Fatigue, Inertia, Depression after SVR??? General Question

How many SVR's out there have experienced periodic, or occassional feelings of depression, fatigue, or lack of initiative after becoming SVR.  My symptoms seem to flare for a few weeks at a time, and then are repalced by periods of high energy and activity.  This has happened numerous times over the past 20 months since finishing successful therapy.  I am not sure if it is an after-effect of the interferon, or a symptom of stage 3 fibrosis, or maybe a manifestation of possible 'viral persistence' causing an immune system reaction.  It may even be similar to 'Post traumatic stress syndrome' after having endured a long, and anxiety filled period of tx, and waiting.  I am not sure, but I do know I am often 'knocked for a loop' by this powerful feeling of physical weakness, and psychological stress.
I often become angry at my spouse, feeling she is allowing me to carry the bulk of the responsibility in our family, while enjoying a very independent, social lifestyle.  Resentment that I never fully acknowledged during tx, is now coming to the surface very frequently.  That mey also be a factor in my feeling of depression.  

Any thoughts?

DoubleDose

[cuteus]

humm...7 mo post tx, and other than that "crash" at 5 wks post, I have not felt anything resembling what you describe.  Being female I go through hormonal fluctuations that give various symptoms at different times, but mostly mid cycle.
Aging is still ongoing and so are the arthritis like symptoms, I was planning to go back to the rheumatologist for a re-eval now that hcv seems to be gone. My feeling is that the tissue damage from HCV might not be reversible for me. and aging doesn't help.

Why don't you go for an endocrinology eval to rule out hormonal imbalances? I read that males also go through some of those.

[Tony-z]

Chev,

I prayed you So......:~)


Total heart felt Congratulations


          TonyZ

[rearfang]

Doubledose-- I'm sorry you are having a rough time. Wish I had some insights for you, but I don't. Hang in there. Cuteus is right. You should try to rule out other causes.

Chev- I knew it would be good news!! It couldn't have happened to a nicer person.
Lauren

[Califia]

I'm afraid this might be a bit of a meandering message.  Just read yours, and wanted to tell you how sorry I am that you're still encountering these obstacles on your path.

When I first did TX, I was married to a guy--to his whole family, in fact--who seemed to be offering support, and yet managed to leave me pretty much on my own during the long health crisis.  My husband's cases always came first.  I thought I sensed resentment, but that was never directly stated until the divorce came around just a few years later.  

It was astounting to me how much easier life became after the divorce:  when I felt ill or tired, I could be ill or tired without having to apologize.  This time around, cohabiting with a partner who understands how enormous the experience of chronic illness can be,  the difference between the two situations is like day and night.   He can't offer me material abundance, but the emotional resonance is precious beyond measure.      

It's so important that you be able to discuss these matters with your wife.  Discuss them heatedly, if you have to, but by all means get them out in the open.  Polite silence will get you nowhere.  

Given my own experience post-tx a million years ago, it would not surprise me if you were encountering some immunological problems in the aftermath.  I wonder if  a general workup and then a consult with a good immunologist might not be in order?  As would a very long vacation from work and stress and responsibility, if only it were possible.   Your wife definitely needs to understand how hard it's been for you and come to appreciate how stalwart you've been through it all.   Maybe it's time for her to learn from your example and grow broader shoulders so _she_ can carry a little more weight for the family.   There is nothing like illness to test the amount of give and take that exists inside a partnership, and it looks like some changes are long overdue.

DD, I truly hope things work out for you.   You have my full sympathy and support.

[MichaelT]

I'm confident it isn't "in your head." Some folk take off like a rocket after treatment and never look back... some of us take a year or so to recover. Why? Don't know. But don't ignore these problems.

As far as wives, well, uh, well, I really want to express my feelings, but for once I will keep my yap shut (this time).

[woodbeegood]

DD: I think the others are right and some follow up tests might be in order, if for no other reason than to put your mind at ease.  Stress is awful on the body and can cause all kinds of symptoms, I hope you can find a way to start to feel better soon!

Chev: Congrats! That is wonderful news, you can truly put this behind you now.

BTW:  just got my 6 months post tx results back-clear!!

[cuteus]

Isn't it wonderful how the SVR list is getting longer and longer?
Enjoy it!

DD; I just thought about the fact that everyday emotional situations can also cause a lot of physical manifestations, you know, the old "mind over body" thing. try to get a consult with at least three specialists mentioned here; immunology, endcrinology, and mental health provider to cover all bases, in addittion to lingering hcv effects.
GL

[omyst]

Having battled depression on more that one occassion and found my way out into the light, I can tell only what I have learned from my experience.

Depression can take a life of its own, it creates a mindset and gets control of your thoughts, even though what started it may be long gone. It could be that tx started the depression and now your working your way out it. Try not to give it any traction by getting sucked into its quicksand.

I found that exercise helps a lot, yoga, meditation, music all can help, but most of all try and find those thoughts that lift your spirit.

Don't let the resentment grow within you and destroy your relationship with your wife. I know things don't always work out, but I do know that living with resentment will cause only more pain, suffering and depression. Please deal with this in a way that brings positive results. Be very careful not to add anger on either side of the ocean.

[scruffy]

Califia, that was heartfelt and beautifully said.

Chevrolet-check your e-mail-the congrats are in the mail.

DD, (I'm not SVR) I'm afraid I can no longer be sure if depression is from hcv,my  personal problems, interferon, ribavirin or what. But I strongly suspect that the drugs aggravated a slight condition from pre-treatment. I am one year post-tx and just not quite where I remember being emotionally. That is, I bounced back from difficulty quicker and more positively before. It seems now that I'm kind of like a yo-yo.up and down. I hope this will resolve but am somewhat concerned about the effects of another, longer treatment. I'm hoping a biopsy will give good news. We'll see. I wish you the best in recovering full health and especially in your marriage. frank

[woodbeegood]

thanks so much! i've finally settled down enough i'm not trembling anymore-lol i think the people in the office think i've lost my mind-got one of those "cat that ate the canary grins"

[scruffy]

This is very very good. 6 mo post-You need to dance a dance-sing a song and be kick-ass HAPPY!!! My heartfelt Congratulations to you. frank

[artgal]

DD -- So sorry to hear all you are going through. It seems only right that once you get through this tx all systems should be go and life great. I am sorry it is not that way right now for you. So much of what you describe sounds like depression or a chemical imbalance -- the fatigue and lack of motivation. Also the flare-ups of anger and discontent and then times of feeling good seem consistent with depression. Having been to the deepest depths of depression I empathize with you if this is in fact what the cause of your troubles are. Do you have a doctor who is familiar with depression that might be able to rule this out? I am sending good thoughts and energy your way.

Chev -- Well, you are there -- one year post tx and SVR. Hooray for you!! Thanks for all you do for so many preparing to or fighting the fight. Now go celebrate with your friend! SVR is yours!

[susan400]

Hi.  I wrote a post, similar to this, a couple of weeks ago with reguard to lack of stamina and endurance after treatment.  I've been off for 3 mon. now and working out as far as treadmill, riding the stationary bike, and just started the eliptical.  But, I can only do them for short periods of time and by the time I'm done with my work-out I'm WIPED OUT for the rest of the day.  I don't sleep well at night.  I don't think I've had a good night of sleep since I first started treating with Interferon about 11 years ago.  Being off of treatment doesn't help my sleep problem either.  I wish I could offer some hope for you that it will improve.  Since I'm in the same struggle, all I can say is that I understand.  I have a spouse who, though he tries to be supportive, gets annoyed with me when my activities change when I'm on treatment.  When I'm off of treatment, I have a better appetite, am more affectionate, want to go out, etc.  When I'm on it, I prefer to not go out unless it's absolutely necessary, eat little and pretty much want to be left alone.  It's not depression. It's just that when I'm feeling bad, no matter what it is, I just don't like to be socialable.  I was like this before I ever heard of Hep C.  Anyhow, my husband does not live with me. So, when he is around me on treatment, he's always irritated with me. I do though, have other people in my life who care about me and support me.  And my faith in God, sustains me though it all.  Susan

[scruffy]

Susan, I slept well during treatment but immediately following tx and for about 3-4 months after I had very poor sleep which has now resolved completely. Maybe there is hope for your sleep to get better. 11 years of messing with interferon could take quite a spell to get over but there is hope for improvement and my best wishes and prayers are with you. frank

[layla]

It sure sounds familiar to me. I've seen docs, an internal med doc and my hepatologist and been tested for everything they can think of with no luck in finding anything. I have an appt with an endo doc but it takes a while to get in and that won't be until July. Becasue of my autoimmune problems I do have irritability and other times I feel great. It's very fustration and I really feel for you. I also often have the feeling of dealing with this alone. My family has been supportive but because I work and function ok while on tx and post they do not fully understand what I am constantly going throough. I think it is also hard for them to grasp onto the idea of being sick for soooo long. It's like when someone ask how you are and you say terrible and they say to bad and go on with their day. I know my husband at times had resentment of my illness. He intended no harm to me but I think it a normal reaction. Now I don't think it should be constant but to occasionally be sick of someone being sick is normal. People feel bad but to continue to sympathize for long term is often diffucult. They have bad days too. Even now I have the fustrations you do becasue with the thyroid problems and to add it's hard to communicate here witht he additional autoimmune problems and it is also hard to communicate on a thyroid forum becuase they just don't get the HCV tx thing and it makes things very different. You should get tested as others recommended but I also found counseling and being able to talk out your issues help. If you just let them keep rollong around in your head I don't think that will help much. Probably not much help but I know where you are coming from on this. Continuing with problems so long after tx is difficult. I'm going for labs again today. I've been feeling bad myself for days now. LL

[Tony-z]

Chev,

<B>On my earlier post I said "I prayed you So......:~)" I meant in reference to "I told you so". Not that my prayers were the total reason for your being SVR...</B>

  I hope everyone understands that I was not taking credit for her SVR statis..This reference was due to an email between us..


                   Blessings


                       TonyZ

[skiff186]

Doubledose,

Finished 48 wks of tx Nov 04. Clear at 1,3, and 4.5 months. Was a 3a, did 6 mo tx in 2000, relapsed, hence the 48 wks this time around. Biopsy 4 yrs ago ... 2/2.

"4.5 months" you might ask?  Felt great for the first 3 months off  tx....then crashed so hard I thought I had relapsed.  Insisted on  a PCR to confirm.  Glad to say I was still clear.

Your post really struck me because I have been going thru exactly the same cycles you describe.  Feel great for a while then the seemingly inevitable "crash" seems to come around. I don't know what causes it either, but if you google "push crash syndrome" you'll have some interesting reading.

[bon_vivant]

DoubleDose, although I am currently treating again

[doll face]

I am sorry to hear that you are still going through some rough times, and I too like Layla know what it is  like. I thought that I was the only one still having such a hard time with the after effects of these drugs. Betwwen losing my thyroid and bone loss in the mouth, I still have bone pain in my legs and arms and some serious bouts of depression. My husband thinks now that I am off those meds I should be the happy go lucky person I used to be. Well I'm not. I still hurt. He used to give my looks of disgust when I was on the hep meds like it was all in my head, and now if I take a vicodin for the pains he just just gets mad. Our spouses just DON'T KNOW what we have been through and unless we tell them how they won't ever understand. I hope that talking it out helps with your wife.

Wodbegone- 6 months Yahoooooo!!!!

Chev- I can't believe that it has been a year already. I never had any doubt that you would make it. Seems like just a few short weeks ago we were the newbies :-)CONGRATULATIONS