Signs of relapse

[rita3a]

Did anyone have a clue they relapsed post treatment before the 12 week PCR?  

[zazza]

Have you had your liver enzymes tested post tx? They often sky rocket post tx if you relapse. If you are UND they might be lower than ever before.

[Texas714]

My dr. said the labs would be a big clue, as Zazza said...if they were in the normal range that would be a good sign.
On a personal note, and this is just me, nothing medical to it...The pain in my joints returned and that was a big clue to me that it was back.  Pain was gone during tx.
Hope you get good news!

[zazza]

If you are a woman with a BMI of 25 or less, having an ALT of 19 or below is a very good sign. But I know some women who have had an ALT of 25 and still were UND, so it is not carved in stone that you need to have below 19. A good sign is also if ALT is smaller than AST, but the opposite does not spell relapse.

[rita3a]

That is exactly what is happening here.  The pains were gone and now they are back.  I am worried.  I take advil everyday it seems.

I guess I'll find out on in med november when I get tested.  NERVOUS

Rita

[comeagain]

What paine are you talking about the pain inside the bone structure ore the joint stiffnes kind of pain, didn´t know you had relapsed Texas are you sure or do you just think because of the pain.
If you really have relapsed very sorry to hear that.

You scared me a little bit here because I´ve got severe bone pain back just recently, ok
I´m gonna check out my alat and asat on thursday and they have been very good all through treatment, and that I have got a viral breakthrough after 41 weeks dont think so
I didn`t got one during first tx relapsed when the meds was gone, so why shall I now on much stronger doses.

When I relapsed 3 months post my alat was doubled then it ever has been just to go back to the level i´ve had for decades before any treatment some months later.

I´ve heard from my doc that most people how relaps does it within the first 8 days (close to  90%) post tx ( last riba pill that is) they didn´t check me until week 24 post so I dont know when, but if you do a simple blood draw check the enzymes you can get an indication of where you stand but not be sure until you´ve done a PCR and if positiv double check it.

ca

PS I have never heard of anybody talking about getting pain back as a sign for relaps before, on the other hand I have heard of people how have got SVR but still have pain in there joints months and even a year or more after finishing tx

[Myown]

Did anyone have a clue they relapsed post treatment before the 12 week PCR?  
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There are alot of people who are SVR and still have bone pain. I don't think bone pain is really something that is connected to relapse.

I did feel my relapse though, woke up in a sweat and tongue, hands feet became numb and tingly. I woke my husband and said "I know I am relapsing at this very moment."

Went to the doc the next day got a PCR and sure enough results showed 87,000. Geno 2b - RVR -4 weeks post UND - relapse 9 weeks post,,,,, I know the fear you are going through, it stinks, but hopefully you will be fine.

I wish you the best.
MO

[BklynBoy81]

What exactly is Relapse?? What are the side effects that most people have while doing treatment?? I am thinking about doing the treatment real soon..

[Myown]

Hi Bklynboy - my husband is a Bronxboy :o)

Relapse means that after completing the treatment (tx) and clearing the virus - it then came back. If that takes place, God forbid, its usually before 12 week post.

Side effects are different for everyone. Some have it easy, some don't. I had it easy the first round except for depression which I didn't really recognize - because I was looking for classsic signs - fatigue etc and I didn't have that. I had it more where I isolated myself a bit and now this tx I have that sx even worse. Difficult for me to want to visit people or have company and sometimes I even avoid my husband and mother for no other reason but the way the meds affect me, wanting to be alone, yet feeling lonely, so its hard to understand or explain and the majority of people take Ad's during tx, so I don't know how many people actually feel this too. One of the members said when they were on Ad's you could have set them on fire and he would be fine, but I am thick as a brick and so I am holding on by my finger nails trying to get thru without taking the extra meds.

Another sx is anemia and for that, an experienced doctor will give you a drug that will raise your hemo, rather than lower your ribaviron (one of the tx drugs) as an inexperience doctor would do. Lowering your meds puts you at risk in that you may not clear the virus, but as unbelieveable as it sounds, there are DOCTORS who tx hep and don't realize how they are putting a patient at risk lowering their meds instead of giving helper drugs....

But anyhow, you may not experience hardly any sx. Right now I feel fine, a bit depressed, but not jump out the window type depressed - that was yesterday :o)

We all get thru tx one way or another, so try not to stress out about what may happen, because it may not - and Brooklyn guys are tough, so don't worry. :o)

Take care,
MO

[jmjm530]

The only reliable clue would be a positive viral load test. Less reliable would be sharply elevated liver enzymes. Other than that, I've seen people guess "relapse" based on symptons and guess "SVR" based on lack of symptons. I've seen them guess wrong as much as right. Anyone who can dx SVR (or relapsed) based on how a patient feels should set up a private practice because they would become rich.

[Myown]

Anyone who can dx SVR (or relapsed) based on how a patient feels should set up a private practice because they would become rich
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I can't dx it for others, but I knew in "myown" case :o)

[jmjm530]

Don't flatter yoursellf -- you had a 50-50 chance of being right or wrong :)

[Myown]

har- har:o)

[Myown]

My foggy brain forgot - I was UND at 4 weeks post, so I wasn't 50/50 if you look at it that way,,,,,in the Medical World I should have been 90% wrong in my prediction or feeling - yup, luck of the Irish, what can I say.

nighty - nite
MO

[GoofyDad]

This post tx "I think I've relapsed syndrome" is a nightmare. I caught it big time. Pain in the liver region and the hepo responded to my mail, "This could be a recurrence of the virus." Guuuuulp.

Nothing, nada --  'twas SVR for me.

Try to relax and don't second guess it. It only makes you crazy.  

[rita3a]

I believe you knew.  I knew when I cleared too.  Like a real sounding bell went off in my head and I knew it and it was at 5 weeks of tx not 4.  As crazy as this all sounds...

No sense worrying about it,  I just hope I didn't relapse.  I will find out soon enough.  My MD dated the PCR script 11/15, so I just have to wait patiently.

Rita

[redrodeo]

If you look, I just posted a simialiar concern. My 6 month check is in November also. Personally I am going to believe we both are still neg. ok?
Red

[nygirl7]

Rita,

You are being paranoid.  You have not relapsed.  Many of us are uh not so young any more and we have bone pain.  It's indicative of absolutely nothing.  Stop sweating!  Nobody on earth could feel a couple virus replicating in their body - no way no how.

You are fine and are going through the NORMAL fears...........chill out!!!!!!!!  

(I was sure I was UND at 4 and wasn't.  Was positive at 24 I was still positive and was UND.  Felt fantastic after tx and had a PCR which said I had relapsed. Of course I hadn't but..........I sure totally believed I did and pains came and all sort of things which convinced me I really had).

IT'S ALL NORMAL.........WATCH AND SEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Can you have a CBC and panel and see your liver enzymes if he won't let you have the PCR early? Maybe that could help you relax a bit (and probably if you relax the pains will go away too!!!!!!!)

Im going to count on that, so you do it too.

deb

[can-do-man]

Your just fine..... I asked my magic 8 ball and it says " Rita3a is svr"

cando

[Texas714]

Yes I relapsed after tx.  Showed back up at 4 weeks.  
I am not trying to predict anything or scare anyone, I was only sharing my experience.
The pain I spoke of was not bone pain.  It was in my joints...the joints in my hands and wrists.  That is what drove me to the doctor in the first place and how I found out I had HCV.  I was tested for RA and my liver panel was out of whack....neg. for RA.
Once I started tx the pain in my joints in my hands and wrists left.  I couldn't believe it.  I ask my dr. about it and he said he thought the pain in my joints might have been from the viris.  Once tx was over the pain started creeping back and it worried me.
My vl before tx was 45ml. I don't know if that could have any bearing on the pain in my joints or not.  I was a rvr maybe that's why it left..und at 4 weeks.  At 4 weeks post tx my vl was right back up to 1ml.  maybe that's why I could feel a difference after tx.  I'm stage 4 and maybe that has something to do with the effects.
I am not a doctor, and I'm sorry if I alarmed anyone.  That was not the intent.  
I apologize.  I only meant to share my experience.

[rita3a]

Thanks for the messages and the hugs from Elaine (hug back to you).  I will try to chill, stop being paranoid, listen to 8 ball saying I am SVR.... but the joint pains in my ankles and wrist are creeping back.  I am going to be positive and take some advil and try and forget.

Rita

[Texas714]

Hey Gal...this joint pain is most likely more connected to my age than anything else!
I'm sure you will get a good report.
I'm looking forward to your good news!

[rita3a]

What you described is exactly what happened to me.  They thought it was RA.  I had a high RF factor too.  Thanks for your honesty.  What is happening here is what you described to a T.  Hopefully its just old age, but as bad as felt during tx, it was a relief to have no joint pain.  I hope it will be ok and will keep you posted when I get the results.

Thanks again....

Rita .

[nygirl7]

Anybody who seriously thinks they could tell when one virus replicated into two and begin a process of relapse needs mental help.  That would mean that you would know immediately when you got this disease, the flu or any other ailment.

Like I said, we are getting older (and God knows this treatment surely pushes us a little bit farther down that path QUICKLY) and pains and aches that before didn't exist surely do now.  I never had a pain in my hip in my life and I am now convinced I need hip replacement surgery.  I'm still obsessive just like on treatment but now I know better.

You are fine, take some ibuprofen and enjoy the beautiful fall weather!

[mikesimon]

When I cleared on my second TX  I didn't have a clue that I cleared - aside from my liver enzymes. Within 2.5 weeks stopping TX my viral load went from < 5 IU/ml to 6.85 million IU/ml and again, I didn't have a clue, an inclination, a foreboding, a night sweat or any sense at all that I had relapsed.
Mike