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Hep C Discussion Forum -> On Treatment -> What if you just can't force food down?
Post Info TOPIC: What if you just can't force food down?
elizabeth


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RE: What if you just can't force food down?
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Shaun, thanks for the encouragement.  I passed your comments along to my husband.  I think hearing how good you feel now did more for his morale than anything has lately.  We're both thrilled for you and your success.  



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Shaun


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Everything is about adjusting then adapting to it.  I liked the boost supplements because they are small and nutrient dense.....easy to drink in a few gulps.  My nurse practitioner told me that she has patients that have been living off Boost supplement and nothing else for months.  She said when your appetite is that far gone, it becomes about ingesting enough calories each day.

WHen my treatment ended and I finally finished the Ribavirin, my appetite came screaming back within a day or two.  I inhaled food like no tomorrow.  Three months post  tx and the sickness and all is just a bad memory.  I feel wonderful today.  Do what it takes to finish the treatment, it is sooo worth it!

My wife nudged me to eat during that period and I did ingest what I could, even though I had to force it down.  Some days I could eat a bit, usually not.  I did the nutritious liquids instead and everything was fine.

Good luck with the rest of treatmen!



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elizabeth


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Shaun, congrats on finishing treatment!  That must be a glorious day!  And thanks for sharing your experience.  I'm making "Ensure Milkshakes" to get the fat down him.  Otherwise I'm trying to nudge but not nag.  It's hard since I can't imagine what it would be like not to want food. LOL  But it is obviously a serious situation for those of you going through it and I'm not making light of that.   

Margo, that's interesting re not requiring the fat.  It's good to know but I think I'll keep it to myself for now since that's about all I'm able to get into him and only because he thinks it's mandatory.

Bless you all and Happy Memorial Day to all the veterans in the group.



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Margo


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Hi, I'm not hungry at all either. I mentioned this to my doctor, since I've tried really hard getting that 20g of fat 3 times a day.(3pm I understand but 7am and 11pm?) my doctor said not to worry about 20g of fat and it just made me feel so much better. They say fat makes it easy for the pill to absorb to cause less side effects, I don't have any major yet.

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Geno 1b, relapsed in 2009 a week before my treatment was to be over. Started triple therapy on April 28th, 2012. UND at week 4,8,12,24,3 months post tx.
Shaun


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Hello,

I finished treatment about three months ago.  The last two or three months I could not eat at all.  I was on almost 100% liquids for that time.  I only lost about ten pounds when on liquids because I was getting enough calories.  My diet consisted of the following:

Boost supplement.   I drank 3-5 of these a day

Protein drinks.  I made these with protein powder, brown rice flour and fruit in milk.

V8 Vegetable juice coctail and fruit juices

I also took vitamins and supplements and drank a lot of milk which has protein and fats.  That was mostly what I had for months.  I have been undetectable since week four.  You just have to adapt and keep moving forward.

When I was on the Incivek I would do a couple tablespoons of olive oil with my doses.



-- Edited by Shaun on Saturday 26th of May 2012 07:54:27 AM

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innerview


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and you're funny too!

 

He's a lucky guy all the way around!



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Peace, Mark

1A, stage 2/3, TT, began TX with Incivo 1/31/12, Week 4 VL<15, week 7 UND, week 12 UND, week 18 UND!!! End of Tx July 31 VL UND!!!  I had to do 26 weeks total and was on half Riba and half Interferon for most of Tx. 12 week post Tx VL UND!
elizabeth


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Thanks for all of the advice.  He has a couple of rx's for nausea but says the ginger root pills work better and faster.  So while he does have some waves of nausea, it doesn't really seem to be the bigger issue.  For some reason, he just can't stand the smell or taste of food.  He asked the doc for a med (can't remember the name) that is sometimes given to seniors to stimulate appetite but the doc said no as it would not play well with the other drugs you're all taking.  I guess we take it one frustrating, stressful day at a time.

And thanks, innerview.  At this point I'm not sure I'm much help -- I seem to be just a nag and the food police. no



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innerview


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I found that eating a little every 2 hours was actually the cure for nausea. It really worked!!!

Tell your husband he is one lucky guy. Some of us don't have a caring spouse or partner to help us through this.


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Peace, Mark

1A, stage 2/3, TT, began TX with Incivo 1/31/12, Week 4 VL<15, week 7 UND, week 12 UND, week 18 UND!!! End of Tx July 31 VL UND!!!  I had to do 26 weeks total and was on half Riba and half Interferon for most of Tx. 12 week post Tx VL UND!
peanutbutter


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krowdog wrote:
elizabeth wrote:

...  So, first question is what effect do the pills have if you don't eat the 20 grams of fat and second question is how do you force yourselves to eat?

 When I just couldn't eat, I would do a shot of olive oil, followed by a shot of orange juice or lemonade to chase it.  Not to pleasant, but quick.

What effect do the pills have without fat?  They don't work as well, because you don't absorb as much of the Incivek.  It is a fat soluable drug, hence the fat helps absorb the med, so it doesn't wash out of your digestive tract as quickly, and more is digested. 

That is important.  If you notice, doctors will reduce the amount of Ribavirin, or even Pegasys, but they never reduce the Incivek.  They just take you off it if you can't tolerate it.

I used to do the olive oil as well, he has to get that incivek down, I would try to throw it back as far as I could, like taking a shot of terrible liquor. If all went well, one gulp and a little "oh crap that's gross" head shake I was ok.

Like krowdog said, Icivek is designed to be taken with fat, so taking it without it is not recommended.

God bless, 

Mike



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Diagnosed in 2008. Geno 1a. 6 month treatment of Incivek. UND at 4 weeks, and have remained that way as of 2 months POST treatment.
krowdog


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elizabeth wrote:

...  So, first question is what effect do the pills have if you don't eat the 20 grams of fat and second question is how do you force yourselves to eat?

 When I just couldn't eat, I would do a shot of olive oil, followed by a shot of orange juice or lemonade to chase it.  Not to pleasant, but quick.

What effect do the pills have without fat?  They don't work as well, because you don't absorb as much of the Incivek.  It is a fat soluable drug, hence the fat helps absorb the med, so it doesn't wash out of your digestive tract as quickly, and more is digested. 

That is important.  If you notice, doctors will reduce the amount of Ribavirin, or even Pegasys, but they never reduce the Incivek.  They just take you off it if you can't tolerate it.

Like Judy said, call the doc, and get a script for an anti-nasea drug.  A lot of folks here have used them.

Good luck.  He's already 2/3 done with the Incivek, hope he can hold out.

Brad

 

 

 



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(Geno 1a, Incivek Triple Tx, 6 month post TX - 9/20/2012 = SVR!!!)
davesf


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Also see what your doctor can recommend for anti-nausea meds. If you're in a state or country that doesn't frown on it, marijuana works for some people as well.

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All Done Poisoning the Dragon that Used to Poison Me

Genotype 1b  Incivek Combo
davesf


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Get the fat into him any way he'll take it. You need it for the incivek. 2 ounces of heavy cream with a cup of tea was my favorite when I was nauseous. Some people on this forum would swallow one ounce of olive oil to get the fat down in the smallest quickest way possible.

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All Done Poisoning the Dragon that Used to Poison Me

Genotype 1b  Incivek Combo
Judy S


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When I was SUPER nauseated, I found that when I forced a little bit of food, I actually felt better and nausea passed.  Ask Dr to prescribe Reglan or Zofran for nausea and then must eat.  Drink protein shake with fat in it, something.  It will help so he can eat a few bites.



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Geno 1a; VL 4.7 million in Feb 2012. Started PegIntron & Ribavirin 3-9-12. Added Victrelis 4-6-12. UND since Week 8. Stopped tx Wk 23. UND 4 Wks post-tx. Relapsed 12-weeks-post.

52 y/o F, started Epclusa 11-10-19, F0/F1.  EOT 2-1-2020. UND. All liver function tests normal.
Scout


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He'll get hungry. try some greek yogurt, ice cream, otherwise it's not your responsibility. We have to take the bull by the horns at some point.

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Geno 1a, Viral load at 2 4, 8, 12 and 16  weeks, UND, Triple therapy Incevek done,   Peg & Riba Done, UND and making plans for the future!!
elizabeth


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First, my apologies for seeming to show up daily with a new question but y'all have probably saved me from insanity.  My husband is on week 8 and I literally can't beg, plead, whine, wheedle or cajole food down him.   He just can't do it.  Almost gagged just now eating a little ice cream to take the nightly incivek and I'm doubting if he'll even continue to try to eat.  So, first question is what effect do the pills have if you don't eat the 20 grams of fat and second question is how do you force yourselves to eat?  I'm really starting to get concerned.



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