All good advice, and try to remember that you don't have to be Arnold Schwarzanegger (pump it up you girlie men) to start the tx.  We are, afterall, mere mortals.

My own experience was to prepare like a maniac thinking that if I did everything right I might control the experience and the result.  I planned out a year in advance (taking into account some recovery time too) and covered all the details like it was an exam I could study for and then pass with flying colors.  Just do the best you can and try to accept that there will be things beyond your control.  You will be fine, Caryn.

I'll be back!

Caryn,

I think you are correct when you say being in reasonably good shape makes a difference. We are all made differently, and have different metabolisms, etc., but I am convinced if you make an effort to be more active during treatment you will have a better time of it. You can't run marathons, lift heavy weights, climb rocks, etc. but you can walk, jog on the treadmill, maybe have a swim, do some yoga, whatever. As long as you listen to your body and don't push too far I am almost sure the effects will be positive. And for me, those sorts of exercise make me happier in my head, which is always a good thing when I am miserable. I can suddenly turn into a one-man pity party if I let my attitude get bad. Staying active seems to help avoid that.

Alan

Sometimes, its been literally "1 minute at a time", and the craving will go away if I get busy on something else. After 6 months, this is not happening very often. If I give in, its on again with no end in sight. I believe my body really appreciates any break I give it after all these years. It certainly likes the water and sleep, things I did not believe in before tx. It may not like the effects of tx, but don't think its missing those millions or billions of nasty little bugs floating around.

As an ex-smoker, cronic relapser in the time I was trying to quit----I finally figured out the cravings just don't go away!  But if you give it time, they become more tolerable.  I still crave a cigarette when I'm stressed, excited, sad, angry, lonely, tired, etc., etc., etc.  They always look soooo good when someone is smoking in a movie.  But I'm an addict, and that part of my brain gets activated by things I've been addicted to!  So keep asking for help, forgive yourself if you slip but mostly do not give in to the cravings!! It's all just neuroscience messing with your head---literally!  Good luck!

Caryn: What helped me in the gradual cut back was to count out a certain number of cigs for the day and then reduce the number by 1 every week.  Then, if I ran out of my daily limit before bedtime and I still had a bad craving, I kept one of those fake cigs around to take a few drags from.  I used a brand called Square; it is disposable and I think one cig is the equivalent of a pack or something like that, so just taking a few drags one will last a long time.  I was fortunate to have several months of lead in time and this system worked well for me. 

Eating well and being in good health before starting tx is absolutely the best way to go but I have always eaten well, been a good weight, and gotten plenty of exercise and that didn't seem to make the difference.  Likewise, it seems that being younger would be an advantage, and I expect it often is, but not always.  We are seeing older people who do well with tx here, and younger who do not.  Just look at Alan; he is a dynamo. 

I think so much of it is about body chemistry How the drugs will effect your blood is key b/c that side effect that can be tricky and risky. Likewise the rash can become a severe side effect, and I don't know that blood problems or rashes are predictable based on health or age.  

I have always had a low tolerance and high sensitivity to drugs--if there is a side effect then I will probably get it.  I'm not sure, but previous drug reactions might be a clue to how someone will experience these drugs. I was concerned about this going in but decided to roll the dice anyhow b/c you just never know till you try.

I quit smoking about 3 months before tx, but that wasn't based on treatment. Didn't know at the time that was coming. Just sick and tired of it one more time. I have been a chronic relapser for the 40 years I have smoked. Of course, I am hopeful that I'm done for good this time, but never know, but at least hope that I can use tx as a good excuse to gut it out to the end when that urge hits and won't let up. I really don't need anything else to worry about during tx, got enough. Must admit I am still chewing nicotine gum with no end in sight.

Thank you both. I was hoping that the treatment would make the desire to smoke go away. I would really like to cut down as much as possible before treatment, but I have not been very sucessful in doing so, but I still have a way to go before I start. Alan, I have read your posts and you are very positive...I hope to remain that positive during treatment. I know that the treatment is unpredictable, but I would like to make it as easy as possible on myself. You seem to be in great physical shape as well. I am convinced and could be wrong, but from what I have read it appears as though being in good shape and eating well before starting treatment helps the side effects...not sure, just what I seem to be coming across. 

Isis makes a good point. Chances are you will be able to use the normal discomforts of treatment to cut way down on your smoking. I quit five years ago with Chantix, but I had always noticed that my smoking fell off when I didn't feel good. If I were you, I would try to seize this chance and add to the good of treatment by quitting tobacco as you slaughter virus strands.

Alan

The best advice is, of course, to stop smoking or at least cut way back before and during tx (which hopefully will extend to post tx as well).  Smoking certainly can't help but it doesn't seem to effect SVR rates either.  Non-smokers are getting shortness of breath during tx as well.

Shortness of breath often accompanies anemia so if you have anemia during tx it is probable that you will experience shortness of breath as well.  I believe the number of people who experienced anemia during the clinical trials was greater than half. Shortness of breath can also be a symptom of other very serious conditions that can be caused by tx. 

There is no evidence that smoking alone will be the determining factor in how your body responds to the drugs.  It is simply unpredictable at this point.

I was a pack a day smoker until being diagnosed in Spring of 2011.  I cut back gradually so that by the time I started tx I would only allow myself a maximum of 5 smokes per day.  It turned out I felt to crappy on tx to even want to smoke at all most days.

Is there anyone out there that is on Incivik and smokes?  I am a smoker - not super heavy, but none the least a smoker. I would love to quit before starting treatment, but if it were that easy I would have quit a long time ago. I am going to try again because I am extremely concerned about one of the side effects being shortness of breath. I am just wondering if anyone out there is a smoker and taking this drug and how their body is reacting.