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Flu during treatment 5 years 3 months ago #27476

Hi Everyone:

I'm Chris and new here. I have been reading the forum for a few weeks now and finally decided to post my case.
Today is my day 15 after I started treatment with Epclusa (Sofosbuvir 400/Velpatasvir 100). I've been feeling pretty average since I started taking the pill. First 2-3 day was all good. After that I felt pretty exhausted at the end of the day only for 2 or 3 hours. After that I started feeling flu-like symptoms (tiredness+joints pain and muscular pain) and now I'm totally sure I got the flu. I've been coughing with very sharp chest pain when I do cough. I'm writing this because I'm at home and I couldn't go to work.
Basically my question is: Is this Flu/cold (Not sure what the difference is) produced a side effect of Epclusa or I just got the flu?
If I just got the flu, how this affect my treatment?

I would be very happy if this community can help me, this time of the year is very tricky to get an appointment with my GP.

Thanks in advance
The following user(s) said Thank You: coral, Hazel, hanknassi, Mar

Flu during treatment 5 years 3 months ago #27478

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Hi Chris, welcome.
Hmmm that is tough, I would say it sounds like actual flu or chest infection or whatever, not the treatment because what they mean by flu-like symptoms is temperature changes, aching bones, shivers, maybe headaches- but not the chest or much runny nose like actual infection or bug brings.
I'm not a doctor, can't answer if it matters on treatment but lots of people have all sorts of stuff happen in the weeks on DAA's, never heard of there being any connection with flu and not getting cured.
I'd say the usual advice, keep up fluids, watch your temperature, take paracetamol. Hope you feel better asap. #flower
Genotype 3 30 years, 2x treatment interferon/ribavirin non responder. Cirrhosis 17 years. Fibroscan, decompensating, 40 down to 22 by 29/3/16- now down to 6.5, normal, no cirrhosis. Started Buyers Club Sof/Dac 14 Nov 15. SVR 12 29/0716
The following user(s) said Thank You: coral, hanknassi, Mar

Flu during treatment 5 years 3 months ago #27479

Thanks very much Hazel for your quick response. Yes I'm feeling all the normal symptoms of a flu plus cough with mucus but no runny nose so far. Is it paracetamol safe to take? I have fibrosis F3 so I dont want anything that could affect my liver. Anything else that I can take for flu Symptoms ? Cough syrup maybe?

Thanks again!
The following user(s) said Thank You: coral, hanknassi, Mar

Flu during treatment 5 years 3 months ago #27482

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Hello Chris, and welcome to the forum. Like Hazel said, I've never heard that getting the actual flu during DAAs treatment can affect your cure chances, but I'm not a doctor as well, so hopefully you will get confirmation from Dr James here soon. If it turns out to be actual flu and not 'flu like" sumptoms (which are very common with DAAs treatment), please make sure not to take any medication that may interact with Epclusa. Here is an excellent page where you can easily check any such interaction www.hep-druginteractions.org/checker Hang in there, it will all be so worth it soon :)
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Flu during treatment 5 years 3 months ago #27485

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It is definitely fine to take paracetamol if you stick to stated dose and timing, I was cirrhotic and it is all I ever took for anything. People say - it is bad for the liver!- but that is only the case if too much, too often. Four times a day, not 6, two tabs, not 3, is safe, our livers process no problem, works for me if I'm sick or have a headache.
Genotype 3 30 years, 2x treatment interferon/ribavirin non responder. Cirrhosis 17 years. Fibroscan, decompensating, 40 down to 22 by 29/3/16- now down to 6.5, normal, no cirrhosis. Started Buyers Club Sof/Dac 14 Nov 15. SVR 12 29/0716
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Flu during treatment 5 years 3 months ago #27486

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Hi Chris,

Welcome to the forum. Normal doses of paracetamol or ibuprofen are both fine on DAA treatment.

There is both a flu-like illness (but without the cough and mucus) and a runny nose/sore throat type thing that can happen with DAA treatment.

From what you describe I'd be agreeing with you that you do have something more than just side effects.

What colour is the mucus you're coughing up?
Do you take any other medications?
Any other medical problems besides the Hep C?
YMMV
The following user(s) said Thank You: hanknassi, Mar, RockHard

Flu during treatment 5 years 3 months ago #27487

Hi DrJames and thanks for your reply.

The mucus is green (light green)
I started taking Paracemol 500 mg 24 hrs a go
I have fibrosis F3 produced by Hep C

I have had this type of cold/flu before with mucus on my chest. The last one was maybe a year a go. Pretty much every time I get the cold/flu is with cough and chest pain. In saying that, I get it no more that once a year.
I should mentioned that I do smoke but no more than 3 or 4 a day.

My main point is if the fact that I got the flu affects my treatment in any way?

Thanks again

Chris
The following user(s) said Thank You: hanknassi, Mar

Flu during treatment 5 years 3 months ago #27488

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Hi Chris,

No this won't affect your treatment success rate.

In smokers who start coughing up stuff with colour I have a reasonably low threshold for prescribing antibiotics.

Normal smokers cough sputum is white. Viral sputum tends to be yellow and bacterial infection (that will respond to antibiotics) tends to be green(er) but there's not a lot of visible difference.

The trend is an important thing. You start off well and go downhill. If you keep getting worse that's a worry, if you stop getting worse and just settle into miserable that's more ammenable to wait and see.

What country are you in?
YMMV
The following user(s) said Thank You: hanknassi, Mar

Flu during treatment 5 years 3 months ago #27489

Hi DrJames

I'm in australia.

I've been told for my GP that side effects last a month in most cases. What is your experience?

If we set up a "miserability " scale where 0 is not miserable and 5 fully miserable, i would say

Treatment start on the 6th of December = 1-2 (I wasnt felling ok already)

First 2 days = 1-2 (Nothing changed)

From day 3 to day 10 = 2-3 (Feeling very tired at the end of the day for 2 or 3 hrs only and back to 1-2)

From day 11 to 14 = 3-4 ( everything I felt before plus joint pain and general flu-like symptoms)

From day 15 to 16 (today) = 4-5 (Basically in bed with a cold/flu, cough with chest pain and mucus in my nose but not runny nose (make sense?))

What do you think DrJames? How i said I have had the same type of cold/flu before and what happens is the symptoms go away after 3-4 days but the cough stays for a couple of week but much subtle with no chest pain. Now is different because of the "Miserability scale". If the actual flu goes away I may still feel flu-like symptoms because of the DAA so how can I tell what symptoms are produced by each factor?

very confused at the moment

I hope you can help decluttering my thoughts

Chris
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Flu during treatment 5 years 3 months ago #27490

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Hi Chris,

Let's see how you are tomorrow. If you're worse some antibiotics would be a reasonable idea.

We can sort that out easily enough.
YMMV
The following user(s) said Thank You: hanknassi, Mar

Flu during treatment 5 years 3 months ago #27491

Thanks DrJames, I'll let you know
The following user(s) said Thank You: hanknassi, Mar

Flu during treatment 5 years 3 months ago #27492

My update DrJames,

I feel much better than yesterday but still coughing with no pain now . Feeling a bit light headed too but less than before. Congestion still persist.

What do you think?

Thanks in advance
The following user(s) said Thank You: hanknassi, Mar

Flu during treatment 5 years 3 months ago #27493

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If things are settling down and trending better sounds like we can do nothing, with the expectation that will continue.
YMMV
The following user(s) said Thank You: hanknassi, Mar, RockHard
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