The side effects from the Victrellis so far are very mild:
- some mild nausea that passes quickly, a bit of indigestion-like discomfort;
- a slight taste in my mouth;
- slightly increased side effects from the interferon - tiredness and fever.
I would say that I feel a bit better in some ways; less agitated, warmer - that my circulation has improved.
I have taken every dose so far with a glass of milk and one of the breakfast biscuits.
I feel very lucky and relieved to be getting away with it so lightly so far.
Off to the shop now to buy ingredients for making more biscuits...
Showing posts with label day 1. Show all posts
Showing posts with label day 1. Show all posts
Saturday, 30 March 2013
Saturday, 2 March 2013
8. 2 March 2013 - Fine so far
I am really pleased with how well I've felt since I took the first doses. I know it's very early yet.
The injection pen for the interferon is great! It didn't hurt at all.
I have been a bit achey. All the usual aches and pains - in my hip, in my feet - are amplified. I took a couple of ibuprofen last night as it was stopping me getting to sleep, but it's not a problem.
I woke in the night twice, and couldn't get back to sleep for a couple of hours the second time. My relaxation CDs didn't send me off as they usually do. My brain was too busy and I was hot. However, thinking about my perfect bathroom layout seemed to do the job, so I'm not that tired today as I could sleep in, it being a Saturday.
I think I will try and take the ribavirin earlier, about 4pm rather than with dinner at 7pm, as I've heard that can help with sleeping through.
Saturday mornings are Tai Chi. I went this morning as usual, and enjoyed it just as usual.
I've got enough energy to do the cleaning, sadly.
The injection pen for the interferon is great! It didn't hurt at all.
I have been a bit achey. All the usual aches and pains - in my hip, in my feet - are amplified. I took a couple of ibuprofen last night as it was stopping me getting to sleep, but it's not a problem.
I woke in the night twice, and couldn't get back to sleep for a couple of hours the second time. My relaxation CDs didn't send me off as they usually do. My brain was too busy and I was hot. However, thinking about my perfect bathroom layout seemed to do the job, so I'm not that tired today as I could sleep in, it being a Saturday.
I think I will try and take the ribavirin earlier, about 4pm rather than with dinner at 7pm, as I've heard that can help with sleeping through.
Saturday mornings are Tai Chi. I went this morning as usual, and enjoyed it just as usual.
I've got enough energy to do the cleaning, sadly.
Friday, 1 March 2013
7. 1 March 2013 - First day of treatment
Today has been a bit of a non-event, after the long build up. It's 6pm and I'm yet to take any medicine.
My appointment with the nurse was at 10.30, but I didn't see him until 11.45, and didn't get out of the appointment until 12.30.
The nurse was very helpful, knowledgeable and professional, but seemed down-beat. Generally I got the impression that all is not well at the hospital, and staff are demotivated, that maybe the leadership isn't very good.
The nurse threw me completely at the end of the appointment by - after we'd gone through all the medication, using the injection pen, managing side effects, the lot - bringing up the prospect of not doing the triple therapy and going on a clinical trial starting in May instead. The consultant had written a note on my file saying that I'd probably qualify and the new drug might give me a better chance of clearing the virus. The nurse also thought the trial might be a shorter treatment. So he called the clinical research team and they weren't about, and then the clinic head, and she wasn't available, so I left the appointment not knowing whether I was going to do the treatment or not. He said to carry on as if I was, and he'd call me in the afternoon with more information on the trial.
So it was off to the pharmacy to collect my prescription of four weeks Ribavirin and Interferon; and then for blood tests.
The blood tests were much quicker than usual. Sometimes my blood is reluctant to go into the vials, but I'd been to the gym in the morning, and took water with me and kept hydrated, and the blood tests were no trouble at all. I didn't feel dizzy or faint afterwards either, so I'll try that again. I did go for coffee and cake after the appointment anyway though, as I had promised myself, and it's important to keep promises (any excuse for cake).
The nurse called whilst I was eating said cake, and told me the clinical trial would start in August, not May, and I might not get on it, and it might be 48 weeks treatment length anyway, so I've decided to go ahead with the current triple therapy. I've decided to assume it's going to work, with the vitamin D3 supplements as well. I'll take my first 2 Ribavirin with dinner and have my first injection this evening. I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.
I've bought coloured stickers, to stick in my diary to keep track of every drugs dose I take. The pharmacy won't give out the weekday drug trays for Hep C treatment. Apparently the level of cognitive impairment isn't severe enough.
I've been feeling a bit feverish the past few days, like I felt when I first got Hep C. I've been wondering whether it's because of the vitamin D3, that my immune system has kicked up a gear already in fighting the virus.
Promises I have made to myself, to stick to throughout the treatment:
- I will always moisturise my skin after every bath and shower;
- I will drink at least 2.2 litres of water every day;
- I'm going to try and feel as well as I can. I'll take paracetamol, and any other palliative medicines to manage the side effects and make it as easy as possible. (Last time I was guilty of not tackling the side-effects as I felt that feeling worse meant that the treatment was working better.)
- I will body brush once a week (may help remove toxins?)
My appointment with the nurse was at 10.30, but I didn't see him until 11.45, and didn't get out of the appointment until 12.30.
The nurse was very helpful, knowledgeable and professional, but seemed down-beat. Generally I got the impression that all is not well at the hospital, and staff are demotivated, that maybe the leadership isn't very good.
Information the nurse confirmed:
- I'll be doing 48 weeks treatment, as a prior non-responder.
- My chances of clearing the virus are about 30%.
- If the interferon freezes in the fridge I need to get it replaced (our fridge is temperamental).
- I'll be going back for more blood tests in two weeks, then for blood tests and the next clinic in three-and-a-half weeks.
- I can take up to 2000mg of paracetamol a day safely.
- They have access to a psychiatric team, if I get really depressed.
- I am likely to get brain fog, cognitive impairment, because of the interferon, which he thinks will probably effect my work.
- They don't give epoetin/procrit for managing anaemia, except as a short term rescue to allow continuation of the treatment. Generally they reduce ribavirin as a first step, because the epoetin is expensive.
- I have to be very assertive about checking that any other medicine prescribed to me whilst I'm on the treatment is not contraindicated. E.g. some antibiotics could cause serious problems when combined with Boceprevir, and not all GPs are familiar with the new drugs.
The nurse referred me to www.drugs.com to check any interactions. I checked the contraceptive I take for endometritis, and it is contraindicated, as it might be reduced in concentration and effectiveness and might not be a reliable contraceptive. I don't think that will be an issue for the endometritis though? I'll ask my GP. I know to use two other methods of contraception to prevent pregnancy on the treatment.
The nurse threw me completely at the end of the appointment by - after we'd gone through all the medication, using the injection pen, managing side effects, the lot - bringing up the prospect of not doing the triple therapy and going on a clinical trial starting in May instead. The consultant had written a note on my file saying that I'd probably qualify and the new drug might give me a better chance of clearing the virus. The nurse also thought the trial might be a shorter treatment. So he called the clinical research team and they weren't about, and then the clinic head, and she wasn't available, so I left the appointment not knowing whether I was going to do the treatment or not. He said to carry on as if I was, and he'd call me in the afternoon with more information on the trial.
So it was off to the pharmacy to collect my prescription of four weeks Ribavirin and Interferon; and then for blood tests.
The blood tests were much quicker than usual. Sometimes my blood is reluctant to go into the vials, but I'd been to the gym in the morning, and took water with me and kept hydrated, and the blood tests were no trouble at all. I didn't feel dizzy or faint afterwards either, so I'll try that again. I did go for coffee and cake after the appointment anyway though, as I had promised myself, and it's important to keep promises (any excuse for cake).
The nurse called whilst I was eating said cake, and told me the clinical trial would start in August, not May, and I might not get on it, and it might be 48 weeks treatment length anyway, so I've decided to go ahead with the current triple therapy. I've decided to assume it's going to work, with the vitamin D3 supplements as well. I'll take my first 2 Ribavirin with dinner and have my first injection this evening. I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.
I've bought coloured stickers, to stick in my diary to keep track of every drugs dose I take. The pharmacy won't give out the weekday drug trays for Hep C treatment. Apparently the level of cognitive impairment isn't severe enough.
I've been feeling a bit feverish the past few days, like I felt when I first got Hep C. I've been wondering whether it's because of the vitamin D3, that my immune system has kicked up a gear already in fighting the virus.
Promises I have made to myself, to stick to throughout the treatment:
- I will always moisturise my skin after every bath and shower;
- I will drink at least 2.2 litres of water every day;
- I'm going to try and feel as well as I can. I'll take paracetamol, and any other palliative medicines to manage the side effects and make it as easy as possible. (Last time I was guilty of not tackling the side-effects as I felt that feeling worse meant that the treatment was working better.)
- I will body brush once a week (may help remove toxins?)
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