My weight has remained remarkably stable, crossing and recrossing the number where I began this whole thing. But my legs and arms are thin, weak and pale and I actually look like I'm 60 years old, which I am. The belly has gotten soft and wiggly. When I got my bioposy the doctor said "... and of course we found some fat". I bet he would find a bunch now. Since I am finally finished with Incivek the diet is changing immediately. Already I am craving fresh veggies, fruit and cereals. I have continued to drink unbelievable amounts of water. And the research has begun to find some natural remedies to help with my liver health during the second twelve weeks and beyond. My liver is beat up pretty bad, so I want to create an environment where the ol' boy can slowly recover a little.
Alan
Kellyw said
Feb 13, 2012
Well I have gained and I am just on rib and pegysis. I just don't have much nausea andhavebeen trying to eat more liver and red meat as well as juicing to keep my WBC/rbc up. So I think for me it has to do with Not watching my diet as usual and eating stuff I don't normally eat. Also tiredness and ordering out which i never did before. not to mention going to bed so early that I basically get home from work , eat, and go to bed. Always a bad Idea according to diet gurus.
However I am only 6 weeks in. I too am getting a shot for WBC.
Kim and captain, thanks for the reminder that i need to walk not just for weight but for my blood counts. I tend to get lazy there,
Isiscat2011 said
Feb 12, 2012
The incivek taken every 8 hours with 20 grams of fat is the cause of the weight gain. Hence, people whose tx did not include incivek would not be expected to gain weight; on the contrary most lost weight.
I gained about 8 lbs on tx and it was a struggle not to gain more. While I think we have to accept the probability of weight gain, 30 lbs in 1 month is too much, imho. If it continues at this rate it will be 90 lbs by the time you finish the incivek. This much extra weight is very detrimental to our health and can lead to health issues that are worse even than the virus. The medical professionals should do some substantial counseling on how to manage this.
Keep in mind that the fat alone is not causing the weight gain. Unburned calories cause weight gain--3500 calories=1 lb. So, consuming fewer calories than you presently are, while still getting your fat requirements, is the key to mitigating the weight gain. When eating snacks or meals aside from the fat requirements try to eat healthy, low calorie foods such as fresh veggies and fruits, brown rice, yogurt, etc. Also, there are options for the 20 grams of fat that won't add so many calories. For example, 4 tbl of cream will give you 20 grams of fat but only 200 calories. I was eating Haggan-Das, and Dove ice cream bars which can give you 20 grams of fat at about 300 calories. If you can limit your high fat feedings to 300 or so calories per meal and also eat healthy lo-cal for your other meals you will gain less. In theory someone could not gain at all-- but I think that is just too much pressure to try to control--expect some weight gain but too much is also detrimental to your health.
Also, a little exercise will help, although I understand completely that when you are having a hard time even walking across the room, even going for a walk can seem insurmountable.
Please do stay on top of the blood problems as they can become dangerous. Talk to your doc about how they plan to manage it in advance because you can assume it is likely to get worse and 8.8 hgb is already getting pretty low for month one.
These sx may become stable or they may not. It seems to depend on 1) our own individual bodies, 2) what we do to help ourselves, and 3) what our medical care providers do to help us.
alohaKim said
Feb 12, 2012
Exercise does help your white count. Like Captain just mentioned below, I too, seem to get out of breath going up the stairs sometimes, but I'm still able to jog 4 -5 miles a few times a week. If you can't manage a jog then I highly recommend walking at a good pace for exercise. I feel for you. I know that must be extremely frustrating! The added fat intake is one reason I had to chose Victrelis over Incivek, I knew I couldn't hang with eating that much fat each day. I would've ended up cheating on it and it would not have worked for me. Hang in there!
Captain Over said
Feb 12, 2012
When I did my Incivek (Telaprevir) I was only told that "a little fat helps you digest and absorb it", but not some of the large amounts of fat I read people taking theirs with. I took mine mostly with meal-replacement protein shakes or yogurt.
I agree that shortness of breath increases as your Hemaglogib decreases; less "red blood cells" means you're not able to carry as much oxygen, so you breathe more rapidly. You can ask your doctor if you can take Iron pills (Iron Sulfate). The good news is when you stop Telaprevir, your Hemoglobin count should come up by a point or two.
If you can tolerate walking as exercise, I would sure try to do it; exercise really helped me get through the treatment . . . . for some reason, even though I would be a little short of breath after climbing the stairs at home, at the gym I was still able to do the treadmill or elliptical trainer . . . . I think it helped keep my Hgb levels up.
Best of luck! Hang in there!
Islandgrl said
Feb 12, 2012
I have also gained about 15 lbs. while on tx. and the doctors reduced my ribavirin due to low Hgb. I have to eat 6 small meals during the day because of nausea. My doctor told me I would probably lose the weight after tx. since this is not my normal eating pattern.
The shortness of breath is probably due to your low Hgb. When mine went down to 7.1 about a month ago I could not walk 20 ft. without getting short of breath. My doctor put me on Procrit to raise my Hgb. and it is now 11.5 and the shortness of breath is gone. I hope this helps you. This tx. is hard and we all have different side effects. My hair started falling out about the 3rd. month on tx. and I got real depressed, I even had thoughts of stopping tx. but the tx. is working for me and I have to concentrate on the positive. All these side effects will go away after tx.(I hope). The Dr. and several people on here have told me my hair will grow back. I have 6 wks. to go on tx. and it is still hard but I know in the end it will all be worth it when this horrible virus is gone.
Good luck with your tx. and hang in there.
andrzej said
Feb 12, 2012
Only thing I can suggest, look at eating unsaturated fats.
morgan said
Feb 12, 2012
i gained weight on tx coulden find any1 else that gained weight at the time,was like that up untill 4 months and then is start coming of very quick dont let it get you down take it as being part of tx thats the way i looked at it hope thats helps you.
morgan
JoAnneh said
Feb 12, 2012
I lost weight on tx when I took it in 2000.
phillygirl59 said
Feb 12, 2012
I have been on treatment for four weeks now. My white cell count is 22 and my hemaglobin is 8.8. I have gained 30 lbs. in one month on this treatment because of eating the fat. Help!!! I cannot afford to gain this much weight. Any suggestions? I'm so uncomfortable and I get out of breath. They lowered my pegasus and ribaviran. I'm taking shot to help build up my white cell count. But the gaining weight has really gotten me down.
My weight has remained remarkably stable, crossing and recrossing the number where I began this whole thing. But my legs and arms are thin, weak and pale and I actually look like I'm 60 years old, which I am. The belly has gotten soft and wiggly. When I got my bioposy the doctor said "... and of course we found some fat". I bet he would find a bunch now. Since I am finally finished with Incivek the diet is changing immediately. Already I am craving fresh veggies, fruit and cereals. I have continued to drink unbelievable amounts of water. And the research has begun to find some natural remedies to help with my liver health during the second twelve weeks and beyond. My liver is beat up pretty bad, so I want to create an environment where the ol' boy can slowly recover a little.
Alan
However I am only 6 weeks in. I too am getting a shot for WBC.
Kim and captain, thanks for the reminder that i need to walk not just for weight but for my blood counts. I tend to get lazy there,
The incivek taken every 8 hours with 20 grams of fat is the cause of the weight gain. Hence, people whose tx did not include incivek would not be expected to gain weight; on the contrary most lost weight.
I gained about 8 lbs on tx and it was a struggle not to gain more. While I think we have to accept the probability of weight gain, 30 lbs in 1 month is too much, imho. If it continues at this rate it will be 90 lbs by the time you finish the incivek. This much extra weight is very detrimental to our health and can lead to health issues that are worse even than the virus. The medical professionals should do some substantial counseling on how to manage this.
Keep in mind that the fat alone is not causing the weight gain. Unburned calories cause weight gain--3500 calories=1 lb. So, consuming fewer calories than you presently are, while still getting your fat requirements, is the key to mitigating the weight gain. When eating snacks or meals aside from the fat requirements try to eat healthy, low calorie foods such as fresh veggies and fruits, brown rice, yogurt, etc. Also, there are options for the 20 grams of fat that won't add so many calories. For example, 4 tbl of cream will give you 20 grams of fat but only 200 calories. I was eating Haggan-Das, and Dove ice cream bars which can give you 20 grams of fat at about 300 calories. If you can limit your high fat feedings to 300 or so calories per meal and also eat healthy lo-cal for your other meals you will gain less. In theory someone could not gain at all-- but I think that is just too much pressure to try to control--expect some weight gain but too much is also detrimental to your health.
Also, a little exercise will help, although I understand completely that when you are having a hard time even walking across the room, even going for a walk can seem insurmountable.
Please do stay on top of the blood problems as they can become dangerous. Talk to your doc about how they plan to manage it in advance because you can assume it is likely to get worse and 8.8 hgb is already getting pretty low for month one.
These sx may become stable or they may not. It seems to depend on 1) our own individual bodies, 2) what we do to help ourselves, and 3) what our medical care providers do to help us.
I agree that shortness of breath increases as your Hemaglogib decreases; less "red blood cells" means you're not able to carry as much oxygen, so you breathe more rapidly. You can ask your doctor if you can take Iron pills (Iron Sulfate). The good news is when you stop Telaprevir, your Hemoglobin count should come up by a point or two.
If you can tolerate walking as exercise, I would sure try to do it; exercise really helped me get through the treatment . . . . for some reason, even though I would be a little short of breath after climbing the stairs at home, at the gym I was still able to do the treadmill or elliptical trainer . . . . I think it helped keep my Hgb levels up.
Best of luck! Hang in there!
I have also gained about 15 lbs. while on tx. and the doctors reduced my ribavirin due to low Hgb. I have to eat 6 small meals during the day because of nausea. My doctor told me I would probably lose the weight after tx. since this is not my normal eating pattern.
The shortness of breath is probably due to your low Hgb. When mine went down to 7.1 about a month ago I could not walk 20 ft. without getting short of breath. My doctor put me on Procrit to raise my Hgb. and it is now 11.5 and the shortness of breath is gone. I hope this helps you. This tx. is hard and we all have different side effects. My hair started falling out about the 3rd. month on tx. and I got real depressed, I even had thoughts of stopping tx. but the tx. is working for me and I have to concentrate on the positive. All these side effects will go away after tx.(I hope). The Dr. and several people on here have told me my hair will grow back. I have 6 wks. to go on tx. and it is still hard but I know in the end it will all be worth it when this horrible virus is gone.
Good luck with your tx. and hang in there.
i gained weight on tx coulden find any1 else that gained weight at the time,was like that up untill 4 months and then is start coming of very quick dont let it get you down take it as being part of tx thats the way i looked at it hope thats helps you.
morgan
I have been on treatment for four weeks now. My white cell count is 22 and my hemaglobin is 8.8. I have gained 30 lbs. in one month on this treatment because of eating the fat. Help!!! I cannot afford to gain this much weight. Any suggestions? I'm so uncomfortable and I get out of breath. They lowered my pegasus and ribaviran. I'm taking shot to help build up my white cell count. But the gaining weight has really gotten me down.