how come doctors never call interferon chemo? i never had a doc tell me it was chemo. its like they r scared to tell that to hep Cs. when i was sick as fuck i was told "these r big boy drugs". wtf is that supposed to mean. so i did 48wks of chemo. my old boss got interferon for bladder cancer. after my first shot i laid in bed and shook violently for 4hrs. one lady told me she shook for 12hrs straight. do docs think if u know the truth u will refuse their drugs? the USA has the best medical care in the world? for who? doctors and drug companies? and greedy insurance companies?

Cassy - this thread is a hoot but also has some real serious stuff since people DO need to know that Interferon sides are way beyond "feeling flu-ish" - not that I've ever taken it, but no way I ever will either. I'd "let nature take its course" before I'd "slam" that shit into my abdomen - and as if I need to lose even a pound - I already look gaunt - scary skinny. Karmah's post made me laugh, "Is this a trick question?" lol

maldemer's post was a scream - sad but true - very funny, mal - well done, well said.

after all the trouble i had immediately after starting treatment and the fact that my odds were 50/50. had to cut back on the riba and i wasnt clear when i should have been? isnt there a clue that it wasnt going to work and i should wait a while for new drugs? of course there is no money to b made by not treating me. this way they treated me once to no avail and they get to treat me again. sounds like a win win for somebody. but it aint a win win for me. its a lose and maybe win in the future?

I know this is a slightly older tread that got a recent bump but it is kinda fun cass so I want to add my debatably positive side effects.

I got some trippy euphoria in my first weeks with treatment, from the first shot. It slowed time down, colours were brighter, things looked beautiful, trees, bowls of fruit, leafless rosebushes(?), drops of rain, blades of grass etc... I believe it had a strong effect on my brain. I was on no other meds and my mental state declined as tx continued, the time slowing down part was awful later on.

A couple of people told me that it would clear up any cancer that might be starting in me. oh Joy

My fav one was the lady (Karmah?) who pointed out that Interferon causes teeth loss! I have one crown, that still has to be 'redone" as the Prostho-Dentist poked underneath and noted the tooth underneath was "pulpy" :( and I need an inplant, as the lower back tooths' root "exploded" during my Tx.
But, I have this fantasy/delusion that the synthetic Interferon has trained my bodies natural Interferon to be amazing at responding to flu's, and viruses, and that I am now kind of a Super-Hero(ine) For example, I took a heade ron my bike a couple days ago, landed on my chin, and all I have is a bruise, no road-rash?