For the last few days I have felt kind of shaky or fluttery. It is wierd. I just have not fealt right. I took my 10th shot on Saturday and it is now Thursday. I don't feel right at all. It is hard to explain. The thing that makes it hard on these treatments is that I never know if I am getting the flu or the treatments are all of the sudden making me feel yucky or what. I get a little paranoid because of the hole blood level drop thing. My one eye has been flickering for the last two days. I have felt really tired. I don't know. I can't wait for this to be done. Should I be concerned? Charmed did you say you think you might have felt different when you blood cells took a dive?

For the last few days I have felt kind of shaky or fluttery. It is wierd. I just have not fealt right. I took my 10th shot on Saturday and it is now Thursday. I don't feel right at all. It is hard to explain. The thing that makes it hard on these treatments is that I never know if I am getting the flu or the treatments are all of the sudden making me feel yucky or what. I get a little paranoid because of the hole blood level drop thing. My one eye has been flickering for the last two days. I have felt really tired. I don't know. I can't wait for this to be done. Should I be concerned? Charmed did you say you think you might have felt different when you blood cells took a dive?

Sorry your feeling bad Jessy. With all of the crap in our systems; the shots, the ribo, the side effects of these, the meds for the side effects, the side effects of the meds, the effects of the hvc itself, the cumulative effects of all of these added up over time, plus all the germs unrelated to any of this that find an easy way in because of all of this...and all of life's day to day challenges..... is a miracle we are not all vegetables. Hang in there girl! You don't have a long way to go! Hope you feel better soon.

I'm not sure what you mean when you say "the whole blood level drop". If it's your white count then you have to be carefule about infections. If you are talking about becoming anemic(sp) I was told this can be very dangerous. My white count went way low but my red blood cell count stayed a little below normal. My hemoglobin and hemocrit dropped very low. I felt awful. I was so fatigued that I couldn't breath. Hate to say it but the only thing that helped me was Procrit which is another injection in the stomach.
Very expensive if you don't have insurance.

For the last few days I have felt kind of shaky or fluttery. It is wierd. I just have not fealt right. I took my 10th shot on Saturday and it is now Thursday. I don't feel right at all. It is hard to explain. The thing that makes it hard on these treatments is that I never know if I am getting the flu or the treatments are all of the sudden making me feel yucky or what. I get a little paranoid because of the hole blood level drop thing. My one eye has been flickering for the last two days. I have felt really tired. I don't know. I can't wait for this to be done. Should I be concerned? Charmed did you say you think you might have felt different when you blood cells took a dive?

Hi,
this is my 1st post
-I'm at shot 10 on Monday and all in all feeling pretty good-My viral load is virtually undetectable as of last blood work. I too have been having that annoying eye flickering-
my platlet count is low but not enough to bother the doctor.
I have the good genotype and also can't wait for the end of tx-almost 1/2 way there.:angel:
I also have sweating, fatigue-and weight loss-which I'm not complaining about!
hang in there! I thought it was gonna be a lot worse after reading about the side effects-

Hi,
this is my 1st post
-I'm at shot 10 on Monday and all in all feeling pretty good-My viral load is virtually undetectable as of last blood work. I too have been having that annoying eye flickering-
my platlet count is low but not enough to bother the doctor.
I have the good genotype and also can't wait for the end of tx-almost 1/2 way there.:angel:
I also have sweating, fatigue-and weight loss-which I'm not complaining about!
hang in there! I thought it was gonna be a lot worse after reading about the side effects-


I get confused with all the blood counts and anemia. I am ok from what the doc said. Low but ok. I have lost weight too....I don't know how. I still eat a lot. I am not complaining there. I feel better....not fluttery. However at work the other day I was sweating all day more than I have ever sweated in my life. I was embarresed. It was the first time I have been busy at work in a long time but still....not even the guys were sweating like that. I did not really know what to say to my customers. They were all asking if I was ok. I just told them I was a little under the weather and sweaty but I was fine. Most of my co workers already know I am on treatments. It is almost over.

Hi,
this is my 1st post
-I'm at shot 10 on Monday and all in all feeling pretty good-My viral load is virtually undetectable as of last blood work. I too have been having that annoying eye flickering-
my platlet count is low but not enough to bother the doctor.
I have the good genotype and also can't wait for the end of tx-almost 1/2 way there.:angel:
I also have sweating, fatigue-and weight loss-which I'm not complaining about!
hang in there! I thought it was gonna be a lot worse after reading about the side effects-' level

Hi eyes,

what is "virtually" undetectable???? The virus is either detected in the pcr test or not. if not, okay. if a 'very low level, ahem...virtually undetectable' type statement were made to me, i'd be very uneasy. was something like this really said? or is it just getting fuzzed up in the repitition/translation.

there have now been several studies that find that if your test does not come back UNdetectable by the 12th week, it is very unlikely that it ever will. For this reason, you must gain clarity.
Or, maybe, of course, I'm just misunderstanding. if so, sorry, but let us know the real deal, okay?

thanks

sean

' level

Hi eyes,

what is "virtually" undetectable???? The virus is either detected in the pcr test or not. if not, okay. if a 'very low level, ahem...virtually undetectable' type statement were made to me, i'd be very uneasy. was something like this really said? or is it just getting fuzzed up in the repitition/translation.

there have now been several studies that find that if your test does not come back UNdetectable by the 12th week, it is very unlikely that it ever will. For this reason, you must gain clarity.
Or, maybe, of course, I'm just misunderstanding. if so, sorry, but let us know the real deal, okay?

thanks

sean

Sean do you know anything about the studies of you coming back undetectable at 4wks? Does that mean anything or is the 12 wk one the one that means the most?

last viral load test reults just came back as undectectable (YAY) -the previous test was a month prior and that's what he said-virtually undetectable

For the last few days I have felt kind of shaky or fluttery. It is wierd. I just have not fealt right. I took my 10th shot on Saturday and it is now Thursday. I don't feel right at all. It is hard to explain. The thing that makes it hard on these treatments is that I never know if I am getting the flu or the treatments are all of the sudden making me feel yucky or what. I get a little paranoid because of the hole blood level drop thing. My one eye has been flickering for the last two days. I have felt really tired. I don't know. I can't wait for this to be done. Should I be concerned? Charmed did you say you think you might have felt different when you blood cells took a dive?

Jessy I was not ignoring you. I didn't know you had asked me a question. I am so sorry for not getting back to you. The last two weeks have been worse for me too. I took shot #9 today with 3 more to go. Yeah!!!! They are treating me for blisters in my mouth and throat. and acid reflux from H&^^. If you have seen that DQ commercial on TV, one of those people could be me, lol. I just started taking Nexium and its not working yet. I also had a blood test today and I will find out about it tomorrow maybe. On my last visit he did say that my blood had dropped and I could tell. I really knew before he told me because of the way I felt. It seems to have taken a nose dive in the last couple of weeks.

Jessy I was not ignoring you. I didn't know you had asked me a question. I am so sorry for not getting back to you. The last two weeks have been worse for me too. I took shot #9 today with 3 more to go. Yeah!!!! They are treating me for blisters in my mouth and throat. and acid reflux from H&^^. If you have seen that DQ commercial on TV, one of those people could be me, lol. I just started taking Nexium and its not working yet. I also had a blood test today and I will find out about it tomorrow maybe. On my last visit he did say that my blood had dropped and I could tell. I really knew before he told me because of the way I felt. It seems to have taken a nose dive in the last couple of weeks.

I am so sorry. You are almost done Charmed. When you say nose dive what do you mean? I have a feeling something in my blood work dropped because I have not been feeling as good as I was a few weeks ago. I feel ok but just not as good as a few weeks ago. You only have a few wks to go and I have also decided to only treat to 14 wks if I am still undetectable at my 12 wks labs and doc's visit. I feel confident that will be the case so I am considering myself almost done too. I hope you feel better Charmed.

They are treating me for blisters in my mouth and throat.

my mouth is also very sore-what r they giving you?

I am so sorry. You are almost done Charmed. When you say nose dive what do you mean? I have a feeling something in my blood work dropped because I have not been feeling as good as I was a few weeks ago. I feel ok but just not as good as a few weeks ago. You only have a few wks to go and I have also decided to only treat to 14 wks if I am still undetectable at my 12 wks labs and doc's visit. I feel confident that will be the case so I am considering myself almost done too. I hope you feel better Charmed.

By "nose dive," I mean the side effects are getting more serious and harder to control. The "yuck" feeling is more constant. No energy, sore all over, MAJOR stomach problems, and I haven't slept 8 hours (or 6 for that matter) at a time in 8 weeks. Still bearable but if I don't get the stomach crap under control I don't know what I'll do. Have you had any problems with your stomach? or any problems for that matter?

I am confident that tx for the 3 months will be just as good as the 6 months after doing some research on my own as well as that being my doc's advice. I hope that you have also. My doc is a gastroenterologist here in Birmingham.

Thanks for thinking of me, I've been kinda out of the loop for a while.

my mouth is also very sore-what r they giving you?

Nexium for the acid reflux and Carafate for the blisters and to coat my stomach before meals. The stomach problems have been the worst side effect for me, so far. How about you?

Nexium for the acid reflux and Carafate for the blisters and to coat my stomach before meals. The stomach problems have been the worst side effect for me, so far. How about you?

Mainly extreme tired and soreness-malaise, fatigue-some heartburn, no appetite, sore tongue, cough. Trouble staying asleep-oh yeah, dizzy :dizzy:
But, I still feel lucky because I thought it was going to be a lot worse-y'know-when they tell you the main side effect is suicide-it can freak you out.

I am sorry charmed. I am doing 14 wks because the doc started me out with half doses the first two weeks. I do have diarehea some time but never more that half the day. I have not really had stomach problems other than that...sometimes something just does not sit well in my tummy. My main complaints are body aches right now and lack of energy and the amount of sweat I am sweating over hardly anything at work. I am very forgetful too. I had to buy myself one of those days of the wk pill boxes because I can't ever remember if I took the second pill or my anti depressant or what. Unfortunatly for the painful body aches I started out taking one hydracodone a day a few months back and that would give me enough relief to make it through the rest of the day...in the last month or so I started taking more like two a day pretty consistantly. Now that I have been working more and having much longer days starting at 8 am and sometimes ending at 2 am I find myself taking three through out my up hours about 5 to 6 hours apart. I don't like that but once again I am just trying to get through this as funcional as possible. I really don't have the choice of not going to work or just resting. I have a almost two year old and a lot of bills that won't wait. I am working six days this wk and my body feels it along with the tx. I have a weird cough too. I also notice shortness of breath sometimes and then it is not there other times. Wierd. My husband had diarhea the hole time on tx....six months. It never ended. It ended two days after he stopped the meds. Good luck charmed and everyone else.

Well, through trial and error I have discovered what the blisters in my throat and mouth are. (or what I think they are) If yogurt makes it better, I mean noticeabley better, does that mean that it's some sort of yeast infection? Yeah I know strange place and all but... baby's get it all the time. So... have you ever heard of this happening to anyone?

I am sorry charmed. I am doing 14 wks because the doc started me out with half doses the first two weeks. I do have diarehea some time but never more that half the day. I have not really had stomach problems other than that...sometimes something just does not sit well in my tummy. My main complaints are body aches right now and lack of energy and the amount of sweat I am sweating over hardly anything at work. I am very forgetful too. I had to buy myself one of those days of the wk pill boxes because I can't ever remember if I took the second pill or my anti depressant or what. Unfortunatly for the painful body aches I started out taking one hydracodone a day a few months back and that would give me enough relief to make it through the rest of the day...in the last month or so I started taking more like two a day pretty consistantly. Now that I have been working more and having much longer days starting at 8 am and sometimes ending at 2 am I find myself taking three through out my up hours about 5 to 6 hours apart. I don't like that but once again I am just trying to get through this as funcional as possible. I really don't have the choice of not going to work or just resting. I have a almost two year old and a lot of bills that won't wait. I am working six days this wk and my body feels it along with the tx. I have a weird cough too. I also notice shortness of breath sometimes and then it is not there other times. Wierd. My husband had diarhea the hole time on tx....six months. It never ended. It ended two days after he stopped the meds. Good luck charmed and everyone else.

Yeah, I've taken more than I was originally too. But I haven't really slept since the 2nd week of treatment. I still feel really lucky that it's not any worse than it is too. Its probably better to have to work as much as you do though. When you are busy the time goes by faster. I stay at home now, and all I really have to think about is how I feel. You can get real creative when you have too much time on your hands, lol.

Yea I hear ya. I wonder if that does mean it is a yeast infection. That is interesting but you are right babies get it all the time. The time has really gone quick for me but I try not to keep track of how long or the time of it all. I learned that a long time ago with not so nice experiences. I feel lucky too that it has not been very bad for me. The depression was the worst as you already know. Did you ever ask your doctor how long he has been only treating for three months? I am just curious. I hope you feel better and we are both almost there. I can't wait.

Well, through trial and error I have discovered what the blisters in my throat and mouth are. (or what I think they are) If yogurt makes it better, I mean noticeabley better, does that mean that it's some sort of yeast infection? Yeah I know strange place and all but... baby's get it all the time. So... have you ever heard of this happening to anyone?

Hi Charmed 1,

Yes, it's called Thrush. babies get it and adults with damaged immune systems (such as aids patients and interferon patients, or anyone on immune-suppression drugs),
Ifn is not an immune suppressant in the usual sense, but it unbalances the immune system greatly, allowing opportunistic infections (in my case, for instance, pneumonia), and autoimmune reactions (such as the famous ifn rash which is sometimes very serious).

luckily, there are treatments for thrush--yes it is yeast, namely candida--and they are topical so they may avoid further havoc to your health.
active culture yogurts should help, as the cultures compete with the yeast for the territory.
Still, the yesat meds are not obnoxious, so it is probably worthwhile to check into them.

hope this helps,

sean

Hi Charmed 1,

Yes, it's called Thrush. babies get it and adults with damaged immune systems (such as aids patients and interferon patients, or anyone on immune-suppression drugs),
Ifn is not an immune suppressant in the usual sense, but it unbalances the immune system greatly, allowing opportunistic infections (in my case, for instance, pneumonia), and autoimmune reactions (such as the famous ifn rash which is sometimes very serious).

luckily, there are treatments for thrush--yes it is yeast, namely candida--and they are topical so they may avoid further havoc to your health.
active culture yogurts should help, as the cultures compete with the yeast for the territory.
Still, the yesat meds are not obnoxious, so it is probably worthwhile to check into them.

hope this helps,

sean

Yeah, that does help. I did talk to the doc and they phoned me in some "Nystatin." Wow that is some yucky stuff, lol. And the sides off it are going to be fun. I took one dose yesterday and suffered mild stomach cramps (gas, lol). I couldn't believe how much good that the yogurt, kids yogurt at that, did for me.

I can't get over how many different meds that I have had to buy and take over the past few weeks. And it has been unavoidable to get them. I remember reading one of your posts about not waiting. I should have applied that faster in the last couple of weeks. But maybe I have finally gotten to the bottom of this most recent round.

You say you have/had pneumonia? How do you know it's pneumonia? I have had some serious bronchitis since just before I started treatment and even though I have nearly stopped smoking it seems to be worse. I haven't read an update on you lately so I didn't know. What else have you experienced? Where are you in your treatment? lol, no, I'm not writing a book, just wondered.

Lisa

Yea I hear ya. I wonder if that does mean it is a yeast infection. That is interesting but you are right babies get it all the time. The time has really gone quick for me but I try not to keep track of how long or the time of it all. I learned that a long time ago with not so nice experiences. I feel lucky too that it has not been very bad for me. The depression was the worst as you already know. Did you ever ask your doctor how long he has been only treating for three months? I am just curious. I hope you feel better and we are both almost there. I can't wait.

Yeah, I take shot #10 today with 2 more to go!!! But I guess I couldn't just sail through this unscathed, lol. I'm quite sure that the last will be the worst. My blood tests came back with my white count low but not low enough for more meds. They did a liver panel and 2 out of 6 came back at 58when the norm was 40. She says that means that my liver is inflamed and they don't know why. It is not such a high number that the doc will freak but will pay attention. She called it SG?? and another one that was an S??? Any input?

I'm on week 11 (of 24) and have felt increasingly fatigued-I called the doc after my monthly blood work and he said that my wbc is low and he wants me to start neulasta-anyone else do this?

I just went to the doctor today and I am on wk twelve going on wk thirteen. I have made a decision with little to no fibrosis and being a gen 3 and with all the research I have done that I am going to quit tx in two wks if my viral load is still undetectable as it has been since wk 3.5 What was really sad is that half the patients in the doctor's office that were getting ready to start tx that day had no idea about gen types or anything else for that matter. The staff in the office at my doc's office is for the most part very rude all the time to everyone. My doc is well known for treating hep c in this city. I swear I should get a job there just to inform the patient's. I have found that I even know more than most of the physician's assistants whom you see more than the doctor. If my viral load comes back undectectable.....and after my research and being a gen 3 with little to no fibrosis I am making the decision to call it quits and see what happens. Good luck to you guys. I will keep posting. You should see this waiting room at my doc's office...it is like a methadone clinic. I appluad my doc for this in the way that he has continued for a very long time to treat people with the medical card rather than stopping and only treating people with private insurance like most doctors. But wow. There have been more times where I have known more than the nurse praticioners. They have even called me later and told me I was right. What is sad about that is the fact that if they decide to be a nurse practiocioner in that feild they have never taken some time to educate themselves on the actual subject of tx. My doc mostly only does treatment. I don't get it. They need a nice understanding person there to talk to these people. I swear I was in the waiting room and was like a teacher. They had no clue. I actually might apply.

I just went to the doctor today and I am on wk twelve going on wk thirteen. I have made a decision with little to no fibrosis and being a gen 3 and with all the research I have done that I am going to quit tx in two wks if my viral load is still undetectable as it has been since wk 3.5 What was really sad is that half the patients in the doctor's office that were getting ready to start tx that day had no idea about gen types or anything else for that matter. :

Hi Jessica, I'm with you. So little is known by the staff in doctor's offices about Hep C. There is simply not enough flyers/posters on the boards to inform patients of this disease. I think they should let anyone who had a blood transfusion or surgery before 1991 to be tested for Hep C. There are numerous people walking around with it and never know. Some doctors, if they are not specialist, are unfamiliar themselves. We who post seem to be more informed and helpful to others that are concerned about their diagnosis of Hep C. It's sad that more information isn't given out to visitors/patients to clinics, etc. on Hep C. Like Sean said, you'll probably die from something else before Hep C. Heck, some of the side affects seem worst then the Hep C but treatable. Still it's our choice to have tx once we have all the facts.

I left my second opinion doctor's care for I felt they were really not concerned about me but rather the amount of money they could get out of Medicare, etc. I went back to my first specialist and am glad I did. You just have to change doctors until you find one that you are comfortable with. If you don't feel you are getting the best care possible from your doctor, change! I know the patients in that office welcomed your input. Good for you, Jessica. The better educated you are about your illness the better decisions you can make for yourself. Your doctor seems to be overloaded and perhaps the staff are also burned out or just not into public aid patients. The stigma you know. There are prejudices still out there. Oh, well, good luck, Jessica, and after you stop treatments I hope your tests continue to be good. I start my treatments tomorrow and being Geno Type 1, stage 3, I hope it works. I'll know after a few tests (4 wk & 8 wk) to see if I should continue. I'll let you guys know how my tx is going and hopes it helps others with my diagnosis. OwenP, how are you fairing? Keep teaching Jessica. :blob_fire

Joyce

Hi Jessica, I'm with you. So little is known by the staff in doctor's offices about Hep C. There is simply not enough flyers/posters on the boards to inform patients of this disease. I think they should let anyone who had a blood transfusion or surgery before 1991 to be tested for Hep C. There are numerous people walking around with it and never know. Some doctors, if they are not specialist, are unfamiliar themselves. We who post seem to be more informed and helpful to others that are concerned about their diagnosis of Hep C. It's sad that more information isn't given out to visitors/patients to clinics, etc. on Hep C. Like Sean said, you'll probably die from something else before Hep C. Heck, some of the side affects seem worst then the Hep C but treatable. Still it's our choice to have tx once we have all the facts.

I left my second opinion doctor's care for I felt they were really not concerned about me but rather the amount of money they could get out of Medicare, etc. I went back to my first specialist and am glad I did. You just have to change doctors until you find one that you are comfortable with. If you don't feel you are getting the best care possible from your doctor, change! I know the patients in that office welcomed your input. Good for you, Jessica. The better educated you are about your illness the better decisions you can make for yourself. Your doctor seems to be overloaded and perhaps the staff are also burned out or just not into public aid patients. The stigma you know. There are prejudices still out there. Oh, well, good luck, Jessica, and after you stop treatments I hope your tests continue to be good. I start my treatments tomorrow and being Geno Type 1, stage 3, I hope it works. I'll know after a few tests (4 wk & 8 wk) to see if I should continue. I'll let you guys know how my tx is going and hopes it helps others with my diagnosis. OwenP, how are you fairing? Keep teaching Jessica. :blob_fire

Joyce


Good luck with your treatments. My doctor's office is so frustrating. And I don't get how the patients don't have a clue as to what is going on...gen....stage of the liver....amount of treatments...sucess rates....ect. It is sad. Let us know how it goes for you. I have a shot tomorrow and then one more left to do. I can't wait.

Hi Jessica, I'm with you. So little is known by the staff in doctor's offices about Hep C. There is simply not enough flyers/posters on the boards to inform patients of this disease. I think they should let anyone who had a blood transfusion or surgery before 1991 to be tested for Hep C. There are numerous people walking around with it and never know. Some doctors, if they are not specialist, are unfamiliar themselves. We who post seem to be more informed and helpful to others that are concerned about their diagnosis of Hep C. It's sad that more information isn't given out to visitors/patients to clinics, etc. on Hep C. Like Sean said, you'll probably die from something else before Hep C. Heck, some of the side affects seem worst then the Hep C but treatable. Still it's our choice to have tx once we have all the facts.

I left my second opinion doctor's care for I felt they were really not concerned about me but rather the amount of money they could get out of Medicare, etc. I went back to my first specialist and am glad I did. You just have to change doctors until you find one that you are comfortable with. If you don't feel you are getting the best care possible from your doctor, change! I know the patients in that office welcomed your input. Good for you, Jessica. The better educated you are about your illness the better decisions you can make for yourself. Your doctor seems to be overloaded and perhaps the staff are also burned out or just not into public aid patients. The stigma you know. There are prejudices still out there. Oh, well, good luck, Jessica, and after you stop treatments I hope your tests continue to be good. I start my treatments tomorrow and being Geno Type 1, stage 3, I hope it works. I'll know after a few tests (4 wk & 8 wk) to see if I should continue. I'll let you guys know how my tx is going and hopes it helps others with my diagnosis. OwenP, how are you fairing? Keep teaching Jessica. :blob_fire

Joyce

Hi Joyce. I just took shot #6 Last night(friday). So far no major side effects. I 've lost a little weight. Saturdays are pretty much stay on the couch days. Sundays very little energy but not terrible. Mondays back to work, never feeling quite right, but ok. Headaches a few times a week. Wishing you the best with your tx. I'll be thinking of you.
Owen P.

Hi Joyce. I just took shot #6 Last night(friday). So far no major side effects. I 've lost a little weight. Saturdays are pretty much stay on the couch days. Sundays very little energy but not terrible. Mondays back to work, never feeling quite right, but ok. Headaches a few times a week. Wishing you the best with your tx. I'll be thinking of you.
Owen P.

Hi Owen,

I'm glad that you aren't having to many difficulties with side affects. You give me encouragement more so to get my tx done. We both have the same diagnosis (I'm a bit older) so your tx status concerns me more. I think I can get through such side affects. I do endure pain easily, so my doctor says, so such minor side affects will be a breeze. I hate feeling miserable but for the end results, I will manage. I went to my teaching class with the nurse and she really put me at ease as well. It was very educational and the tips to handling the different side affects are easy to do. I just hope I fair as well as you are doing. I'm glad that you are doing well thus far.

I'll let everyone know how I am, I think I will use the journal that comes with the starter kit to describe my days. It'll be good to look back on them after I'm through with tx. Thanks or responding Owen, I'll keep everyone updated on my status. I'll keep posting and to all you Heppers each post helps others to see that Hep C can be contained. Keep your head up and take care of YOU. :)