Hep C Discussion Forum

Hang in there mindovermatter

 I was eating out a lot also. I take care of my Mom she's 83 and "out there". Her last place of power was the kitchen. She wouldn't cook cause she forgot how but would not let in there. Finally She gave up the kitchen to me. Yesterday we had crabmeat stuffed lobster tails. Cooking isn't hard. Maybe this is time for you to learn its fun. Your hb is still looking good IMO.

Best to you 

Back again, Mindovermatter:

As for your stomach, I started to get an ulcer just before I retired last year, did my internet research and decided on  two remedies to try.  1) Baking soda in a small glass of water, "Dosing is typically 1-2 teaspoons in a full glass of water", seen on this site about half-way down the page: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/08/27/baking-soda-natural-remedy.aspx  I only drank this 1 or 2 times a day, but it was enough to make things tolerable while I waited for 2) cayenne pepper, yes, I had to make myself take the first capsule because it seemed to be the opposite of what would help.  However, so many Links were saying it works, I had to give it a try, and I have been taking it in capsule form since.  I do make sure that the capsules do not have additional ingredients such as magnesium stearate or silica. As soon as I felt the first capsule dissolve, I felt the 'timbre' of the burning sensation change.  I have been taking it once a day since then-I get them on eBay.  If you prefer, you can also take this in a glass of water "1/4 teaspoon in 1 cup of hot water per day is all it takes" says this link: http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/herbal-remedies/herbal-remedies-for-ulcers.htm  Stress is something to avoid, so try to get as much rest as possible, and do things like read a book or watch a TV Series (like Merlin) to focus your mind on something other than the present circumstances.  Remember that this is just a passing phase, whatever decision you make with the Hep C, and it is your decision to make whenever you wish to make it.  If you decide to stay with the Treatment you have started, some people like to make that decision one-day-at-a-time, to decide that for today I am going to stay on this treatment. And, of course, you have the freedom to change your mind whenever you want; it is your life, and your choice.

Tig56: Thank you for the kind comment. As irritated as I am with big pharma, (I am right along with you on that), I think it is also important to get approval of the new meds to be used in any combination that supports best results- in our case (USa)- get the FDA to cooperate, and the health insurance, and pharma.  I will plan to post the Petition in a new post and hopefully those who don't live here in USa may pass it along to someone who does.

Dragon Slayer, those results are incredible!  I will plan to discuss the New Medicines with my New Gastroenterologist on my appointment in the middle of March.  My former gastroenterologist had wanted me to "wait until they are approved".

Hi M-O-M.

I think you should most definitely continue on. You were undetected at week 4 and that is huge.

You also should get your stomach checked out. It could be an ulcer or something unrelated to the hep c that was made worse by the treatment and can be treated on its own. It's worth investigating so you can put your mind at ease and perhaps get some relief if it's treatable.

As for water, the first 3 weeks it was my constant companion. Now I always have it near but don't seem to need it as much. It's the only drink I drink all day besides one cup of coffee in the morning if I'm up for it.

And energy for me comes and goes and is related I'm sure to the blood counts. Nasty platelets are at 54 last week, but surprisingly this week my energy is good so perhaps they are back up.

You've got this! One day at a time!

Gracie.

I apologize to  mindovermatter for somehow missing that he is from India, but in my hours of research to locate the Links, I came across this good news for India, and fortunately bookmarked it; the New Meds. are just around the corner for India, too:

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/gilead-local-generic-players-in-talks-to-bring-hepatitis-c-drug-into-india/article5649841.ece

I must congratulate you, mindovermatter, for your excellent command of the English language.  Your writing is so good (exemplary {anukaraNiy}  I would say), that I did not suspect that you were from other than an English speaking country.  By the way, my Viral Load is over 3 million, and my gastroenterologist recommended that I wait on 1/27/2014 8:45 PM PST in his email to me. However, I have Hep 1a, and from my understanding, 1a not only has a longer time to remain on the treatment you have started, but also a lower success rate.  You asked if you should contact a doctor.  Here is a fairly recent experience I had with two doctors:

I had the same doctor for over a decade (10 years), when she decided she was going to take several years off to be with her very young children in 2009.In the interim, I had to see another doctor,who tried to insist that I had high blood pressure and put me on diuretics. I discussed with her that since I have a serious family history of allergies (myself included), I needed to try any new medicine first to make sure of no allergic reaction. I had a reaction to the first diuretic, so she put me on a different one. The 2nd diuretic caused such severe leg cramps that I called the on-call doctor two evenings in a row. The first evening, the on-call doctor was from the office of doctor #2, and I was told essentially "too bad, just do exercises". The second evening I reached my former doctor's office, (doctor #1), and was told that I was having a "severe reaction to the diuretic and to stop taking it immediately". Two doctor's offices, two OPPOSITE opinions. I stopped the diuretic. In the meantime, I discussed with a pharmacist which was the most reliable blood-pressure cuff, and I bought my own, took my own blood pressure, making a three day recommended chart, and did not have high blood pressure.  Doctors are human, too, and we all make mistakes-including doctors.  I am not trying to discourage you, but I am trying to point out that you do have a choice.

 

Interferon and Ribavarin are now being replaced by other drugs, probably because so many are refusing to take them (especially Interferon) because of their dangers, and the drug companies are probably aware of this (see - by voting - the poll results about half way down on the right hand side):
http://www.hepmag.com/articles/sofosbuvir_ledipasvir_2501_23631.shtml

The new treatments are generally much shorter duration, too; most are at 12 weeks, although a few are 24 weeks. Here is a beneficial Link to the New Meds., pay particular attention to the BMS & Gilead, it's SVR/Cure Rates and the European Medicines Agency (if you are in Europe).
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/news/newsLetter/2014/advocate0214.html
This particularly focuses on Genotype 3 and the New Drug treatments:
http://hepc-cured.com/shunned-gileadbristol-myers-hep-c-combo-may-be-too-good-for-docs-to-ignore/
Daclatasvir Marketing Authorization Application for Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Validated for Accelerated Regulatory Review by the European Medicines Agency
http://hepatitiscnewdrugs.blogspot.com/2014/01/bristol-myers-daclatasvir-hepatitis-c.html

I don't know what your situation is, but if you are able to work, it must be better than mine; and yet my Dr. advised me to "wait"; with the new meds. at the brink of being available (daclatasvir), or already approved (sofosbuvir). People have been known to stop, too. If you want some Links to people that have tried the regimen you are on (and not been successful, I am sad to say), let me know.

Hi M-o-M,

I`ll try and answer your questions as best I can.

1. Well, first of all, fatigue is a common side effect from Peg/Riba treatment although having a light breakfast of just a couple of biscuits maybe wouldn`t have helped.  You need to take your Ribavirin with food anyway, or else it can irritate your stomach, and it also helps with absorption, but lack of appetite can also be a side effect.  But basically I would say that the fatigue you`re experiencing is most probably treatment related.

2.Difficult for us to say what`s causing the pain in your stomach.  Does it feel as though it`s muscular or internal?  As I`ve already mentioned, Ribavirin can cause stomach irritation so make sure you take it with food.  If the problem continues then it would be best to speak to your doctor about it.

3.There is no set amount of water that anyone needs to drink while on treatment.  How much you require depends on a lot of different factors, for example lifestyle, county where you live, season of the year, etc.  As long as you`re keeping yourself well hydrated and your urine isn`t dark then you`re probably drinking the right amount that you need, especially as it`s been cold in India recently.  Too much water is actually bad for you and is unnecessary.

Hope that helps!