Post Tx Side Effects

Dear Dr. Dietrich:

I am post tx six months, geno 4, acute, infected at surgery for a 16 cm. benign ovarian cyst Nov. 06, Started tx at 4 months post infection, did 42 weeks tx, Bob Gish stopped tx because of side effects of hydronephrosis and multiple renal calculi (none prior to tx). I was on Pegasys 180 for about 36 weeks, dropped to 90 for the remaining six weeks because of the kidneys having problems and then stopped. 1400 riba throughout. A lot of the tx symptoms have improved in terms of the cognitive stuff and mood swings. Also, was UND at week 2 of treatment, and have been UND all the way to 4 months post and had my 6 month post PCR drawn yesterday.

At about 3 months post tx i developed joint pain, increasing fatigue and autoimmune symptoms and rising CRP.  Diagnosed as DIL.  Also developed continuing frequent rectal bleeding (not hemorrhoidal disease) which has increased and IBS.    Seeing GI (not Dr. Gish, but "just" a GI) next week.

Prior to tx i was a marathon runner and trained at boxing six days per week, very healthy.

Are all of these new elements related to the tx?  My nurses and my internist think so.....especially because of my fantastic health prior to all this starting.

Thanks in advance for your advice,

Deb

[Douglas Dieterich, MD]

It sounds like you have some autoimune phenomena that the interferon kicked off. These are the kind of things that would have happend anyway often but get accelerated by the interferon. We know for sure that thyroid antibodies before treatment result in thyroiditis with interferon. That was something that those patients were going to get anyway but the interferon caused them to arrive sooner. Get them treated! DTD

[debnevada]

Dr. Dietrich?  

[meki]

Check his answer to my questions deb...

He had some problems answering some of the questions...

How ya doin'? I haven't seen you recently.

Just FYI - Neuropathy is what they advised that I have --- and they gave me ULTRAM 200 ER... which are amazing medicines... I've been able to live my life for the last week.

And well. So perhaps they could help you?

Anyhow - wanted to know how you were. Hugs darlin'

Meki

[debnevada]

Thanks, Dr. Dietrich. I am taking placquenil and following CRPs and ANAs for improvement in them.  Also, I just found out yesterday that I am SVR...my six month post tx PCR is UND.......it's been a wild ride.

Meki:  No neuropathy for me and placquenil seems to work pretty good for the joint stuff.  the plan is to keep tracking the crp and ana for another six months. at one year post, we'll have another look. The bowel stuff i will have an appt. tomorrow for.

deb

[meki]

Dr. D - that's kind of my theory too... That the INF kick starts what was already genetically designed.

It's logical - after what I've seen progress...

In a way - I'd say that perhaps the interferon ages some mechanism or time "stamp" inside the body... Perhaps by 10 or 20 years.

Whatcha think of that?

LOL!

Hey Deb - love you! Congrats on SVR.

Meki

[Douglas Dieterich, MD]

Congrats on your SVR! DTD

[debnevada]

Dr. D:  Tanx!  I am pretty pleased about it, Dr. Gish's nurse said when i when UND in week two she thought it was a sure thing.  I'm thinking...jeepers, then WHYYYYYY 42 weeks? (Wry laughter ensues).  Thanks for the service you are doing...you don't have to do this and it probably tugs at you some along with your regular practice...but do know that it is much appreciated.....i lead a lot of support groups here in vegas for the endoscopy folks and your kind of caring and personal involvement is rare. especially because there is so much stigma/shame associated with the disease. At this point, having been through all we go through ...i'm like....way out in the public eye and i don't give a rat's butt anymore!

You are a good guy, Dr. D.....to use a trite phrase, you have many jewels in the crown you'll wear in heaven.

Meki:
Actually, your idea about "time stamping" is intriguing....if you know about that disease progeria, (you know the kids who get old when they are six or something), it sounds a little bit like interferon is the instigator of rapid "aging" of whatever potential for disease process you have in your body, genetically or otherwise...... Jeez, how cosmic a thought....but it actually makes sense.

Deb

[Douglas Dieterich, MD]

Thanks for your kind words. Sometimes I think that treating HCV patients also leads to rapid aging! but worth it all when we win! DTD

[19drifter57]

A related discussion, can you stop treatment oce you start was started.