Welcome and I choose to think of it as you have received an early Christmas gift of your viral load being negative. YES it is painful, hard, it sucks, etc BUT you can do this. I was on Interferon and Riba my 2nd treatment so I know the sides are terrible. HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE. Make sure you are eating as I noticed you said you felt dizzy. If I do not have adequate calories in me I get dizzy. There are ways to combat the sides....if you are nauseous = ginger. I took a ginger pill and drank ginger tea. Others did ginger in smoothies or ginger ale. Talk to your doctor about the side effects once you get your labs back. Drink chamomile tea in the evening. If you can stretch before bed, take a nice bath to try to relax your muscles. You can do this!
Cinnamon Girl said
Dec 21, 2016
Hello Julrom, welcome to the forum!
Sorry to hear how dreadful you`re feeling, all these side effects you`re experiencing are classic signs of the type of amaemia caused by ribavirin, (haemolytic anaemia) but the good news is that you`re responding so well! Ribavirin is a nasty drug but it`s also a very powerful addition to your treatment, so please don`t give up!!
Most of us who`ve through tx (treatment) with ribavirin will understand and empathise with what you`re going through. I know it`s hard, and it must be having a huge impact on your daily life, but this is only for a short time... so do your very best to stick it out, you`ll be so glad you did when you reach SVR!
Do whatever it takes, listen to your body and rest.. and do make sure you`re drinking plenty of water, enough to keep yourself well hydrated. It really does help.
Please keep in touch with us, and congrats on your undetected viral load result!
Observer said
Dec 21, 2016
You poor dear,
How long is your treatment to be?
i suffered terribly with low hemoglobin from the dreaded RIBA, I had to practically crawl up the stairs (with rests halfway up). Sleeplessness, itchies, crazy random pains...yup some of us get all the sides.
I did 12 weeks and by the end I could barely force myself to take that dreaded pill, but I have chirrosis and have been sick for so long I forced myself to. It worked and for me, it was worth it.
i have more life in me, more energy, more than I'd had in 33 years.
I hope you are drinking ALOT of water, it really helps with side effects.
Keep us informed, complain, yell and cry...this group will help.
A
Julrom said
Dec 21, 2016
Hi there. I am new to this forum and just looking for some reassurance. I am a 62 year old woman living in the UK and after being a previous non responder on Inteferon and Ribivrin I finally started treatment again 5 weeks ago. This time on Viekerax, Exveira and Ribivrin. I have already had the Ribivirin dosage reduced from 1000mg to 800mg as my hemoglobin levels had fallen. My viral load came back negative after only two and a half weeks though!The first two weeks I wasn't feeling that bad, but now so awful that I am almost tempted to give up! The lack of energy is ridiculous, the aches and pains crazy, I barely sleep. The worst is breathlessness after walking and feeling vaguely dizzy. My head is completely all over the place to the extent that I sometimes can't even talk properly! I look like death and don't even want to leave the house! I am having yet another blood test today to see if the hemoglobin levels have fallen again. Feeling so bad and miserable. Anyone out there w
Welcome and I choose to think of it as you have received an early Christmas gift of your viral load being negative. YES it is painful, hard, it sucks, etc BUT you can do this. I was on Interferon and Riba my 2nd treatment so I know the sides are terrible. HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE. Make sure you are eating as I noticed you said you felt dizzy. If I do not have adequate calories in me I get dizzy. There are ways to combat the sides....if you are nauseous = ginger. I took a ginger pill and drank ginger tea. Others did ginger in smoothies or ginger ale. Talk to your doctor about the side effects once you get your labs back. Drink chamomile tea in the evening. If you can stretch before bed, take a nice bath to try to relax your muscles. You can do this!
Hello Julrom, welcome to the forum!
Sorry to hear how dreadful you`re feeling, all these side effects you`re experiencing are classic signs of the type of amaemia caused by ribavirin, (haemolytic anaemia) but the good news is that you`re responding so well! Ribavirin is a nasty drug but it`s also a very powerful addition to your treatment, so please don`t give up!!
Most of us who`ve through tx (treatment) with ribavirin will understand and empathise with what you`re going through. I know it`s hard, and it must be having a huge impact on your daily life, but this is only for a short time... so do your very best to stick it out, you`ll be so glad you did when you reach SVR!
Do whatever it takes, listen to your body and rest.. and do make sure you`re drinking plenty of water, enough to keep yourself well hydrated. It really does help.
Please keep in touch with us, and congrats on your undetected viral load result!
You poor dear,
How long is your treatment to be?
i suffered terribly with low hemoglobin from the dreaded RIBA, I had to practically crawl up the stairs (with rests halfway up). Sleeplessness, itchies, crazy random pains...yup some of us get all the sides.
I did 12 weeks and by the end I could barely force myself to take that dreaded pill, but I have chirrosis and have been sick for so long I forced myself to. It worked and for me, it was worth it.
i have more life in me, more energy, more than I'd had in 33 years.
I hope you are drinking ALOT of water, it really helps with side effects.
Keep us informed, complain, yell and cry...this group will help.
A
Hi there. I am new to this forum and just looking for some reassurance. I am a 62 year old woman living in the UK and after being a previous non responder on Inteferon and Ribivrin I finally started treatment again 5 weeks ago. This time on Viekerax, Exveira and Ribivrin. I have already had the Ribivirin dosage reduced from 1000mg to 800mg as my hemoglobin levels had fallen. My viral load came back negative after only two and a half weeks though!The first two weeks I wasn't feeling that bad, but now so awful that I am almost tempted to give up! The lack of energy is ridiculous, the aches and pains crazy, I barely sleep. The worst is breathlessness after walking and feeling vaguely dizzy. My head is completely all over the place to the extent that I sometimes can't even talk properly! I look like death and don't even want to leave the house! I am having yet another blood test today to see if the hemoglobin levels have fallen again. Feeling so bad and miserable. Anyone out there w