Fatigue Help?

[AKHepper]

Just wondering if anyone has found anything that helped with Hep C fatigue, other than just resting and pacing yourself.

I saw something on the net about lipid replacement therapy or somesuch thing. Don't know if that's quackery or what.

I treated and relapsed in 2004, haven't seen a Dr. about the hep since then. They tried to get me to work 6-10s last week, I made 5 and took three days to recuperate. Probably get fired pretty soon for missing time...

[lalapple]

i wasn't fatigued until i started txing.  and probably wouldn't consider lip therapies anytime soon seeing that lipids are fats and fat storages have to do with the liver.  

unless, someone comes along and says otherwise.

[AKHepper]

hmmm, don't quite know how to take this silence, either hardly anyone has experienced this dern fatigue, or no one found a way to relieve it. Maybe no one but lalapple saw this question? hehe
Somebody give me the magic bullet!

[meakea]

As lalapple said, I didn't experience the fatigue until I started treatment for Hep C.  When I get particularly fatigued while on treatment, I drink a can of Boost (which is like Ensure) and it helps get me through the work day.

Since you haven't seen a doc in 5 years, it's time to do that...there may be other reasons for your fatigue.

[Bill1954]

Hey there,

You might discuss Provigil or one of its clones with your doctor; I’ve heard of HCV patients in treatment taking it for staying alert. I believe it’s labeled for shift workers (also fighter pilots), among other things. I know what you mean about fatigue; I was trying to work pre-treatment, and ended up napping in the cab of my truck some days. I hope you find something to help you out soon; are you in Anchortown?

Take care—

Bill

[AKHepper]

no, Bill,  I moved out of Anchorage a couple of years ago, I'm in Washington state, now. I just kept this moniker because it's the one I used on here back when I was on tx. Only seen a couple of familiar names on here, hopefully everybody got cured and moved on.
It's taken me 4 days to get over last week, I think I might go back to work tomorrow and see if I still have a job or not.
This is the same fatigue I started noticing about 7 years ago, just seems to be worse, these days. I had some blood drawn yesterday for a comprehensive metabolic panel, so we'll see what that shows...

[Bill1954]

I see; I hope things work out for you soon. I worked in Anchorage for a year or so in 2001; I was in town when nine-eleven occurred. The jets scrambled out of Elmendorf and screamed all over downtown… what a sight!

Discuss Provigil with the doc; you might also ask them about some of the ADD/ADHD drugs too; I don’t know how they view the use of these drugs with HCV, though.

I remember seeing your moniker here for years; I achieved SVR this January, but still stop in now and then.

Good luck to you—

Bill

[AKHepper]

I was working in Kenai when 9/11 happened, so didn't get to see the jets scramble, but I remember them talking about all the hunters that had been dropped off in the Bush and couldn't get back for a week because all flights had been grounded.
Congratulations on defeating the dragon!

[portann]

If you haven't seen a doctor since 2004, it's definitely time to schedule a liver biopsy.

As to fatigue, heck, it can explain countless undelying conditions, excluding HCV.

Do yourself a favor and get a biopsy. Five years is a long time to go without one.

[AKHepper]

I'm kind of ambivalent about another biopsy, I know I'm supposed to have one, but what good does it do? There's only a 10% chance of success with a second round of tx, unless there's new statistics? Plus, they're crazy expensive for something that takes about 5 minutes to do.

[AKHepper]

What about these new blood test that show fibrosis, are those any good?

[portann]

Swallow your ambivalence and let the doctor swallow your hard-earned dollars but have a biopsy. It's still the gold standard.

Then you'll see where you stand, and only then.

[Xhrles]

Try Fatique relief plus from natural wellness or NT factor. It helped me a lot. Takes a couple of weeks to work and it does not make one jumpy like a stimulant.

[oneatenuff]

Provigil did it for me.  200 mg daily or when I need it (I don't need it everyday.)   Hep C + for over 30 years, last biopsy 2003, under care of hepatologist, tried tx in 2004, waiting until VX-950 is available.  Labs are stable.  Fatigue is worse symptom - debilitating

Provigil is approved for sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and it's also being prescribed for chronic fatigue (including Hep C fatigue)  but there's some hoops to jump through to get Rx plans to pay for it for chronic fatigue, and that would be an unsuccessful course of Ritalin (such as - your doc saying that Ritalin was tried but didn't work or you can't tolerate Ritalin.)

Provigil is very expensive.  Canada's prices are much better than state-side.  

Ritalin also worked for me  (was taking 20 mg once or twice daily and could take up to 20 mg three times daily if I needed it, but I never needed that much - 20 mg was enough.)   It is much more affordable in fact dirt cheap, but downside is .... if you've ever had a problem with "drugs" you better watch out for Ritalin cuz it'll definitely jack you up and should be used in caution with people who are in recovery.   (In fact, I'd say not at all if someone is in recovery.)   Provigil is much safer for people in recovery for sure.

If you get put on either, be sure and get your liver functions checked as baseline and then at 3 months or somewhere thereabouts.  

Good luck.

[AKHepper]

Thanks, you guys! I just ordered up a 30 day supply of the Fatigue Relief Plus, hope it works for me.