brain fog funny and other posts

[rsterling]

Good Morning all,
Thought I'd share my latest brain fog funny.  Was speaking to a friend that I grew up with.  She called on the 21st.  The next morning I thought, how rude of me, her birthday is on the 22nd and I didn't even mention Happy Birthday.  So the next morning I call and I'm leaving a message, explaining what a dork I am and that I couldn't remember if her birthday was the 22nd or the 23rd, but Happy Birthday.  Well she picks up, and tells me, "that's okay honey, It was January 22nd, and this is February 22nd, and it's okay."  I said, I know your birthday's in January ( I've known this for almost 30 years), Happy Belated birthday.  What a dork I am!  She did get a good laugh out of it.

[Califia]

I consulted w/ Robert Gish, MD before staring treatment and asked if he would recommend any supplements in particular.  He recommended  600 mg SAME-e, phosphatidyl choline, 1 gm NAC and  about 45 mg zinc.

[DebbieDo]

What does kind of OTC pain meds does everyone take?
What type of perscription pain med???
I made it through tx with just ibuprofin OTC 400 ml daily, which my doctor said it would be fine.....no everyday, only when needed......i will go to my regular doc today for an annual check-up so i want to get something.......any suggestions, something that is liver friendly?  I will get some SAMe, to try......Deb

[DH Bill]

My hep doc presribed ibupropen 800 mg tabs up to 2400 mg per day which I had to use everyday. He wasn't concerned about it being hard on my liver but not good for kidneys. I only take it when I need it now.It really works for me.

[cuteus]

I am with dh bill in the choice of pain med. i used to have to take almost 800mg ibuprofen for the lower back and the hands discomfort. When vicoprofen(vicodin with ibuprofen instead of tylenol) came out,I used it with extra ibuprofen( it only has 200mg). that way I only needed about 400 to 600mg total instead of the 800mg and it lasted longer than ibuprofen alone. some people did not like the narcotic effect, but I am used to it. It also helped me with the intestinal cramping and the coughing. one pill did the work of three meds.  
I think that some peoples immune system during HCV infection exert the same effect that the synthetic interferon does in others.  I had the arthritis and the numbness and tingling before tx, others complain of this after tx.

[DH Bill]

I'm 8 months post tx and the aches and pains are slowly going away. My left wrist felt like it was sprained, could hardly walk on my right knee and had neck and shoulder pain. All of these areas were past injuries that seemed to come back on tx.

I believe it just takes time plus I know my hypothyroid has a lot to do with this. Hang in there.

[Fubarcat]

I've been off treatment for 2 months and for the last several weeks have had pain in both hips.  Sometimes it's hard for me to get out of my chair.  Bending down and getting up again is a night mare.  I feel like an old woman.  My husband said this morning he thought I must have arthritis.  I never had any problems before treatment.  I just wonder if the treatment exacerbated and brought it on.

Anyway, I know I give Glucosamine to my old Golden Retriever for her bad hips.  I think I'm going to start taking it and maybe get some of the SAM-e.

[Tallblonde]

I'm in 100 percent agreement with New Sojourn about the SAM-e.  It didn't just improve my joint pain -- it completely eliminated it.  I can do deep-knee bends without any discomfort.  Before taking the SAM-e, it hurt to simply get out of the car!  And I take a fairly low dose -- only 400 mg.  That costs me about $21 per month through Vitacost.com

Susan

[scruffy]

What's crs syndrome?

[scruffy]

Cannot remember s__t? HaHaHaHa-I guess I'm STILL slow. Frank

[new-sojourn]

I put berry flavored 'joint juice' in my berry smoothies 5+times a wk-dundays we have pancakes after church-and take SAMe tablets daily.  I coldn't even open a door or hold a pen before tx and my new eating habits.  Now I'm fine.  I think its the hjoint juice and the SAMe.  SAMe is my fav--its good for joints, livers and moods.  What more could a poor girl want!

I find just about all my vits and mins @ costco or costco.com.  The prices are half of a drug store chain and I trust the quality.  Some of these supplements--SAMe, milk thistle, joint juice, etc-are very expensive.  I told my partner that who ever is ordering for costco must hve hep c, b/c nearly everything I like to take is available there-exc vit k.

Somedays I have spent more on vit and sup than on food, so I think they are important and work.

[Eyedeas]

Both pre and post Tx I elevated CRS to the advanced stages of CRAFT Syndrome!

Kim

[lackalustre]

good for you for clearing.  i had it for 30+ years.  got it in 1970. treated and cleared in 2003.  thats a milestone!
   i have some neck/back/and hip pain depending on what i do.  i saw a chiropractor and massage chronically for years.  now i dont do that.  i do use OMEGA 3 oils and MSM.   i got rid of carpal tunnel many years ago with OMEGA 3 oil capsules.  took 7 a day.  it sure seemed to help. its also good for the brain and heart.  studies have shown its more helpful than vitamin E for the heart.  anyway thats my $.02.   its good to be in the SVR alumni.   still check this site a lot.  sometimes i jump in and comment.

[bzzracer]

Careful w/the Ibuprofen, due to the risk of kidney damage. Common NSAIDS to avoid are Motrin, Ibuprofen, Advil, Aleve and Naprosyn. I was handed a booklet by one the transplant physicians, "Life After Transplantation - Taking Care Of Your New Liver" and was told it was my "bible". It clearly states what I just said.

[stc1993]

Is it okay to take sam E while your on treatment?  I'm going to have to get some & try it out.

[Tallblonde]

I'm not on treatment, but several regular posters, including Revenire, have mentioned in prior posts that their doctors have approved taking SAM-e while on treatment.  It's really a wonder drug, in my opinion.  Well worth the hefty pricetag.

Susan

P.S.  As an aside...my dog has epilepsy and the vet has recommended that we give him SAM-e to protect his liver from the toxicity of the phenobarbitol (anti-seizure med). I asked if milk thistle would be better, and his reply was that SAM-e was more effective as a liver protectant.  I'm not sure if I agree with that, but nevertheless, SAM-e is apparently becoming popular in veterinary medicine, too.  Unfortunately, we're not ready to spend the money for the SAM-e for our dog (even though he's worth it :)

Susan

[DebbieDo]

joint juice, can i purchase this at a health food store?  TallBlonde.......i can recall reading a post a long time ago about SAMe and the site VITACOST.......
I will definitely try it....... I will try anything at this point........
I dont take to many OTC pain relievers, i just try to get through the day as best as i can without them, but, sometimes dont have a choice........
Thanks everyone for your help........Deb  :)

[scruffy]

Kim, CRAFT syndrome-excellent. Apparently I've retained many many syndromes. Frank

[whoaisme]

My husband's doc (hepatologist) said it is ok for him to take Glucosamine, so I guess its liver friendly.

[DebbieDo]

Thanks for the info.  I guess i will have to do some research on it.  I have notice some aching in my wrist too.  I had this slightly during tx, but, now when i use my hands a certain way it feels like my wrist is spraining or something. It feels like it has been sprained and not quite well, if you know what i mean.  I know what you mean about tx.  I had a hard time too.  But, you know its sort of funny without some lingering aches and pains, probably brought on by tx, i feel like my old self.....I can say that last yr  on tx it was a nightmare and now finally woke up  :)  I wont get final results until June, so far i have cleared this.  1b with VL 778,000, mild fibrous......
Had this virus for 36 yrs.  I came down with Hep non A non B in 69'. You will get through this.  Hang in there......Deb

[bluepeng]

I tried Glucosamine when I had some serious carpal in my wrists.  Didn't use it enough to notice an effect.  I play guitar and I resolved the situation by changing some habits, posture, etc.  Sometimes, this just can't be done.   There is a guy named Troy Stetina who is just beyond words a master player who absolutely was saved (according to him) by Glucosamine.  I can't argue with his genius.  He raves about it on his web site.  

I'm doing shot 7 tomorrow, and my back has been hurting.  Never had a back issue in my life.   God, I hate this ****.


Good luck,

Blue.

[DebbieDo]

Morning, has anyone tried Glucosamine for combating arthritis?
Is it liver friendly?  I have been off meds now for just over 3 months, i have lingering aches and pains do to arthritis.  Feet ache during and after tx, knees too.......i use ibuprofin OTC meds(400)for the pain but sometimes it doesnt seem to do any good......Just wondering if anyone has any suggestion!
Thanks......

[sofarsogood]

Someone help. I am post tx almost a year. Negative at 6 months. I still suffer from CRS syndrome. What am I going to do???????

Heeeeellllllpppppppp

[cuteus]

yup, there are many meds induced "senior moments"  and they seem to carry over a few months post tx, also.
I was reading my entry of 5 WKS post tx PCR and I noticed I kept writing 5 MONTHS PCR over and over! all the while my brain was thinking weeks, my hands were typing, months!  I could not believe my eyes, and no one corrected  me. I guess we were in the same fogland together, lol.

write them down for posterity, you might not remember they ever happened until you read it.