Noticed Any Symptoms Improving After Starting TX?

So, we all know that the treatment drugs can have some rather funky effects on us. But, as the virus is beaten down, have you noticed (or did you notice during treatment) any improvement in symptoms?

I have two biggies:

1. The small bones in my feet, my ankles, and knees used to get very sore and stiff. Indeed, joint/bone pain is a commonly reported symptom. Since I started treatment, this has absolutely been eliminated. These body parts feel like I was 18 again. I don't even think about them anymore.

2. I used to have GI issues all the time. Gas, upset stomach, bloating, sore gut, etc. Very uncomfortable in the morning. While I was always regular, there was no telling from one day to the next how things would "come out". This has been completely eliminated as well. I no longer have any of these symptoms. I can actually sleep in for a while in the morning without tossing and turning from bloating/sore gut.

Although my viral load is masked until week 12, I'm pretty sure I've been UND for a while now. All my liver parameters are the best they ever been.

Anyone else got some good news to share?

[EyesofBlue55]

I have these isues and Im not on tx yet.Got a pretty long history with the GI dr with all those symptoms-and every med that usually goes along with  it.Nothing works.
I also have extreme muscle,bone and back pain,achey (achy) all; the time.Ive become addicted to "BEN" Gay that is....I need to buy this stuff in quantity.
   Im glad your not suffering with this stuff since on tx....It can be a pain in the Butt(literally) cindy

[CoStudy]

I started noticing about week 4 some of the exact things you are noticing. I no longer take pills for IBS and my achs and pains are no longer bothering me. About week 18 I started sleeping like a baby. I don't remember the last time I slept like that. More energy and just plain feeling differant, better differant if that makes any sense.

I hope you keep doing well.

[babs824]

my bowels seem to be happier too!!! no need for fiber supplements. isnt it wonderful to have some positive sx!!! take care, babs

[RobertBeWell]

Sleep. That's one I forgot to list.

Well, dreaming, actually. For years I rarely would dream or at least have no recollection of it. Now, I'm having vivid dreams almost every night.

Course, it's probably a stretch to blame "no dreams" on hcv. But it is a notable change for me.

Seems like several folks note the gut issues. I think IBS is one of the things drs diagnose that really means "I have no idea whats wrong with you - here, take these."

:-)

I complained of sore gut for YEARS, they never could find anything. I'm convinced I finally found the cause.

RBW

[EyesofBlue55]

IBS was one of the first things I was diagnosed with,then diverticulitis,possible uccers(Endoscopy was normal) Gastritis,and just plain muscle spasms.I too have complained for some time about gut issues .This is the gastro that wanted to RUSH me in tx!!!!
If tx will resolve the gut issues,then Ill welcome it with open arms !!(I  hope that I dont regret saying that LOL) Glad your feeling better  cindy

[EyesofBlue55]

ulcers-my spelling sux 2 nite !!!!

[paen53]

I started to develop some pin-point red spots on my chest pre-tx and they disappeared early on - perhaps in the first three months, if I remember correctly. Also some puffiness under the eyes and reddish blotchy areas on my calves - they too have resolved  - but the latter - the blotches - much later in the game.

[Diane12855]

I was developing what I call "roving tendinitis". One day it would be my ankles, the next day my knees, or my wrists. My right shoulder was ongoing tendinitis while the rest of my body did the roving. Hurt like the dickens too. I haven't had one episode of that since I became UND 20 weeks ago.

My bowels have gotten much more regular too... but the gas has gotten ridiculous.

Also I haven't had a single TIA.... which is what I went to the doc for when I first got dx for HCV.

Diane

[GSDgirl]

In all honesty my feet did not hurt preTX but I look like a little old lady when I get out of bed now and it will be 3 years since I SVR'd.  Also the gastritis and IBS didn't happen until after.  I hope the improvement continues with you all.  

[jazzy578]

I have had neck, upper back, lower back and pain radiating down my left leg for many years along with severe left shoulder pain and wrist pain.  I just got use to it as just the way it would be forever.  Two weeks after starting tx all my pain left and at week 39 is still gone.  I was wondering is it is because I am too weak to do  any work so am not challenging my body.  My ALTs have been normal since week 8 along with being UND so I don't really know what is causing this, but it is a much needed relief after all these years of pain.  

So are you saying that our pain may be caused from the Hep C virus?

jaz

[RobertBeWell]

Joint and muscle aches and pain are very commonly reported symptoms in people who have HCV. Whether the cause of the pain is HCV in a specific situation like yours, who knows? But since you've been pain free since becoming UND and had the pain for years... I'd suspect there is some type of connection.

Another possibility is that it's a side of the treatment drugs. Perhaps one of them has some type of anti-inflammatory property or something.

Personally though, I don't look a gift horse in the mouth

:-)

[Susan_1a_CC]

Your post is so welcomed.  It's just great that there are some upsides (besidesSVR) to tx.  I, like many, read of all the dreaded possible se's, and it's nice that there may be some balance to these.  Thanks a lot for sharing your good news.

[willbb]

As you know I have only been in the game for 8wks., however I must say some nagging symptoms I have had for many years have certainly dissipated . Sides for me so far fotunately have been very tolerable, so  I must say  that up to this point anyway,I am feeling better than I have for a long time.

[RobertBeWell]

"Your post is so welcomed.  It's just great that there are some upsides (besidesSVR) to tx.  I, like many, read of all the dreaded possible se's, and it's nice that there may be some balance to these.  Thanks a lot for sharing your good news. "

Thanks Susan, glad you enjoyed it.

You know, I've never even read the adverse effects warnings. I'm pretty sure 95% of the people find treatment annoying, but not really anything they can't handle. Unfortunately for the other 5%, we really need to find a more tolerable treatment.

Just as an anecdotal example, at about week 8 of my study I was crowing to the nurse about how my side effects were almost non-existent. She seemed totally unimpressed, so I asked her if it wasn't unusual that I was doing so well.

She told me that in 20 years of work with HCV patients, she could count on one hand the number of people that had serious adverse events that required stopping treatment. In fact, she said the vast majority of patients do just about exactly like I am doing. Some minor annoying problems, nothing that can't be handled.

Of course, for that small number that do suffer serious and long term sides, that's not much comfort. Hopefully, there will be a cure for this disease in the next decade that leaves out IFN and Riba.

Glad to hear others are noticing some improvements in their unexplained symptoms.

[merryBe]

yup, my joints pains got better during tx, except for some weird needle like moments...
overall less aches during tx...also the bowel, well the right quadrant pain went away completely and stayed gone until about 6 months after tx was over...

so now I'm back to joint and side pain....but, there were lots of things about tx not so good...like the anemia...that really was a B.

[Diane12855]

DARN!!!!!!!!!!! I was hoping that those pre-tx aches and pains were gone for good.

Diane

[Marcia2202]

I had had pain on and off in one part of my bowels for several years, my doc diagnosed with IBS. It went away a few weeks into treatment. 1 1/2 years post tx, the pain never returned.

Also the stiffness in my fingers and pain in my right big toe subsided while on treatment.


Stiffness in fingers and and pain in toe come and go, but not nearly as bad as it used to be. Also I can be on high heels much longer, before the toe starts hurting. And I love my heels!

All this could be coincidence or not, who knows?

[CoStudy]

1 days after my last injection and some of the achs and pains and stomach problems from pre treatment days are starting to return. I really think interferon has a relaxing effect on the body??

Hope you are doing well.

[CoStudy]

That should say 11 days after last injection.

[blondie717]

Wow , that is all good. I have plenty of zip, and so far no sx , except dry skin...But its cold weather too..