Hey Juliet,

I feel ya on the water. I've never been a water drinker. I learned the hard way while on treatment why it's important to chug it. I found that Propel water flavor mix really helps! Its packets of powder and it contains vitamins as well. My doctor said they (the propel packets) were idea for treatment but I was on Viekira and Riba so you may want to ask someone if they're okay with your meds first. I don't want to recommend something that will have a negative effect. I'm addicted to the kiwi strawberry, but there's lots of flavors to choose from. Hopefully that helps ya! Water and all of it's flavorless glory will be your best friend, trust me! You'll get used to it after a while  <---I think that's supposed to be a wink but on my iPhone it looks rather scary lol 

Congrats Juliet!! These new treatments will be the end of this disease and because of their ease on the patient, will attract more to treatment. The word needs to get out that these new drugs aren't at all like the old nasty protocols. It pleases all of us to hear your good news. Good luck and follow the excellent suggestions on hydration. It's vital in keeping your side effects under control. Be sure to check out our nutrition section for some good ideas!

Awesome news Juliet. I too am on the petite side and I tolerated the TX pretty well. Hydration is key. I also drank decaf tea as well as used an infuser and put fruit in the water to give it some flavor. You will find a way to get your fluids because you want to be better, of this I am convinced

Juliet,

I am SO happy you have started!!  This is great! Maybe you will detect no sides at all! Let's hope so, you have already had more than enough of "feeling symptoms" before you took your first pill. I am sorry about the face thing, I was lucky in that my face and ear abscesses came one at a time, one after another (endless I feared) rather than multiples all at once - but my rebel skin doth quiet, and I hope this too happens soon for you. I am betting it will! I am also betting you will have no sides. If you have been having some fatigue and symptoms prior to starting it may be hard to discern if you feel "you", or, the the treatment drugs, or just the internal war that will be waged on your behalf.

Water (as much as I am NOT a "natural" water drinker either!), water IS our best friend, I found out!! Believe me, bite the bullet, and resign yourself to pour it on, do whatever it takes to make yourself do it - you WILL figure it out - all the wily ways you will force yourself to drink water and fluids. No one will know better how to make yourself do it, than you. I understand completely your prior relationship with water, I too would have preferred an IV (kinda), your concern is neither stupid nor trivial, just the way it is. You will figure out the best way(s). Just do it.

I am so glad you have got your start! It is going to be good.  C.

Hi Juliet, that really is excellent news, and I`m so glad you can start your tx so soon, it must be a big relief for you!

I do understand how you feel about drinking water but do the best you can.  You`ll be surprised just how much you can drink by regular sipping throughout the day rather than feeling you have to gulp it down.  And don`t forget that other drinks can help with the hydration, green or fruit teas for example, well diluted juice, smoothies and even soups, all add to your daily liquid intake and will help stave off any side effects. 

Best of luck as you go forth into battle!!!  

Good to hear Juliet! If I don't get enough water during the day, I get headaches. I don't think Gatorade would be a good choice as it has lots of salt and sugar. Could you get some of those flavor packets that go into water? There are some that don't have any sodium sugar or calories. They are not too bad! It may help. Keep posting on how you are feeling!

Hi Juliet17

Excellent news on both accounts and congrats on starting your journey to finally be cured. Regarding the water, please try your best to drink it even if you sip it during the day. It can by itself pretty much get rid and stop any potential side effects you might get so it's important to do what you can. The meds also dehydrate you as well so you need the extra hydration.

Perhaps there is something with flavour that might be more comfortable for you to drink. I don't drink Gatorade's and such but I am sure there could be some other suggestions from other members as to other options. Still, water is the best.

Keep us posted and once again great news.

SF

My doc said yesterday that my cryoglobulinemia is not severe enough to require independent treatment, so there is no reason for me not to start my 12 weeks of Sovaldi/Daklinza. So starting at 9am PST, I am on the road to recovery!

Here's my current, trivial, stupid concern. I HATE drinking water unless I feel very thirsty, which is rare. This might sound odd, but it practically makes me gag. When I read posts from you guys about drinking gallons of water a day, it sounds like some superhuman feat to me. If I could hydrate myself via an IV drip, I swear I'd do it. Maybe because my parents used to make me drink an extra glass of water every night when I was little. They werent abusive about it at all, and it was a good thing for health reasons. But sometimes getting those last few ounces down was like torture. Also I've always had this weird throat thing where I have to gulp everything I drink; it doesnt just flow down. My oldest daughter is the same way. There's probably some fancy name for this. But it makes drinking something you dont want even more of an effort.

But I know I need to do the best I can, so I'm keeping some nice, cold, filtered water next to me and nursing it whenever I think of it.

Anyway, that's my status, one hour into the war.