Today is day 3 and I just got home from dragging my fatigued arse at work for 5 hours. My head is somewhat better by late morning. I didn't have the dizziness last night which was very nice. Sleep is strange. I sleep a couple hours and then wake up. Then back for another hour then awake again. Etc.
Some questions please. I have had to take Tylenol once per day for the past three. I know they said I can but they didn't want it to be everyday. At this point I wouldn't have made it to work without it. I am feeling chills and aches today and just had to use it to get moving. Hopefully I won't need it everyday. Have you used it? Also eating. I don't feel like it. I can't get a taste for food. I am queasy just a little. It's more that I can't get a taste for food without getting queasy. Did you find that improved? I feel the most hungry the few hours before it's time to take the golden pill again and then I get a burning stomach so eating isn't going to happen. So I am really just having like a scrambled egg and toast or oatmeal once a day and crackers and water mainly otherwise. Made a food run to grab some more interesting bland foods. Butter cookies :) and bananas for starters. Did you find you were this way or were you able to just eat normal foods?
I'm very glad to hear you're finding ways to cope. You are a mirror of my first few weeks. I felt the rush of energy and anxiety right away. I wrote it off to being excited, then the chills, and flushes came along. They were not as bad as hot flashes, altho sometimes at night I'd break a sweat. My side was quite sore and 'hot'. Sometimes my mouth would just water, and I lost weight. 15 lbs so far. I love to cook, but simply wasn't hungry. If you do start to lose weight, drink plenty of water or a sports drink to prevent cramps. I ate a lot of cottage cheese and fruit because it was super quick & easy. I'm still not very hungry (I start my 7th week tomorrow- I'm on 8 weeks, too). I'm a big coffee drinker, but I've even cut back on that.
It sounds like you are doing everything you can to take care of yourself. :) Hang in there.
** adding that I don't take tylenol or any other pain pills unless I'm in screaming pain. I do use ointments, tho. -- Edited by Harvoninme on Thursday 11th of December 2014 09:33:26 PM
-- Edited by Harvoninme on Thursday 11th of December 2014 09:36:02 PM
fourlocos said
Dec 11, 2014
Ritan I have avoided caffine for years so no I don't drink it. I do decaf if I want coffee. But right now I can't even drink that because it's too acidic and I can't deal with more stomach woes. My anxiety is 90% better at this point. I got over that hump I think. I am in this for the long haul and I am an 8 weeker also.
fourlocos said
Dec 11, 2014
Today is day 3 and I just got home from dragging my fatigued arse at work for 5 hours. My head is somewhat better by late morning. I didn't have the dizziness last night which was very nice. Sleep is strange. I sleep a couple hours and then wake up. Then back for another hour then awake again. Etc.
Some questions please. I have had to take Tylenol once per day for the past three. I know they said I can but they didn't want it to be everyday. At this point I wouldn't have made it to work without it. I am feeling chills and aches today and just had to use it to get moving. Hopefully I won't need it everyday. Have you used it? Also eating. I don't feel like it. I can't get a taste for food. I am queasy just a little. It's more that I can't get a taste for food without getting queasy. Did you find that improved? I feel the most hungry the few hours before it's time to take the golden pill again and then I get a burning stomach so eating isn't going to happen. So I am really just having like a scrambled egg and toast or oatmeal once a day and crackers and water mainly otherwise. Made a food run to grab some more interesting bland foods. Butter cookies :) and bananas for starters. Did you find you were this way or were you able to just eat normal foods?
rltan said
Dec 10, 2014
Also just remember and keep saying to yourself,"theres others going through the same think" . And im ahead of you by 12 days and here to tell you it is getting better.
Check on this forum often, it does help with hope and understanding. God Bless.
rltan said
Dec 10, 2014
Hi, I feel for all thats going on I have gone through the same feelings, please do not quit it is know 2 weeks for me and I have only a little fatigue. I have a history of anxiety and panic attacks in my life and the first night on harvoni was very worrisome. I think my head pressure is due to anxiety and elevated blood pressure. I do know any stimulate like caffeine makes it worse. I am very lucky I only have to do 8 weeks of treatment.
Please hang in there it does get better.
Do you use tobacco? Do you drink alot of coffee or energy drinks?
fourlocos said
Dec 10, 2014
Thank you all very much for the support. I downed pill 2 an hour ago and hope it goes better but prepared now of what to expect if it is rough again. Fear of the unknown is harder I think. I am anxious just taking an antibiotic so this is huge for me. It feels like forever till it's over but truly it's just a couple months and I will become a stronger person coming through it.
Cinnamon Girl said
Dec 10, 2014
Hi fourlocos, sorry to hear you`re feeling so fuzzy and dizzy, it must be quite disorientating I`m sure. Whatever you do, please don`t feel like a loser or blame yourself...everyone reacts differently to medications and side effects always vary a lot from person to person. I`m surprised at your nurse`s attitude and that can`t have helped either.
As Nirmalee (Dragonfly) rightly said, you need to be kind to yourself while on treatment and don`t feel bad about how you`re feeling, it`s not your fault.
I hope it gets easier as the days go by, that`s often the case as your body adjusts to the drugs.
Hang on in there, we`re all here for you. Best of luck!
pauliep said
Dec 10, 2014
I also had some "fuzziness" on the first few days, and there was one night where I woke up really dizzy. I had a few mornings where I was drowsy for longer than usual in the first week, but I am now 29 days in and feeling fine. I can't say that I have any side effects at all, and the "sensation" of being aware of my liver was gone within the first 3 days. I had blood drawn yesterday and am optimistic that I will have positive results to report soon. Hang in there and remember- Harvoni is a cure, with a very high success rate, so the minimal side effects in most cases will reap a big reward. Good luck and stay positive!
dragonfly said
Dec 10, 2014
You will feel bad before you feel better. I have days when I could hardly even make it to the end of the road where I live and had to get a taxi back from shopping. This is not anything predictable and just because this is not Inteferon the treatment involves heavy duty drugs and we have to make allowances for this. Take it easy and don't feel bad about showing weakness, I was sent straight into hospital because I thought I was being wussy to say I can't cope and it took my doc to say you are very sick, we need to help you . I think after seeing lots of posts we need to be kinder to ourselves. . Good luck.
Nxxx
fourlocos said
Dec 10, 2014
Alaska Fred you said you felt funny after the first pill and it got better then? I hope that I what you meant. I will hang on to that today as evening comes and I have to "do this to myself again"! As the nurse put it so bluntly. May she never know suffering. That is all I can say about her.
fourlocos said
Dec 10, 2014
I have some valium around here somewhere from when my back used to go out on me. I think that might add to my dizziness though. And I am not going down the anti anxiety meds route. I beat panic attacks twenty years ago without medication and I will work through this. I know I can. For me it's being dizzy that just makes life horrible. I am not seriously queasy. Just dizzy. It feels like a bad bad hangover from sedative. Anyway the doctor's nurse just called me. She made me feel worse. She isn't my cup of tea. I find her abrasive. She said I am not allowed to stop and wait till next month when I can take time off work. That I must continue and that I am causing this and not the Harvoni. That my anxiety is why I am dizzy and sick. Geez, talk about making someone feel worse! Sigh......
skewedButNotBroken said
Dec 10, 2014
I was on the Sovaldi and Olysio treatment and it caused severe anxiety for me, and I had to start taking Ativan and became addicted to it (I took 5 mg every night before bed), BUT if it were not for the Ativan, I would not have been able to continue treatment as long as I did. Once I terminated my treatment protocol, I tried to taper off of Ativan but could not. I tried switching to Xanax but still could not taper off. Finally, I was able to taper off the anxiety meds by using the Ashton method which essentially means you start taking relatively high dosages of good old fashion Valium (which has a much longer half-life than the other two drugs) and start tapering off of Valium. It worked out perfect for me.
Armed with this knowledge, if I had to do it over again, I would DEMAND that my doctor write me a script for Valium to start off with. However, the only person that truly knows if you need anxiety medication to continue your treatment is you. It's not me, it's not your doctor, or anyone on this forum. You have to make that decision for yourself. I'm just sharing my experience with you.
Harvoninme said
Dec 10, 2014
fourlocos wrote:
I started at dinner time yesterday and I pray I won't be the first to fail this. I am not feeling well at all. I had a very rough night. My head is way fuzzy and dizzy. I don't like to feel disorientation of any kind, it makes me anxious. And sure enough I got up to use the bathroom at 2:00am and freaked out a bit. My son sat with me and talked me down but I couldn't get the room to stop spinning. I also have the runs now as well. I am unable to feel comfortable to drive to work which was my biggest concern for treatment. I have to work! Right now driving doesn't seem safe at all since I can't clear my head enough. I feel like such a loser here when everyone is doing so well. This head pressure and dizziness makes me not want to take tonight dose. Help.
I'm sensitive to Harvoni, too. When you're sick to your stomach, the world spins away and nothing else matters. I also felt like the odd man out because most people are reporting very little side effects. I have slowly adjusted, but I still have side effects. Drink plenty of water. Take whatever pain reliever your DR recommends, and let your DR what's happening to you. He may be able to give you something to help with the queasiness. And ask him authorize time off from work, if needed. I know you don't need a labor dispute on your hands, but technically, they should not be able to fire you for being sick.
Hang in there. Let us know how you're are doing.
-- Edited by Harvoninme on Wednesday 10th of December 2014 03:21:00 PM
Alaska Fred said
Dec 10, 2014
I also felt fuzzy and spacey after my first Harvoni pill. Since then no problem. I actually feel better that I have in years. Just took # 14. Hang in there! I'll be praying for ya too!
Tig said
Dec 10, 2014
Hi FL,
You're not a loser! Don't let your mind go there. These are powerful drugs and the first week is often the hardest to adjust. But once you get past it, things will hopefully improve. I discussed some ideas in the other thread. Hang in there!
Tig
fourlocos said
Dec 10, 2014
I started at dinner time yesterday and I pray I won't be the first to fail this. I am not feeling well at all. I had a very rough night. My head is way fuzzy and dizzy. I don't like to feel disorientation of any kind, it makes me anxious. And sure enough I got up to use the bathroom at 2:00am and freaked out a bit. My son sat with me and talked me down but I couldn't get the room to stop spinning. I also have the runs now as well. I am unable to feel comfortable to drive to work which was my biggest concern for treatment. I have to work! Right now driving doesn't seem safe at all since I can't clear my head enough. I feel like such a loser here when everyone is doing so well. This head pressure and dizziness makes me not want to take tonight dose. Help.
I'm very glad to hear you're finding ways to cope. You are a mirror of my first few weeks. I felt the rush of energy and anxiety right away. I wrote it off to being excited, then the chills, and flushes came along. They were not as bad as hot flashes, altho sometimes at night I'd break a sweat. My side was quite sore and 'hot'. Sometimes my mouth would just water, and I lost weight. 15 lbs so far. I love to cook, but simply wasn't hungry. If you do start to lose weight, drink plenty of water or a sports drink to prevent cramps. I ate a lot of cottage cheese and fruit because it was super quick & easy. I'm still not very hungry (I start my 7th week tomorrow- I'm on 8 weeks, too). I'm a big coffee drinker, but I've even cut back on that.
It sounds like you are doing everything you can to take care of yourself. :) Hang in there.
** adding that I don't take tylenol or any other pain pills unless I'm in screaming pain. I do use ointments, tho.
-- Edited by Harvoninme on Thursday 11th of December 2014 09:33:26 PM
-- Edited by Harvoninme on Thursday 11th of December 2014 09:36:02 PM
Ritan I have avoided caffine for years so no I don't drink it. I do decaf if I want coffee. But right now I can't even drink that because it's too acidic and I can't deal with more stomach woes. My anxiety is 90% better at this point. I got over that hump I think. I am in this for the long haul and I am an 8 weeker also.
Today is day 3 and I just got home from dragging my fatigued arse at work for 5 hours. My head is somewhat better by late morning. I didn't have the dizziness last night which was very nice. Sleep is strange. I sleep a couple hours and then wake up. Then back for another hour then awake again. Etc.
Some questions please. I have had to take Tylenol once per day for the past three. I know they said I can but they didn't want it to be everyday. At this point I wouldn't have made it to work without it. I am feeling chills and aches today and just had to use it to get moving. Hopefully I won't need it everyday. Have you used it? Also eating. I don't feel like it. I can't get a taste for food. I am queasy just a little. It's more that I can't get a taste for food without getting queasy. Did you find that improved? I feel the most hungry the few hours before it's time to take the golden pill again and then I get a burning stomach so eating isn't going to happen. So I am really just having like a scrambled egg and toast or oatmeal once a day and crackers and water mainly otherwise. Made a food run to grab some more interesting bland foods. Butter cookies :) and bananas for starters. Did you find you were this way or were you able to just eat normal foods?
Thank you all very much for the support. I downed pill 2 an hour ago and hope it goes better but prepared now of what to expect if it is rough again. Fear of the unknown is harder I think. I am anxious just taking an antibiotic so this is huge for me. It feels like forever till it's over but truly it's just a couple months and I will become a stronger person coming through it.
Hi fourlocos, sorry to hear you`re feeling so fuzzy and dizzy, it must be quite disorientating I`m sure. Whatever you do, please don`t feel like a loser or blame yourself...everyone reacts differently to medications and side effects always vary a lot from person to person. I`m surprised at your nurse`s attitude and that can`t have helped either.
As Nirmalee (Dragonfly) rightly said, you need to be kind to yourself while on treatment and don`t feel bad about how you`re feeling, it`s not your fault.
I hope it gets easier as the days go by, that`s often the case as your body adjusts to the drugs.
Hang on in there, we`re all here for you. Best of luck!
I also had some "fuzziness" on the first few days, and there was one night where I woke up really dizzy. I had a few mornings where I was drowsy for longer than usual in the first week, but I am now 29 days in and feeling fine. I can't say that I have any side effects at all, and the "sensation" of being aware of my liver was gone within the first 3 days. I had blood drawn yesterday and am optimistic that I will have positive results to report soon. Hang in there and remember- Harvoni is a cure, with a very high success rate, so the minimal side effects in most cases will reap a big reward. Good luck and stay positive!
You will feel bad before you feel better. I have days when I could hardly even make it to the end of the road where I live and had to get a taxi back from shopping. This is not anything predictable and just because this is not Inteferon the treatment involves heavy duty drugs and we have to make allowances for this. Take it easy and don't feel bad about showing weakness, I was sent straight into hospital because I thought I was being wussy to say I can't cope and it took my doc to say you are very sick, we need to help you . I think after seeing lots of posts we need to be kinder to ourselves. . Good luck.
Nxxx
Alaska Fred you said you felt funny after the first pill and it got better then? I hope that I what you meant. I will hang on to that today as evening comes and I have to "do this to myself again"! As the nurse put it so bluntly. May she never know suffering. That is all I can say about her.
I have some valium around here somewhere from when my back used to go out on me. I think that might add to my dizziness though. And I am not going down the anti anxiety meds route. I beat panic attacks twenty years ago without medication and I will work through this. I know I can. For me it's being dizzy that just makes life horrible. I am not seriously queasy. Just dizzy. It feels like a bad bad hangover from sedative. Anyway the doctor's nurse just called me. She made me feel worse. She isn't my cup of tea. I find her abrasive. She said I am not allowed to stop and wait till next month when I can take time off work. That I must continue and that I am causing this and not the Harvoni. That my anxiety is why I am dizzy and sick. Geez, talk about making someone feel worse! Sigh......
I was on the Sovaldi and Olysio treatment and it caused severe anxiety for me, and I had to start taking Ativan and became addicted to it (I took 5 mg every night before bed), BUT if it were not for the Ativan, I would not have been able to continue treatment as long as I did. Once I terminated my treatment protocol, I tried to taper off of Ativan but could not. I tried switching to Xanax but still could not taper off. Finally, I was able to taper off the anxiety meds by using the Ashton method which essentially means you start taking relatively high dosages of good old fashion Valium (which has a much longer half-life than the other two drugs) and start tapering off of Valium. It worked out perfect for me.
Armed with this knowledge, if I had to do it over again, I would DEMAND that my doctor write me a script for Valium to start off with. However, the only person that truly knows if you need anxiety medication to continue your treatment is you. It's not me, it's not your doctor, or anyone on this forum. You have to make that decision for yourself. I'm just sharing my experience with you.
I'm sensitive to Harvoni, too. When you're sick to your stomach, the world spins away and nothing else matters. I also felt like the odd man out because most people are reporting very little side effects. I have slowly adjusted, but I still have side effects. Drink plenty of water. Take whatever pain reliever your DR recommends, and let your DR what's happening to you. He may be able to give you something to help with the queasiness. And ask him authorize time off from work, if needed. I know you don't need a labor dispute on your hands, but technically, they should not be able to fire you for being sick.
Hang in there. Let us know how you're are doing.
-- Edited by Harvoninme on Wednesday 10th of December 2014 03:21:00 PM
Hi FL,
You're not a loser! Don't let your mind go there. These are powerful drugs and the first week is often the hardest to adjust. But once you get past it, things will hopefully improve. I discussed some ideas in the other thread. Hang in there!
Tig
I started at dinner time yesterday and I pray I won't be the first to fail this. I am not feeling well at all. I had a very rough night. My head is way fuzzy and dizzy. I don't like to feel disorientation of any kind, it makes me anxious. And sure enough I got up to use the bathroom at 2:00am and freaked out a bit. My son sat with me and talked me down but I couldn't get the room to stop spinning. I also have the runs now as well. I am unable to feel comfortable to drive to work which was my biggest concern for treatment. I have to work! Right now driving doesn't seem safe at all since I can't clear my head enough. I feel like such a loser here when everyone is doing so well. This head pressure and dizziness makes me not want to take tonight dose. Help.