hairloss long after treatment

[mimmy13]

I am an advocate assisting a client with a disability application.  He has Hep C and had treatment 7 or 8 years ago.  He says since then he has spoken to many people who have gone through treatment and it seems his doctor had him on quite high dose meds for a lot longer (8 / 9 months) than usual.  One year ago he lost all of his hair (full body).  His doctor says it was probably stress.  He also has many unexplained maladies (extremely poor circulation in hands and lower legs, numbness / swelling in hands and legs, sores that don't heal, etc)  His liver is fine (readings are normal and they weren't that high when he had treatment).
Could excessive treatment cause these other problems that have been getting progressively worse over the last few years?  He had tender abdomin and some fatigue before treatment but now his all over health is much worse.  Thanks for any help or info you can provide.  Mimmy

[merryBe]

your friend needs a thourough work up.
you are decribing symptoms that could be circulatory or diebetic.
I'm not sure how hair loss figures in, but definitely the other symptoms are very often related to both diebeties and/or circulatory problems or blockages.

In any case neuropathy (pain or numbness/coldness) in the limbs is very serious.
Sores do not heal as well with diebetes and those left untreated often loose a limb by the time they get seen. It's not uncommon for a person to present for the first time with necrotic tissue in a toe or whole foot.

Encourage, make him the appointment, drive him there if you must, because his future quality of life will be greatly effected if he leaves symptoms like that unattended.
mb

[HCA]

The patient information leaflet supplied with the interferon lists virtually every side effect known to medical science.
Partial alopecia is common and temporary.The extreme type you describe does sound like an auto immune stress reaction.Extended treatment of up to 72 weeks with careful monitoring is a fairly normal protocol.If you believe there may be a negligence component you will need compelling evidence.Do you have details of duration,dosing and blood test results.If you are able to supply these it should be possible to provide a more informed response.

[Magnum]

If he had treatment 7-8 years ago and this is affecting him now, there is a wealth of information his doctor should be able to provide you and him. If not, switch doctors. In my opinion, having undergone multiple treatments, some effects from treatment linger, but what you're describing seems more of a series of physical anomalies rather than after effects from treatment. People do have other maladies that are caused naturally, not necessarily form treatment after effects. Contact his doctor Monday morning...

Magnum