11 years after tx,side effects

I went through two round of treatments with interferon and peg interferon both supplemented with ribivirin. The first one was fifteen years ago and I was part of a clinical trial study. The second ,withe the new and improved ,
peg interferon was eleven years ago. Both were unsuccessful. Ever since the first injection my life has been Hell. I kept waiting for the deep, severe joint and muscle pain, the severe depression, the anorexia, the brain fog, the confusion, the fatigue, the insomnia , all to go away.

After ten years of being off of the drug, I am still waiting. I am unable to work, I am on disability and struggle each and every day just to keep one foot in front of the other. I cannot hold a conversation with my therepist without breaking out in tears. I have tried numerous anti depressants to no avail. I am on 720 mg of avinza and 20 mg of methadone to keep the edge off of the pain. I have spoken with several physicians about these symptoms being after effects from the interferon treatments and they have all told me that I cannot possibly be suffering from any relation to the drug treatments after all these years. I guess I am looking for some sort of affirmation that I am not just crazy, or faking so as to avoid working for a living. Please help me. thank you for your time. Diane

[HCA]

I am sorry to hear of your troubles.
You appear to have determined that your symptoms are due,in their entirety,to anti-viral therapy and that chronic hepatitis C and it's complications have played no part in your ordeal.
I note that 'ever since the first injection my life has been Hell'. That is a pretty definative statment.
I have taken a lot more interferon and ribavirin than you with no long term effects.That doesn't mean that you are wrong in your assesment,although the physicians you have consulted are not persuaded.
You may well get replies from others here who will endorse and validate your expereience.
I think that perhaps the truth lies within a wider context of chronic disease,side effects,anxieties and depression.
I can accept that you did not respond particularly well to anti-viral therapy but I would be wary of attributing your current unhappiness to said therapy when there may be other factors both physical and psychological at work.

[Bobby1952]

   I have experienced on again off again chest pain since finishing tx 1 year ago. My pulminary Dr kept attributing it to a strain from working out which I thought was ridiculous. I know the difference between a strain and a throbbing pain in my chest that moves around. Anyway this time I convinced him to do a Cat Scan and low and behold I am not crazy. They found a Plueral effusion (buildup of fluid on the lung) and a Pericardial effusion (buildup of fluid arouind the Heart). This is what was causing the pain. Now I have to find out what can be done about it.

   I am sorry to say that these Dr's have no idea what side effects the Interferon and Ribaviron can cause. Looking back I now remember something on the medications  insert saying something about the medication causing Heart problems in some people. I hope this is not the case with me.

[abbas__new]

The mechanism of this injury to the brain appears to involve the brain's special immune cell called the microglia. Normally, these cells remain dormant in the brain. That is, they are sleeping. Microglia cells can be activated by numerous factors, including mercury, aluminum, iron, overvaccination, and brain trauma, strokes, infections (viruses, bacteria, rickettsia) and cytokines such as interferons.
Once activated, microglia can move about the brain secreting very toxic compounds, which include two excitotoxins (glutamate and quinolinic acid). These excitotoxins dramatically increase free radical generation in the brain as well as oxidation of lipids (called lipid peroxidation). These radicals damage synaptic connections, interfere with neurotransmitters and can even kill neurons. In addition, these activated microglia generate other toxic compounds such as prostaglandins (PGE2), which increase brain inflammation.
If the microglia activation is short lived, the damage to the brain is minimal and recovery takes place. Yet, should the activation continue, which would occur with high-dose and long-term use of interferons, the damage could be substantial and irreversible.