Good sx on treatment and open thread

[sunspot]

There are some good things that happen on tx.
I developed serbatious dermatitis about 6 months before tx. One month after starting tx it went away. I also had a planer wart that subsided to the point that I could hardly see it. Curse the luck, they came back after ending tx but what the heck, I had relief for about 10 months.
Has anyone else had things like this happen on tx? Who was it that posted about being euphoric on riba?

[lionesss]

I know what you mean about sx been in the head.  I felt all sooky after a few days of diarrhoea, anorexia and insomnia, that when I went for my blood test I was convinced it was going to be dodgy.  Imagine my surprise when the blood test showed an improvement!  I immediately started feeling better.  What is that? haha

[strator]

I got a chance to catch up last night on some threads I missed the end of last week. Hope ya don't mind a belated song and combining the two.
"Bonnie and Clyde advanced their reputaion
and made the graduation

[jmjm530]

You're the first person I've heard of whose skin got *better* on treatment, but hey, congratulations!

The only *good* thing about treatment I can think of is that it ended :)

Oh wait, maybe, it gave me permission to eat a lot of high-fat "comfort" foods because of my weight loss. Now I'm back on a lower fat, lower protein, more complex carb, more health oriented diet. I   occasionally do miss my scrambled eggs, bacon, home fries and buttered toast treatment diet (now it's oatmeal, banana, skim milk, egg whites)but after going through treatment, it doesn't seem that much of a hardship.

So, yes, that's another good thing about treatment. Treatment  taught me I'm a lot stronger than I thought -- and small sacrifices like eating healthier (if you want to call it a sacrifice) are really not that big a deal anymore. Not after a diet of Peg and riba.

-- Jim

[GoofyDad]

LOL. THanks.

[jmjm530]

Yes, please elaborate on the diabetes and any medical connections. Also, were there any lifestyle/diet changes (including weight loss) that could have been the actual reason.

Also, are you familiar with Metabolic Syndrome. Curious, how many components of metabolic syndrome do you have and did anything else improve. I have a tendency toward high cholesterol, low HDL, high triglicerides, and high bp. My NP suggests that metabolic syndrome can result in fatty liver which in her opinion is as much a threat to fibrotic progression (even more actually) than the virus itself.

On metabolic syndrome: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4756

[FlGuy]

Was dx'd with diabetes a few months before tx started. Since it developed in my 50's, strictly speaking, it was type 2 with relatively low doses of insulin daily. Did not have a real carppy diet, not overweight, not a drinker and fairly active.  All blood sugar levels went to normal during tx - coinciding with a clear pcr. 'Blood sugar abnormalities' are a fairly common sidecar to hcv.  Had blood drawn Friday for an endocrine doc appt tomorrow and expect all readings will still be normal.  As I've said before, I believe hcv gave me the diabetes and being clear took it away. But, also focused a little more on more healthy eating/living too.

[FlGuy]

Since I already had hcv when I started tracking such things I don't have a basis for comparison for 'pre-hcv'. But LDL, HDL, Triglycerides have always been abornormally very low.  Wasn't until 6 months ago that I had higher than 100 ldl. Was at 105. Have never been overweight and no family history. Someone mentioned a few weeks back that low cholesteral, ldl specifically, could have been one of the HCV 'pointers' (my term).  I do have hi BP which has not abated since end tx - I guess that one's with me for good, or until I quit smoking.

[Soleus]

My cheeks were a little chubby and I had the beginnings of a double chin before treatment. The treatment burned away the unwanted facial fat and left me even more handsome than I was before, Amazing.

[amirtracy]

you guys are funny

[Chriskid]

I was going to start a post on this subject at some point

[Chriskid]

Funny thing about that, my sense of humor seems to fade in and out like all my other senses.  So I

[sailinlady]

Positive sx.  Hmmm.  Tx has made me forget I am going through menopause.  I used to be a clean freak and I no longer care if my house is dirty.  I have learned that roses really don't have to be pruned, laundry can wait, organization is not that important and my dogs & cats don't shed nearly as bad as I do.

[NYgirl]

I'm looking for the good sides on treatment pass them here!

Aside from eating all the ice cream I want and still losing weight...I could use some fun stuff :)

[FlGuy]

It's both. While watching the flick, it occured to me that there should be a country and western song about hep...lost muh spouse, lost muh hair, crashed muh truck, Wranglers ain't fittin me no more.....All with the chorus...Gonna lick this hepatitis C, ain't it all just plain to see I ain't got nothin left just me and muh H-C-V.

[stewietoo]

when does the weight lose come about. I found all I did was gain weight.

[timedog]

Is that true about the diabetes? what type did you have one or two?

[returntosender]

After one year of tx, I was singing in the shower and lo and behold my voice was amazing - belted out a chorus of Boston's "More than a Feeling."

My wife and kids actually thought the radio was playing.  I was thrilled.  Unfortunately, after gathering the family and neighbors together, I discoverd that the voice was gone - only lasted the one song. I am back to my old voice - horrible and off key with a Riba raspiness something like Moms Mobley.  

I am thinking that I accidently gargled with Nioxin or Aveeno instead of my Tea Tree mouthwash. If you think that stuff is nasty in your hair you should try drinking it!

[MrsOckert]

Don,

:) Thanks for the good wishes.  I hope work goes well for you today.  How are you handling working and TX?  It's not going quite so well for me, but I think it would go better if I could come in at 10 am.  Don't we all wish!

To ALL:

I'm curious about people that are in the end of their tx and the ones that have recently ended whether their sides were worst in the first half or the second half of tx.  Including things like anemia, etc.

I have to say that for me the sides are getting worse in the second half of tx.  Nothing that will make me stop or that I can't handle.  I talked to a few other people that were worse their second half, also.  A couple that didn't procrit until the 30th - 36th week.

What seems to be the consensus here?

[Dale_Ray]

Pass me another jelly donuts. I have a great medley I do of Fred Sanford. I call it lost in the feelin Ester. Watch your mouthwash sounds toxic. DR

[FlGuy]

Last summer my kid came back from summer camp with head lice (and he thought hepatitis was iccky). As it works out, the active ingredient in the topical potion was Tea Tree Oil. Guess that stuff is good for what ails ya. Wonder if 'roid nation residents may lay down their chapsticks to try some TTO. The stuff stinks anyway.

[FlGuy]

For me the first two months were the most difficult.  The meds acted abruptly and I not prepared and did not gear back right away. Hgb hovered around 12 (800mg/day) so I was weak but not anemic. I was reluctant to use OTC pain meds for constant massive headaches and sleep was an issue.  It wasn't until I started to get a handle on cause and effects during tx relative to diet, fluids, rest that I was able to get myself a little more modulated.  Getting that tenuous balance, using aspirin, tylenol and especially ambien got me into a more acceptable groove.  Then it was down to taking the 'dog days' of tx a day at a time and gearing back a little more.

[sailinlady]

Friday will be shot 40 for me.  I have had a real hard time the last three weeks or so.  That said, I think it may all be in my head.  I know I am almost done and I am sick & tired of being sick & tired.  Overall I would say the first few weeks and the last few have been the worst for me.  Once your body adjusts and the brain fog sets in you just seem to go with the flow.

[sunspot]

jmjm530, Chriskid.
Very insightful posts

FLGuy
Great to hear about your diabetes. As to feet, brain and farts, <b>LOL</b>

ReturnToSender
You were a one song wonder.

Mrsockert
My second half was worse. Not that the sx got worse, just that I got worn out from the ongoing sx. I took short term disability from work 11-20-05. Procrit made me feel a bit better but it did not raise my HGB.

[niki12]

Has anyone out there develop Restless Leg Syndrone after starting tx.  I am experiencing that and it is driving me crazy.  I have no other sx.