Hi fed with with Riba,

I had a short stint with Interferon and Riba. I had no issues with the interferon, but Riba was horrid. I had terrible panic attacks because after two weeks my red and white blood cells shot down low very fast. I can say, it does disappear after treatment, and hopefully you will be virus free and its just a memory. I haven't had a panic attack since my oxygen levels returned to normal - which is actually lower than the average person, standard for me. Hang in in there, these meds are naughty things, but if they do their job, it is your health back for life and the memory is actually not that bad looking back. x

Opps, Thanks Tig (sorry Kate) ... can I blame it on the Riba that's still hiding in my system .... probably not but it was a good try, right?

Just a plain ol' Senior Moment I guess ... LOL ... 

Dave

He forgot the link!  

Green Smoothie Ranch

Thank you all so much. I have had 2 good crying jags just reading  your welcomes &  encouragement.   Good to be reminded to drink lots of water. And then a bit of gatorade. I bought Smart water today to make sure I am getting electrolytes. More green shakes (have one in then am but will focus on having more.

Better today, crying is okay. I am not sad, just crying. Poor husband doesn't know what to do so you guys are a lifeline and god send.   Our past becomes our greatest asset - I couldn't imagine but the goal is greater than the fear & discomfort.

 gratitude that I am able to take these drugs. I turned 65 this year & Medicare kicked in to pay for the drugs.  I know that most of the world will not know this luxury.  Thanks for all the reminders that I am grateful above all. 

Blessings,
K8

Hi Kate,

Welcome to the forum, we'er glad you're here!

I recently finished the same regimen (Sov/ Riba). Having this place made all the difference in coping with the Ribavirin. I drank LOTS and LOTS of water, made Green Smoothies and tried to get a little exercise, even if it was just walking outside and around a bit. Sounds like you're doing very well, congrats on that!

You might want to check out the Green Smoothie Ranch, here on the forum in our HepC and Nutrition section.

Here's a link to Lots of Green Smoothies ... and a few others (including some DQ Oreo Blizzard comments, LOL)

Kick back and relax and enjoy the neighborhood, you like it here.

Dave

HI KB

Welcome!  I'm 6 weeks into a regime with solvadi as one of three drugs I'm on.  My experience is that apart from the first few days I got no side-effects, and even for those people who do get them with solvadi they are very mild, so I'd hazard a guess that nearly all your side-effects are from ribavirin.  I was, like you, on interferon and ribavirin a few years back and I can totally identify with breathlessness and mood swings.

My doctor tells me that the ribvavirin-induced anaemia is less pronounced when interferon is not involved, but I doubt that's of much use to you.  You've done 1/3rd of the treatment so the remaining 2 months will fly by.

Pablo

Greetings K8.  I just finished the same treatment for GT2, about a week ago.  Yeah, the Ribavirin took it's toll and it was quite an exercise in not taking myself to seriously.  Friends would tell me to be in the moment and I would bite back "but I HATE the moment."  I just had to pull back, bite my tongue when possible, and keep my eye on the prize.  But therein lies some other benefits: I learned a lot of self control, gained awareness, compassion, and coping skills.  So did the select few people I chose to include. One person said he went from being the King to being a Good Citizen, helpful as can be.  I wasn't much fun, often.  But! I made it through treatment and I am getting better already. My best action recommendations are 1) drink more water than you can stand 2) eat well.  I never thought I'd be drinking green smoothies but you can get tons of antioxidants into one glass.  Now, I know it's hard to be patient when you are feeling impatient, but you'll just have to.  You have more strengths than you ever knew.  Last, but not least, USE THIS FORUM. Treatment carries some loneliness because your family and friends really can't know what you are experiencing chemically (and you really don't want them to!).   Forumswill give you more info than your doc has time for.  Just don't borrow somebody else's problems.  Learn about them but listen to yourself.  We are all just so different, and so are the treatments.  Good luck and deep breathing.  You can do this.  Oh yes you can.

Greetings,

Hello Kate, and welcome to the family here.

We all know what you mean about this being a "lonely" journey at times. Amazingly that aspect of Hep C and it's treatment is rapidly changing, in particular, right here where you have begun your walk with us.

I can say firsthand that Ribovirin has no chance of becoming a recreational drug LOL, but it certainly has it's place in this battle and has attributed to the success of many in overcoming the Dragon.

Vent, cry, laugh, sing or scream. This is the place for all of it and the good folks here, get it. 

Again Welcome.

JimmyK

Welcome K8 and as you have already discovered, you are not alone. Read and get as much info as you can as well as HYDRATE. Not a cake walk but better than interferon + riba for sure. 

Hi K8,

glad you have managed a whole month! Without so much as a whine. I was on here early days on same protocol plus daclatisvir. Same symptoms - except you're not mentioning the Rash which was really bad for me. I know it must be nothing half as bad as interferon but rib sure had its way with me. I did a 12 week course followed by another 12 weeks without ribs as I just couldn't do it. I'm nearly finished now and am hoping that I will be virus free in 12 weeks.

hang in there. Make sure someone's watching your haemoglobin as that takes a beating on riba.

drink, rest and coddle yourself.

cheers,

Syd

Welcome to the forum! So glad you found us too. Don't sweat it, you're going to do just fine and look, you're one third of the way to the finish line! 

These are nothing like the Riba and Interferon over 6 months, but they are powerful drugs nonetheless. You're still dealing with the Ribavirin and that's no cake walk. You can expect some fatigue, moodiness and the other niceties associated with it. But the course of treatment is less and if you concentrate of a good diet, plenty of rest and lots of water, you'll minimize the side effects greatly.

We've got some people just finishing up the same treatment, among others, that will be along to say hi soon. You hang in there and stick around. You're one of the gang now and we'll see you through all of this!! 

So glad to find this site as I am feeling a bit alone in this one.  I am one month into treatment of genotype 2 B. Solvadi & Ribaviran - 2 more months to go.

I had treatment in 2007 with Interferon & Ribaviran for 6 months, was undetectable but low viral count returned. It took me 7 years and this new medicine to get the courage to try again.  Tested in Feb and viral count was less than 2 million

Several friends have taken Harvoni and said no problems - I was relieved to read that some of you are posting things that I am experiencing - so glad to know I am not the wimp and these are serious drugs. 

Breathless, hungry (especially for meat), irritable, joint pain and anxious that I am going to die at any minute.  Other than that, my life is good and thanks for letting me find a safe place to whine. this treatment is easier than then the Interferon and I knew this is not a walk in the park but I am focused on the goal and have lots of friends, hubby, dog, cat taking care of me.  Also, have many really good days. 
Blessings,
K8