After tx how long does it take to feel better?

[cindee]

Hey gang, HELP! I am a little over 2 wks post tx and I still feel like ****, still can't sleep, fatique is still awful. I had a really rough time on tx...had to go on disability after 2 months of tx. If I push myself...I get really tired and then I can't sleep until 2 or 3a.m. w/the help of trazadone, and I take it early about 9p.m. Sorry to whine...but like I've said before, I am so sick of being sick @ tired! I am so happy when I read that some of you guys are still working @ doing tx. My hat goes off to you all! I thought I was just being a baby..but I asked my liver doctor if my sx were worse than others and he told me no. I know I'm almost there, but I AM SO READY TO GET MY ENERGY BACK AND GO BACK TO WORK!!!!!!!!! I also still have horrible aches and pains. Thank-you, Cindee

[calbutterfly]

I worked right through all treatment asked boss to schedule me for later in the day after shot night. She worked with with me the whole time. I only missed work when i can down with tonsalitis once and i got a boil once. Another person at my work got it and took the entire 6 months off. I think if you can work it out you should take the time off and go disability. I wish i would have. But to be fired over this is just insane there is a thing a s a medical leave act you should look into it. Hope you slay the dragon and get an even better job and rub into that jerks face. The best Revenge is a Good Life :)

[Revenire]

#1 What was the reason give for your termination? These "companies" that fire people because they are a "drain" on health care resources need to be sued so they STOP ABUSING SICK PEOPLE. Illness is not a reason to be fired. Using the illness to say "your performance is lacking so we're letting you go" isn't either. I'd talk to an attorney.

#2 I can get 12 hours of sleep and not feel rested at all. It is just the drugs we are taking/took.

[DH Bill]

Watch it Galen! It hurts when I laugh :) I know most of you understand all these drugs get old. I will get thru the holidays talk to doc and go from there Thanks

Berlynn, I'm doin pretty good. The aches and pains are my biggest problem. Someone did say that about benadryl. If it works for you I would say go for it. Just keep you eye on the prize it gets closer everyday.
Bill

[DH Bill]

Watch it Galen! it hurts when I laugh :) I know most of you understand all these drugs get old. I will get thru the holidays talk to doc and go from there Thanks

b

[Revenire]

Your boss sounds like a real jerk. Great Thanksgiving present.

I wonder if you there is any legal recourse to that sort of harassment ...

[berlynn]

Hey, how are ya?? All the above info on Trazadone made me a little nervous, how about you? I haven't taken it again after the first 2 night of 1 pill 50 mlg. I didn't sleep that good and felt toooo drowsy in the morn. I went and bought some benadryl, sinus and head-ache.....there were 3 or 4 diff kinds and I wasn't sure which would be better. Since I had a whopping head-ache at the time, I figured what the he%%. Anyway, I slept pretty good the 2 nights I took it. I don't know if ya remember but someone mentioned earlier that benadryl was the sleep inducing ingr. in Tylenol PM. It seemed to work for me and I hope would be better for us than the Traz.  I am going to stay on the effexor  or some kind of AD though, at least through tx. I do get depressed and feel sorry for myself and all of those other tx. and sx. related problems. There is alot going on on the outside that affects the inside if you know what I mean. Heck, as much as I love the support and care I get from many on this site, some of the riba rage that goes on here can even be a little stressful, but mostly, thank goodness, we can all get a good laugh from it.    Let me know what ya think about the meds? And see what ya think about the benadryl.   Take care,    berlynn

[cindee]

About the job thing...I was told by my co. I had been with for 5 yrs that not to worry about my job. Then one day after the 3months of family leave act...I rec'd a letter in the mail....now from a co. that I had given 110% for 5 yrs had always gotten excellent reviews...and then I GOT A D*** LETTER IN THE MAIL THAT I HAD BEEN TERMINATED!!!! That was a wonderful way to be fired. Nobody had the nerve to call me and tell me. I just found out that disability can help you find a new job...maybe going back to work part time to start with. I wouldn't go back to my old job for anything..they showed me how much they cared about me and my health. Just hang in there and go on disability if you have too. I also learned the hard way to always take out health insurance when you buy a car. They would have been paying my car pymt all this time. Best wishes to you. Cindee

[DH Bill]

Must of been a computer fart?

[pearse]

Bill, I pretty much did it like Galen, a little faster maybe.I felt so much better without them. I was taking way to many pills a day. When I started tx in sept 02 I had high BP, Now after tx no pills, my BP is normal. Beats me

[Galen]

It would be a good idea to go off them slowly and not at once to avoid any backlash.  If you decide to go off them, you can always change your mind.  Just try not to hurt anyone, OK? ;-)

[dheana]

I've been told today from my manager that if I don't recover in 3 month I need to find another job.
So great news for my future, on the top of my big stress.
This is not fair, can't be...

[DH Bill]

Thanks for the info. Why I was asking is I was considering stopping the ADs. I just wonder if I would be better off without them. I never needed them to start (no problems with depression etc). I will talk to doc first but was looking for input. I'm on #16 pegasys and effexor.

[dheana]

I feel sorry hearing that you don't feel good.
I'm coming behind you and I hope this nightmare will end as soon as possible. My psyc even suggested to stop the tx 4 weeks earlier because of my depression and anxiety.
Yesterday was one of these days when I scared my family acting like a mad woman praying to die. I'm certenaly insane.

[kathyf]

I am now almost 8 months post

[cindee]

Yes it is a beautiful Sunday! I feel a little better today..just a bit sick on my stomach. I am so glad to hear you are feeling good Galen..you have been so informative during my tx.,you really know your stuff! Thanks to all of you for giving me some very helpful info. You all will never know how much I really love you guys. You helped me thru this fight! Best Wishes and Good Health to you all. Much Love and Many Prayers, Cindee

[Galen]

Don't know how Pearse did it, but I weened myself off of Lexapro gradually.  The first week cut every other day's pill in half.  Second week, I cut every pill in half.  Third week, I took half a pill every other day, then every third day for a week.  After four weeks, I stopped completely with no ill effect.

[hepc_avenger]

Gotta tell you that Trazadone could be the culprit for your fatigue.  I took it years ago for PMS and found that I could barely hold my head up during the day.  It made me sleep like a baby, though.  I found it wasnt worth the constant "narcolepsy" during the daylight hours, so I just stopped taking it.  Just my two cents, for what it's worth.

[pearse]

Hi, I am coming on 9 weeks post tx. I feel so much better, I still get alittle tired at the end of the day. I started the gym again and go everyday for 1 hour of walking and bike. I stopped ad's and sleeping pills about 4 months ago. ad's made me feel like **** and the sleeping pills I only took once in awhile. I know going to the gym is helping me gain my strenth back and helps me sleep.
majneni, hang in there, only a few shots left!

[MajNeni]

The final weeks definitely seem like a mind game.  The body is sick and tired of it all and just drags along, but the mind keeps trying, wanting to be normal...
I'm seriously looking forward to rediscovering NORMAL.  (I hope I like what I find...)
Maj Neni

[TravisB]

I'm sure you've heard this from your doctor but just in case, I'll say it again;  It takes anywhere from 2 to 6 months to fully recover from TX.  Most people (myself inculded) are at least 80% better by the end of the first month.  It's getting rid of the other 20% the sides that varies from person to person and I have found that to be fairly unpredictable.  For me, TX was relatively easy and I didn't need any drugs to make it through.  So you would think that I would have been an early recoverer.  NOT!  To get over all of the sides took me 6 months and I didn't get consistant good sleep until then. A few other sides also hung on until then.

Just know and remember that the drugs and their side effects will eventually pass through your system and you will feel well again in probably a lot sooner than the six months I mentioned.  Good luck. Travis.

[DH Bill]

Glad to hear your feeling so good . Hope it goes well getting rid of the Nexium. How did they ween you off the ADs?

[layla]

Glad your hear your feeling great Galen. We don't hear that enough here. LL

Cindee, I'm sure it takes a bit for the drugs to get out of yout body and hopefully it will be soon for you. I think most of us are more sedentary while on tx because we are so tired. Maybe doing a little exercise will help get you body back to normal. I'm not sure if you already exercize, if so please disregard this. It's just a thought I've had knowing I will surely need to get back into shape after tx. Hope you feel better soon. LL

[Galen]

It is a gorgous Sunday morning and I feel great!! I've been off the ADs since week 5 post-tx, and the Ambien since week 3.  The only thing I'm still on is Nexium 'cause the riba tore a hole in my stomach.  I go for an endoscopy this week.

[lackalustre]

be patient, keep drinking tons of water. just as much as during tx.  take good care of yourself, rest when you need to, etc..  im 13 wks post tx. and still need some sleep aids, anxiety meds, low dose anti d's.     dr. said most people stay on anti d's for 3-6 months post tx.   some even longer.    
    but it will get better, you will feel like doing a little more all the time.  but if u do too much you will go backwards a little.   also most of us get anemic on tx.  so that takes about 6 wks for your red blood counts to build back up.   the people i talk to say 6 mon. post tx. is better than 3 mon. post tx. and a year even better
  we
ve been thru a lot and our body chemistry has really taken a hit.