Side effects

[Guest guest]

What is SVR?

However, I'm really beginning to see lots of people with 1b

> who are having a SVR with Pegasys and ribavirin, even those who

> didn't respond to other treatments!

[Guest guest]

HI.Darkle circles under your eyes?.hmm.you.re not even married yet.Willem.

Re: side effects

I've been in treatment 30 weeks (Pegasys and Ribavarinn) and the only side

I've had that is listed below are the dark circles under my eyes...and it blew

out my thyroid which we regulate with Synthroid.

Sides aren't standard...they vary from person to person. The key is to drink

lots and lots of water, eat low fat foods stay away from red meats, etc. and

eat high grain foods. I work full time, volunteer two nights a week and other

than collapsing on Saturdays for a day of sleep, I've been doing just fine.

I take supplements, avoid stress and drum fo stay centered. I also stay

positive.

I'll try to remember this on the weekend and send you the vitamins and herbs

that I take. Can barely keep my eyes open tonight...

Tatezi

Symptoms include crushing fatigue...exhaustion, depression, very mild

flu-like symptoms that seem to get a little better after getting lots of

rest only to

return as soon as you get tired again. Mild fever, chills, body aches. Ashen

or yellow complexion, dark circles under the eyes, red palms, possible

abdominal swelling, (almost spelled it abdominable) LOL. Elevated

liver enzymes on liver panel test (alt and ast). This is the most conclusive

signal until the actual test for hep is run.

[Guest guest]

HI.Darkle circles under your eyes?.hmm.you.re not even married yet.Willem.

Re: side effects

I've been in treatment 30 weeks (Pegasys and Ribavarinn) and the only side

I've had that is listed below are the dark circles under my eyes...and it blew

out my thyroid which we regulate with Synthroid.

Sides aren't standard...they vary from person to person. The key is to drink

lots and lots of water, eat low fat foods stay away from red meats, etc. and

eat high grain foods. I work full time, volunteer two nights a week and other

than collapsing on Saturdays for a day of sleep, I've been doing just fine.

I take supplements, avoid stress and drum fo stay centered. I also stay

positive.

I'll try to remember this on the weekend and send you the vitamins and herbs

that I take. Can barely keep my eyes open tonight...

Tatezi

Symptoms include crushing fatigue...exhaustion, depression, very mild

flu-like symptoms that seem to get a little better after getting lots of

rest only to

return as soon as you get tired again. Mild fever, chills, body aches. Ashen

or yellow complexion, dark circles under the eyes, red palms, possible

abdominal swelling, (almost spelled it abdominable) LOL. Elevated

liver enzymes on liver panel test (alt and ast). This is the most conclusive

signal until the actual test for hep is run.

[Guest guest]

<< have a 4 year old and

> am planning on going through this with as few effects as possible>>

I went thru treatment while my grandsons lived with me. They were 3 and 2 at the

time. I watched them while my daughter worked. Often it was exasperating but

they are what kept me moving, and loving. They gave me endless hugs.

Alley

[Guest guest]

<< have a 4 year old and

> am planning on going through this with as few effects as possible>>

I went thru treatment while my grandsons lived with me. They were 3 and 2 at the

time. I watched them while my daughter worked. Often it was exasperating but

they are what kept me moving, and loving. They gave me endless hugs.

Alley

[Guest guest]

I'm not married yet only because you keep backing out.... <g>

Re: side effects

HI.Darkle circles under your eyes?.hmm.you.re not even married yet.Willem.

[Guest guest]

Love sure does make a difference, doesn't it?

Re: side effects

<< have a 4 year old and

> am planning on going through this with as few effects as possible>>

I went thru treatment while my grandsons lived with me. They were 3 and 2 at

the time. I watched them while my daughter worked. Often it was exasperating but

they are what kept me moving, and loving. They gave me endless hugs.

[Guest guest]

Tammy,

I know some people have said they have had very little side effects, but you

should also hear from the people who were hit by an interferon hurricane. I

too felt I was in good shape prior to starting; I'm a 45 year old female and

have always exercised regularly. I thought with supplements and enought

rest, I could continue at work (24 hour a week non physical job) and get

through treatment.

Well, the first few weeks were HELL. No other words for it. I was so

nauseated I dropped 14 pounds in 2 weeks, I was sleeping 1-2 hours a night,

I had constant joint and muscle pain and fevers, and generally felt like

hell. I was weak and dizzy and shaky all the time. Exercise? HAH! If I went

for a short walk the day after the shot, I had to use a cane. The brain fog

was extensive and frightening. And I'm not even going to mention the minor

sides.

I was lucky I had extended health benefits as there was no way I could

afford the treatment, and moreover, no way I could afford the HUNDREDS of

dollars worth of medications to deal with the side effects.

A lot of the side effects are caused by the ribavarin as much as the

interferon.

It got marginally better after a couple of months, and then I lost the

hearing in my right ear, which may have been due to the interferon, but they

can't say for sure. That is a pretty serious thing to have happen, as it

doesn't look like returning.

After 14 weeks, I cleared the virus and quit treatment. I know the virus

will return, but I want to find out what kind of shape my liver is in before

I resume treatment.I've never had a biopsy and haven't had an ultrasound for

a couple of years. When (and if) I have to go on it, I'm taking a medical

leave from work. No more trying to be the f* & %^#) hero.

I'm sorry to tell you this stuff, but you have to know there is a wide

variety of response and you don't know what end of the scale you'll fall. I

think King said something about hurricanes- they might not happen

but you should move your stuff out of the way just in case. Be prepared for

the worst, and if it doesn't happen, that's GOOD news.

side effects

Well, I went to the doc on Monday and they sucked my blood out for

tests

After the tests results come in they are going to schedule a biopsy

:*(

I will have to go to a rheumatologist before they will start

treatment, because it appears that I also have rheumatoid arthritis.

The doc said that the hep treatments could make that worse, so I have

to talk to that doc and find out what he thinks. (Getting complicated

here)

Anyway, what are the normal side effects to this? He is talking

Pegasys and ribavirin. Are there " normal " side effects or do they

vary greatly from person to person.

Also, is there anything that I can do to help? Diet? Exercise? I will

try anything to make the side effects less. I have a 4 year old and

am planning on going through this with as few effects as possible

Oh, and I got copies of my tests from 3 years ago and my genotype is

1b. I don't have a clue what this other stuff means, so I am going to

assume that I am doing good LOL.

Thanks.

<><TammieD><>

[Guest guest]

congrats Tat,

glad to hear you are doing well on tx and hope you continue that way till

the end

Suzy

_________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

Taking Methotrexate pills? If so, you may have better luck with injections.

And, the Folic Acid helps stop (slow down) any hair loss (along with other

things, too) I just don't know what else, sorry...but, I bet someone here can

say! ;-) Glad you " came out " to type to everyone! Take care! (Va.)

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I had some nausea after my very first dose of MTX as well. Are you taking

folic acid? It keeps most of the side effects at bay. I haven't had any

more nausea since the first dose though and I've been taking it for 9 months

now.

I've noticed that I bruise very easily lately. Does anyone else?

Thanks,

Aprle

[Guest guest]

GKH,

Glad you finally jumped in. Yes, I experienced all of what you describe

while on MTX. I also work full time so I took it Firday night or Saturday

morning. It didn't make me nauseaou but it sure made me sleepy for the

first 12 hours. It also was responsible for horrible intestinal upset which

lasted until about Tuesday evening for me. I could deal with all of those

things but the brain fog was real and devastating. I also didn't take the

folic acid correctly so I became anemic. I never did get a handle on how to

take the folic acid. On the up side it did a terrifc job of calming my

joints and my P cleared up very nicely. I know that doesn't happen for

everybody but I was glad it did for me. I took MTX for a little over a year

and the dose had to be continuously increased until it finally got to where

it could not be increased any more so my doc switched me to Arava and now I

take Arava, Enbrel and prednisone. I'd sure like to be off the prednisone.

Good luck with your learning process on the meds. I also suggest you look

back in the archives as there is a lot of really good information there.

Cheri

[Guest guest]

Hi GKH,

Congrats on the delurk! Folic acid may help with some of your side

effects. Also injecting the MTX rather than taking it orally may

help. Everybody is different, but hopefully by taking it on a weekend

you will feel enough better by Monday to follow your regular work

schedule.

Good Luck with it,

Marti

[Guest guest]

You simply do not want to take MTX without a folic acid supplement. Plug

Folic Acid and MTX into any search engine and all the details about

absorption and deficiency are there. I couldn't take MTX at all even with

Folic Acid. I felt horrible the whole time I was on it. Even after

switching from oral to injecting MTX it still made me miserable and sick as

a dog. I went on Enbrel which has been my miracle drug a with few mild side

effects.

[Guest guest]

Hi,

My husband has rheumatoid arthritis and he was also put on MTX, pill

form , once a week. It made him feel very " creepy " and ill. His

rhumy switched him from the pill form of MTX to the injections ( one

per week). He said he felt

so much better not ill anymore. He is now off MTX decided it was not

helping him so why take it any longer. Good Luck!

a

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I take 10mg MTX per week and 5mg Folic Acid every day except the day I take the

MTX. I find that the day after taking MTX I feel very tired and worn out -

could just fall asleep standing up in a shop for instance - but it's only that

bad for one day. That's really the only side effect I'm getting at the moment

as the Folic Acid helps reduce the side effects of MTX. When I started on MTX I

was only taking 10mg Folic Acid per week and started suffering from mouth

ulcers, tiredness and mild nausea. Your doc will probably increase your dose of

Folic Acid if you mention your problems with fatigue/nausea. You may have to

take MTX for several weeks before noticing any improvement to your PA.

[Guest guest]

GKH,

When I was on MTX I didn't suffer much from side effects thankfully but since my

rheumy had me taking the meds once a week I would always take it on Friday

evening just in case I did not feel well, then I wouldn't miss any work. You

take Folic Acid to help with the side effects plus other stuff that other

members will better be able to describe. I hope you feel better soon!

Axelrod

[Guest guest]

Can anyone tell me the side effects associated with chelation using DSMA and

ALA?

what are the risks involved? how common are risks associated with using these

products?

i believe my pediatrician is going to recoomend this based on his lead coming

back high (really HIGH!!) on his hair test, and andy's counting rules indicate

potential mercury issues. His aluminum was high as well.

i need to stress that while this kid has some issues, they are mild.....i feel

like we need to remove these metals because they can't possibly be good for the

body, right? but i am not trying to recover him or change him.....i just want

htis garbage out.......

one of my best friends is a doctor and she said she was under the impression

that dmsa was very safe for kids.....but knew nothing else.....

i mean, compared to utting your kid on meds and stuff, how risky and

controversial is this?

dennise

gorugallu <gorugallu@...> wrote:

,

Congratulations on your son's recovery! It gives a lot of hope for

all of us.

I see that you are doing Pfieffer's protocal. Is your son under or

over methylator?

Thanks

Geeta

> Hi Jill,

> I do dmsa and ala, sam-e , ala, dmsa, mtp . Thoses are 5 different

> protocols.With all of them I make sure I have filled him up enough

B's,

> C,D.A,zinc, efa's,magnesium, calcium,dmae, dmg, omegazyme,coq10,.

The

> dmsa/ala every 3-4 hours three days on 2 weeks off.Sam-e 2

200mgs a dayfor

> 3 days, ala every 3-4 hours three days on 2 weeks off,dmsa 3 days

every 3-4

> hours then 2 weeks off,mtp-fri, sat, sun once a day.I saw the most

> improvements with the dmsa/ala and the sam-E protocols. My son

told me the

> sam-E made him feel the best of all of them.I think you have to do

trial and

> error because of the children having different systems screwed up

in their

> bodies. We always took 5 steps forward, 3 steps back.....but we

always ended

> up ahead of the horror that was stealing my son .I always knew

that when I

> first saw regression that he would soon make progress especially

when he was

> a toddler.I was almost like a hurdle had to be jumped first.

> R

=======================================================

[Guest guest]

> Can anyone tell me the side effects associated with chelation using

DSMA and ALA?

I have potential side effects on this page

http://www.danasview.net/chelate.htm

For my kids, the only side effect with ALA was yeast.

> what are the risks involved? how common are risks associated with

using these products?

I also have risks on my page above. So far as I know, the risks are

very uncommon.

> i believe my pediatrician is going to recoomend this based on his

lead coming back high (really HIGH!!) on his hair test, and andy's

counting rules indicate potential mercury issues. His aluminum was

high as well.

Consider removing sources of current exposure

http://www.danasview.net/metals.htm

Dana

[Guest guest]

> Can anyone tell me the side effects associated with chelation

using DSMA and ALA?

there are a number of them.

1. the big worrisome one is " worse mercury poisoning " . This is

apparently caused by using the DMSA and/or ALA " not often enough " .

http://home.earthlink.net/~moriam/Andy_dose_sched.html

Also called " mercury redistribution " .

2. TEMPORARY increase in mercury-related symptoms.

3. low neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) is associated

with DMSA. In *rare* cases this can be serious.

4. DMSA: stuffy noses, red cheeks (often) and bloody nose

(uncommon but it has been reported several times)

5. YEAST! This is reported and discussed constantly.

>

> what are the risks involved? how common are risks associated with

using these products?

I would never want you to think I have told you all the risks,

as I'm sure I don't know them all. A couple of risks are:

1. mercury redistribution (same as on list above)

This is why many of us wake up at night to take chelation agents--

to avoid this risk.

2. there is a risk that your child will get significantly better

and your life will change a lot--- and you will very likely

experience a lot of wild emotions, including anger and saddness.

You may become EVEN more " eccentric " in your ideas and " bizarre "

in your avoidance of metals -- in the opinion of some who know

you.

> i believe my pediatrician is going to recoomend this based on his

lead coming back high (really HIGH!!) on his hair test, and andy's

counting rules indicate potential mercury issues. His aluminum was

high as well.

sounds like chelation would be a very reasonable idea.

DMSA works well for lead, but lead takes a long time to chelate.

>

> i need to stress that while this kid has some issues, they are

mild.....i feel like we need to remove these metals because they

can't possibly be good for the body, right?

right....

> but i am not trying to recover him or change him.....i just want

htis garbage out.......

>

> one of my best friends is a doctor and she said she was under the

impression that dmsa was very safe for kids.....but knew nothing

else.....

>

> i mean, compared to utting your kid on meds and stuff, how risky

and controversial is this?

I really really really think this is a matter of wildly varying

opinion. In other words, VERY controversial, but most of the

best things in life are IMO.

good wishes,

Moria

[Guest guest]

Cassandra,

This has kind of happened to me - I just kind of

stopped talking as much. It was wierd. Anyway - I'm

on my way off.

--- Cassandra <cassro1014@...> wrote:

> This past weekend, my hubby pointed out that I don't

> seem interested

> in what he has to say anymore. I don't care about

> what he has to

> say, but I listen. He said that I don't engage him

> anymore. I

> didn't realize I had or hadn't been doing this. I

> don't feel like a

> zombie- but is that how others are seeing me? I am

> just venting I

> guess. I had the feeling that I knew and understood

> me and my

> life. And then little things happen and know I feel

> like I don't

> know much of anything anymore. I don't know what

> is and is not due

> to the lex- but I just know that I feel fine. When

> I don't take Lex

> I am fighting with everyone...so I know it helps

> with that.

> Casey

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Casey-

I am on my second week of Lexapro. The first couple of days I was on

10mg; I was a zombie. My husband was explaining something about a

finance software problem and I was zoned out. I was nodding and

saying " uh-huh " to what sounded mostly to me like " blah-blah-blah " .

I started cutting my dosage in half and taking my Lexapro at night

by the fourth day. Now I seem more alert and less of a zombie. But

what I can't figure out is, whether it's because I'm taking 5mg or

the initial side effects are simply leveling off.

~Sam

> This past weekend, my hubby pointed out that I don't seem

interested

> in what he has to say anymore. I don't care about what he has to

> say, but I listen. He said that I don't engage him anymore. I

> didn't realize I had or hadn't been doing this. I don't feel like

a

> zombie- but is that how others are seeing me? I am just venting I

> guess. I had the feeling that I knew and understood me and my

> life. And then little things happen and know I feel like I don't

> know much of anything anymore. I don't know what is and is not

due

> to the lex- but I just know that I feel fine. When I don't take

Lex

> I am fighting with everyone...so I know it helps with that.

> Casey

[Guest guest]

I already take my meds at night. How long does this pill last in

your system?

Casey

> > This past weekend, my hubby pointed out that I don't seem

> interested

> > in what he has to say anymore. I don't care about what he has

to

> > say, but I listen. He said that I don't engage him anymore. I

> > didn't realize I had or hadn't been doing this. I don't feel

like

> a

> > zombie- but is that how others are seeing me? I am just venting

I

> > guess. I had the feeling that I knew and understood me and my

> > life. And then little things happen and know I feel like I

don't

> > know much of anything anymore. I don't know what is and is not

> due

> > to the lex- but I just know that I feel fine. When I don't take

> Lex

> > I am fighting with everyone...so I know it helps with that.

> > Casey

[Guest guest]

I don't know how long Lexapro stays in my system. I do feel that

most of the time I have a mild hangover or headache. Does anyone

alse experience this feeling?

I am going to give this med another week or two, if I still feel

strange, I will consider weaning myself off of it. I am concerned

about the long-term consequences and wonder if I need to use more

relaxation techniques instead.

> > > This past weekend, my hubby pointed out that I don't seem

> > interested

> > > in what he has to say anymore. I don't care about what he has

> to

> > > say, but I listen. He said that I don't engage him anymore.

I

> > > didn't realize I had or hadn't been doing this. I don't feel

> like

> > a

> > > zombie- but is that how others are seeing me? I am just

venting

> I

> > > guess. I had the feeling that I knew and understood me and my

> > > life. And then little things happen and know I feel like I

> don't

> > > know much of anything anymore. I don't know what is and is

not

> > due

> > > to the lex- but I just know that I feel fine. When I don't

take

> > Lex

> > > I am fighting with everyone...so I know it helps with that.

> > > Casey

[Guest guest]

it could be stress actually. I had things like that before the lex ( and

still do have ). Muscle spasms can cause numbness. I get sciatica and

numbness mid-back and in one leg. BUT I have to say lex does do wierd

things to me. headache daily more depression than ever cannot see

straight sometimes not as sharp thinking wise latest thing..not hungry

AT ALL. It is really hard to say what is what when one suffers anxiety

and is also on meds . It is very VERY frustrating. ( I assume you are on

the lex for anxiety) alison

On Tue, 01 Feb 2005 15:29:09 -0000 " davyboy24 " <frozentundra24@...>

writes:

>

>

> Has anyone had or know someone who had bizarre side effects to

> lexapro. Since I started it I developed aches under my armpits and

> down my sides and occassional burning sensations on legs and back. I

>

> went to the doctor and he said it wasn't lymphatic and did all kinds

>

> of blood tests which all came out fine and just attributed it to

> stress, but I have had these symptoms for 2 months now.

>

>

>

>

>

>