Fatigue What is it for You?

[Forseegood]

Hi, another one of those obsessive threads with a question that has probably been answered over and over before...but I just would like to know what your fatigue levels were before treatment?, and post treatment? Was it improved by the treatment?...or has it worsened?

Maybe even during treatment if youre up for it...I know it's asking a lot, but any input on this subject would be appreciated...maybe some of you are too fatigued to answer (bad joke.) but thanks for answering with whatever information you have...Be well and have a great weekend!

[Cindy10]

I starting getting fatigue when I was about 30 years old. I was anemic on and off for years so the doctors said it was that. I worked, excercised and did everything the same but I always had fatigue. Some poeple would say its age, but come on 30? Anyway I just excepted that this is a way of life. When I was 38 I was dx with HCV, and the dr said it was quite possible my anemia, fatigue was related to the HCV but would never really know, could be from stress, high stress job and family ;-). I put off tx for 3 years and finally started 22 weeks ago.

To tell you the truth, the fatigue I feel on tx is similar to what I felt before. I am still anemic so maybe its that, who knows. I decided to treat to get rid of the virus while I was still somewhat young and I did not want to wait for it to progress (already had it 20+ years), but if by some slim chance my fatigue goes away as well, it would be a major plus. Time will tell!

[goldyn]

for the last 7 years before tx i started  to notice my enery level going, went to get a checkup they scheduled me for blood work didnt do it after three more years finally took the blood test and found out a rise in alt at that time was 50, engough for the doc to test for hepc, well went 3 more years with energy getting lower also always experienced frontal headaches, seemed to have more frequent ones, also when i would walk a while would feel pain in my liver, had 2nd bx went 1 to a 2, and from 1,000,000 to 15,000,000 in 3 years time made the choice to treat, really noticed a different good feeling after 6 weeks on tx, after that around 12 started to get more tired  after 24 was ruff last 3 months were hell still worked with preschool kids 30 hours a week plus delt with the 5 of my own but was exhuasted, 4 weeks post started feeling better, dont not have those frontal headaches, now do not have the liver pain after exercise, now can work a lot longer and harder than i could for a long time....do have high blood pressure now been on meds since tx has been over had 31/2 month post and still clear thank God...I notice a change for the better in energy level....

[Forseegood]

thank you all so much for your stories...I hope many of the new patients can gather some good info from them too...looks like Goldyn and I are really alike in our stories to a certain point, hopefully for me I can end up like her...

[Forseegood]

them more the better if you can...

[susan400]

This question for me is a big question mark.  I've been in this whole treatment, getting over treatment cycle for the past 10 years, so, it's difficult to say how accurate my symptoms are, but here goes.  I usually have a bunch of energy when I first stop treatment, the first few weeks, but (and I think it's because I've never-ever cleared), it doesn't take long before the muscle aches and fatigue come right back on.  The only difference for me, right now and 9 mon. ago when I was on treatment (as far as the energy goes), is that I'm able to exercise for a longer period of time (i.e. when I was on treatment, I did about 5-20 min. at a time on the treadmill) and off treatment (30-50 min. at a time on the treadmill and lifting some hand-held weights and about 10 min. on the stationary bike).  But, I still suffer for 4-5 days afterwords, anytime I do something involved.  For example: Last night I went to a Christian concert at church and didn't get home until later than usual and got to bed around midnight (late for me), woke up at 4 am, fell back to sleep about 4:15 and woke up again at around 6:15.  Left home this morning to do volunteer work at the nursing home.  That ended at 11 am and when I got home, I was ready to pass out.  I spent about 3+ hours laying on the couch hardly able to move.  Last time, prior to treatment, I was like this as well.  During treatment, I had about 3 hrs a day that were really functional.  So, there's not a lot of difference in my ability to function.   Now, the above activity that I did last night at the concert, I didn't do ANYTHING else all day long, prior to the concert (no exercising), except getting ready to go.  To a normal person, in my opinion, doing an activity that only takes up about 4-5 hrs. a day (where I was sitting for a lot of it), shouldn't wipe me out so much.  But, maybe I'm expecting to be something that isn't normal.  What's normal for a 45 yr old person?  Don't most normal 45 yr. old still go out and work in at least a 40 hr or more a week job?  I don't know anymore, like I said, it's been a while.

Susan

[orphanedhawk]

  I'm sure someone else here can answer your question with more medical accuracy then I. However, I'll give your my view. I think its like when you get the flu. You're tired because your body is busy fighting off the bug.  The hep c in our blood is being poisoned by interferon. The side effect is, we are exhausted.   Personally, I wonder how much it has to do with our blood cell fluctuation. I felt so exhausted and blue when my white blood cells plummetted. I don't like the neupogen but as well as upping my wbc, it gives my energy and attitude a boost.
  I've found the amount of fatigue does vary.