1st shot tonight - Hepatitis Message Board

scubaguy · 10-17-2003, 10:07 PM

Hello all
Took my 1st shot tonight!?! A little history. I was diagnost 3 years ago. Not sure how long i've had it, tatoo 20 years ago coke straw 5-15 years ago. I sopose it dos'nt matter. Liver biopsy then showed stage 1. My enzyenes always normal. Dr. said to wait live clean and see what happens. Last month he tells me about pegasys combo and that I have an 80% chance to be 100% cured. I'm 41 good shape only vice left is cigarettes, I know I'm working towards quiting. So I decided to do some researh, very confusing, thats how I found you guys. Oviously I decided to treat with pegasys combo. I took pills this morning, shot at 5:00 and pills at dinner. I feel great now (10:00) and relieved to have started. I know with my attitude and God beside me I will breeze through the next 24 months.I'll keep you all updated.Prayers to you all!!

scubaguy
P.S I will go diving in Mexico in Jan.!!!!!

dianasaska · 10-19-2003, 02:15 PM

Scuba

Can I come?

Watch the sun the RBV makes your skin and
eyes and hair very sensitive to the sun.
So cover up and wear sunblock when in the
sun, but don't avoid getting out! It seems
like the sun not only affects your skin, but
it if you are overexposed it saps your energy,
don't know how.

When diving, make sure you do what you
have to, to compensate for your blood's poorer
oxygen carrying capacity which is a common
side effect due to decreased HGB.

Also, LOTS of water, a gallon a day, be careful
if you are taking diuretics and make sure you
get minerals in your food or supplements like
gatorade or powerade (half a bottle a day).

If you feel achey, or yucky, then drink water
and, if that doesn't help, an extrastrength
tylenol will help.

And get lots of rest. If you have to take a
sleeping pill or antidepressant or antianxiety
medication to help you rest and keep you calm,
go for it, but lots of exercise is the better
alternative, it makes the meds work better too.

Finally, think positive always, it helps SO much.

I'm want to take scuba lessons in AU next year.

Donna

scubaguy · 10-19-2003, 02:30 PM

Donna

Yes you can come with us!!!

Thanks for the info about the sun
and my bloods ability to carry O2
I have never heard that. HGB???
My doc said it was ok if I feel up
to it. If!!!

Day 3 and I feel 100% normal!! Normal??? Ha Ha

thanbey · 10-19-2003, 07:55 PM

Diane,

That advice about drinking a gallon of water is a hoax. Somebody made it up based on the good advice to stay hydrated during treatment.

I don't know how to dispell this myth without speaking up and asking those of you who have seen it somewhere not to keep repeating it. People believing it and acting on it can be harmed.

Check out the consequences in the thread "Thaneby, Docluedmein, sorta."

thanbey

dianasaska · 10-19-2003, 08:44 PM

Thanbey

Okay, but I do recall seeing the recommendation of 1 gallon of water or fluids per day (not including caffeinated beverages) based on an 85kg body weight, which I am averaging now.

I drink 1 gallon of non-caffeinated fluids a day, supplemented with a bottle of gatorade (mixed 50/50 with water) every two days to augment electrolyte replacement. This seems to be working wonders for me. I also have 2-3 cups of coffee every morning.

When I find the source that recommended the calculation or recommendation of 1 Gallon of water per day, I will provide it to you, it is a reputable source, I think I saw it on the Health Canada website or the Pegasys website.

The doctors and nurses I see agree with me consuming that much water, and all my blood tests (including minerals) are working out fine.

I found that when I got aching from treatment that drinking about a cup of water helped alleviate the aching muscles and I didn't have to take tylenol as often as when I didn't respond to the aching with a glass of water. This resulted in me drinking about a gallon of water throughout the day, including about 2 cups through the night, yeah, many trips to the toilet, but, hey, when you get results, its worth it.

Maybe a safer calculation is 1 oz of water per kg of body weight, 8 oz of water in a cup, 4 cups in a quart. For someone who weighs 80 kg, that would be 80 ozs, 10 cups, 2 1/2 quarts/liters. I have seen this number bantered around.

It would be nice to have a professional estimate, though.

Maybe that much water works for me because I am very physically active?

Diana