Well...I'm doing my first injection tonight... - Hepatitis Message Board

JD in Louisville · 12-13-2002, 10:44 PM

Hey all,
It's been awhile since I put my first post on here a couple of months ago saying I was in the acute phase of Hep C. My infectious disease doctor got right on it and secured the free 12 week Roache deal for pegasys. What 'cute' little cheery boxes the first 4 week supply comes in! It has a video of how to 'shoot up' as I call it, and what to expect.

After the drug rep found out that I was in the acute phase (still first 6 months so far since my initial infection) and am also co-infected with HIV, they wanted to use me as a test subject or study case. So, if I am doing well after the 12 weeks and responding properly, they will pay for the entire 48 weeks of pegasys ( I still have to get my own rebutol) They will pay for the blood tests and visits to my doctor.

My doctor was exstatic when she called me with the great news!

My question is, since I just shot up with my first dose just 30 minutes ago, how soon will I start feeling poorly? but more importantly, how long will it last? 1, 2, 3 days? more?

Also, the literature I have read says the symtoms ease after a few weeks. What does that mean?

I've kind of though of this as my gift for Christmas...but only next Christmas will I really have something to be thankful for, to my higher power.

Wes1212 · 12-13-2002, 11:34 PM

Hi JD! It takes about 4-6 hours for mine to kick in. The side effects during the first one seemed to be peaking after about 12 hours. About 18 hours into it, they seemed to be leveling out. 24 hours later it felt like a pretty bad alhocol hang-over...fuzzy headed and fatigued. The first one was definitely the worse.

At first, time seemed to pass rather slow. I guess that's why people say its good to have something to do...even if it's simple. I am learning to appreciate the small things again.

It doesn't seem like 16 weeks have passed since the beginning. My lab results at 13 weeks indicate the virus is undetectable at this point.

I hope you're weathering it well! It gets easier every week.

Best wishes,

Wes

thanbey · 12-14-2002, 01:28 AM

In an acute case of hepatitis C, interferon alone for twleve weeks of therapy has shown a nearly 100 percent response.

Direct your doctor to the recent NIH conference on the Management of Hepatitis C (Alberti) for the informaiton on acute hepatitis C or contact me through the website for a faxed or mailed copy of the presentation.

You probably do not need to suffer the ribavirin if you have acute hepatitis C. And, you might not need 48 weeks of treatment, either.

I hope this helps,

thanbey
[url="http://www.hcop.org"]www.hcop.org[/url]

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[url="http://www.hcop.org"]www.hcop.org[/url]
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[This message has been edited by thanbey (edited 12-14-2002).]

JD in Louisville · 12-14-2002, 06:23 AM

Well, it's been almost 12 hours since my first injection of Pegasys. Nothing to report. I slept through the night, and now I'm getting ready to leave for my AA meeting. I thought I'd be down-for-the-count by now! We'll see what this evening brings!

Thanby, what did you mean by Rebutol, maybe not needing to take it?? And I think my doc should probably contact you, but she's busier than a one-armed paper hanger with the crabs. What do you suggest?

JD

thanbey · 12-14-2002, 08:53 AM

Acute hepatitis C nearly clears nearly 100% without ribavirin in studies. This is partly because it clears spontaneously in up to 30-45% of acute cases anyway.

I am restricted in what I can put on this message board, so use the website for more information.

thanbey
[url="http://www.hcop.org"]www.hcop.org[/url]

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[url="http://www.hcop.org"]www.hcop.org[/url]
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