Last shot on 3/18, the joints in my fingers have the same pre tx ache

[Astrolady]

Hi everybody I haven't posted very much but I do linger a lot.  I completed 24 weeks of Pegasys on 3/18/05 and continued 800mg of Copegus daily for one week, so 3/25/05 was my last pill. On on Sunday (easter) I felt great, since then joint pain in my fingers has been returning, it pretty much disappeared after the first month of tx and I'm still struggling with anxiety and sleep problems as well as emotional issues caused by the meds.

History Geno Type 2, VL  1.1 million
AST  60
ALT  105
Biopsy:
Grade  2 - scale of 0-4
Stage  1 fibrosis - scale 0-4

PCR was clear at 12 weeks, I did not have a PCR during tx prior to 12 weeks so I don't know when I actually cleared, I've read that at least 2 other 2's have relaped on this board, my doctor doesn't want to do a another PCR until 12 weeks post tx, the way I'm feeling now I don't think I can wait that long.  I think I'll call him and beg to have a PCR done on 4/15/05.  It appears that if you are going to relaps its usually in the first month.

Assuming I don't relaps, how long does it take for this poison to detox from your body and actually feel normal again (I'm not sure what normal is anymore).

Thanks, Karen

[snook_man]

Hey, great to hear from you.. We started about the same time.. Lou also finishes up this week.
Me, I'm at the half way point..

From what I know, depending on the persons metabolism, it can take from a month to six months to detox the meds.. Everyone is different.
But remember one thing, EVERY ache is not HCV related, or tx related.. Your WHERE a geno 2, so you are good as done with HCV..
DRink lots of water, and excercise.. Eat plenty of liver friendly greens, and clean out your system.. Tx is over, and you'll soon be back on track..
Good luck, and congratulation on finishing..

[Tony-z]

Karen

It's great to see you again, also I am glad you are done with TX.
Interferon clears about twice as fast as Ribavirin. On the average it takes 2-3 months for interferon and 4-7 months for Ribavirin, if memory serves.
The physical and psychiatric effects caused by these drug and the damage that was done by the virus can last for years, but usually goes away within 6 months after TX from what I have heard.
I have done TX 3 times now, and it seems to take about 1 year before I feel most of the SX,s (mostly physiological) to clear up.

Just because your pain has flared up, that is not an indication that you are still not clear. Believe me, you will not know if your still SVR or if you have relapsed. I would suggest talking to your treating Physician about your joint pain....

              God Bless

           TonyZ

[genedog]

i had pain in my fingers bad before tx it went away around shot 7 and came back around week 18 of tx now its gone again iam on shot 28 this friday and still clear.  hep dr said its just the meds, hey snook we will be done before you know it

[cuteus]

if your GI won't do the early PCR, maybe your PCP will. I know mine does.
I thought I had relapsed 6 wks post tx, right after my 5wk post tx pcr.  I had a "meltdown", aches, flulike signs, malar rash and swelling eyelids, but I did not according to the 3 month PCR.
Your body seems to sort of explode the first 6 to 8 wks post tx into all kinds of enhanced aches, and then it settles, much like during tx. maybe is the "schock" of zero meds after months of toxins.  Talk to your GI, or your PCP. MOst relapses do seem to happen the first month.

[happythought]

My boyfriend just received a phone call from his nurse - he is undetectable. He is on 15/24 week of tx. I am very happy. He is 2b and doing okay so far except for sore throat and lesion in his mouth.
He says that he has more energy now than he ever had in years.

[Astrolady]

Thank you so much for your responses, I'm definitely going to ask for a PCR at 4 weeks post otherwise I'll go crazy.  Now only if my hair stops falling out!!!

You know its funny the whole time I was on tx I thought as soon as I completed my tx I would be done, each week was a count down and I would immediately bounce back to "normal