Sorry to say Clay B but yes it doesn't get much better.
Just toughen up and plow through it. 12 weeks will
go by quick. Drink your water!!! Try and sleep as
much as you can.

How often are they drawing labs?
Please keep your doctor informed of sides & severity.
Yes, keep drinking fluids, you may dehydrate more easily now and that causes symptoms.
I need to go back & see what you are taking...

Can't see....guessing inf & riba &?

For me, the interferon was a big issue the 1st few weeks and then the sides from that lessened as I got use to it. It is not cumulative though so don't expect that to get worse. I did 8 months of that once upon a time and am now about to do shot 4 of 16 tomorrow.

Riba is cumulative though and the fatigue that went with it was also cumulative. It can be very difficult to tell which drug is causing which side since multiple drugs are involved and it sometimes is the combination that causes the issues

I could not see what drugs you are on, other then your reference to Interferon and Riba is a combination drug with that one, so I only commented on those.

I am also doing Sovaldi right now as well.

Good Luck!!!!

I'm on RIBA, Inf, and Sovaldi. 12 weeks.
I have a dietician on had thru my work and I am on a strict nutrition plan. High fiber, high protein. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies.
Water, on average day I take on 100 oz.
I make myself get some activity/exercise daily. I've been walking about a half
To one mile each evening regardless of how I feel. I make myself be active and not just lay around but when I feel the need I don't hesitate to sleep. Slept 5 hours Saturday afternoon/evening. Got up, ate something, drink some water and went back to bed. Felt much better sounds but not normal.
I will survive this, I will not allow it (the drugs and the virus) to control me. I was just sort of curious of the cumulative effects.
Thanks for all your input. Greatly appreciated

My best suggestion, is don't anticipate sides, take each day on its own merit. There will be ups&downs. Seems you are doing the right things and are very conscientious

Hi Clay.
Glad to see you've started. I'm one of the 48 weekers, with incivek, & I survived.

I found that the flu-like symptoms lessened or went away after a couple of months, but I became anemic after 3 or 4 months & was really, REALLY tired, and winded at the slightest thing. But my hgb was down to 7.2 or something like that.

I think your body does adjust somewhat to the meds, but the beginning was the worst for me. With the anemia I just layed on the couch & spent my time here on DS or resting. I took short walks when I could - but it's important to listen to your body. Sounds like you're being pretty smart in that dept.

Good luck & God bless.

So Clay we are on the same regime, except I get to do 16 weeks, Lucky me!

Diet and exercise are key! Keep eating well and pushing through. Sitting back and doing nothing but contemplating how bad you feel only make you feel worse, which you seem to have already learned.

As for which drugs do what this is my take.

If you are feverish, have chills, the shakes and fatigue it is Interferon

If you are experiencing brain fog, exhaustion, speeding, muscle aches and rash, it is Riba

If you can't sleep and have "Ice Cream" style headaches, it is Sovaldi.

If you are experiencing the constant medicated hum, the it is all of them.......

Good Luck, you are lucky not to have to do this for a year!

Hydron, my doctor told me 12 weeks but I have and extra refill of all three drugs should he see need and I guess that is based on my lab results as we go thru.
While the weekends are a bitch, it is the brain fog that is the hardest to deal with. I am director of a non profit and my work keeps me busy 24/7/365 and my attempting I focus on tasks can be difficult. Just got out of a teleconference meeting for a state association and our association director had to pick up for me because I lost track or focus in mid sentence. Fortunately everyone knows what is goin on and are very supportive.

Everyone EVERYONE has a different experience and many folks reported a plateau where they adjusted to the sides and were able to soldier on. many folks that were here did it more than once(48 weeks). Some did it three times!!. I could not make it past 12 weeks and the Dr. stopped as I was suffering more damage than the virus.
Keep on Clay. If you are getting a good virus response you will be happy to get the pay off of HCV free!

..and by the way it has nothing to do with how tough you are or how much you pray. It's all about your genetic profile and what the drugs can "get to and do" in there. :)

IMK, thank you, thank you, thank you!

Magical thinking doesn't make it happen. A positive attitude gets you through it, but it doesn't make the medicine work if your genetics, health, ethnic group, race are not conducive.
IMK & I know - we had high hopes & gave it everything we had. Those meds didn't do it for us but solvaldi is looking very good!
Right on IMK! many hugs

The brain fog is the worst right after the shot (1st couple days)

I couldn't even read a simple document for my son online when he was buying a house and I felt so stupid as he directed me thru it.

It was HO ins and I am an expert, but I could not concentrate. I always felt my best after 4 days....

You have to do 12 weeks and be happy everyone knows, it sure helps a lot!! I stayed quiet and that is WORST thing to do!!

Good luck

I agree, Love, its better to talk about it. Sometimes people are afraid of bringing others down if thy share about sides. I think we help each other, we're not alone, and can share tips on getting through it or have fun with a group vent!

12 weeks is very doable. I did 32 weeks, which was no picnic. I think the sides built up over time personally as others have also posted. My body was not going to do 48 weeks. I was done. My sides didn't start getting really, really bad until week 17. Anyway no more interferon for me again but I wish you all well that are doing it or that need to.

Like Ozzie said, water and sleep.