I went to doctor yesterday,and got my biopsy results were good. She said that I have stage one hepatitis. I will have to take interferon for at least 6 months to a year. She said that it's possible that I can reverse it! But,I'll worry about that further down the line.


Can anyone please tell me your side effects during this treatment? I would really appreciate it!

Thanks,

Chris

There are a few of us on here that consistantly post that are on tx. At first I felt fine...just a little weird. For me some body aches kicked in and then depression. Both were treated with low dosage pain pills occasionally and anti depressants made all the difference in the world. I do get cranky still and am a little tired more than usual but other than that I am fine. I still work and take care of my two year old. I don't clean my house as much. I take a lot of asprin and motrin too. I drink a lot of water and that helps. The depression that kicked in was more me really emotional and snappy and lazy. Seriously think about anti depressants from the beginning. If there is one thing I would change it would be me starting them from the beginning. Good luck.

There are a few of us on here that consistantly post that are on tx. At first I felt fine...just a little weird. For me some body aches kicked in and then depression. Both were treated with low dosage pain pills occasionally and anti depressants made all the difference in the world. I do get cranky still and am a little tired more than usual but other than that I am fine. I still work and take care of my two year old. I don't clean my house as much. I take a lot of asprin and motrin too. I drink a lot of water and that helps. The depression that kicked in was more me really emotional and snappy and lazy. Seriously think about anti depressants from the beginning. If there is one thing I would change it would be me starting them from the beginning. Good luck.

Hi Jessy,
I just read where you take aspirin.my heptologist(sic) told me that asprin stays in your system far longer than say tylenol or some of the others,therefore I was told it is far worse for my liver.than the other mentioned ones.
I will verify this with him to see if I heard him correctly.
just trying to be a helpful member and share what I am being told.
Jeff

Hi Jessy,
I just read where you take aspirin.my heptologist(sic) told me that asprin stays in your system far longer than say tylenol or some of the others,therefore I was told it is far worse for my liver.than the other mentioned ones.
I will verify this with him to see if I heard him correctly.
just trying to be a helpful member and share what I am being told.
Jeff

I actually knew that and asked about that too. I never take asprin but she said don't worry about it while on treatment. It is better for us to use ibroproferen. However you spell that.

I actually knew that and asked about that too. I never take asprin but she said don't worry about it while on treatment. It is better for us to use ibroproferen. However you spell that.

yes ibuprofren is far better.

I was told absolutely NOT to take aspirin. Tylenol, Aleve or Ibuprofen are OK

I went to doctor yesterday,and got my biopsy results were good. . I will have to take interferon for at least 6 months to a year. She said that it's possible that I can reverse it! .
Chris

Wish the news were better but my friend get ready to go thru hell. You will have about 30% hair loss,weight loss,you will feel like you have a bad flu for 4 days of the week. It was HELL for me, I have been offered experimental treatments by my doctor since the treatment did NOT work for me but I will NEVER take interferon again.EVER.

Chris..
Well the truth is actually that you will have your own personal experience on Interferon. My hubby is on it, week 6, and he is sick as a dog most days. Has most of the side effects--flu-like aches all over his body, losing his hair, headaches, nausea, feels that was for about 3-4 days of the week and then feels moderately ok the other days. Just about the time he starts to feel better it's time for another shot. He is able to work, for the most part, but all of his vacation days will be used as sick days, so we will not take a vacation this year nor next and there is no guarantee it will even cure him. He is quite depressed but refuses Antidepressants, so he's just a joy to live with...so your experience could be as mild as Jessy's or as bad as my hubby's or DallasJEnny's. No way to know but to try. Hope for the best. You'll most likely be on this for 48 weeks, unless you're a genotype 2. Genotype 1's almost always have to go 48 weeks.
Best of luck, though. It could be ok for you, and I hope it is. Get a good support network of people around you--you will have bad days & you'll need them.
Liz

Liz, why is your hubby refusing antidepressants??? It could make the difference between treatment being HELL and fairly tolerable (for you and kids as well). It is not a sign of being "weak" or un-manly to take them, esp. during treatment. Mental health nursing is my field, and I have to say, I plan on taking whatever they recommend so my life won't be as miserable. Especially the serotonins (Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, etc.) are simply replacing a chemical in our brain they we don't manufacture as much of as we get older; tell him, it could mean a world of difference. Why suffer if you don't have to?? His symptoms would not be as noticeable. Just a thought...you can lead a horse to water but.....

Take care...:angel: Karen

Karen...
Well, my husbands plan is to "tough this out" and he is doing just that. I am fully aware of the ability of AD's to help with dperession having been on Zoloft for 11 years myself. He maintains that it does nothing for me and is, in his words "a joke". The doc has prescribed Celexa or Lexapro, I'm not sure which--and has encouraged him to begin taking them as his depression is noticeable and causing some problems at home. I have chosen to step back and let him be--but my 4 daughters are the ones who are riding him on this--they have flat out said "If you are grouchy and cranky we will not bring the grandbabies over to see you"...that's hitting him where he lives! You're right, you can lead a horse to water (the pharmacy.....) I don't know how miserable he plans to let himself get before he breaks down and takes something. Tuesday his doc pointedly said "We will take you off the treatment if we feel you are suffering from depression too severely" and my hubby said "I'm the best judge of that", but the doc just looked at him for a long time and said, "Are you really?" .... Well, if I weren't on Zoloft & Klonipin, I'd have killed myself and that's the truth. He just thinks AD's are a sign of weakness. Only 42 more weeks of this....I have to keep telling myself, one day at a time.
Thanks for your concern.
Liz