Hepatitis C Support Group

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.

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pharaoh88 05/27/2012

Yes, I did. While in the middle of the street, I was walking and looking at cars coming towards me, and for a second or less I forgot I'm crossing the street!!!!!!

Tomorrow is my 15th shot and I was considering myself lucky, but things has changed since last week.
I was sleeping half of the day (or more) and trying to stay awake the other half. I had fever and headache sometimes and today I did a CBC test and saw my HGB dropped from 10.4 last week to 9.1 this week. OUCH!

The doctor told me to reduce Ribavirin from 1000 to 800 mg/day and told me that reducing Riba isn't good, but I have to.

I'm one lucky guy and Riba was reduced for me, Did anyone could ever continue this tx without reducing doses??

dillytime 05/27/2012

i reduced my riba on my own towards end of tx..from 1200 to 800..for a wk.......then went back to normal dose...relapsed anyway...........old soc peg/riba............yea watch that brain fog...try and realize u're on tx..try and concentrate extra hard while out in public............walking,shopping etc...it gets greater later...........

deleted_user 05/27/2012

I believe most docs will reduce ur riba before they consider rescue drugs. Are you on 3x tx or 2x? There were a few times when I found my riba pill (1200 mg) sitting on the table for me to take after I ate then forgot. I am considered a partial responder. Was clear on 2x tx at 5 weeks but 4 weeks after the 48, it came roaring back. Waiting for a tx that is not so toxic.
Oh my, I hear you on being confused while walking. I had to either look ahead or down, couldn't do both , so I tripped a lot! I also got very confused driving, staying in the same lane...so I didn't drive much. I did so many stupid things on tx, it was funny after awhile!! (now that I look back!)
Just try to stay focused and like mama says "Don't play in traffic"! or was that "Go play in traffic?" Now I'm confused!!
Peace Love and Light Always~

pharaoh88 05/27/2012

Thanks dilly and carolann
I'll try to stay more focused while on public.

Talk about forgetting riba, I've just forgot the morning dose today, but luckily I write when exactly did I take the pills, so I just looked at my pc, found out I didn't take it, fixed the mistake and 'Life is GOOD'

Oh, I forgot your question, LOL.
I'm on 2x, peg/riba, probably the 3rd drug doesn't work with GT4, or it's too expensive for the hospital to give me, but I'm responding well, UND at weeks 4,12 and didn't have BAD side effects until last week.

I wish the new drugs come out soon for you and those who are waiting for them.

deleted_user 05/27/2012

@pharaoh,,, Great u were undie at 4 weeks!!

A suggestion..... I had 2 weekly pill boxes...put my riba and vit D in them once a week. It was a good way to keep track if I took them or not. That, in conjunction w/ur log will keep u taking them regularly!

When u find urself looking for ur sunglasses for an hour....then find them on ur head,,,u know ur confused!!! I did that last week and I'm off tx for a year now. However, had a brain aneurysm in Oct, so I blame that for my forgetfulness!

PS I always kept peanut butter crackers by my bed since I had to adjust my morning riba to 6am due to the night time riba. If I took night time riba to late, it kept me up and I couldn't sleep.
PSS!! Ur lucky to be able to sleep tx away!!!!!

deleted_user 05/27/2012

Pharaoh

It is totally normal and standard protocol to reduce Riba when HGB dros below 11. Some Dr's wait until mid 9's., some do not reduce at all and wait until less than 8.5 ( it happens sometimes) and then halt the Riba for up to but no longer than 14 days.

My Dr reduced me at week 3 from 1200 to 1000 and never were able to get me back up due to anemia. I take procrit 40,000 iu/mL per week.
One can take 600 mg riba daily and still svr. Inf can be reduced to 135 mg and still svr.
Hope for the best...:)

As far as crossing the street, that's common, too. Inf makes you kookoo and foggy, plus the anemia doesn't help.

I heard of a couple who tx'd together on SOC and they went for a drive. Neither could remember a) where they lived, or b) how to figure out or how to get home from where they were.

Glad you are safe!!!

a1napadude 05/27/2012

Dropped my Riba dose, was undie at the time. RELAPSED six weeks after tx.
Sorry but that is the truth.

deleted_user 05/27/2012

Still on the same dose when I started. I am in week 16

deleted_user 05/27/2012

Yep thats pretty bad too ya might have me beat on that one hahhaa

Cloudguard 05/27/2012

My problem was taking too much, my schedule was riba in the morning and then when I came home from work. the morning dose was no problem but after my brain started to shut down I would forget that I had already took my after work dose and I would take it again UGH! it was real bad if I did this on a friday which was my PEG day.

deleted_user 05/28/2012

Hey Napa...:)
Sorry that was your experience. I am sure you are not alone.
I wouldn't wish that on anyone.....

Did you complete your entire tx? I don't remember if you did or didn't.
Gosh, it's been a long time and I don't recall....
Hugs...

deleted_user 05/28/2012

pharaoh88 05/28/2012

Thanks everybody for your opinions and advices.

@jibi
Thanks for the helpful information, I just wanna say that things are a little differenet here, well, really different. For example, HGB normal levels are (11:16.5) and riba is reduced when HGB drops to 10, also the IFN dose is 160 mcg.

Sorry you relapsed, Napa
And thanks for telling me the TRUTH, that's what I wanna know.

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