5 months after EOT

[Leatherneck58]

I was diagnosed with HCV in '98 in a routine physical.  Not sure where it came from, might of been those aerosol immunization  guns in the service or whole blood after a car accident.....chicken or egg.

I started to feel really run down and fatigued in December 05.  My GP ran a whole panel of tests and it turned out my VL was about 8 Million.  I was referred to a GI who did a biopsy and a genotype.  I am mid stage 2 cirrhosis and type 1a.  I was started on PegIntron and Ribivarin in  August 06.  The first couple months wasn't too bad, but by the time November rolled around, I was really having a rough time.  I wasn't able to focus at work, my memory was getting really bad and the "mild, flu like symptoms" turned the worst I felt in a long time.

My history of insomnia and depression was really aggravated by the meds.  Starting January of this year, I was getting about 2 hours of crappy rest a night and I haven't felt that hopeless in a long time.  By February, my company had to cut me loose: there was no way I  able to work.   By the time May had rolled around, I was seriously altered from sleep deprivation and my blood counts really started to drop.  I was scheduled for 48 wks. which I thought I could make it to the finish, but the GI clinic wanted me to go 56 wks.  I felt like I was given a death sentence!  Week 46 I through in the towel.  That was beginning of June.

I still don't feel right.  My memory is really impaired, it's hard to focus  I'm still depressed and I don't have any stamina.  I have been exercising since end of June, riding bike, walks, yard work, etc.  but I'm still not up to par.  My GP just ran a blood panel and everything was more or less normal.  AST ALT and Bilirubin  slightly elevated.  Next month is test for SVR.  

I guess my question is how long did it take others to start feeling 'right' after EOT?

[Leatherneck58]

Thanks for the input!  It's good to know I'm not the loan ranger.  I have my long term disability company racking on me about when I will go back to work.  The attitude is 'Your treatment is over, what's the problem?'  That's been my question.  I am supposed to be feeling better.  I guess I am screwing up their bottom line..LOL!  

I guess feeling better is subjective.  I'm really glad it's over.  I am really getting concerned if this thinking/memory problem is permanent.  I am on zoloft right now and my GP wants to add something else to deal with the anxiety, but not until he's confident that nothing else is going on.  We'll see, I guess.

Leatherneck

[meki]

5 months post I started feeling a glimmer of hope... I did 24 weeks - but had gotten VERY sick prior to TX.

I am currently at 8 months post - and I'm 85% normal to pre--- PRE--- Bad feelings prior to TX.

So I'm better right now than I was one month pre-TX.

Life still has it's moments... I still get really sick, very easy... I mean - you have a cold - you walk within 25 feet of me - I have that cold... and they last longer - are stronger and have super strength properties once they hit me... Colds turn to pnemonia - and pneumonia takes hold and gets it's phlegmy fingers into your lungs and takes you for a ride... LOL!

But -- my head is a little clearer - days are less foggy... I still have aches and pains --- but they are faded memories of pre-tx and tx times.

I can remember who I am and what I'm doing about 80% of the time now... LMAO! Yeah --- what was I talking about?

I see light at the end of the tunnel - and I'm walking out of the dusky morning... It sure is slow --- but it IS happening. I can feel it.

Less depression ---- (I never really got depressed - but I could get melancholy) I feel more alive now... Less in a trance of mental "duh"-ness... More alert... I can actually tell when the shadows move now... LMAO!

I'm not a walking zombie any more ---- not quite perfect yet - but content that it will get better every single day.

I don't expect miracles --- wouldn't mind em happening - but hey... I'm content.

And with you having gone on TX for longer - it prolly will be a bit longer for you to recover --- BUT KNOW IT DOES HAPPEN FOR MOST OF US.

In fact - 99%...

The TX is hard on your body --- your brain - your soul... So hang in there.

Believe...

Laugh....

Live...

and LOVE --- Lot's of love... for friends... family... the dog... the cat... the goldfish... yourself...

(Sex helps too... LMAO!!!)

Hugs,

Meki

[goldenrule]

i too had trouble sleeping and with depression. The depression got really bad 2 weeks after stopping meds. I would wake up in the middle of night soaked in sweat, and i was very irritable. I still had muscle and joint pain 4 months post. i chose not to do AD's during treatment but had no choice when i got 2 weeks post.. IT WAS BAD!!! i took 50mg Zoloft and Xanax as needed.

Just recently (i am 6 months post) i have been able to come off the Zoloft and am getting much better rest at night. I have also stopped waking up in the middle of the night with those horrible sweats. I still am unable to sleep 6 hours straight, but the rest i do get is "sound". My muscle and joint pain has diminshed. Every once in awhile i begin to feel that burning feeling in my hips and thighs but it goes rather quickly..

i wish you health and a speedy recovery. You will be in my prayers for SVR!!!!
Hang in there!!
GOD BLESS!!!

[Teufelhunden]

I'm pretty much like you. Geno 1a stage 1. Insomnia and depression. I started treatment July 06 and completed 48 weeks June 07. The sx wasn't pleasant, brain fog and fatigue being the worse. I was prescribed Ambien for sleep and Zoloft for my depression. The two seemed to do the trick. They helped me get through that difficult year. It's been four months now and I still feel a little foggy upstairs. I find it hard to concentrate sometimes but other than a little arthritic in the hands (which I didn't have before) I'm feeling mostly better. Knowing that I've got to do it all over again because I relapsed doesn't make me a happy camper but what the hell. Ya do what ya gotta do! Hope this helps. Semper Fi!