Happiness short lived

[rockymoe]

Happiness short lived
My hep c NP called me today and said I have bad news for you, you are done treatment. I guess well I was in lala land in the ER they did chest x-rays and all kinds of test. I guess the chest x-ray was bad. Of course my mind went into shock mode and I can't remember what the two lung conditions she told me I had but she did say that the interferon makes it worse. Whatever it was she said it makes the outside lining of the lungs become hard and it is irreversible. I will post more when I have answers. It is really scary, I made a joke and the NP was like deadpan serious and she said you are a very sick woman and need to see your Pulmonologist this week. I'm still in shock.
Can -do -man I completed 40 out of 48 weeks. They acted like that was a minor issue compared the lung issues.

[nygirl7]

I'm sorry this sounds very scary and dangerous, I hope you are following up on it right away. I too agree HCV should be at the bottom of the list right now.

Wishing you the best.

[Willy50]

I hope that it isn't interstitial pneumonia.  It's very serious.  Do not delay either diagnosis or treatment.

For the moment forget about the Hep C treatment, it is way down or off of the list.

DO keep in contact with people you can talk to or help you with this.

willy

[can-do-man]

Fingers crossed Rocky

[pooh55811]

I am sorry that you had to stop treatment early. I know it must be devastating. But, as others have said, you are a reak fighter and you can still beat Hep C and take care of your lungs.

Best of wishes.

[belle19]

i'm sorry to hear about your latest news.  i'm sending you hugs and prayers.  i'm thinking positive thoughts for you.  best wishes.  belle

[frijole]

Hector is right -- we got to do what we got to do.  I am really saddened that you had to quit early - I think you needed the full 48 -- but so be it.  The lungs come first here.  

This is from that article from CHEST --

IFN-α was documented to successfully treat chronic HCV infection very early after HCV was first isolated.101102 This discovery was soon followed by reports of cases of IFN-associated pulmonary complications. Most of these were case reports, making it difficult to accurately estimate the incidence of such complications. However, interstitial pneumonitis, BOOP, ARDS, pulmonary hypertension, exacerbation of asthma, and sarcoid-like disease have been described in patients with hepatitis C undergoing treatment with IFN.

"Okanoue and his colleagues103 evaluated the complications of IFN in 987 patients, 3 of whom acquired interstitial pneumonia related to IFN therapy. In one report,104 the incidence of interstitial pneumonia due to IFN therapy was thought to be approximately 0.2%. Table 2 summarizes the spectrum of pulmonary complications induced by IFN therapy as documented in the literature. While interstitial pneumonia and sarcoidosis are well-reported complications, the remainder represent rarely associated complications of IFN therapy. "

Rockymoe -- it looks like you are going to need a non-interferon treatment.  Some of this damage may have come from your 8 treatments.  Since  your cirrhosis is compensated, you will just have to be careful and take care of yourself.  There is time.

bean