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6 mths post
by Lady Lauri, Aug 21, 2008 09:17PM
Hi all! Miss a bunch of you in not being here daily anymore :)
Well, it's time! I've waited 6 mths. post for issues to diminish, Dr. said give it 6mths. and so on.
Before I go further......all waiting or deciding to tx or just starting.... please keep in mind in this thread, any problems threads, that Hep and Tx are so different from person to person that there is just no way to predict how it will be during or after for anyone. I am happy with my choice to tx, blessed in how it all progressed. Geno 2b-moderate liver damage, borderline 3 on the 1-6 scale. ....dx'd in May 07, bx in July 07, started tx Sept. 07 (trial), and done in Feb. 08 ....all in less than 1 year! UND week 4, 12 weeks post still UND, 6mth labs next week. MANY tx with minimal issues and get right back to normal, even better after tx. Many stop hanging here so we probably don't here as much as we all need to from them.
K....I didn't handle tx too well, reduced week 5 and again week 15, finished tx on reduced meds (Do NOT recommend this. ONLY if it's the choice of stop or reduce) I was a homebound txer. Lucky in the rash, lucky on the hair loss tho! Fatigue and muscle/body pain just floored me, the worst sides for me. Did really well in attitude, depression, no AD's. Post tx took about 2 mths to even go back to work, tried, had to go back out (All work is lot of physical). The past 3 mths I am seriously struggling thru work, getting quite concerned if I can continue to do my main job. While the body pain is much better than on tx, it is still rough and daily. Takes 30 minutes to walk normal in the AM, by mid day in pain, especially my legs. Fatigue is still rough. AND.....my moods are nearly always low, I have to admit (to myself also) that I am now battling depression and I have never had that problem, thru out anything in my life.
My last appointment Doc (very good Doc) had said some can take up to a year to feel better but that as I am 'cured', I should feel better than before tx soon. Not so thus far. Honestly, I never feel 'good' nor normal, just getting thru my days feeling crummy. It is seriously affecting my life in all area's. It's awkward to be so grateful, appreciative in many ways, yet still having issues that are very upsetting. You do tend to feel like you should shut up and suck it up :(
If this nasty a*s virus has crept back in will be determined next week, (my odds are excellent after 12 wk UND), so once that is ruled out.....any suggestions???? I'm asking him to check for the fibromyalgia,
auto immune. (Didn’t have before, he’d said not showing during tx?) Anyone else had it take so long to re-coup, get back to normal?
I'm asking, venting, updating all in one :)
Thanks , LL
Well, it's time! I've waited 6 mths. post for issues to diminish, Dr. said give it 6mths. and so on.
Before I go further......all waiting or deciding to tx or just starting.... please keep in mind in this thread, any problems threads, that Hep and Tx are so different from person to person that there is just no way to predict how it will be during or after for anyone. I am happy with my choice to tx, blessed in how it all progressed. Geno 2b-moderate liver damage, borderline 3 on the 1-6 scale. ....dx'd in May 07, bx in July 07, started tx Sept. 07 (trial), and done in Feb. 08 ....all in less than 1 year! UND week 4, 12 weeks post still UND, 6mth labs next week. MANY tx with minimal issues and get right back to normal, even better after tx. Many stop hanging here so we probably don't here as much as we all need to from them.
K....I didn't handle tx too well, reduced week 5 and again week 15, finished tx on reduced meds (Do NOT recommend this. ONLY if it's the choice of stop or reduce) I was a homebound txer. Lucky in the rash, lucky on the hair loss tho! Fatigue and muscle/body pain just floored me, the worst sides for me. Did really well in attitude, depression, no AD's. Post tx took about 2 mths to even go back to work, tried, had to go back out (All work is lot of physical). The past 3 mths I am seriously struggling thru work, getting quite concerned if I can continue to do my main job. While the body pain is much better than on tx, it is still rough and daily. Takes 30 minutes to walk normal in the AM, by mid day in pain, especially my legs. Fatigue is still rough. AND.....my moods are nearly always low, I have to admit (to myself also) that I am now battling depression and I have never had that problem, thru out anything in my life.
My last appointment Doc (very good Doc) had said some can take up to a year to feel better but that as I am 'cured', I should feel better than before tx soon. Not so thus far. Honestly, I never feel 'good' nor normal, just getting thru my days feeling crummy. It is seriously affecting my life in all area's. It's awkward to be so grateful, appreciative in many ways, yet still having issues that are very upsetting. You do tend to feel like you should shut up and suck it up :(
If this nasty a*s virus has crept back in will be determined next week, (my odds are excellent after 12 wk UND), so once that is ruled out.....any suggestions???? I'm asking him to check for the fibromyalgia,
auto immune. (Didn’t have before, he’d said not showing during tx?) Anyone else had it take so long to re-coup, get back to normal?
I'm asking, venting, updating all in one :)
Thanks , LL
Should throw in there I have a sore throat off/on for mths.
I'm with you in being happy to have txd and SVR, but post-tx can be a roller coaster ride. I think the best thing we can do is live the healthiest lifestyle possible (control weight/blood sugar, exercise, eat healthy, etc) and be vigilant with the CBC, CMP, and TSH once or twice a year. See an auto-immune specialist if you haven't already.
Good luck.
Grasping at straws here, but the 2 below fall hand in hand, found it interesting as in could the Hep C virus or tx chemicals cause these.
Post Viral Fatigue ...........
ME is an illness characterised by a number of symptoms rather like a severe flu. It affects the body and the mind. It is also known as post viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS) and as fibromyalgia. It has probably been in existence for many years, but it is poorly understood and has been called by different names at different times. The characteristic features are fatigue which goes on for more than 6 months and for which no other cause can be found. It may follow an infection like flu or tonsillitis. The fatigue affects both mental and physical activity and is not relieved by rest. Other symptoms may include sweating, shivering, feeling cold, headaches and nausea. Bowel problems such as diarrhoea or constipation can occur. Visual problems and generalised aches and pains especially in muscles or joints may occur. Patients complain of poor memory and difficulty in concentrating. All these symptoms may vary from day to day and are often made worse by minimal physical or mental effort. Mood swings may occur and people may feel tearful and depressed. Patients become particularly frustrated that no clear explanation for their illness can be found. They are also somewhat characteristically "high achievers" who were more energetic than average prior to becoming ill.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome....
One theory is that any of a number of infections agents and possibly chemicals can provoke the immune system to counterattack and somehow keep it in a lasting state of activation. According to this theory, the victims of chronic fatigue are those who cannot get rid of common infectious agents the way most people do, perhaps because of genetic differences. The result is a permanently activated state in which the immune system stays in high drive, as if to combat a continuing viral infection.
The second theory is that CFS is caused by viruses that infect parts of the brain and resist detection by the standard diagnostic tests. New laboratory and diagnostic measures are being developed to explore this concept.
The third theory holds that the syndrome is primarily a muscle disease and that the fatigue results secondarily from muscle dysfunction.
Geezzzz, now I have to google permanently activated immune. Just getting my questions together for app.
Hugs, Marcia
Very interesting post! I'm 5 weeks post tx, I've been having severe muscle, and bone pain, as well as all the other terrible sx that tx brought on since about week 5. Although I am feeling much better post the pain is still tormenting me daily. I have alot of the sx you listed in your post. I'm giving myself some more time before I see the doc about these sx as I think my body is still on the mend. Let it be know to all newcomers that not everyone experiences tx the same. Some are lucky and breeze right thru! Hopefully more than not!
I certainly hope your doc finds out whats going on with your post tx issues. Please let me know how you're doing. Question for ya, did you have severe insomnia and hair loss during tx?
best wishes to you..
darla
There is some evidence that Antioxidants may help. So you may want to look into taking some of HRs list of supps plus a good multi. Who knows they might help.
From http://www.emedicine.com/pmr/topic47.htm
Patients with fibromyalgia produce more damaging free radicals than healthy people, and they have a reduced antioxidant capacity. Normal cellular respiration produces free radicals that lead to oxidative stress. The antioxidant defense system normally keeps these free radicals in check. Dietary antioxidants consumed in foods are essential to increasing our antioxidant status and maintaining our antioxidant systems. Vitamins (eg, C, E), minerals (eg, selenium, zinc), and phytochemicals are important dietary antioxidants. Vegetarian diets improve some symptoms, in association with an increased intestinal