Hep C and Memory Loss

[jmc_74346]

My husband took the whole treatment for Hep C, the shots and all the pills.  The treatment was a success, and he is going on his second year of remission.  At 55 years of age his memory is now progressively getting worse.  He can't remember where he put things or what he has told me, a week ago, yesterday, an hour ago, or 5 minutes ago.  Anyone else that has taken the treatment suffering from this?

[slowsouthernstyle]

i never got my memory back.some days i can't even remember what state i am in.but it is funny that i never forgot the lyrics to songs.slow

[sunspot]

I am 9 months post-tx and I would say I'm 90 % back to pre-tx. Of course my wife would tell a different story.
All in all, I feel pretty good. I wish the same for all the Heppers here.

[Tater-ToT]

I am only 45 & it happened to me "started with TX"...
Although mucho much better post TX... still not up to 100% again yet... started rapidly improving within 2 weeks of stopping treatment though!
Humm!

[lackalustre]

run dont walk to a good osteopathic dr. or good family practice and get his thyroid checked with the CORRECT tests.   the TSH does not tell the whole story and thats all most drs ignorantly go by.   i have suffered insomnia, and brain fog and more since being cured of hepc 3 years ago.  drs kept telling me my thyroid was fine. i finally got the correct tests and am indeed low and beginning treatment for it.    
   check out this website and get educated.  everyone being treated for hepc should go there.  www.stopthethyroidmadness.com.
   he needs to have his free T3, freeT4, thyroid antibodies, and ferritin checked out.

[honey11]

Yes,,,we all experience this to some certain degree but there is some memory testing he can do that will help or at least should.  Little things like thinking of a number early in morning and jotting down somewhere and then in evening,,,ask yourself what the number is?  I'm not sure what the meds do but I have experienced also and tried to increase memory.

[FlGuy]

There's always the possibility that it is not at all related to hcv or treatment.  There could be other reasons or conditions that affect him.  You might discuss it with your primary doc and maybe get referred to a neurologist for assessment.

[Forseegood]

dunno...have more than a few friends who SVRed (sustained remission, sorry if that's a contradiction in terms) and they went through a lot, and they went through things after finishing for awhile, sometimes a long while, but now they are as right as rain and back to their old selves...guess it depends on the person...

[sfbaygirl]

I hate when I get to the end of a thread and forget what is was about or who posted it. Especially these long threads, although I have to say a few have been short and I didn't remember either! LOL

[bobbyullc]

you bet , i stop in the middle of a sentence and forgot what i was saying, fogot where i was going...it was not like this before tx....3months post tx.now. i can remember things from 40 years ago. this stuff is poison to be taken only if there are no other options.
bobby

[lackalustre]

addendum:  even if you are only borderline low thyroid you can be very symptomatic!

[painterlady13]

Got to meet Brian fog tonite myself.  I have been on TX since late July and kinda wondered what meeting Brian Fog would be like.  OMG I met him tonight and I didn't like him one bit.  He made me forget my superintendent's name and she has been my big boss for the last 2 years. I covered by just avoiding saying her name but wow Sure blew my mind.....

[sfbaygirl]

So do we now have Brian Fog I and Brian Fog II? LOL

Geez, I hate when that happens! Names are the worst. I try to not mention their names or ignore them (that's real swift) but it is embarrassing! What if you meet someone you knew/know well, forget their name and can't introduce them to your husband...that's the awful. I went to the park with my granddaughter and ran into a teacher from my school (knew her for 6 yrs) and a student I had for 2 years. I couldn't remember either of their names! One I kind of talked around, the other I ignored cuz' I was so embarrased. Then I felt guilty for ignoring her like I didn't know her. well she had grown up for a lot and I didn't recognize her at first...Brian was sitting right next to me and didn't even help! Dang that Brian!

[painterlady13]

LOL OMG yes I was so totally embarassed until I realized that she didn't even know I did it.  One can only hope that it doesn't get too bad.  I'll really be in trouble.

[jmc_74346]

Thank you all so very much for your quick and helpful responses.  I wasn't for sure at first who had something wrong, me or my spouse.  I am really thankful I found this site and found some support also.  I am sure I will be back asking for more help, with more questions.  I just didn't realize this is a forever disease. Speedy recoveries and good health to all of you.

[hippygem]

Me too, ive got problems short term and long term, did the tx in 2004, 46 yrs old.
I do suffer from stress, anxiety, depression which doesnt help, the symptoms of having hep c take a toll on the body and mind, Ive been told I have to try not live hep c 24/7, but how the heck do you do that?  Having the symptoms is a constant reminder all the time you have hep c, switching off is hard.

[returntosender]

Yes - I'm 56 and finished a year of tx a few months ago.  Cant remember why I started typing this - just kidding.  Probably some combination of age and treatment, stress of treatment, continuing liver problems, and perhaps stress of wondering if he will stay cured.  

I think that in your mid fifties is not necessarily where you start losing your memory but its where you start caring about losing it. The whole aging thing starts getting serious as you become closer to 60 than to 40.  

What was hubby like before treatment?  How bad was his liver and how sick was he before he started tx?  When you are worried about dying from this disease you are not really focusing on your memory.  Getting SVR seems analogous to surviving a flood.  When the water is coming in thats all you can think about.  When the water is gone you suddenly start noticing how much damage was done.