Problems with health after therapy

I have been treated with Pegy interferon and ribavirin for 4 months, and my thyroid gland get crasy. At first very fast and after it very slowly. In fact, now my intare body function is not working. My blood can not congeal very good, digestion stops, my muscles are painfulness, I am tired and sleeping all the time. Doctor gave me "Thyrax" pills for thyroid (gland shield) and I have problem with suprarennal gland. Can anybody tell me something about it?
Sorry, I know that my english is not so good!

[regmel]

What are signs of thyroid problems?

[lizzee]

HI THERE,
MY THYROID WAS KNOCKED OUT TOO.
I BEGAN TO FEEL SOOOOOOO TIRED.
I NOW TAKE SNYTHROID EVERYDAY..IF I STOP I GET THAT EXHAUSTED FEELING ALL OVER AGAIN.
BE WELL,
LIZE

[jonihs]

I just got copies of all my labs through 02, 2003.9/30,2002 ALT-132, AST-91,-----11/12/2002 AST-141-ALT147----12/31/2002 AST-124-ALT131----2/11/2003 AST-192-ALT-199! I will be getting last weeks results on Mon. What do I need to expect?

[Steve']

Hi there here is a great site telling you all about those blood test results we all want to know about .... I'm trying my skill at putting a link here, so lets see how I go hahaha ..... <url=http://www.janis7hepc.com/Labs.htm>Click Here</url> Good Luck take things one day at a time...

[Steve']

Doh ..... Sorry I'll try plan B with the link...
<a href=http://www.janis7hepc.com/Labs.htm>Click Here</a>  Fingers crossed there should be a link above ... LOL ...bye for now ... Steve

[regmel]

How do you know if you have thyroid problems.  What are the symptoms between hyperthyroid and whatever the other one is.

[Merlin51]

52 yr old male.  I have completed 48Wks of tx with PEGintron/Ribavarin(last shot 6/20/03. -after tx 9 yrs ago with interon alfa - My viral load was 2,600,000when i began but with normal range alt/ast-  

The sides sucked and I ended up being a real as*hole to my wife & son - sooo angry-sooo little control.  Went on Effexor and it heled a bit.  Some other complications during and shortly after TX were DVT(deep vein thrombosis) developed into a venous stasis ulcer -blood in urine-ended up being due to a bladder tumor (now resected.)  

I put up with all the treats due to the fct that my load dropped almost immediately to non detectable after TX began (4 -6wks.)  I wanted to do all I could to see my 10 yr old boy get to be 30-40 yrs old!

Now my alt /ast are over 200% of normal range and I have never seen them that high in last 5-6 years!!!  I just got my load results and am at 973,000.  !!  It's Back!!  To say I am bummed and freaked is a understatement.   I wanna know if any one has any good ideas or has seen this type of results (being worse off after tx).  

Hope to hear from ya soon...hope your tx works for you!

[regmel]

Thank you so much.  That one question was driving me crazy. since it's all the same symptoms, I'll just have to wait for blood test results to see what's up.

[oldhippiechick67]

basically hypothyroid is characterized by a lot of the same symptoms we have on tx: fatigue, dry eyes, no sex drive, mood swings, hair falling out, dizziness, short of breath, weight gain, depression, etc etc and hyperthyroid is jittery, wt loss, insomnia, restless,bulging eyes, red/inflammed eyes...twitching, tremors, diarrhea, & blurred or double vision.  If that's not enough info, just do a search on Yahoo or such.  Best to all my fellow heppers out there, OHC

[DebbieDo]

Thanks for the link explaining LAB WORK....This is just exactly what i have been looking for.  Great link.....very helpful...my appt is on the 22 to discuss my biospy and lab work.  This is going to help me understand better.  Thanks so much....I am so very blessed to have found this site. Everyone here is so helpful.
                Deb

[chicagogirl]

I also developed a thyroid problem during treatment.  Felt much better after medication.  The thyroid problem felt much worse than treatment.  Good luck.  (Don't worry about the English. Keep your questions coming.)

[Revenire]

Sorry to hear that the HCV has returned. Treat again ... it is hell but what choice do we have? At least the tx is helping the liver during tx.

I'm a 46 year old 1a, Stage 3, 35th week and undetectable -- my viral load was 3,200,000. If mine comes back I will treat again.

Good luck,

Scott

[oldhippiechick67]

I would try Pegasys this time if I were in your boat Merlin, and there was an interesting article that Willing posted I think, about a sub genotype that may resurface after treatment....Im no Einstein, but it sounded pretty possible.  I will go look for it, but want to post this before it disappears.   OHC

[oldhippiechick67]

Awwww heck, I cant find it.  But Willing maybe can point you in the right direction.  I found this one which addresses repeating tx nicely for nonresponders.

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/070703a.html

Hey has anyone heard how DiveWrite is doing? Galen, you heard from him last about putting his puter in the fix it shop.... What about Peony? she came back and posted once and then evaporated.

[willing]

Merlin, I wish you all the best in getting through  this rough time. "Rough" doesn't say it, on a psychological level this is about the worst point of tx. There are quite a few relapsers on this board so it's worth gathering advice/support here.
The link OHC is referring to is <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12829042&dopt=Abstract">here</a>. It's a recent study  that shows that, if you were infected with multiple genotypes, tx might have knocked out the dominant strain   only to now leave you infected with another latent  strain. This is probably more relevant to relapsed 2-3s (shebee, travis?) than to relapsed 1s. Genos 1 & 4 are much more resistant to  tx than 2-3 so a tx that knocked out a 2-3 could have left you infected with a 1. Even you were not infected with multiple genotypes, tx does a good job of "shuffling the deck" in the virus genetic mix (killing off some variants and encouraging others) so you should be prepared for different infection symptoms (such as the now elevated ALT/AST) and rate of progression. You didn't mention your fibrosis score, a key part of the decision to retreat. If you do decide to retreat you might want to look at Roche's REPEAT clinical trial for PegIntron relapsers which I believe is now recuiting. Best wishes to you.

OHC : how can you take that Arizona heat under tx! The temp here went over 90 for a couple of days and I can barely move..

[Galen]

I haven't heard anything from or about DiveWrite.  I do know he put his computer in the shop right before his surgery and wasn't expecting to be back for at least a week.  
Is anyone else in touch with him?

[Merlin51]

Wow!  Thank you! This was my first time out here.  I am sure I do not need to to tell you all what it means to get your comments back and know I am not alone.   Wish I knew of this site while on tx and thank God I found it now.

I would not be surprised if I had numerous genotypes and will get my fibrosis score from Dr., thansk for the reminder Willing.

I will post all my specs next week when I review all my labwork.  That way I hope to get more feedback from other relapsers that fit my profile....

I am sorry to hear about Tim's bro in law and pray that his transition smooths out for all.  I have lost folks the hard way too an you and your sister have my best wishes.

You guys are great and I will not be a stranger to my new found community...

OHC - as an OHD I wanted to tell you I love your nick!

[oldhippiechick67]

Merlin, thanks for checking back to read the responses to your post.  Glad you are happy with us, WE are Happy with Us too!  lol!  "Willing", thanks for that post and the link, that BLEW my lil ol mind...& we all know that doesnt take much when you resemble Ozzie, without the fame or fortune...LMAO at myself.
And how can I handle the HEAT in this manhole cover over the hubs of hell?  I dont go outside for more that 4 min, and live inside, Im all pasty white!  ugh.  A hundred days of over 100 degrees...   Like someone suggested, air conditioning, remote control, cable and internet help ya get through this lovely 48 weeks.  HUGS,  Augs/OHC

[Tim in Tenn]

Sorry that this has happened to you.Yes for a lot of folks the hepc returns,especially for geno 1's.Hope you will decide to treat again.My brother in law is now in end stage liver disease and its not a pretty sight.His mind is not the same and he is verbally and physically abusive to my sister and their kids.It appears its gonna be a slow and painful death for him.His hepatitis wasn't found until he had liver failure and also other organs shut down.They brought him through it but his quality of life is terrible.He is considered non-treatable because he was so far along when he found it.He is also not considered a candidate for liver transplant because of drug addictions.I also have hep c(geno 1 grade 2 stage 3 bridging fibrosis)just diagnosed 2 months ago.Should be starting treatment in a few weeks.I know after seeing him go through all of this that I will fight as long and hard as I can.Fortunately my drug days have been over for a long time.So if you really want to see your son in his 30's and 40's go for the treatment again.Will keep you and your family in my prayers.Thats the best thing about this forum,we can lean on each other for support,prayers and information.Wish you the best!
                                             Tim

[AnnieG]

Anybody who has had any longterm problems due to PEG, please contact me ASAP - particularly thyroid, muscle/joint/nerve, eye, skin, or any autoimmune problems.  We are doing some info sharing on these problems and we need your input!!
***@****

[DebbieDo]

What if you already have a low thyroid and you are meds before TX ....Does the TX make your tyroid that is now undercontrol Out of control?

[jcribbs]

It doesn't effect everyones thyroid gland that is on treatment.  Only some.. When you start treatment, your doctor will monitor your tsh levels and adjust your thyroid medication accordingly.