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Hep C Discussion Forum -> On Treatment -> Anyone else fear needles?
Post Info TOPIC: Anyone else fear needles?
KMMM


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RE: Anyone else fear needles?
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Hi,

My husband is on week 14 of treatment.  He has a terrible fear of needles.  Fortunately, I was a nurse for 15 years and I just do it for him.  Early on in treatment I was away for the weekend with my son at a baseball tournament.  My husband did do his own needle that weekend but it took him about 6 hours to work up the courage and he kicked a hole in the wall (not good).

We had no idea that he was going to have such a hard time with it.  From that moment on we lined up two back ups (a cousin and friend who are both nurses) for when I am not here because I am sometimes away at a tournament or competition with our kids on Saturdays when he does his needle.

The flip side is that I honestly can't swallow pills and I told him, I'd have a nervous breakdown if I had to swallow so many pills a day.  He laughed and said "well I am a needle chicken"!

I do just dread giving him the needle because he gets so sick but I just have to be tough with him because I swear he still HATES it.  No matter how much I hate giving him the needle, he hates getting it more so I just do it as quick as possible.  

Anyways, hang in there.  Having someone just do the needle for my husband has made all the difference for him.

Ronna



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Bills


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It does get easier. Someone called it Dragon poison. i took that as to  kill the dragon.  So knowing that I'm killing virus makes it easier. hope that helps.

BillS



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Bills

Harvoni started 12-12-14 for 24 wks PrevTX Geno 1 stage 3 cirrhosis - non resp Int/ ribv. Started Trial  in Aug 2011 -July 2012 into Incivek relapsed  Feb 2013 Had 72 weeks on interferon & Riba.

DJ


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Judy S wrote:

Thanks DJ; hair is getting there!  Interferon-free tx may become avail by Dec this year, even.

 

That would be wonderful!  I am starting to worry that my treatment is not going to work.  I am not having many side effects at all so it makes me worry that the drugs are not working.  So I am glad to hear that if it doesn't work there may be something new coming soon to try.  



__________________

Genotype 3.  Treatment started on 1/11/2013 with Ribavirin and Pegatron.  Week 4 UND.  Week 12 UND.  Ended treatment on 6/28/2013.  Six months post treatment 12/04/2013 SVR.
hrsetrdr


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Judy S wrote:

 Interferon-free tx may become avail by Dec this year, even.

  I like the sound of that.     I won't know until mid March if the dragon has returned, so I'm watching the HCV  treatment news just the same.



__________________

"hrsetrdr"=Tim

Treatment halted on Aug.8,2012 due to vision problem.  6 month post tx labs

Aug.2013 SVR

Be strong when you are weak, brave when you are scared, and humble when you are victorious.
- Unknown

 

 
Judy S


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Thanks DJ; hair is getting there!  Interferon-free tx may become avail by Dec this year, even.



__________________

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.
DJ


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Judy S wrote:

My doctor said there's no reason to do a trial since interferon-free tx will be avail next year.  My biopsy showed improvement from 13 years ago, and I've never smoked, no drugs, never been big drinker, and I exercise daily.  He told me to continue to take the Milk Thistle and everything else; I can wait. 

About 2 weeks after stopping tx, my hair fell out like crazy...5 handfuls a day.  I have such little long hair left; less than 1/4 of what I had.  New hair has grown in about 2 inches, but I'm not doing anything until new hair at least reaches shoulders, hahaha!

 

Oh that will be wonderful is the interferon-free tx is here next year.  I am sure you hair will grow back beautifully :) 



__________________

Genotype 3.  Treatment started on 1/11/2013 with Ribavirin and Pegatron.  Week 4 UND.  Week 12 UND.  Ended treatment on 6/28/2013.  Six months post treatment 12/04/2013 SVR.
Judy S


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My doctor said there's no reason to do a trial since interferon-free tx will be avail next year.  My biopsy showed improvement from 13 years ago, and I've never smoked, no drugs, never been big drinker, and I exercise daily.  He told me to continue to take the Milk Thistle and everything else; I can wait. 

About 2 weeks after stopping tx, my hair fell out like crazy...5 handfuls a day.  I have such little long hair left; less than 1/4 of what I had.  New hair has grown in about 2 inches, but I'm not doing anything until new hair at least reaches shoulders, hahaha!



__________________

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.
DJ


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Judy S wrote:

Don't worry DJ; a couple more and it will be old hat.  Yep...I had a smorgasbord of various injectables laid out and did one after another, lol!  PegIntron was with Redipen (in belly) and the Neupo and Procrit were in syringes; had to fill those.  Was running out of body parts to inject, hehehe.

 

Oh my goodness, Judy!  That is impressive!  I know the treatment didn't work for you with the interferon.  Is there any chance of doing a trial without interferon?  Sounds like some people are having good results with that.  Not sure how to even find them, perhaps your doctor would know or someone on here.  I hope they come out with something better soon for everyone. 



__________________

Genotype 3.  Treatment started on 1/11/2013 with Ribavirin and Pegatron.  Week 4 UND.  Week 12 UND.  Ended treatment on 6/28/2013.  Six months post treatment 12/04/2013 SVR.
Judy S


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Don't worry DJ; a couple more and it will be old hat.  Yep...I had a smorgasbord of various injectables laid out and did one after another, lol!  PegIntron was with Redipen (in belly) and the Neupo and Procrit were in syringes; had to fill those.  Was running out of body parts to inject, hehehe.



__________________

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.
DJ


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Well I just did injection #2 (and I was nervous). Maybe in a month it will seem less stressful. But at least I did it, and it is over now for another week! And Judy.....WOW! Three injections! I suppose at that point you would have to get used to it!

__________________

Genotype 3.  Treatment started on 1/11/2013 with Ribavirin and Pegatron.  Week 4 UND.  Week 12 UND.  Ended treatment on 6/28/2013.  Six months post treatment 12/04/2013 SVR.
Judy S


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In my job I give others injections but was still nervous doing my own, lol.  After a while it became routine.  PegIntron in stomach, Neupogen in 1 thigh, Procrit in the other thigh.



__________________

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.
Daook


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Knowing that it's coming tomorrow is worse than the dart. Flu like symptoms for the weekend. Yipppeeeee!!

Playoff football walks me through Sunday. smile



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Geno 1a, second time around, stable viral load since 1973, timing is right for new therapy
Mary Jane


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Hey DJ..just breath... it does take time getting one's mind physced to giving a shot .. My confession my sister is an EMT/FF, she helped me the first few weeks, and then I started doing them myself, I have an adequate budda belly so it really was like.... go get everything laid out, go to the bathroom & " just do it"  I really like the ease of the pro click pen... just keep telling yourself  ____ no. of  darts and I'm done! all the best MJ



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Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.Ralph Waldo Emerson

1a - VL 22 million  F2- IL28B- CT / Inck-Riba- Peg triple therapy 9/15/12 UND 4/8/14  8 wks BT ..3/1/2013 done! 3wks Post UND
DJ


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Thanks everyone.  I know tomorow will be stressful, but good to know it will get easier. 



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Genotype 3.  Treatment started on 1/11/2013 with Ribavirin and Pegatron.  Week 4 UND.  Week 12 UND.  Ended treatment on 6/28/2013.  Six months post treatment 12/04/2013 SVR.
JoAnneh


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I don't fear needles, just worry that I
Am doing Injection properly. Since
I showed UND at 24 weeks, looks like I am doing it
Right. My husband pushes the button to
The Pen. I really preferred a regular syringe
To actually see it go on, that would have been
A comfort in the beginning.
It eventually becomes routines; I understand
How nerve racking it is in the beginning.
I was so up tight. After 35 weeks it's not
Such a big deal anymore:)

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JoAnne

Genotype 1a, Triple therapy w/Invicek started May 19, 2012

DET 4 wk. UND 2,6,12,24 48 treatment. Achieved SVR 2013!
Neil_Canuck


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Mine is not so much the fear of needles as the smell of the alcohol swabs. Three hours before

I start to dread it slightly and the memory of the smell invades my brain. I get the operation

over with ASAP and then I'm okay for another week. 



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58 yrs, cirrhotic, Genotype 1b 48 weeks Victrelis triple, SOT 7/13/12 victrelis started week 5. Starting VL 4,000,000  Wk 8 33 copies  Wk 24 UND, EOT UND 6 months post Tx DET. The battle goes on.
hrsetrdr


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I hated doing the injections, but it got easier and less stressful, once I got better at doing them.   wink



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"hrsetrdr"=Tim

Treatment halted on Aug.8,2012 due to vision problem.  6 month post tx labs

Aug.2013 SVR

Be strong when you are weak, brave when you are scared, and humble when you are victorious.
- Unknown

 

 
Cinnamon Girl


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Me too!  Which was strange considering that`s how I caught the virus in the first place!  I really had to psych myself up for the first few times but, like Alan said, after a few weeks I got over my fear and it became part of my routine..in fact I started looking forward to it so I could cross another week off my chart.   Don`t worry, DJ, you`re not alone..and it will get easier for you!  smile ~ Jill



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Jill 

(71 yo, lives in UK)

Was Gen 3a, 

24wks Peg Ifn/Riba, Sep 2010 - Mch 2011

UND @ Wk.4, UND @ EOT, 

SVR Nov 2011 --> Still UND @ EOT + 4 yrs.

 

 
news


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I was terriried, and went off by myself so nobody could see me and how frightened I was. But by week four it was like falling off a log. I am sure you will become accustomed to it in a few more weeks.

Alan



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Geno 1A  Started Pegasys/Ribavirin/Incivek Nov. 20, 2011 .  Completed July 28, 2012 (36 weeks). For a treatment history, see:  https://jshare.johnshopkins.edu/xythoswfs/webview/_xy-9921874_1

SVR on January 14, 2013!!
packerfan24


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DJ I did not like giving myself needles also. I just took a deep breath  and did it. afterawhile you get use to it. Good luck with your tx.

Ken



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Packerfan24
DJ


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The injection is going to be the hardest part for me.  And not so much a fear of my reaction.  I get so stressed over the thought of the needle.  Tomorrow is injection #2 and I am feeling anxiety over the thought of having to stick myself again (and it is still a day away).

Has anyone else gone into this with a fear of needles?  And if so, did your fear diminish over time? 

 

 

 



__________________

Genotype 3.  Treatment started on 1/11/2013 with Ribavirin and Pegatron.  Week 4 UND.  Week 12 UND.  Ended treatment on 6/28/2013.  Six months post treatment 12/04/2013 SVR.
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