Hep C Discussion Forum

Dr. cut down the Riba at 24 weeks to lessen the low blood counts.  It has helped that symptom, but some rash and dry skin still present.  Other usual symptoms - fatigue, nausea, general malaise, insomnia, bad taste, blurry vision, etc - still around but they seem to cycle through, get stronger and then lessen for no apparent reason.  I think I have just learned to tolerate the symptoms and am used to the comings and goings of the side effects.  When I am feeling bad, it is hard to remember when I felt better and when I have fewer symptoms, I wonder if they were really that bad. 

They were.  Glad when this is done, and keeping an eye on the end result is a motivator allowing me to accept the discomfort, knowing there is an end to it and it will all work out when the tx concludes and the side effects lessen.

Good luck, you can do it, HCV Warrior.

Your replays are very helpful and I appreciate you all for taking the time to answer. I will do the same for others down the line. Anyway you look at this, it's going to take perseverance and patience!  

I can only reflect my experiences and those of others that post regularly.  Tig pretty much hit my experience on the nail.  I have 4 weeks of treatment left.  The first 3 months while taking Incevik were terrible.  I had a procrit shot at about 14 weeks and have not needed one since.  At that point I was feeling pretty good, relatively.  I cruised until about week 30. At that point I really started feeling bad, particularly on Monday and Tuesday.  I generally wake up nauseated in the morning and dry heave or throw up depending on what is in my stomach.  I would estimate that I have thrown up 4 days per week for 44 weeks.   I have noticed that a lot of our members start complaining of sx more towards the end of treatment.  I don't know if I am exhausted from 44 weeks of treatment or the sx have increased.  I have continued working.  Nausea and sleep difficulties are my big problems.

Hi Ginny and welcome to the forum

That is entirely an individual situation if you ask me. I'm about to start week 27 and my side effects fluctuate in severity and number. The first three months were very unpleasant but tolerable. I noticed the SFX were easier to tolerate the next two months, but now during my last month, they're getting worse with each week. Worse being the same kinds of SFX just more intense and uncomfortable. I asked my Hepa about this recently and he said they aren't going away, but your body has learned how to tolerate and adjust to them. So in my case, the SFX did lessen in severity periodically but I wouldn't tell anyone that this is something they should count on. I hope that thought works in your favor nonetheless!!