Thanks for the advice everybody11 :D

Robert, I had my mind somewhere else yesterday. You're right, I did write down Harvoni instead. I'll have to fix that and use some toothpicks to prop my eyes open! At least Sovaldi is in there somewhere... Thanks for pointing it out!

It"s  JMO  that all the S/X were from the Riba and not the Solv.  Wanted to make that clear.  RC

Kathy, looking at your profile page I see your treatment is Solvaldi/riba.  Tig mentioned Harvoni ?   I did 16 weeks  solvaldi/riba     S/X are  manageable.  Insomnia was my big problem, and the riba rage pops up . Tig has given you good advice on the rage, know your triggers and know when to walk away from  situations that get it going.The rage can go from zero to 100 mph in a instant.  I also had a inner shake that felt like i had a bazzillion little electric motors in blood, and all of them would turn on at once. Hard to explaine, it was wierd!I dident shake outwordly, it was just a inner feeling??   Hang in there..RC

Hi Kathy,   I'm on the same stuff you're taking (I'm  a 3a).  I'm 11 weeks in.   I didn't really feel any side effects until about the end of the first month.   I'm a little anemic-not too bad, I just get tired toward the end of the day.   I've also been getting a rash on my face on both sides of my nose - it's barely noticeable but kind of weird.   The  only other side effect is muscle aches in my back that are kind of painful (doc gave me flexeril for it).  BUT... I'm an f3 and started with a VL over 10 million and ALT/AST of 86/45.  After four weeks I was undetected and my ALT/AST dropped to 19/17.  I guess what I'm saying is that, although I have some minor discomfort, the payoff makes the side effects pretty easy to deal with.  Just hang in there if you start feeling like you're not quite yourself.  This stuff works and you're on your way to killing this beast once and for all!  If you have any questions about the treatment feel free to PM me.  SVR OR BUST!  Best of luck, Mike 

I just realized that you were on Ribavirin And Sovaldi, not Harvoni. My apology... I must echo everything Scruffy mentioned. Riba can cause issues and you will likely experience them. It does cause hemolytic anemia, the breakdown of red blood cells and your hemoglobin will see a drop, maybe an increase in bilirubin. It can cause increased fatigue and shortness of breath.

The other thing Ribavirin is well known for, is how it affects your mood. We like to call it "Riba rage". It can be difficult to control your temper, but knowing it in advance, will help you realize the possibility before it happens. If possible let people around you know this could happen. I was a real grouch and had more than one moment of extreme irritation! It's not something that happens all the time, but somebody cutting you off in traffic may cause you to roll down a window and scream with ease! Just be aware of it and if you feel it coming on, leave the area and avoid it if possible.

Limiting your exposure the sun is good advice. Use sunscreen, light clothing, a hat and good sunglasses. As long as you are aware of these possibilities you shouldn't be surprised by any of them. 

Ok heres the low down. Don't want to be a downer but fore warned is fore armed. I wasn't on Sovldi but i was on riba. Sides from the riba for me started with a rash like hives about 2 weeks in. Heat and sun make it worse if you get them DON"T SCRATCH it goes away after a bit. ( I believe the Sovaldi will make you "sun sensitive" also, check older posts)The other side was the riba made me anemic but I was on other meds with my TX that added to the anemia. Out of the two meds your on I would say if you get any sides (and you might not get any) I would blame the riba. Stay Hydrated!!!

Good luck with your TX.

Gypsy...the Harvoni is easy..just hydration. Eat when stomache tells you to. I think the time you decided to take it will work for you. I took mine at 4pm which i found perfect. The med at that time never make it self known..

Sov/Riba side effects tend to be most noticeable during the first 2-3 weeks for the majority, with Ribavirin lasting throughout for many. (See note in later post). That doesn't mean you will or should experience them as a rule. Some people fly right through without much fanfare at all. Seems that the most often mentioned SFX are headaches and fatigue from the Sovaldi. Following tx some complain of joint and lower back pain that seems to lessen with time. It's truly an individual thing and if you're not experiencing issues during the first few weeks, you probably won't. Keeping yourself adequately hydrated and rested should minimize them. Hope this helps!

I have been ot for 1 week now and so far no bad side effects...just wondering IF you are going to have any side effects

would they be in the beginning of treatment...or possibly later on?? Your thoughts???