Help, dad on weird medacin going through symptoms!...?

Question

My dad has hepatitis c and it was said to be tretable so he started ribavirin and self injections pegintron and he is having headachs, sever chils i mean sevear he had three downs an a comforter and still shivering is there anything i can do or am i over reacting... please help i am very very worried...

he felll back asleep and is breathing i can hear him but he said that they said he would have chill but this seemed quite extreme i dont want to wake him but he seems better now, my sister went to the doc with him but she is at work and unrechable i think he is better know he was verbal just very cold i cranked up the heat and seems okay now

this was his first dose/shot

just asked for shirt and pajama pants (fleece ones) got up put them on back under the covers, not too out of well any worse than he was, i am only 14 so i know he will not let on to much discomfort too me got the dog in bed with him settles him down all the time plus shell heat him up

I know that my typing looks really bad but in crisis I don't have time to think and type correctly, just typing fast.

It's also 10 minuets untill 1 a.m. so consider that in your answer.

Answer 1

it is normal for your father to be feeling these symptoms. it does get better with each shot! just make sure to remind him to pull back on the syringe before injecting the medication. if blood draws up into the syringe he needs not to inject it because administering the medication into the bloodstream will make him really sick!

I do hope your father is taking an antidepressant AND and anti-anxiety medication-this will help any mental sides that usually go along with it.

In the third week, if he isn't taking anything for anxiety like buspar for instance, he will have a hard time sleeping.

also make sure your father is drinking PLENTY of ice water!
(as close to a gallon a day!) this will also help keep some side effects from happening.

you are so sweet to be concerned for your father. treatment of any kind is not a picnic, but it sure helps to have someone there to support you and care about you!

please keep in touch okay????

Also, everyone needs to know the number to his particular treatment, the pharmacutical companies will have an 800 number he or anyone else can call to ask questions....and your father should have a card that has a list of his medications as well.

Please help do whatever you can to make his treatment much easier, even something as getting the morning newspaper to helping him with the yard ect.....the more rest he can get, the better. :o)

Answer 2

Hi Kyle. Don't panic, it does sound like your Dad's reaction to the medication is not uncommon.

First - Find a thermometer and take your dad's temperature. If your Dad's temperature is 104 degrees F (40 celsius) or more, he needs to go to the emergency room immediately - if you cannot reach a reliable and trustworthy adult to take you to the hospital, call the emergency room and request an ambulance. If the temperature is below 104 degrees (or if you are waiting for an ambulance or a doctor to call back as below), take your dad's temperature again one hour later to be sure.

Here's how to take a temperature: If you don't have a thermometer, borrow from a neighbor if you can. Note that your dad cannot have drunk anything either hot or cold for 10 minutes before you take his temperature. Clean the thermometer with isopropyl alcohol (if you don't have that, use whiskey or similar) and rinse off. Now shake down the thermometer until the mercury is below 96.6 degrees Farenheit (35.88 Celsius). Slide the tip of the thermometer (with the bulb) under one side of his toungue, way in the back of his mouth. Tell your da to close his mouth (but NOT his teeth) on the thermometer to hold in place and to breathe through his nose with his mouth closed. You need to leave the thermometer under his tongue for 3 full minutes uninterrupted (longer is ok). When time is up, take the thermometer out carefully, DON'T SHAKE IT AND DON'T TOUCH THE BULB END, and look at it under a bright light so you can see how high the mercury has risen. There should be an arrow or other marking on the thermometer at normal temperature (which is 98.6 degrees F, 37 celsius).


Two - If your dad's temperature is 101 degrees or less, that is within normal fever range. If your dad's temperature is 100 degrees farenheit or more but less than 104, you should still call your dad's doctor now - your dad's doctor should have an emergency service or emergency number available where you can reach a doctor on call who can advise you.

The doctor's number should be on your dad's prescription bottles for the pegintron and ribavirin. Call the doctor - you should get a recording with an emergency service number - call that number. If you are asked to leave your number, do so with a brief message that this is an emergency, you are a 14 yr. old alone with your dad who has hepatitis-c, is having a reaction to the pegintron and is running a temperature of ____ and you need guidance on what to do. If you cannot reach the doctor right away and have call waiting or another phone number to call from, you can try calling the local emergency room - in US they are not allowed to give medical advice over the phone, but may be different if you are in UK. When you reach a doctor repeat that you are 14, alone with your dad who has hepatitis-c and is having a reaction to medication and running a temperature of ____. Tell doctor what medication your dad took, what dosage he took and when he took it. Tell the doctor your dad's temperature and your dad's symptoms. If you can, check to make sure he took the correct dosage. If this was the first dose of each, this should be fairly easy.

Three - if you need help with any of this, call your sister and leave a message that this is an emergency - this is one case where interrupting your sister at work is ok, and even a good idea. If she gives you a tough time about it, she can blame me! If you cannot reach your sister and need help and there is another responsible and trustworthy adult you can call, do it - again, no reasonable person is going to get mad at you for this. If you take this route, make sure you leave a message for your sister saying who you called and what is going on.

P.S. You're typing is fine!

Answer 3

Flu-like symptoms (i.e. headache, chills) are are very likely with the Pegintron injection at the start of therapy, and usually appear within 6-8 hours of injection. As your dad's body gets used to the therapy, the symptoms should diminish. However, if he has a high fever or if you are really concerned you should take him to the hospital, and if your dad's symptoms continue or worsen you should have him talk to his doctor. Try not to worry, your dad's body just needs to adjust to the medications.

Answer 4

im on my cousins name hun i have hep-c the drug he is takin is the new one you inject 3 times a week,how bad is ur dads hep? do you know,ive had mine for maybe over 18 years im waiting for 3 new meds to come out soon,yes the drugs will make you terrible sick, but that sick, please get him back to his doctor or call 911 u are not overacting,please luv ur dad, encourage him, to not stop treatment, but when i go this tuesday ill ask 3 comforters is alot, give him all the lov u can ok i want you to take this question, go to webmd.com thers all kinds of hep-c boards there,if u cant do it ill do it for you,my name is lynn and my heart goes out to u,i need to know how many treatments he has takin? please report this to his doctor,and if he gets cranky and unbearable hun its because these treatments make u so sick, u want to die,but he is tryin to live oh ok my cousin said ur his son,be there for him,listen my email is [e-mail] ill be glad to help you,because i know dad is fatigue very tired, im just worried about all those comforters,maybe this med is not the right one for him,stick by him threw this he needs all the support he can get, god bless you both

Answer 5

http://www.hepcsurvivalguide.org/comboguide.htm

save this in your favorites..a little outdated as it was done when it was the old treatment 3x shots..but it really helps..also if its Scherings medicine there is a 24/7 hotline to call and talk to nurses you can find it at
www.beincharge.com
I did the medicine..I cleared the virus...side effects are part of the medicine.

Answer 6

Read on the bottle of medication for your Dad's Doctor and call him....You will more than likely get his answering service, tell them you need to speak with the Dr listed on the bottle....they will call the Dr and then the Dr will call you back.
Explain EVERYTHING that is going on with your dad when the Dr calls you back..

I hope he is okay and Good luck!

Answer 7

Take his temperature. If over 105F, get to hospital quickly. He might be having a reaction to the last injection.

If you are still worried, go to emergency room and don't worry about your deductible or co-pay.

Answer 8

Call the prescribing Doctor or the Emergency Room. They can tell you if he needs medical attention.

Answer 9

you should call the pharmacy immediatly, i mean asap. he could b having an allergic reaction make sure he can breath call the pharmacy and or 911 or the hospital, just get help and MAKE SURE HE CAN BREATHE OKAY!!!! stay calm though

Answer 10

i think maybe you should contact his doctor and see if this is normal or if he should switch medacines...but what ever you do dont just ignore it...maybe it is serious...but even if it isnt it dosent hurt to make sure he is alright...good luck!