Constipation, Indigestion , Loss of appetite back as before starting tx

[scruples]

Dear All

I have just completed wekk 32 of my tx, I was Geno 3, doc recomended 24 week tx but i volunterily extended it to week 36 bcoz of relapses of geno 3,.My base line VL was 272,000 iu/ml, first PCR after starting tx was done by my doc on week 16th ( 4 months) which shows UND . Before starting tx, i had constipation, loss of appetite and indigestion etc whch was 80-90 cured/eliminated from the 3 week of tx, now from last two week i am again feeling the same symptoms, i am still PCR negative (UND-Qualitative test) last ALT was 30 but why these symptoms came back??? is my liver not properly functioning or HCV attacking back ????

Second thing i am facing is there are no sores/blisters in my mouth etc but i cant eat any spicy food now, I belong to Pakistan , asia where people including myself are used to eat spicy food on daily basis but now when i eat any thing which is a little bit spicy my mouth especially tongue starts burning ( now burning feeling in stomach etc just in mouth) . Is this has any link with tx ??? or its anything else from hcv or tx???

Please advise me what should be done??? should i go for further 4 weeks or stop tx here (32 weeks). what should be done for indigestion, constipation etc

[epiphiny]

Hi, I have everything you have mentioned and I would like to suggest that these are part of the side effects.  

As to why it is the same as before you started tx'ing - I wonder if anything has changed in your diet recently?  Especially as your tongue is hurting, it may be inhibiting you eating some of the foods you usually eat which may be causing the indigestion disruption.  Also, the meds can actually alternate between making one constipated or having diarrhea - believe me, I know...  

I have constantly had indigestion issues, both before and during tx and it could be they are not part of tx...  It's hard to know what is or what isn't, sometimes!

As to the tongue problem, I also suffered with that for a very long time until I took flucozanole to treat a candida (thrush) infection in my mouth.  Since then things have been really good, no more sore, stingy, burning tongue...

I have heard others mention sublingual vit b has cleared up their tongue problems.

Definitely don't give up now!!  Only 4 weeks to go, wow!  I want to be on your bus!!  You can do it, 4 little weeks....

Epi :)

[epiphiny]

Oh, for the indegestion I have been using Zantac and they've been working really well.  I have also cut out all wheat and gluten products.  Has really helped.  Good luck!!

[epiphiny]

Ooops, meant to say, the sore tongue is definitely related to tx...

[CMcH]

I can no longer eat any spicy food and have digestive problems which is very common with TX. My take on it is the meds attack rapidly reproducing cells like HCV but also skin, hair, mouth, intestines and eyes. These meds can be hard on your stomach and I had/have many problems with that. I take Prilosec 2x a day with my meds and it helps to coat the stomach. I miss all my favorite foods and eat a lot of yogurts and cereals.
Try to finish up your TX just to make sure you use all your weapons against this. I am a bit surprised that your doc did not test VL before 4 months. They usually test at 4 weeks then 12 as a good indicator of SVR. It sounds like your on the right tract and SVR should be yours very soon. Hang in there over half the battle is done.
Connie

[scruples]

Thanks for your advice. I really appreciate this. Me too want to complete my 36 weeks and dont wanna quit at this stage.

I know indigestion & constipation are usual sx but in my case i had these before starting tx and after 2-3 weeks of tx, both these problems were almost 90% cured and now in week 31 & 32 , i am having these two again. This come back after 30 week is surprising me and creating doubts in my mind.

CMcH, yes my doc has diserviced me in not getting my PCR at week 4 & 12, thats the main reason why i have to decide to extend my tx. Any how, its all part of the game, not every time, every thing goes right..................

[alijee]

How about your thyroid test ? Are they ok? i think you should complete tx of 36 weaks. No one likes to repeat this tx again.  i also feel burning feeling on my tonge. and it goes itself. this is due to side effects of tx

[Marc1955]

The one thing that is clear is that these problems should not create doubts in your mind about the treatment. If you follow this board, you know that the ways of treatment are twisty and confusing. The resurfacing of a symptom is not any indication about the efficacy of treatment.

Here's my guess. I think it's possible that the constipation and indigestion prior to treatment had nothing to do with HCV. There are all kinds of possible causes. In my case, treatment did cause more frequent and softer stools. It changed the functioning of my digestive tract. I think that might have happened to you as well. Now at week 32 your body is acclimating to the interferon and your old metabolism is asserting itself more so the old symptoms are reappearing. My hunch is that once you finish treatment and have cleared the drugs from your system, you will still need to deal with the constipation and indigestion as a separate issue.

Good luck!

[scruples]

Ali

I havnt had my throid test done as my symptoms of those vanished. I know i should go for thyroid test but somehow this is delayed.

marc you may be right that constipation may be decreased due to tx effect and now my body coming to normal condition.

[scruples]

on more thing i forgot to mention is that i have also lost my muscel strength and hardness. Now my body looks like an aged person, soft, somewhat bulky and loose. I beleive this is due to tx. Can anyone tell will it be toned up automatically after the end of tx or i have to do hard work to get it in shape again ??/

[epiphiny]

There has been a lot of talk about muscle tone, or loss of, today and by what I can glean it doesn't just bounce back naturally, we'll have to work at it...

[Marcia2202]

All the symptoms you are describing sound like the usual tx sides to me. I used to have regular bowel movements before, not anymore... The meds can cause both constipation and diarrhea, or both at different times during tx.

I used to eat super hot food every day (I lived in Indonesia and my husband is from Mali), now pepper tastes as strong as chili... The meds have definitely affected my taste buds, sweet is sweeter, salty is saltier etc...

As to you question if to continue tx, DEFINITELY YES... go for it! You got 4 weeks left, that's great!!!

[Marcia2202]

oh, to the muscle strength and softness of muscle.... I feel exactly the same, they look as if they are there, but are no use for anything and feel like meat and not like muscle... All I can say for myself is that it is disgusting.... ;-)

[lalapple]

i get sensitive to spicy foods sometimes, could be normal, my tongue became pretty sensitive to salt if i consume too much.  also, for constipation, been there done that, are you eating enough fiber as in bananas?  and yogurt helped me a lot!  

[alijee]

Dont worry dear, i have also lost my musles shape and tone and my skin has become very loose. I look like sugar patient. Hardness of my body has gone. i m facing taste probem since start of tx. These days my head starts spinning if i walk.

[scruples]

Marcia.... yes, spicy food has become more spicy and sweet has become extra sweet..... and milk products taste like rotten food. Ahhhh this tx is really test of nerves ......... :) I'll definitely continue tx for 36 weeks.


lalapple: Noops i havnt eating bananas or food with more fiber. However, i do eat a little cup of yougurt daily but it didnt helped a lot. I also take a glass of milk with honey before going to bed but the constipation problem is there. i'll try bananas no???

Ali, you are right we do look like sugar patients, bulky , fat , softy. My muscel lokk like made up from fat only with very little power left.

[alijee]

Your are right. this tx is realy test for our nerves

[Marcia2202]

I forgot, you are in papaya country, you lucky man. papaya every day, especially first thing in the morning should help with the constipation.

[scruples]

Thanx. I'll definitely try Papaya.