finished with tx....now what?

[jt57]

I am done with my 48 wks.  ended on June 28.   I am still feeling tired.  HGB is coming up, now at 10, so I stopped the procrit.  wbc is still 1.4  platelets are still 57.   Waiting on the hcv viral load test.  feel it will still be negative.  

having some pain in the liver area.    How long before feeling better?  and levels to normalize?

My dr says he will not test viral load again until 6 mos. are up.  Is this the norm?  I became und around wk 8.  I pray for svr.....

Jean

[epiphiny]

The first 2 weeks after I finished tx I was in absolute agony with the same leg and arm aches that Charm and Marcia describe.  I couldn't believe it, it was worse than tx!!  That intense pain has settled down now (12 post eot) but I am still bothered with a funny ache in my knee from time, and yeah, my car really is much harder to get in and out of.  I also suspect some RA has been triggered and I am just praying that it will settle down or go away...

Also had the achy calf muscles front and back but that is slowly getting better now, just a bit tender when I press hard.  By the end of tx it was agony to put any pressure on my calves.

My CBCs made their most significant rise between weeks 6 and 12 post.  Hang in there, the meds are still leaving your system...

I've found that my immune system is in disarray since finishing tx, have had allergy issues that I have never had for years, I seem to have had a permanent cold or flu or sinus infection since finishing.  My only guess is that my immune system is slowly coming back online and having to relearn what are invaders or not.  And this all despite having remained UND 12 weeks post.....

The journey continues for us all, thank goodness we have the forum and each other...

Epi :)

[Marcia2202]

Jean, congrats on finishing tx. I'm sorry you are having trouble, but it seems to be quite common.

I kind of have the same problems as charm... I'm 14 weeks post tx.

When I wake up in the morning it is almost like walking on hot coal (or how I imagine it would be to walk on hot coal)

Last night I woke up several times with extreme throbbing pain in my left foot, especially the sole. I took some anti-inflammatory pain killer and was able to go back to sleep. 4 hours later the pain woke me up again. I've been on pain killers all day and am getting ready to go to sleep now. I hope I'll make it through the night without pain.

My ankles and my knees hurt and my whole left foot and leg feels like it is on fire and it hurts when I walk. Even the skin is sensitive to touch and to anything cold. I'm suspecting some crappy RA or something.

Hope you'll feel better soon.

Hugs, Marcia

[jt57]

dr. had me come in today.  My wbc was up to 2.0!     hgb was 10.3!  platelets up to 72!!!

She feels that all my pain is from my bones, the marrow is working it's butt off to bring my numbers up to the norm!!!!    She gave me pain pills and said to just rest alot.

Hope this helps!!!!

Jean

[charm27]

Yes I was left with SEVERE pain in my knes and hands and very bad. I never had this prior to tx. Im 7 months post tx now. I should go to docctor to see what it is  however Ive had enough of doctors and am just riding this out.
I know EXACTLY what your going thru- Its not pleasant-
In the morning I can hardly walk but after an hour ( Im like a Duracell battery)
I start to move again.
I have trouble getting up and down and in and out of car......
Like I said prior to tx not an ache.....

[jt57]

woke up today after having a really rough night!  from my hips down, I am just achy and throbbing,  Like I was on treatment!  It has been 2, going on 3 wks since I finished.  Why would I be aching so in my legs and hips.  Is it my bone marrow?  Anyone else have this issue?

Jean

[charm27]

Congratulating finishing tx! Wish you the best! I did 55 weeks and it took me 4 months to be almost back to normal! ( i am just left with knee and hand pain)

Im now 7 months post tx.
It does get better just takes some time.......
for the poison to leave your body!

Best of luck Charm

[alijee]

gonratulation on completing tx. you will gradualy improve within couple of weeks.

[newleaf09]

I finished about 6 wks ago and just got my 4 wk post bloodwork.  Hgb was 11.7 at EOT, only rose to 12.5 after 4 wks off of riba.  However, I feel a hundred times better than the first week after EOT. First week I felt exactly the same as on TX, second week a little better, but 3rd week I felt good and 4th was good enough to go on vacation hiking, body-surfing, etc.  I can do whatever I want, but usually need a little rest in the afternoon. It just takes time.  When you wake up feeling like you really want to do something, do it.

While my bloodwork was decent but not great at 4 weeks post (I'll also have 12 wk and 24 wk visits), it was very encouraging to see numbers coming up after abnormally low CBC for so long.  I've heard of several people getting back within normal range (low side but normal) 4 weeks after EOT.  It does get better!

[jt57]

thanks so much.  a little bit paranoid i guess.  just want to be svr so bad!!!!

[meakea]

jt57...  I have heard of others c/o pain in the liver area and I've never heard anyone say it turned out to be anything bad.  But, as jdwithhcv said, mention it to your doc.

My doc usually doesn't check viral load until 6 mos post treatment but I asked him if he would check it sooner and he said he would check it anytime I wanted him to.  So, maybe ask your doc to check it sooner IF you want it checked sooner.  Some people like to forget it for 6 months and others like to have it checked at 4, 12 and 24.

Congrats on completing TX!!  

[jdwithhcv]

I never experienced that.  Maybe you should ask your doc.  The forum is slow on weekends, its possible someone will come on later that has had that.

[jt57]

what about the pain in the liver area>    is this normal?

[jdwithhcv]

Most people in the US get a PCR 3 months post tx, then at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years.

Your blood levels may take a couple of weeks to improve.  I continued to feel tired for about 2 months, but gradually it improved.

Congratulations on completing tx.  Hang on, you should feel better soon.

jd