Scott,

Perhaps you can just tell them that you are currently taking some meds that limit you physical endurance and strength.

If they ask more you could just say that you'd rather not discuss that but if you need to you could get a doctor to sign off on a "light duty" note of some sort.

That protects your privacy but also lets them know that you will be limited in what you can/ should do for the next couple of months.

Just a thought.

I certainly wouldn't change your meds at all until you talk to your specialist.

Good that you got a message in, they should get back to you fairly quickly, at least by tomorrow sometime (I doubt they are closed President's Day).

Dave

Sent my doctor a note.  Debated on even taking my nightly meds but I figured that I better keep taking it until/or if, my doctor lowers it.  I don't understand.  This is knocking me down like the interferon/Rib did.  I am not getting depressed but if this doesn't pass, I  wont be able to work and take this.    How do people work on this stuff?  I am very fortunate that I have a job where I work about 40 hours a month and get paid full time, some months are busier then that but this month is slow.     The  catch is, I am on call 24/7/365.  Some jobs are extremely physical.  If I had one of those, I would literally not be able to do it.  This means, I might have to tell my employer what I am taking.  I didn't want to do that but I have been with the company 10 years and am very valuable, they would probably give me a pass on those physical jobs.   

Hi again Scott,

I'm glad to hear that you are doing what you can to take it easy, sounds like you are doing well with the situation in spite of the fact that it's a tough one. Being reasonable and allowing yourself to rest WAY more than usual, eat some breakfast in the morning (time for those steel rolled oats) and hydrate well should all help, even it it's just a little.

Like I said, you do sound like you are being reasonable and trying not to overdo it ... keep those thoughts with you as you proceed ... and do get help wherever possible right now ... even if you have to spend a little extra $ to do it, you can make that up later when you're free of the HCV and the meds.

Hang in there, keep us posted ... the meds are doing their stuff and your system is fully saturated by now ... that's all a good thing.

Dave

Thanks.  Yeah, I have some friends helping. I have no choice.  I rent and don't own and the place raised my rent an unreasonable amount of time.  I will definitely speak with my doc.  In the mean time, I am going slow down. If I have to fly one of my family members out here to help I will. 

Blood tests were just last Tuesday and all was good.  hemo was 14.4 and red blood cells were just slightly  under but not alarming.  I keep water with me everywhere.  It is just a balancing act. I haven't felt good in years.  So I wake up feeling energetic and emotionally great.  Then I am wiped out by noon.  Today, I shall spend it on the couch.  Tomorrow, I will speak with doctor. 

Hi Dragonfly and Gracie,

Happy Valentines Day to you both!

Thanks for the encouragement, I'll be sure to let myself relax and make room for more of those "Do Nothing Days" ... 

Pretty easy for me since I'm retired now and try to live my life like that in general ... but it's easy to get a bit wound up sometimes (especially taking the Riba) ... it takes being conscious of how we are doing in terms of dealing with things and staying relaxed. That's where feedback from my friends here is so helpful ... every day I'm glad I found this place.

Scott,

This must be a most difficult time to be moving, that's even rough when you're feeling fine. Can you get help from friends and/ or family? Can you delay the move, you really shouldn't have to push yourself physically right now. It is good that you are pacing yourself so far, you may need to even slow down a bit more if you must continue. Don't let getting busy get in the way of drinking huge amounts of water, perhaps keep a water bottle with you all the time, it will help remind you to hydrate a LOT.

I haven't felt the near black outs, that sounds like you may be starting to get anemic, you should tell your Dr or at least the nurse and arrange for checking your red blood cel count, they may need to adjust the amount of Riba you are taking. Give them a call right away, and try to find a way so you don't have to do the move right now if at all possible ... that's a lot of stress both physically and mentally right now.

Dave

Today is day 20 for me.  I have had some new symptoms come up yesterday and today.  When I squat down and then stand up, (no matter how long I have been squatting or sitting), I get a head rush that almost makes me feel like I am going to black out.  I hold on to something until it passes.

Also, my visions seems to be getting blurry.  Anyone have these? 

I am trying to prepare for a move.  I do a little bit each day, cleaning, etc.  The move itself is going to be horrible with this low energy. 

It seems to take long, but honestly, it goes by quick. Before you know it, you'll be done. And while good nutrition and hydration are important, so is letting yourself off the hook from time to time. Spend a day in you pjs watching a movie marathon and eating whatever you want. These type of days can leave you with a sense of rest fullness and peace that you couldn't get any other way. I called them "do nothing day" and actually planned them in my calendar as I'm kind of a workaholic. 

Keep on truckin.... You are on you way to a hep c free life .... Xo

I've seen your posts and really you need to relax, if you constantly look at results your head will spin.  I wish you luck - you are on a good combo

Nxxx

Hey Tig,

I do have my daily spreadsheets that have room for notes and mood etc. Didn't really feel like filling it out for a couple of days but got things caught back up today.

I also use a calendar as a backup so I keep my "meds taken" straight along with a pill container, of course.

Writing things down is probably a good idea but it'll have to wait 'till I feel more like it.

I got a few more supplies for smoothies and snacks and stuff so I can at least keep the nutrients up.

Hey, I'm glad to have good times along with the carp ... this morning was good, I'll hit the hay early again, seemed to help and get me through most of the next day last time.

Thanks,

Dave

Hey Oh SF,

How's your Tx going? Uneventful, I hope.

Mine's not bad, it's just rather persistent, felt decent this morning but the day just kind of went down hill. Still able to function, went to the store but felt like I had to really watch myself about becoming grumpy.

At least Jo is very understanding, I apologized in advance for any bad vibes I was sending out.

I'll force some extra water down, at least I'll keep busy going to the bathroom ... LOL.

Wishin' ya well,

Dave

Hang in there buddy! Next week, those awesome test results will supercharge your desire to go on. You'll get proof that your hard work is doing more than just serving up more "carp" each day. I kept a journal of my experiences during treatment and recommend it. It will be a reminder of how important the journey was on those days you were just too burned out to care or remember. 

Hi Dave,

Carp is good even if I have not had it since I was a kid. Tomorrow will be better and you can sleep so that's a good way to stay away from the nasty times.

Think of Oreo Ice Cream Blizzard Smoothies and that should at least get you hungry. You're nearly 1/3 done so great job. Thank you for keeping us updated.

Same ol' yuck, different day ...

Trying to keep myself occupied so I don't dwell on feeling like carp.

Actually this stuff gives carp a bad name.

I dream of a day when nobody ever has to take this stuff again (fortunately that day is going to be a reality soon thanks to the brave souls doing trials right now).

Hydrate, Headphones and keep the Heck away from everyone ...

... that's my plan and I'm stickin' to it!

8 wks 3-1/2 days to go ...

Dave

Click the pic above ... 

Scott,

I occasionally will put steel rolled oats in a piece of cheesecloth tided at the top, into a bath as it fills. Natural and helps your skin without stripping the oils away (And Really Helps with the Itching). I agree with Tig, every other day is about the max one should shower/ bathe while on Tx. Try to protect your skin when outside from not only the sun but from dry air (i.e. Wear long sleves when outdoors even if it's a tad on the warm side).

I don't use much soap at all, just the shower water and a very small amount of Dove hand soap that has no fragrance etc.

The Riba does permeate the system, no doubt and makes most anything in, on or around you stink but that's what it does and I just go with the flow and let it do it's thing.

As far as skin feeling bad, my skin is actually feeling more soft and pliable since I've been hitting the greens and other veggies and fruits. Seems to help a LOT. I try to eat a bowl of Oatmeal for breakfast, whole grain and not the Instant kind. Seems to also help.

I've been experiencing a little rash but very minimal so far. I noticed wherever my skin was compromised (like I had a burn on my arm from the wood stove before I started Tx) the area of the burn blistered up and got very itchy ... so I think doing the most you can to keep the natural oils and top layers of skin in good health is very important.

Eat Foods Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Flavonoids

Both groups of nutrients are strongly associated with healthy blood vessels, which are essential to experiencing optimal blood flow to and from your skin cells.

Healthy foods that are naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids include:

• Dark green leafy vegetables
• Raw walnuts
• Wild salmon
• Fresh or dried seaweed
• Freshly ground flax seeds
• Freshly ground hemp seeds
• Free-range eggs

Healthy foods that are naturally rich in flavonoids include:

• Lettuce
• Acerola cherries
• Citrus fruits
• Cabbage
• Kale
• Spinach
• Goji beries
• Asparagus
• Lima beans
• Kidney beans
• Raw cacao

I didn't watch the Podcast here but you might find the text here helpful ... it's about our skin.

Hope it helps,

Dave

Hi linuxter,

Keep us posted with your results, the bike should lots of fun and will bump your spirit up when needed. SVRville here we come, non stop.

Juggle you say?    Yes, it is.....  Do your best, that's all you can ask of yourself!

Thank you, I will head out and get those.  I will try this but I can't sleep without a shower.  Maybe for now, I cut my morning one out.  I also got allergies and I work around dust,  Baby wipes might not do the trick.  But I do have a lot of days off so maybe I use those for baby wipes only. 

yes, I had a hot bath and was fine then laid back in it felt like it scalded me because my upper back is so sensitive. 

I will definitely cut back to one a day and see if I can handle the baby wipes.  When I drank, I could go days without showers.  Now, I am very OCD and like things a certain way.  This is a juggling act isn't it? 

Hey Scott,

You need to consider cutting back on the showering and bathing. Ribavirin has a harsh effect on your skin and if you start noticing a lot of itching, a rash, etc., it's likely the Ribavirin causing it. We recommend every other day showering with a very mild soap, baby shampoo, Ivory, etc. to keep the soap harshness at a minimum. If you're feeling kind grimy, it's probably the treatment as you suspect, but don't wash away all the benefits of your own skin oils, you need them. The Gold Bond is a great addition, as is an oatmeal additive in your bath water or soap. If you shower and bath too much, you stand the chance of making things worse. One thing I can recommend highly is the use of baby wipes. They can refresh you like nothing else available. They'll help keep that "PUNY" smell down, lol. There are wipes for sensitive skin, etc., that will help you stay clean and moisturized without completely stripping every bit of moisture from your skin that a shower will cause. You should also keep the water temperatures down at a lukewarm level. Hot water can aggravate/cause some additional skin discomfort. Ribavirin is a lovely drug that works, but unfortunately controls some aspects of your life while you're on it. Just play along and you'll be done with it's impact on your life before you know it!

Today was a long day.  I am a critical power engineer (Glorified title for an electronics technician).  Anyway, It was supposed to be a quick 1 hour drive, 1 hour fan replacement, and 1 hour  drive.  But didn't get right parts and unit didn't come back online so I had to troubleshoot for a few hours before I finally fixed it.  Troubleshooting and short term memory is very hard.  It probably would have taken me 45 minutes extra 3 weeks ago. 

Anyway, I am exhausted and I smell like what Tig was talking about in his not puny but another 4 letter word that stinks.  I didn't even sweat.  I have noticed from sleeping I wake up a little pungent.  I guess it is the meds.  My skin feels horrible, just  dirty.  I honestly can only handle 2 showers a day.  I live in Colorado which is so dry.  The water hurts my skin physically.  So shower in the morning then take a nice bath at night.  I lube up every day with Gold Bond Ultimate.  It has eczema relief and oatmeal solution. 

Today is going to be a cheat day.  But before I do, I made myself drink a smoothie, heavy on the fruit.  Tonight,  I will get a cookie dough blizzard.  I have already lost 5 pounds and went one belt loop in the good direction.  And it is not because I have lost my appetite, it is because I have been eating very healthy.  I think I will eat what I want on weekend within reason and as long as I eat the good stuff first. 

Any suggestions on bath salts or anything to put in bath to make my skin feel better.  I

Hey Tig,

Bike is a long range solution for bringing down blood pressure, reducing calories and helping my breathing, for now I'll use it some but more in the capacity of a mellow, no impact, exercise to keep up/ increase my cardiovascular strength a little ... I will use it as a tool to feel better but will be very conscious of being careful to NOT overdo it. I'm not in the mood to push it at all, reduced RBC may even keep me from using it ... just wanted another tool to feel a little better and use as a distraction for 15-20 minutes or so a couple/ few times a week during Tx as I feel good enough to do it.

Offer on the exercise bike is very nice and I thank you but this setup works because it's a nice easy transition from indoor to outdoor (on the road) exercise. I don't have a fancy bicycle but I'm used to it and that makes it more likely I'll use it.

4 wk Labs - 3.5 days

Dave

Hey Dave,

I think you'll be very pleased with your lab results next week. I'm amazed at how fast these medications put the whammy on the virus. So fast! Of course that's why you're feeling the way you do too. Can we just say you're feeling a bit "puny"? There's another four letter word, but I can't use it here. Let's just say it smells and assume everyone knows what I mean! 

I wish I had known you needed an exercise bike. I've got a (like new) 10 year old Schwinn recumbent computer controlled exercise bike that I used for a few years, sporadically and then it took up space in my spare room. Paid $800 bucks for that thing and would give it to you if I could wiggle my nose and get it from one corner of the country to the other! It's so heavy it would cost twice what it's worth to ship it. So my wife made me move it to the garage, with the rest of my junk. Florida doesn't have basements, so the garage is full of stuff instead. I can't remember the last time I used it to actually park a car in. 2006 I think, when we had our last hurricane.

You're going to have those rough sections of track now and again. You're handling things very well though. Keep to your routine of hydration, nutrition and rest. It'll be over before you know it. Don't wear yourself out on that bike! Easy going is the order of the day!

Day 24

4 wk labs have been ordered for my local clinic so I can take them at my leisure (ID nurse said anytime within a few days of 4 wks is fine). My plan is to get blood drawn on day 28

Ordered a bike trainer stand (stand for my bicycle) and it arrived today ... so I can get some exercise even when it's raining out (rains a LOT here in Washington), now Jo and I both have one which should inspire both of us to get more exercise.

Exercise Bike + Headphones + Spotify = More Exercise

Yesterday I hit a rough section of track but I got nearly 11 hours of sleep last night and feel pretty good today.

Nice to be getting closer to 4 wk labs.

Dave

Scott,

Ya, time really flys by, glad to hear no anxiety for now, I would imagine the stress of uncertainty is a bit of a trigger, now you're as sure as I am that it won't be long before we're both HCV-FREE! Besides the occasional section of rough patches on the track it's smooth skatin' from here on ---------------------------> SVR

This may be a steam train but I hear they have Satellite Netflix and a Smoothie Bar in the lounge car ... think I'll go kick back for a while and enjoy the ride.

Dave

Gracie,

Whatever ya do save that recipe ... you can be the taste tester/ blizzard constructor and get the recipe perfected ... then you can post it over at the smoothie thread once you get it just right. 

I'm pretty much really wanting one now!! 

If I'm not careful I could really like these and I'll get kicked off the train for taking up two seats and have to roll on down the tracks on my own - LOL.

Dave

Good Job Dave, can't wait for you to get your tests.  My viral load will be taken on 23rd.  Days are flying by.  No more anxiety but it comes and goes and I never know when. 

CHOO CHOOO Chugga chugga chugga

I'm just about ready to head out to the grocery store to buy the ingredients for the OICB Smoothie... darn that sounds good. Maybe if I get the news of SVR, I'll treat myself with a super large one! Cheers!!!!

"Plan a special smoothie for that day!" ...

... might just have to save that "Oreo Ice Cream Blizzard Smoothie" for the news, we shall see.

... still need to hack into that db ... unless you can smuggle it out for me.

Dave

p.s. Just thinking about the "OICB Smoothie " made my day ... good thing I don't have any Ice Cream around now or I'd be testing recipes all night to be sure I got it right.

Talk about not being able to wrap your head around something ... I'll be glad when I can look back and say "What a long strange trip it's been".

My favorite song by the GD.

I hope you have a better day tomorrow and 23 days is amazing. How will it feel when you get your first good news.  Very much looking forward to your lab results when you get them. Plan a special smoothie for that day!

wendyo wrote:

---

 Or how about this....it is ok to sit on the pity pot for a little while, just don't get a ring around your a**.

Hugz,

wendy 

---

 Thanks Wendy! I was wandering what would be a good meeting topic for tonight.

Jimmy,

don't beat yourself up (the meds are doing that enough). For many of us, HCV is a consequence of our past. We are sick people getting well. I like the 12 step saying"...we will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it..." Our experience can benefit others. It is ok to have a bad day now and then....no one promised us a rose garden. Or how about this....it is ok to sit on the pity pot for a little while, just don't get a ring around your a**.

Hugz,

wendy 

Day 23 (0.27380952381th of the way done)

Bit of an emotional roller coaster along this stretch ... perhaps the track just has a few whoop-de-doo's here.

Life will always have bumps, no mater how organized or in-control we think we may be. Those little bumps just appear somewhat amplified right now. Mind is trying to cope with physical changes but some of those physical changes apparently effect brain chemistry which alters the mind ... no wonder I feel a bit weird and confused. (I'm beginning to think there's just no 'splainin' some of it ... I'll just hold on smile and try to enjoy the ride)

Glad not to be feeling much in the way of physical side effects but I think there's something definitely happening within the brain.

I know this is mild in comparison to the days when interferon was used in combinations with Riba, I can only barely imagine what a living hell that would be ... I'm most grateful to those warriors who broke trail so that we don't have to experience that.

Talk about not being able to wrap your head around something ... I'll be glad when I can look back and say "What a long strange trip it's been".

Received more meds today ... I get a 14 day supply each time. I now have in my possession, as well as have consumed, half my meds prescribed.

(A mini landmark, if you will).

Looking forward to Labs next week, I won't know anything for at least a few days after that but it will signify the 1/3 done point and soon I'll have some feedback on how the meds are doing in kickin' some Dragon tail.

Onward ...

HYDRATING!,

Dave

We apologize for any inconvenience ...

We will be in the process of painting The Sovaldi Riba Express green as we proceed on to SVRville ...

... Please do not touch painted surfaces until dry - Thank You ... The management.

We also apologize to anyone with  chlorophobia - The Management

-- Edited by Linuxter on Thursday 11th of February 2016 07:45:46 AM

[Image edited to 80% to fit screen. Full size image attached]

-- Edited by wmlj1960 on Thursday 11th of February 2016 01:32:17 PM

"calm seas are much more appreciated after the storm" - I plan on proving you right Greg ... right now I'm busy learning to be a skilled sailor 'cause the wind just picked up and the water's startin' to get a little choppy ...   (No thirty footers, mind you, just a little taste of what those before me have endured!)

Dave

p.s.

Day 22

Choppy waters this AM, two smoothies and a liter or two of H2O later and it's smooth sailin' again.

D

I'm suspect we all have things we've done in the past that we regret.  ironic for me, these shortcomings are often the most remembered, even when sometimes I wonder if I have a brain.      I'm reminded of a signature line from someone on the forum (paraphrased)  because I can't remember the exact quote    "Calm seas don't make a skilled sailor"   I might add that calm seas are much more appreciated after the storm.  

Jimmy,

Don't let that leftover Riba bring you down! You neither deserve this or are a moron. You're human, and we all have made mistakes in life. But we learned from it and bettered ourselves as a result. You're going to get past this, I have no doubt. You're a strong individual that has hit a few rough patches along the way. You've shown all of us a very positive side of yourself and we kinda like the Jimmy we've come to know and love, lol! So chin up, you're just a (almost) 63 year old kid, with lots of good living left to do. If we beat ourselves up over the mistakes we made decades ago, we'd all be walking around black and blue. Don't do that to yourself buddy. Leave room to appreciate the lessons life has taught you and do your best to throw out the negativity. The future is bright, let it shine my Brother.....

Greetings Mike;

"....partially caused by me also being a "professional alcoholic" in most of my past..."

Ok this is a bit upsetting I must confess.

Are you telling me I could have been getting paid to get ripped?

Just hopeless I guess.

You know fellas before my breakthrough and until about a week or so ago I was completely miserable. Could not sleep, lost 25 lbs, ached everywhere and got my picture posted in Wiki next to the definition of "PISSED".

The way I went about getting through it all was by reminding myself I deserved EXACTLY how I felt. Mind you that may not apply to or work for all, but in my case it worked wonders.

Looking forward to my next reminder that I did it to me. I will get through that somehow purged and then have earned the right to be free of The Dragon that stalks me still.

Ok that calls for a JimmyTune!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIsomh4L-bo

62 soon to be 63 and still a moron.   LOL

JimmyK ;)

Hey Mike,

Great listening and images, Thanks for yet another tool to help navigate life's ups and downs.

It's appreciated!

Dave

I meant Sov/rib rather than Harvoni. Sorry about that typo. I blame it on brain fog probably partially caused by me also being a "professional alcoholic" in most of my past.

I know what you mean about the "TV, my phone, and lights" and thinking too much. When I was having anxiety and taking Zoloft during the last half of my 24wk Sov/riba Tx in 2014 a phone ringing would make me almost jump out of my skin and feel like I was having a heart attack.

One trick that did help me that you might want to try in your spare time was to lie down and listen to Belleruth Napersek's Affirmations and guided imagery or something similar. When it was suggested for me I didn't expect it to help any but it did help sometimes.

Hang in there and stick with your plan and I suspect you will start seeing a change for the better. Keep telling yourself SVR, SVR, SVR.

They started me on the Zoloft with the correct doses.  They did this to treat the panic disorder I have been having for last 2 years.   I just kept thinking it would pass and finally couldn't take it anymore.  I mean 2 trips to the ER because I thought I was dying, is not cheap.  Then they shoot me full of diazepam and I am normal again then they monitor me for 4 hours and out the door I go.  They have been getting further apart.  It used to be a nightly thing.  Now I can go several days without or just have mild ones that I catch.  But sometimes they go from 0 to 100 and I just have to ride it through.  I have read lots of literature on all techniques to get through.  I have to shut off the TV, my phone, and lights because I am extremely sensitive.  Then I do some controlled breathing.  The hardest part is to not think.  I mean you pulse is skyrocketed so your chest is tight and throbbing, if you start thinking then it makes it worse. 

Anyway, I was a professional alcoholic.   I am pretty sure it is lasting effects from that.  Its been over a year.  Oh and I am on Sovaldi/Rib. 

Today, I am going to continue to be active but I am going to take regular breaks throughout the day.  Tonight is my first night job since I have started treatment.  I have 3 sites I have to go to from 10 to about 1am.  So, I definitely have to plan for a nap.  Before treatment and sobriety, I could nap any  time.  now I have difficulty sleeping during the night let alone during the day. 

Thanks for your feedback.  Oh, I advised against them starting both at the same time.  Because of my last treatment with Interferon, my Hep  C doctor thought it would be a good idea to be on both.  She said ideally, we would have started the Zoloft one month prior but with my insurance it was crucial to get started because they have an approval length.  If you don't meet that, we would have to go through the whole approval process, and who knows what would change between then and now.  I feel great this morning.

Scott18927 wrote:

---

 I had full blown anxiety attack.  lasted like 45 mins.  Both my doctors are aware of these. I have had them before treatment.  PCP scripted me Zoloft and trazodone.  Been on them for as long as I have been on the solvadi/Rib.  Still got the attack.  I get chest pains and my lower chin starts to hurt which freaks me out.  They did a stress test and EKG and said my heart was good..  But when you are having a panic attack, doesn't matter if they told you your heart is healthy, you feel like your having a heart attack. 

 

I did some breathing exercises and it lasted a bit.  The after affects aren't fun either.  I have to shut the text volume off my phone because noises startle me and can send me right back into it. 

 

I just sent doc an note earlier today because I had one shopping the other day.  Seems to come in when I am exhausted.  Anyway, anyone else have these issues? Not med related.  I have been getting them for over a year.  But I'm sure they don't help. 

---

 Since your anxiety was happening before treatment this may not have anything to do with it and it IS "med related". When I was started on Zoloft in 2001 it gave me horrible anxiety and panic attacks which was extra bad mainly because the stupid doctor / pharmacist started me on 50 mg from the start. The correct dosing is to start @ 25 mg, then after a week increase the dose to 50mg. I hope they did this for you. If I understand your post correctly, they started you on Zoloft, Trazodone and Harvoni all at the same time. I'm not second guessing your doctor but I would have wanted to start them at least a week or two apart. There are many meds that cause the worst Sx at SOT but then level out. Harvoni and Zoloft were both like that for me. The good news is that after 2-3 weeks my body settled down and Zoloft work well for me. I hope it does for you and your anxiety / panic attacks improve and you start feeling better. HCV Tx is hard enough without having anxiety beating on you too.

Zoloft Dosage Guide

-- Edited by wmlj1960 on Wednesday 10th of February 2016 04:42:24 AM

-- Edited by wmlj1960 on Wednesday 10th of February 2016 06:45:19 AM

Hi Scott,

i am8 weeks into treatment with sov/dac/riba. Like you, I feel better but in some  undefinable way that makes me realise how sick I have for at least a year or two. However the riba is playing havoc with my head. I was taking the antidepessive Pristic before treatment but the Hep C dr has told me to double the dosage. I have and already feel much better. I think your panic attacks are akin to my depression - a side effect of riba. We're both obviously predisposed to anxiety and or depression but the riba really screws around with your emotions. 

Do you remember those meccano  sets boys used to have with metal and nuts and bolts? Well I feel like some cranky old bastard has got into my my head with a screw driver and is making merry with the rusty meccano set.

They say it begins to improve after Riba Is stopped.

Take care,

Syd

Thanks.  I know I need to be in control and not over do it.  When I feel good, I, I feel great.  This is a new feeling for me.  I have felt so crappy the last few years that when feeling great, it is hard to stop.  And it doesn't happen slowly, I can't feel it coming on.  It happens within a second. 

I think, I need to plan rest whether I need it or not.  That might be how I go forward.  If I am doing something for 2 hours, I must take a half hour or hour of down time.  I am starting to think clearly again. 

Sorry to hear that you have to deal with that right now. Just need to pace yourself while on Tx, slow down and above all stay hydrated ... and don't forget to eat. Good idea on the breathing exercises, keeps you occupied as well as regulates the oxygen.

Dave

Scott,

I have heard this from others and think you have found a reason for some of it anyway, fatigue. Your body is experiencing a huge change, which results in a lot of issues you're not aware of. Your body reacts to those stresses by going into overdrive to combat the reaction. Try to take this time to reduce your physical and mental stress and I think you will notice less anxiety. It's not something you can consciously avoid when it's a metabolic reaction to treatment. If you feel exertion and the resulting fatigue is the root cause, avoid it when possible and reduce it if necessary. Rest easy my friend and let the AD's do their job for time being. After treatment, you will notice improvements, i guarantee it! 

Thanks for the info on numbers.  This isn't my first rodeo, but I didn't pay much attention on my first 2 tries.  I put all the faith in the doctors.  Now, I want to know what is going on.  So this is a great site.

I over  did it again today.  I had full day of stuff to do and then had energy still so was cleaning place since I am moving and it hit me like a freight train.  I had full blown anxiety attack.  lasted like 45 mins.  Both my doctors are aware of these. I have had them before treatment.  PCP scripted me Zoloft and trazodone.  Been on them for as long as I have been on the solvadi/Rib.  Still got the attack.  I get chest pains and my lower chin starts to hurt which freaks me out.  They did a stress test and EKG and said my heart was good..  But when you are having a panic attack, doesn't matter if they told you your heart is healthy, you feel like your having a heart attack. 

I did some breathing exercises and it lasted a bit.  The after affects aren't fun either.  I have to shut the text volume off my phone because noises startle me and can send me right back into it. 

I just sent doc an note earlier today because I had one shopping the other day.  Seems to come in when I am exhausted.  Anyway, anyone else have these issues? Not med related.  I have been getting them for over a year.  But I'm sure they don't help. 

Linuxter wrote:

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3 wks Today ... 1/4 of the way done.

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That is just great news to hear. It really does seem that the side effects were and are transient. I don't blame you for calling them if you don't hear from them when you should. I agree, we need to be proactive since the people who have control over this, have many patients and things get overlooked. It is why I call and ask for this and that. 

The squeaky wheel gets the grease!

You are all doing GREAT! Quarter of the way Dave, better start paying attention to the scenery. You'll be at your destination before you know it! Keep up the routine, it's a good one. 

Scott, those numbers are fabulous. They don't reduce Ribavirin until your Hgb approaches 10 and at 14.4 I wouldn't let them do it. There's room to reduce if necessary, but these results show no need to be concerned at all. I dropped to 9 and was on 1200 mg for 28 weeks. Felt like crap, but it worked! Hang in there...

Alert:  HYDRATE!

3 wks Today ... 1/4 of the way done.

Feeling Ok, no major sides, I do have a light cough from time to time but it's not bad. Don't feel like running any marathons but also don't feel as zapped as I did early on. Have had a lot of tension in my shoulders this whole past week.

It'll be good to get some labs in a week to see how my RBC is doing ... and, of course, VL. I assume they'll do a CMP but I'm not sure at this point. 

Should be getting a call tomorrow for another 14 day batch of meds, if they don't call me, I WILL be calling them.

(The pharmacy called me last week which was a week early then asked why I called ... duh,they called me, I think they have minimum wage workers manning the phones, they don't seem to know much about anything except for exactly what's on their script (no pun intended) I have absolutely nothing against minimum wage workers, but IMO they just aren't qualified to be in a key position between these drugs and the patients depending on them.) ... wish we had an eyeroll emoticon.

That's alright, I'll keep 'em in line, it's the folks who aren't proactive that really need to worry. 

Dave

 p.s. Scott, my guess it they'll let it ride for a while longer to get you totally saturated in the stuff ... but that's merely a guess.