Can we talk about after the treatment meds, please?

[DownThisRoad]

I was on Pegasys 1ml injection per week, 1,200mg Copagus daily and 1ml Procrit weekly.  I was also taking 50mg daily of Amitriptyline (Elivil) for an assist to my treatment meds which worked very well for me and helped with pain and sleeping.
I finished up my 56 weeks last month.  I am undetectable of the virus as of my last PCR testing.  My post PCR test will be at the end of August.
What symptoms (if any) does anyone experience while the meds are getting out of our system and then thereafter?  I've had a couple of things come along this past couple of weeks that are a bothersome and strange.  I don't want to contribute any ill symptoms always to my treatment and the meds.  
I have an appointment with my GP next week to discuss these things and take an overall blood test.  It is time for my yearly physical and check up anyway.
My right arm is going numb and stays asleep a lot now days.  In the beginning of my treatment around the 2nd month or so, this started out to be a once a week deal. My arm (right) would fall asleep either during the day or at night when I was sleeping.  Then as treatment went on, my arm would fall asleep about every other day.  This whole deal went away around month 6 and stayed away.....until now, it is coming back.  My right arm falls asleep at least twice a day now and always I am waking up at night with my hand and arm asleep. My left hand and left arm is starting to have this same tingling sensation, numbness and falling asleep also.
Has anyone suffered any type of nerve damage and been told due to the hepC treatment meds or anything like

[DownThisRoad]

Has anyone suffered any type of nerve damage and been told due to the hepC treatment meds or anything like having permanent damage to your body or system and been told this is due to the treatment meds?
~dtr.

[Tallblonde]

This probably won't be very helpful to you, but for what it's worth, I have persistent numbness and tingling in my hands, arms and feet and I'm NOT on treatment.  It's worst at night for some reason.  Last night I was numb all the way to my right elbow.  Sometimes I'll be numb in both hands at the same time. I continue to be very concerned about it, but my GI's both contend that they don't think I have cryoglobulemia.  

Susan

[snook_man]

I have tingling in my arm, and it comes at night. I wake up, and arm is asleep all the time.I think it is because I sleep on my side though, and cut off circulation.


Did not want to start new post:
Honestly, opinions, and what you think?? Tomorrow I go to my first Dr. She is actually a PA. I posted my story on another forum, and nurse wrote back questioning if I was even being seen by a Dr with knowledge of hepc. She said that starting with no Riba, was the stupidist thing she ever heard. She also said that he gave me the wrong AD, and said that I shouldn't start back so soon. Is my Dr crazy?? I am not going to go back to him, and will start with first Dr, but trying to understand his logic?

Revenire: I know you questioned my Dr when I first posted his intentions, so I'm truely asking you? It is the peg that causes all the sx's that I got hit with, so why would he get rid of riba, and not just lower dose of peg, or try pegysus? He does not have best SVR intentions, or is he just experimenting with me??

[snook_man]

Yeah, my Dr that I started with who pulled me off, wants me to start this friday. Wants full dose peg 2b, and no riba for a month. He put me on Celexa, which put me to sleep, did not want to eat, had pain in my neck so bad that it felt like whiplash. Stopped taking that on saturday, and feel SOO much better. I am trying to understand the logic behind this Dr's thinking as to why I would go with no riba, and full peg. All the sx's that I got where from the peg. With that said, would I not try pegysus, or lower the dose of peg, and keep rolling with the riba. The riba is the most important thing, isn't it what actually makes the peg work. Peg alone is only like a 10-20% svr I think??
The PA that I am going to tomorrow, wants 1200mg riba, and full dose peg. She said that she will put me in a study, if I want, so I am closely monitored. She questions Dr's intentions as to Tx approach, and not doing baseline bloodwork?? She also does not agree with Ad that I was Rx'd, and feels he should have given me something that covered the anxiety and depression, as well as appetite. Really confused?? Worried now that I can't swap to pegysus until the peg 2b is out of my system. I am really mad at current Dr, as he seemed so knowledgable and answered all my questions, then recommends a tx that is proven not to work!!!Any advice, would be greatly appreciated.Thanks

[honey1616]

Yeah,,,if your red blood count drops,,,its the riba they like to cut back on so really can't figure out where your first dr is getting his info but sooooo glad you are going to second one!
We need to get you rolling here with us and enjoying these sides LOL  I'm thinking,,,maybe a change from "snook" since that is my daughters nickname and doesn't seem like ready to tackle this wild trip LOL  Maybe,,,"Riba Ready" or  "The Peg Man" haha  Just kidding with ya!

[Dorothy and Toto]

I had the same numbness and tingling in the hand and arm before starting treatment and found it was due to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.  The culprit was using the computer too much and doing repetitive movements with the mouse.  The numbness and tingling was the worst at night (3 a.m.) and it sometimes would not go away and it would start burning for an hour or more.  Had Carpal Tunnel release surgery-and haven't had a problem since.  I am careful not to rest my wrist on the desk when using the mouse.

A couple I know that do postal work have numbness and tingling in both arms and hands and are waiting to have the surgery.

Dot

[cuteus]

I have no idea what caused my carpal tunnel, dx in 1995, I did not have a job with repetitive motion, my guess is hcv related. bad numbness, tingling,  sometimes from elbow to hand, it is a problem with nerve signal conductivity, a neurologist can rx the tests needed to dx neuropathy.

[Sam Hall]

Sorry but did i not post alist of the sort of things that i experienced post tx and got slated as not beihg "positive". I say quite apart from periphapal neuropathy,liver damage fibromigel(excuse all spellings your immune system may rmain comprimised and you may be vulnerable to stress.Oh and ya hair might fall out.Deppression seems to be common and given a years wait for confirmed results that you have cleared anxiety may give you the odd 4am wake up call. Othres are of course full of joy and i hope that's you!

[snook_man]

So now my name is changed huh?? I AM PEG MAN!!!
You guys remember my theory on Dr's and treating you just for the money and pharmacutical company benefits, well I obviously found another great Dr. I feel great now, not taking AD's. I have never been depressed in my life. I am just anxious to start feeling all these sx's you guys rave about.Sock um too me!!! I will find out my tx options tomorrow. Also getting my back squared away next week. See nurosurgeon on july 1, lawyer on the 2nd. Probably just going to cash out for a settlement, and take year off and watch bad TV, and lay in pj's feeling so good on my tx!! Sounds too good to be true, but as you say, Xanax works wonders, and thank god my mom has a Rx, as any time I feel anxiety, I take one and its gone. Only taking 0.5mg, and like once a day.Let you know what PA says tomorrow about my Dr. She is probably going to want to smack me around, and say I told you so, but oh well!!

[TravisB]

Although I had a very mild TX with no measurable side effects (blood stayed good and thyroid fine througout) it took about eight months of fully recover from TX.  Many people recover quicker but for others the effects linger so don't get discouraged.