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Avatar universal

post treatment and still having side effects?

Still want to share with others who are having a hard time after 48 weeks of peg and Riv.  In the 6 months of post treatment { I have til June to go }  Still have to take Lexapro, very tired and hard time with memory.  I do have the appetite back big time. Phew.  Wonder if Lexapro causes that.  I have got to get this under control.  I get shortness of breath and so exercising is not in the picture yet. I have enough of a time trying to do the things I have to do around the house, errends and some gardening. Oh my goodness.  I want to feel better. And you????? Are you having side effects post treatment?  
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your support.  I do feel better knowing it is o.k. to have this difficult time.... not unusual.  It was a big let down not to feel better after the last shot and pills.  Rosebud I found what you wrote interesting.  Several times I thought I had a urinary tract infection but tested negative..I did a lot of work today and I ache all over.. tomorrow I will take it easy.  So much for trying to bounce back come hell or high water...I am going to be good to myself and go easy.  Interesting about anti depressants and weight gain.  I am going to try and wean myself off of Lexapro... My Dr. thinks you can stay on this for ages... I disagree.  I do not like pills unless I absolutely have to take them. I have to take thyroid replacement {Levathroid} this I can understand but not Lexapro...Think about it.. You keep taking this stuff ... How will you know if you are still suffering from depression?????  You could be taking it for no reason.  Keep posting re. post treatment "all" Like to hear how you progress.  Thank you so much. Lostpass
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Avatar universal
10 months post and still have memory problems and fatigue. sorry.
Helpful - 0
146021 tn?1237204887
Anti-depressants have a side effect of making you gain weight. I use to think my weight gain was because I was less stressed, but found out it was actually the anti-depressant stimulating my appetite.
I guess the longer you tx, the longer the post sides. I don't know much about long tx since I quit at week 16. My hair 5 weeks post is still falling out, I can't imagine if I had txed 24 or 48 or 72 weeks.
It is reassuring to hear that others have post tx sides of anxiety, bone pain and fatigue and memory problems resolving slowly.
I really respect those who have txed 48 weeks and are committed to getting better. What a long ride!
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Avatar universal
Hi all, coming up to 11 months post and finally coming right.Joint and bone pains finally gone,still completely out of shape but can do some exercise now a little more each day.It seems the recovery is different for each person (like Tx itself).brain fog still a bit of a problem.I now finally feel it was worth it and look forward to the future as I haven't for a long time.Best wishes to all.
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Avatar universal
I'm at 7 month post tx. Month 1 & 2 suffered from depression. Still cannot sleep like I used to. I have been fighting a sinus infection since December. I have had 3 eye infections and some kind of fungus (ewe). Started excercising as soon as I stopped tx. Very little at first. I have found I feel the best after a good workout, even if it sounds like a bad idea. This month I feel better than last.
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Avatar universal
I found exercise verify helpful.  Like the other posts suggest, start slowly and gradually increase as you start to feel better.  I found Centrum vitamins/minerals very helpful.  My HGB started back to normal within a few days of me taking the vitamins and minerals and my energy came back within a few weeks after that.
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Avatar universal
This too shall pass.  One year is what it took me to recover to some sense of normalcy after 48 weeks of tx  Finished last May.  I feel good now with some minor irritations.  Finally the good outweighs the bad.  

It went like this for me:  first six to eight months pretty much as bad or worse than tx (took months to get rid of dizziness and neck pains); then an occasional good day; then a couple of good days in a row; then mostly good days with a couple of bad days thrown in; then all good days with some morning or evenings feeling bad (the post tx symptoms of dizziness, pain, confusion, anxiety) and now those sides have pretty much left.  

What I am left with is a life that feels normal and much much better than before I treated in July 05.  My body works.  I have more energy than my joints can handle right now.  Lost 30 pounds.   Skin is OK.  I can say with confidence that it was worth every single miserable day to get here.   If I had not treated, I would still have a bad liver and its effects.  Today I have a new life and renewed hope.  The recovery from this stuff is very very slow but it does happen.  There are new problems that the tx creates - I have high blood pressure and metabolic syndrome but am managing those.  Overall though, there is no comparison between then and now.  
Helpful - 0
173975 tn?1216257775
So good to hear most of you are recovering your energy after stopping tx.

It's very encouraging for the rest of us.

Lostpass,

I hope you start feeling better, soon.

Wyntre
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Avatar universal
i posted 2x  one about coughing, another about candidas,  aka yeast or thrush, it is common occurence for people who have undergone chemotherapy. among many other things.   many symptoms similar to what we experience through tx.  fatigue, memory lapse, brain fog, migraines.. if you haven't look at the post or the link  in the post. see if it has any meaning to you.

hope you feel better soon.
rose
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Avatar universal
read my recent comment below on the coughing question...

that (which i posted) might explain residual symptoms..
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Avatar universal
Thank you.  In my heart I know you are absolutely right.  I have got to get into a new frame of mind and get moving.  Talk about being in a rut. Thanks again. Now I had better go back to bed 3:14 in the morning. Yikes It means so much not being alone with hep c. The support from this forum has helped me  a lot. I am grateful. my best
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i am in treatment now, so i cant say for sure what will help post treatment.
this has helped me - there were many days where i though i was too fatigued to do anything, so i made myself get exited about yardwork. i would go outside hating it and thinking i wouldnt be able to do anything, lo and behold a few hour later i was sweaty, dirty, and feeling 1000 times better. ive actually got a slight tan!
i suggest a religious crusade three times a day, every day of moderate to intense activity.
time your sessions even if they are only 5 mins each in the beginning. make sure and try for longer sessions each time. think like an athlete preparing for a race. i feel like the interferon turns your body off, and it may take a year or so to turn it back on. your body with resist this just like it hates to lose weight once its got it.
eventually your fatigue will disapear and your endurance will return, just hang in there!
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