also, you can tell people that you are having to take medication temporarily that saps your energy. Take a break from making a lot of social plans and just give yourself a break to the extent that you can. Wishing you an easier time. GC
Posted 3/24/2015 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone!. All this information is helpful. I plan to talk to my Dr. because today my blood pressure is off the chart. it's 164/126. maybe they can adjust my BP meds. I have started taking my RIBAVIRIN earlier in the day, which help me sleep a couple of hours last night. By the way I'm 5' tall and weigh 148. should I at least drink 80 ounces of water a day?
Posted 3/24/2015 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
HC, Yes, about 75-80 oz. of water, per day. Really helps with riba sides.

BTW, when themister treated with interferon/riba...(twice), the water and other foods started tasting funky. He would put some gatorade powder in the water to get it down. He stopped drinking coke, but Ginger Ale became something he said helped the stomach trouble....along with soda crackers and chicken soup. His 2nd treatment was like a long case of the worst flu. A few months and done! Hang in there . Big Hugs
Posted 3/28/2015 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
Anxiety and depression over things we cannot control cause stress. Stress causes high blood pressure and other ailments. Relax. Figure out what you can do to be happy.

Regarding water intake, a sedentary person should drink 1/2 ounce of water per pound of body weight a day. An active person who eats healthy and supplements should drink up to 3/4 ounce of water per pound of body weight a day. about eight ounces every 30-60 minutes a day. Liquids like coffee count towards the daily dose, but mostly water is best.

Sovaldi and Harvoni are the best medicine for curing HCV. Nutrition, exercise, and sleep is the best medicine for physical and mental well being.

I hope you get to feeling better.
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