September 13, 1999 -

I forgot how nasty that first shot can be! What a doozy!! I did the shot at about 7:30 pm and went to bed shortly after that. I woke up at about 1 am and felt like I had been hit by a truck. I had the chills, my back was aching something terrible, my head was pounding and I had a fever of 102.3. I got up about 3 am and took some Darvocet for my headache and went back to bed. By morning I didn't feel so bad. I did have the headache most of the day, but that is normal with interferon and me so I am used to that. I also had a bit of nausea but not enough to really bother me.

September 14, 1999 -

Shot number 2 wasn't much different from #1. I was worried I'd bruise again as this stuff doesn't have a 'pen' injector. It is a pre-filled syringe, but I must be doing a better stab job because I'm not even sore at the injection site! No red spots either. I slept a bit better after this one and only had a fever of 100.2. The nausea has subsided a bit more and I don't seem to have any trouble trying to eat, yet. I'm hoping my appetite won't disappear on me again. The headache is still the big one so far. Thank goodness for the Darvocet. I am still taking the 100mg of Zoloft so I shouldn't have any problems with depression either.

September 15, 1999 -

I'm getting pretty good at this! I still hate the needles, but doing the shot isn't as bad as it was a year ago! The aches in my back are still a bother during the night. I'd have to say the worst side so far is the darned headache. I'm back to taking alot more Darvocet than I really want to. My fever was up to 101 this morning too. I'm starting to feel more tired during the day and I seem to wake up feeling like I haven't slept at all. I also notice that my eyes are starting to ache now and then. Only if I move them quickly though. Don't know if this means anything or not.

September 16, 1999 -

I'm doing pretty good so far. The night fevers are easing up and the night sweats aren't as bad either. I still seem to have an appetite, although I am already losing the ability to taste foods. The headache is not any worse than when I was on combo, so I can definately live with that too. I do notice that my throat and mouth are extremely dry to the point where even drinking water constantly doesn't seem to help.

September 17, 1999 -

I did a lousy job tonight. After pulling the needle out, my leg bled for a few minutes and immediately turned purple. I didn't hit a vein though. If I had, it would have bled for a lot longer, I'm sure. I went right to bed, but woke up about 3 hours later in trememdous pain in my stomach. I thought I was going to die! It was a sharp, continuous stabbing pain. It felt like terrible gas pains, but I wasn't able to go to the bathroom. In the middle of the night, I started passing blood so we went off to the hospital early on the 18th. (Saturday)

I was diagnosed with diverticulitis and kept in the hospital for 4 days. No food, no water, nothing! Naturally we stopped treatment as I was being pumped full of antibiotics. Finally on Tuesday I was able to go home. I'll be taking antibiotics for another week and then go in and have some tests done. This was the most painful thing I have ever been through, including childbirth! The doctor doesn't think it had anything to do with the Infergen. I'll be re-starting on the 26th. I have to watch what I eat, no nuts, popcorn, coconut, or anything with seeds. I don't know what caused the problem, but I'm hoping like crazy it doesn't pop up again anytime soon!

September 26, 1999 -

Well, back at it again. The first shot this time wasn't as bad as the one 2 weeks ago. I feel so much better now. I did have the 102 fever and aches but I woke up feeling pretty good. I am finding myself getting very tired in the afternoons. Looks like nap time will be back on schedule. I don't have any taste in my mouth already. I'm not sure if that is from the Infergen or from all the meds the doctor had me on last week. If it was the meds, it should get better. We'll see!

September 27, 1999 -

I'm having a hard time getting this dang needle into my legs. I think I am toughening up! That and the fact that I HATE sticking these needles in me. I figure if I am going to do this for a year, I'll wind up using my stomach but I'm not ready to go there yet. The dryness in my mouth is worsening and the inability to taste is stronger too. I'm really hoping I don't start losing more weight, as I don't really need to lose anymore. I find that I have a headache in the mornings, and am getting more and more tired in the afternoons. All that great energy I had has already gone out the window. Even running the vaccum just downstairs wears me out.

September 28, 1999 -

I noticed that this Infergen doesn't seem to sting or burn like the Intron did. I still don't have any bruises and don't see the red circle around the injection site that I used to get with the Intron either. The forgetfulness is getting worse already. I think that is one of the worst side effects. It's so frustrating to not remember even something you did 5 minutes ago. I was kind of hoping that wouldn't be a big problem, at least not for awhile, but no luck! My eyes aren't hurting anymore, but they are blurry the morning after each shot. By the afternoon, they seem to be better.

September 29, 1999 -

It's very strange but I feel great. I don't really seem to have any bad side effects as of yet. I don't have much of an appetite, but I'm not even getting any headaches. The fever each night seems to be drifting off as well. I'm having severe night sweats, but other than that, I'm doing good. Maybe this daily stuff is the way to go afterall!

September 30, 1999 -

Well, I made it through the first couple of weeks. Even with the break from being in the hospital I feel like I am doing good. I've been having nausea, but not to the point of being sick, just queazy. I'm sure the other shoe will drop soon. I can't believe there aren't any bad sides to all of this! I'm thinking of writing AMGEN and asking them to invent a Pen. These needles are awful!!