hard time breathing

I am on week 7 of treatment, have been tired mostly, but just started to feel short of breath and anxious recently. I was undetectable at week 4, genotype 1a. I have lost weight due to lack of appetite, itchy skin, and irritability has been my main sx. Has anyone else experienced shortness of breath for no reason? I could just be sitting and feel this way and sometimes feel a rattling in my lungs. Any answers? I'm only 41 and otherwise healthy.

[Bill1954]

You’re very likely beginning to experience hemolytic anemia. The breathlessness along with a dry cough (“rattling of lungs”) both point that way; and the timing at seven weeks is also in line for that.

Call your doctor, and ask what your last hemoglobin was; he may ask you to retest, unless you have a CBC scheduled very soon. Typically, a doctor will intervene with either Procrit or a dose reduction of ribavirin if the hemoglobin is approaching 10.0 g/dL. Call the doc in the morning, and best of luck to you—

Bill

[jdwithhcv]

I'm with you.  Sounds like anemia.  Week 7 is about right for that to really hit.  Great news that you are RVR.  I agree with Bill - ask for a CBC and ask about Procrit if your hgb is tanking.  It takes a while for Procrit to work, so don't delay.  Good luck.

jd

[newleaf09]

Your hgb is dropping and that stage actually feels a little worse than a steady low hgb.  They won't let you start the procrit (rescue drug to stimulate more red blood cell formation) until you get down around 10, and then it can take 3-4 weekly shots to bring hgb up to something that makes you feel a little more 'normal'.  In the meantime, alter your life a bit by making sure you won't be standing in lines, carrying things or taking stairs if there's an elevator.  Pull a stool up to the stove, or better yet, stop cooking and bring home take-out.  Incredibly, you will get more used to it.  The breathlessness and lethargy are one of the suckier parts of treatment.  

[Marcia2202]

I agree with all the posters above, but would still ask your doctor to check out your lungs. Some people do get lung problems during treatment, so it should be wise to rule it out.