First Shot Experiences

2008

Deb

Just wanted to let everyone know that I did my first shot last night. It wasn't bad at all. I've been so nervous for weeks, then when the time came to do it, I was very calm. Amazing! I iced my leg for a couple of minutes, turned my head and the next thing I knew, my husband had given it and it was done. I took a couple of extra strength tylenol (my doc suggested), my normal meds for my neck and back and went to bed. Slept sort of restless, mild chills, itching, and fever. Got up at 6AM, took my temp and it was 100.4. Took some more tylenol and slept for another couple of hours. Been up moving around this am. Feel pretty good. Just the same above symptoms. Just drinking the water, mixed some with gatorade. Oh and running to the bathroom every few minutes.

Thanks to everyone. I hope everyone has a great day. I will keep you posted.

Love,

Deb

Cindy

Hi everyone.

I did my second shot on saturday and while I had more sides than the first one (achey, headache, tired, etc.),all in all it's not as bad as I was expecting.

Carolyn, I know what you mean by leg pain. I am having some pains in arm and leg muscles and also bone pain in leg shins. I was wondering if this was another sx.

I love the voodoo prayer (lol). whatever works eh?

We'll get through this and there is light at the end of the tunnel even if the road there is grey.

Good luck to everyone. Together we can beat this. Stay positive.

Cindy.

Shaun

I took my 1st dose of Riba this morning, and just had my 2nd dose, followed by my 1st injection. The injection was easy..I guess I'll find out soon enough how my body is going to react. Only 47 more to go!

I'll be doing my best to document my journey in my blog, and I will of course be visiting my new friends here!

Hugs to all,

Shaun
http://thebluesaintnews.com

Mandy/Australia

Well it has finally arrived. Day 1 of treatment for my husband Paul.

First shot was at 9.30am which went really well. We spent about an hour and a half at the liver clinic and the nurse was fantastic. He did it himself and no problems. So far nothing apart from a mild headache has bothered him.

He had his Riba with tea tonight at 7pm and has been drinking lots of water and pretty much put in a "normal" day. Appetite has been fine and all he has commented on is feeling a little bit cold.

It is early days yet and who knows tomorrow could be very different. But so far it is very positive. It is funny - we kept waiting thinking something would happen - LOL - but nothing has.

So taking it day by day and will keep you posted on how the next few days go

Take care

Serenity

Well, Well, Well,

Round 1 -- I am 15 hours post 1st shot and thus far no side effects. All the positive energy and well wishes from you all and my friends off the net is working. Let's keep it up!!!!!!!!

Round 2 -- I just had breakfast and took my first dose of Riba. I'll keep you posted.

Peace and Blessings,

Serenity

Humbledheart

I just started last night. Took a tylenol and benadryl an hour before the injection like my doctor told me. I had a friend over who is a nurse help me. It was nine at night. Also had another single friend spent the night. The shot was fine. my friend and I talked till about eleven. Then I started feeling a little hot. I went to bed. I did wake up sometime in the night with a weird headache and neckache. I took another tylenol and went back to sleep. I woke up feeling fine. I took a tylenol to prevent anything from happening. I also had some hot flashes but nothing serious. I'm going to take a tylenol before I fall asleep tonight to maybe prevent a headache. I think the key for me is to sleep through the night. I am going to knock on some wood now.

Bette

My first shot went sooo much easier than I expected it to. The day before I went to the GI's office to learn how to enject myself. I did not take my meds so the nurse let me practice with saline. I did two practice shots there in the office so I knew what to expect. The first saline shot I took squirted back out the tiny hole the needle made. I told the nurse I was leaking! She said it sometimes happened not to worry about it. This helped alot. The first real shot I did at home at 10pm on a tuesday. I took my ribavirin, tylonol and benedryl at the same time and went straight to bed. I was told that the more reaction I got from the shot the better chance I had that it was working. The next morning I woke after 9 hours sleep feeling no different than I had the night before. I was sooo disappointed and worried for weeks that it was not working. I finally had a nasty flu like reaction after my 7th shot. And now 15 shots down I am UD. This is doable

Bette

Anne-Marie

Thank you for directing me to the message board, it has taught me a lot and given me great comfort already!

My first shot, I took at around 2:00pm at my doctors office. I didn't take any tylenol ahead of time, or benadryll for that matter. I had to drive 2 and a half hours to my doctors, and then drive some more to get home. My husband came with me for the trip.

Around 9pm that night I became very achey and developed a horrendous headache, I also got the chills. I took a tylenol at that time and felt relief almost immediately. I thought that considering what could have happened, I got off easy!!

I have been back to the chat room a few times since that first night but nobody is there when i go in. Is there a schedule?? Or a certain time of day that I could try ??

(Anne)

Anne-Marie

Tony

Oct 07

Hey all! I'm back. I was having some serious computer problems and I shy away from sending emails about this stuff out from work. I still have some graphics problems on my computer but its no big deal. Things seem to be up and running again. I also have been working 3 jobs to get more financially stable before starting tx. We just refinanced to consolidate debt. so we could be in a better place this year if I cant work as much.

Well its 10:12 am. I just received a huge box in the mail. Thought it might be full of money or chocolate but I was disappointed. It's full of needles, pills, and other unpleasantness.

I go to the RN for training today. I take my first shot at 3 pm. I take my first riba at dinner. I put the peg in the fridge. I hope it doesn't freeze. My fridge gets really cold. I am very nervous about sides. I guess we will see.

Drop me a line and let me know how everyone has been. I need to catch up. The journey begins today!

Love and Prayers to all!

Just dropping in real quick to say hi! I'm still feeling like I have the worst flu in the world. I guess everybody here can relate. I actually feel a little worse today than yesterday. Oh well, I'm here for the long haul.

Thanks for everyone's replies! The fever subsided in the middle of the night on Friday. I woke up drenched in sweat. Since then it has been a light, constant nausea. I have also had a real achy feeling in my legs and shoulders. I've also been a little itchy but that could be from the cold weather. 48 weeks. Seems so far away. Yeah, I'm working. It will probably help me through tx. Keep me occupied. The shifts are long, its just the nature of the line of work I'm in. I'm gonna take the kids to an air show. I'll touch base with everyone when I get back.

Love and Prayers,

TT
Hey all!

Second shot is in. Believe it or not I feel alot better this week. Just really tired with a sore throat that I've had from the beginning. I also have some inflamed areas in my mouth but it's nothing I can't deal with. All and all this week is better than the last.

Sorry I haven't emailed the past few days. I've been bordering on lethargic when I get home from work. I have had some of the deepest sleeps lately. I hope all is well with everyone. You are all in my prayers.

Love and Prayers,

Schuder

Oct 2007

Hello All, did my first shot last night, have known since sept 2003 that i had the virus,was given a blood transfusion in 1986 after giving birth to my daughter which is apparently where i got hep c. Had a physical in 2003 where liver function test kept coming back elevated. Did a biopsy showed min damage, grade 1 stage 2 or vice versa, geno 1. The fatigue is my major symptom along with joint pain, i have been so scared of doing tx, read everything about the sides and was scared i wouldn't be able to work. My first shot wasnt bad, some diarrhea, headache, nothing major, been drinking the water so maybe that helped. So glad to see that others are starting this journey with me, everyone here seems to know what to do for the sides, etc. Just think only 47 more to go!!

Second Shot:

I did second shot last nite, sides were shivering for several hours and headaches, for first shot which my daughter gave me, she thinks may have given .3 instead for .5 for the peg, will that make a big difference? Really wiped out today, didnt sleep well, also both times got pain in shoulder. All in all hasnt been too bad, i cracked a tooth and reading over posts see where you shouldnt go to dentist, but dont know if can hold on for 46 weeks. i have put off treatment for several years, but decided to just give it a try, my main reason for delaying treatment was scared would lose job, i missed 3 days last week, but plan to go monday, they agreed not to assign overtime, had to get doctors note for that. Were most of you able to work while on tx? Missing a few days a month would be ok, but i do need to work. So glad i found this site, lots of good info. give for blood work thur, then 2 wks later see doctor. waiting for results from bood work is so horrible, thanks to all, im sure I'll continue to visit here while on tx, the journey has just begun, only 46 to go!

Continue reading about Schuder on our message boards

Roy

What meds Pegasus.

I put off taking my first copegasus pills till the following day. From what I have been reading the pills are more the culprit for sides and I was very nervous.

I took the shot at home, self injection.

The first surprising thing was that I could hardly feel the injection and didn’t even know that the needle was in all the way. Then my neurotic tendencies kicked in, and I worried that I may have inserted the needle too shallowly and conjured up many mildly catastrophic effects that inserting the needle too shallowly could cause, none of which I’m sure are even realistic. That night I prepped for the worse, extra blankets and bucket. Before turning in I watched TV felt tingly at random places, took Excedrin PM which btw has more Benedryl than the Benedryl tabs I have. Got a little cold and when I got up at night and was mildly disoriented probably from the PM meds. Was spacey and tired the next day, again this could be attributable to the PM meds though after my 2nd shot I pretty much laid around all day Sat and slightly increased my activity level Sun.

Good luck everyone. Will be taking my third shot Fri
Roy

Roy,
I had the same experience as you-
I gave myself the injection and wondered if I had really stuck it in all the way because I couldn't feel anything!
I take pegasys and copegus also.
I was happily surprised that I didn't feel very much, kind of a dizziness but that might have been all the pent up anxiety.
I take my 3rd shot this Thursday. It sounds like we are doing this together!
Hope it continues to go well for you.
Wisteria

Matt

Hey all,

Just a note to say that the first shot is in the belly. Did it last night at 10:00 and it went off without a hitch. So far, so good. When I woke up this morning I was, heck still am a little bit achey, ok maybe more than a little bit achey, but not anything that terrible. And I am reallllly chilllly. I just went and checked the thermometer and it says that it is 76 in here and I have on 2 long sleeve shirts. These Sx verrrry manageable(?) . I thank the Big Guy Upstairs for these blessings. And I'll keep sending the good words for all of us on J&F.

Later MXM

Sue

Hi!
I take Ribavirin and Pegasys.
My first shot was at home on Independence Day! I took a Tylenol and did my shot right before I went to sleep.
I woke up in the middle of the night, thought I would have a headache, I didn't. I took another Tylenol and slept through the rest of the night!
The next day I was tired and a felt a little nausea. I ate some toast and felt better, just tired and weak.
I had been so scared that it was going to be awefull. I wish I hadn't wasted so much energy stressing over it!
Smiles, Sue

Kat

Hi all! Well I did my first shot last night. I took a tylenol before and 1 after then a sleeping pill. Drank 84 ozs of water yesterday and ate something before the pills and the shot. Slept from 11:00-4:00, got up, went potty and back to bed until 7. I have a mild headache, a little queeziness and achy. All in all it wasn't as bad as I expected. Am now feeling kinda yucky, temp of 99.9. Am going to take another tylenol and go back to bed for awhile. Thank you all for your support and encouragement. I will slay this beast with help from all of you! Luv and hugs, Kat

Hello again to all of you! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I think I spoke a little too soon! I started feeling a little worse as the day goes on. Constant headache, achy achy, fever comes and goes. I didnt have the energy to email you all separately, so doin it all in one post! I sleep for 3 or 4 hours, get up and drink water and wander aimlessly around and go back to bed. How long do you think I will feel like this? Please don't say until my next shot! I hope I can have at least 1 or two good days! Thanks for the advice on the power ade or gatorade. Will pick some up if I ever get out of this house again. Back to bed my friends! Luv you all! Selles, its so good to see you on the board again. You have been so missed and I am happy to meet you once again! Janann, love you my friend!

34456.1

Beth

Hi all - I wanted to post in here for those people that did not know I decided to treat..

I did shot#1 on the 24th - peg redipen with 800 riba

It was pretty bad - I got pain in my knees and joints like I never felt in my entire life, but I feel okay now..I just have to wait around now and see how much my blood counts drop...

I'm a gentype 1A but they said if I clear at week 4 I will only do 24 weeks so I am hoping for that to happen..

*the dip*

Marie

I am Geno-1a stage and grade 1. I contracted this disease from a blood transfusion 25 years ago. I take Schering Peg-Intron and Rebetol. Tonight will be my 13th tx. My first tx was quite different, here is my journal entry:

April 22, 2005 Treatment one the Exorcism/Slaying the Dragon.
I took tx at 10pm all seemed well until around 3:30am. At this time, I woke up with a high fever, 103, with chills teeth chattering and then rigors. My whole body jerked uncontrollably, similar to some one having a seizure but aware of what is going on. My husband weighs 250 and I almost shoved him out of the bed, hence he refers to it as the exorcism. I had excruciating pain all weekend and I paged the Nurse, she called in migraine, muscle, and joint pain meds. I had a very fatigued week and worked. Pain was a 10+. I began to feel the fog lift around Wednesday and then when Thursday night came I began to get depressed about taking tx again.

That was my worst tx, however, I have migraines, am constantly fatigued and I have some nausea. I went today to get blood work to see if tx is working. I will know sometime next week. It will all be worth it if it is working...not complaining just reporting...
Good luck to everyone and I hope no one else has the same 1st experience.
Hugs,

Scat

First let me say, this is such a great site! Lots of info & support. I am a 1a, Stage 1 known 4 yrs, FINALLY got the nerve to do my 1st Pegasys inj. last nite. True the apprehension is one of the worst parts. Took the Ribasphere this a.m. w/breakfast. Took 1000mg acetaminophen & an Ambien & went to bed. Slept through till storm woke me. Felt like I had been steam rolled. Fatigue, headache, foggy headed, achey. Low grade nausea after the Riba. sipping tea (Red Zinger) & eating lite snacks helps. Just like when I was pregnant w/my kids it helped to fight off nausea with frequent lite snacks. Feel little better than this a.m. Feels kinda like feeling very tired but having too much caffiene to sleep.

Kinda of what I expected. I expect sides to lessen. Keep praying they will be minimal enough not to interfere with concentration & energy to work. Good luck to everyone on their treatment. I want to kick this virus' butt!

Russ

I first want to thank everyone who has contributed to this web site. I was diagnosed with HCV type 1b back in Sept 2001. I contracted the virus thru blood transfusion back in the mid-70’s. I was lucky as not to have any of the symptoms of HCV but it was detected through my physical when I turned 40. At the time my viral load was 700K but due to insurance purposes I had to wait on my treatment. Over the past few years I have read book after book, searched the internet for treatment, success rates and possible alternatives. During my searches on the internet I came across this web site and I have to say, THANK YOU.

Very few times was I able to find stories of success from treatment, until I found this web site which gave me hope and encouragement.

Now that I have insurance and a company that is willing to support me through treatment I had returned to the Dr’s for a follow-up exam and my viral load was now at 1.5M, but I still didn’t have any symptoms.

I have to say, with much anxiety I FINALLY started treatment (Peg-alpha interferon and 1000mg daily Ribavirin) and took my first shot last evening (Friday at 5pm) at the doctor’s office. I decided to have the shot at the office so that I wouldn’t lay in bed and wonder when the side effects were going to start and what they were going to be. I had minor chills which started about 3 hours after the shot with a headache (headache was the worse part). The chills changed to minor sweats. Taking some Tylenol PM at 3am I was able to get some sleep. Even this morning I was “waiting” for more side effects, but I have felt fine. From the advice of my Dr I took it easy today but found myself bored silly.

From the information I read on this site, I increased my water intake to a gallon a day before treatment which I think helped with minimal side effects. I’ve been keeping the fluids going all day today.

Even though I am new to the site, I have to thank you for the information and support I have received through this site of VERY useful web site.

To do what I can do to make my treatment successful I will be seeing a Nutritionist specializes with HCV patients. I will see and anyone else that will improve my odds.

I’m going to do what ever it takes to beat this monster !!!

Thanks again for this web site !!!

Russ

Jackie

Hi its Jackie and shot number 2 last night and I was better this time than last, but I almost forgot to take the Riba....ollolo last week when I started my first shot I was not on the pills yet I started them the next day,and I was more nervous taking the pills than the shot the next day. But I go over it all and took the pills an hr later after my shot. I found it hard this week with my kids home setting a time for the pills. Once back to school I will get more on track. I try to take the pills between 9 and 10 Am and Pm. And my shot is at 9PM on friday nights. I have more bone pain than normally and the acid reflux has been a struggle, especially after I eat. Even if its bland as can be I get the hiccups and then the burning feeling in my throat. So I hope the Tums will help and I also got some Ginger last night so i will try that in hot water when it acts up again.Thanks again for the inspiration to keep going. 46 more weeks to go UGH!!! But I'll do it got to beat this Dragon that got its grip on me.....Take Care Jackie

HepCat

Took my 1st shot last Nov. Took me two years to decide on tx, so the first shot was a big commitment, obviously. Peg-intron redi-pen. Did it myself, at home. After I did the first shot I immediately felt great, very up, like all the fears were gone and I was actually glad to get going on tx, and really enthusiastic about it. I woke up in the middle of the night with fairly heavy chills and fevers--like the flu. Was shaking pretty good. Kept me awake for a while. In the morning, I thought, "hey, if that's all it is, no problem, I can do this!" Only once since have the 'night of the shot' side effects been that strong. I almost never wake up anymore from the shot. I usually feel the sides more the next afternoon, and the next following day is also usually a bit challenging. Then it gets better as the days go by.

IMHO, the first one is the hardest, but more from the fear of the unknown than anything else, at least for me. It is just a matter of habit now, the shot itself is no biggie whatsoever. Piece of cake.

My cat, for some odd reason, is crazy about the big safety caps that cover the needles on the redipen. (these are no danger to her, btw) Somehow (I swear) she knows when it is shot night and meows until I throw the needle cap for her. She chases it all over the house, batting it around like it was a mouse. Strange, but cute. Happens every week. :)

ahepcat

plugginalong

My meds are Pegasys and Copegus. My first shot was done at my Mds office. I have been extremely ill from this virus for over a year and I had to talk my Mds into letting me do treatment. They were afraid since I was so sick already that treatment may not be good. I was so sick I didn't care, I want to kill it. After my first shot I noticed my tongue burned and my arm ached alot. The horrid horrid flu feeling and utter exhaustion stayed the same, thank goodness I didn't get sicker.
I am happy to report that I am beginning to actually feel a little better. Just a hair, but I seem to be heading in the right direction, thank goodness. Saw my Md this week and they were actually giddy with the news. They were so afraid for me when I started. I do shot 6 today. This virus has been destroying my body for 46 years now and I am so glad that they finally found out why and we are killing the virus now. My Mds believe I was feeling so sick because my immune system was in over drive and trying to kill the virus. Just wanted to share this so anyone else who is already sooo sick from this virus
can learn from my experiences. It's amazing how sick this virus can make you after having it in your body for so long. I will keep on fighting and I WILL get my life back.

Debbie

Scherings Pegintron (5ml) and Riba(1200mg)

My first shot was Oct 2002..even though its 110 shots ago I still remember it like it was yesterday. Went to Dr to have him do it and my son came with me and drove me home. I remember having a horrible headache. It felt like my head was "tight"....I took 2 tylenol and went right home to bed. (And have been in bed ever since lol kidding)....It wasn't as bad as I thought. The 2nd shot I was still scared and went to a friends house from a nearby support group. She had injected her husband who had caught hep c from a hospital during an operation. She led me through it and I did it:)

What Med(s) did you do?
I started out with Pegintron and Reb...cleared all 48 weeks. But it came back 3 weeks later. (Im 1a with cirrhosis)...Took 5 weeks off and started on Pegasys and Copegus, which I'm now on. (week 58).Im going for 72 and will be done June 12th.
I do my shot the same time every week. (Sunday at 9) I take 2 xtra str Tylenol an hour before shot and thats it. I take my pills the same time every day 7am and 7 pm. I also keep them in my pill box.
I take Zoloft and I recommend it to anyone.
Its normal to be scared but you'll also find strength you never knew you had.

I did my first shot of Pegasus Feb. 15th with my nurse. She showed me how to do it a few times and then I did it myself, while she supervised. I was shaking & a bit scared. But it was much easier than I expected. I am also taking 1000 mg Riba. I am geno 1a > no fibrosis treating for cryoglobulemia.

I felt some mild flu like sx about 6 hrs. later. I took some childrens benadryl to help me sleep. I woke up with a headache, but felt better. it was much easier than I had anticipated.

Three days into tx I experienced very bad neurological pain in my feet, ankles & legs. ( I believe this is related to the cryo )

My 2nd shot was Feb. 21st and I had even milder sx than the 1st shot. I am still having the leg pains, but not as bad. I stay off my feet as much as possible and that helps.

I know there will be good days & bad. But all and all tx is totally doable and I am glad that I started.

The fist time on pegintron the nurse said bring you meds with you.When I got to the ofice she said are you ready to do our shot?I said well I thought you were just gonna show me how,she said nope your doing it now lol

The Pegasys I did at home at 10 PM everyyhing with the pegasys is 10 for the shots 10 Am and PM for pills that way its easy for me to remember

How did you feel afterwards?
I can't really remember how the pegintron was was kinda rough though
My fist shot of pegasys went well I kinda felt like I had the flu the next day. After that I fought nausia for a few weeks which has abated. I just kept my house really warm because i was chilled for a while after that. I'm in week 7 now feeling pretty good most of the time .Dealing with some eye dryness. I drink a gallon of water a day and Gatorade if I slack off on the water I definitely feel it the next day. Hope this helps