Another SX to add to my shopping cart

[scubadiver30]

Well guys, I guess I'm reaching my limit too quixk. Don't know if I can take this anymore. I thought I could do the 24 with no prob but now I'm not so sure. Riba rash, dry eyes, sore throat, phlegm, hemmies, fatigue & malaise...And now my left shoulder joint hurts so much I cannot even raise my left arm..I haven't hit myself or anything..I wonder if this is another gift from IFN??
Right now I find myself loosing my temper real quick with my wife and my mother in law... They are so scared of me that they avoid me all the time...I cannot even stand when they chit chat and I'm always complaining about smells????

I think I'm loosing my mind..I guess IFN has already messed up the brain

[AnOldReb]

Thanks Ladybug. I kind felt like I was posting in the wrong place. We went to the GI yeterday and got the ball rolling scheduling the biopsy and blood tests.

[AnOldReb]

My wife recently had total hip replacement in India and while there blood work done at the Indian hospital discovered she was positive for Hep C antibody. The only way she could have been exposed to the virus was 19 years ago she was in an accident and received blood in the hospital. Preliminary blood work shows liver enzymes are normal. We go to the GI this afternoon for consultation and will probably schedule the liver biopsy. What does this procedure involve and how quickly can results be expected? Since she has been exposed 19 years with no problem with enzymes, and I am negative( married 15 yrs.)
What are the chances her own system has licked this and is not contageous. She is 45 and many of her symptoms(Sweating at night, chronic fatigue) could be menopause related.

[ladybug52]

I like having a heads up too. Then when a sypmtom comes along like right upper quandrant pain I don't have too throw worry into the mix because so many people have reported it. I try to divert my mind from thinking about this too much, it's self-defeating. I know it's doable, I'm just glad I only have 24 weeks, that's plenty for me thank you!

[ladybug52]

Not many people are likely to see your questions. It would be a good idea to open a new thread with those questions. She may not need a biopsy if she doesn't have hepc. I had the antibodies and went onto develop chronic hep c, first they should test her viral load, the test is called a PCR. I never had problems with  liver enzymes at all, never had symptoms like some of the others who could tell something was wrong.
As far as the biopsy, I had mine on a Wed. and got results over the phone on the following Mon. I went in at 9:30, the test was scheduled for 11:00. Did paperwork, they started an IV and put nothing in it except saline. They did mine guided by CTscan, some same ultrasound guided are best. They numb the are with lidocaine and then take a instrument, push it into your side between the ribs and CLICK they have the specimen. Afterwards I had to spend 4 hours in recovery, first hour on my right side to keep pressure on the area and prevent bleeding. I was a little sore in the rib area like I had strained a muscle, but was able to take a flight out of town that night for my dad's b-day.

[ladybug52]

Your dr. sounds like my first dr. Tried to tell me "If you think you'll have symptoms you will" Well I didn't realize I had been thinking about my Hgb dropping. Actually that's a sign not a symptom. Still, his nurse also told me to stay away from the internet. I don't see those two anymore. I just want to say I went into this with an open mind and a good attitude. I work everyday, go to my son's soccer games twice a week and have a fairly active life. IMHO, symptoms start out mild and increase as the body continues to respond to the chemicals ingested and injected week by week. I'm not trying to scare anyone, because it's doable, but I think that some people have a harder time than others and it's not because they read about it on a forum.

[copyman]

lady, good points and i agree with you. the doc i was referring to in my post is history. i have since changed docs. as far as the internet i would rather know what possible sx can happen, this way if i get an sx then i will know what it is and what to do.

[ladybug52]

Everyone who has posted so far has given you good advice. The a/d's will help the short fuse and anxiety if you can find one that works for you. Also the anxiety increases for me when I'm tired or stressed, try to rest or do something to distract your mind.
I have 3 animals and am ready to have them all put to "sleep" because their smells are making me so sick. (Wouldn't really) I am constantly cleaning everything with disinfectant to get their smell out then the disinfectant smell makes me sick.
I think the Peg causes a lot of individual problems, I can't even explain some of the wierd ways my stomach muscles feel and there's no way to describe it. Still you might try to get your shoulder checked out further. One person had right shoulder pain and then later thought he was having the same symptoms and had a heart attack. Hang in there. I was just thinking today how happy I'll be to reach the 1/2 way point, and you and I have the 'short' tx!
Saludos!
Bug

[stangshelly]

I had a real hard time in the begining, now on week 45/72 and can say for me sx effects have become bearable. try to treat the sides and keep going best wishes :) shelly

[mremeet]

Hey scuba, sorry to hear of your experiences. I pretty much suffer from almost everything you mention, so I know how you feel. One thing you might want to try is an antidepressent. I went on Lexapro a couple of months ago, although unfortunately it didn't seem to work for me. So now I'm trying Effexor, hopefully that will help to take the edge off. Anyway, if you've never been on A/D's before (like I have before this treatment), you might want to consider trying them. They say anger is really just another manifestation of depression, and I've been losing my temper alot too so I think I know how you feel. The A/D's might help you in that regard, and hopefully provide an emotional reserve capacity so that you can trudge on through for your full 24 weeks.

In the meantime hang in there, best of luck to you.

[nygirl7]

Yeah - I have the smell thing, AND a really bad metal/gass taste in my mouth.

That WILL go away once you are used to the meds......sadly I suppose it's still going on but I don't notice it anymore. Man I must smell and not even know it!

[copyman]

hi scuba, i can not offer musch advice as i have not started tx yet but i will pray that the next 12 weeks  get easier for you. it is funny how the human mind works and i'm beginning to believe that the more sx you read on forums the more you will get during tx. i have had a hep doc tell me that he treats 100's of HCV patients a year and the ones that are not on the internet are the ones that continue to work and have the least sx. i told him i like the internet and that after i found i had hcv i needed to know about this disease and the internet has helped me to do that. he did say i was very well informed. i think that docs do not want you to know more then they do about hcv and they would prefer their patients stay off the internet. i just keep telling myself that for the few that post on these forums there are many more that do not have that many sx. it is very hard to get up the courage to start after reading what this stuff does to some people. it is good to know you guys will be here to help when i finally start. thanks

PS, has anyone ever noticed how the docs make it seem like tx is no big deal. lol, they make it like they are writing you a script for antibiotics instead of these "harsh" meds! i would feel much better if they would do a shot of interferon in their own belly in front of me, then maybe i would believe tx is no big deal . LOL

[FL_Gal]

At least my doctor is pretty good about about that.  He is always telling me not to try do so much, and to remember that I'm on chemotherapy.  So I guess I should be thankful that he doesn't take the treatment lightly.

[aquarius64]

i have not had the hemmies since my last child was born 3 years ago, and now, going on week 3 of tx, their baaaaack. i drink lots of water and get fiber and all that good stuff. to put it bluntly, i don't think it's the stool or straining(no prob there) i think it may be from lack of physical movement. i was always up and around before tx and now i find i sit or lay more. that is the only thing i can come up with. it stinks! as far as sx go, i can relate to the dry eyes. i have also become very aggitated and it hurts me cuz i don't have as much patience with my 2 small kids, or anyone for that matter. smells bother me. i have to open my windows, even when it's 25 degrees out to let smells out.  i have also noticed that when i'm online and typing, i get my letters in the wrong order, even when i speak. i was talking to my hubby and said we should take the graveyard flight rather than the red eye flight! very weird and it keeps happening more. is this brain fog? a new sx i woke up with today is my skin on the back of one of my thighs hurts. it doesn't itch, but i can't stand the feel of my clothes against it or to put my hand on it. strange.  i hope your sx improve and i hope anyone with hemmies gets rid of them! i hate the hemmies worse than the headache i have that never leaves. good luck!

[wyntre9]

Sounds like you're having an episode.  Hang in there.  

For what it's worth, I was told during my 2-hour peg-rib training session that every symptom you've mentioned, especially the irritation, anger, short-fuse, depression, are chemically induced reactions and if the depression gets worse you absolutely should get a script for it.

About the shoulder pain, are you taking neupogen?  I've read that's a primary sx of that med.

And, btw, you're not complaining.  You're just expressing yourself and reaching out for reassurance that it's not only you.

That's great news you only have to do 24 weeks.  
You're half way there.  
Do a big countdown on a calendar.  
When it gets overwhelming, check out your calendar and tell yourself;
Only 12 shots
84 days
2016 hours
20,960 minutes
7,257,600 seconds
to go to the start of your new post-tx life!

[FL_Gal]

I'm in week 17, and I've also been having those "episodes" lately.  Sometimes I feel pretty silly afterwards. (but only sometimes, hehe)  My sides started around week 10 like yours did.

Just when you think you can't do it anymore, another day will come and you'll realize that you CAN do it.  

Yeah.....what is it with that smell thing?  Everywhere I go, I imagine I smell cat urine.  Does wonders for the appetite.

[ladybug52]

I would love to hear how you are, have you been to community?

[FL_Gal]

I've been really, really tired.  This new job is kicking my butt!!  Took 2nd Procrit shot on Saturday, so just waiting for it to kick in.  I've been in and out of a rotten mood lately.  I try to read the board at night and keep up with what's going on with everyone, but usually don't have the energy to post.  Then I feel bad because it seems like I only post when I need support.

Yes, I've been checking the other board too, but it doesn't seem like people are using it a lot anymore.  

Wish we had a way to share email addresses.

[ladybug52]

I need to come up with an e-mail that doesn't involve my husband's whole name. I have gotten  from others but they usually have something simple like marydotsmithatyahoodotcom. Are you kidding about the community? It's jumpin! Hope the procrit kicks in soon, keep taking it too!

[FL_Gal]

I belong to a Mexico travel message board called dancingcactusimports.com/phpbb, of course you put the www in the front.  If you want to register there (it's OK, I'm the admin, you won't get any spam emails ;) ) you can PM me thru that board.  My user name there is cat.

[scubadiver30]

Yes I take peginterferon 180mg weekly(pegasys)and 800mg ribavarin (Copegus) daily and I'm scheduled to go 24 weeks (gt 2b). I take Ibuprofen for pain and flulike symptoms (limited to 3 grm per day). I use saline solution for my nose, eye drops in gel for the eyes, and lot of creams for skin dryness. Drink lots of liquids
The first weeks are not hard, but then (in my case the sx are gettin to me around week 10 evne though I'm UND and doing pretty good according to my doc)... Hope you do better than me. You might. Most people here do..
One thing, 11 weeks have gone by pretty quick...
Good luck to ya...Hope you achieve SVR
scuba

[Lilla]

would you tell me what type meds you are on? Peg-interferon with Ribavarin?  if so, what dose do you get of interferon. I start next Monday and am very anxious about this all. I have geno 2b and hear 24 weeks is tx length.  Are you able to take Tylenol/Ibuprofen (whatever) to combat the aching? thank you.

[mikesimon]

You don't need to apologize for not feeling well - we've all been there and I have done more than my share of complaining. I will suggest, however, that you go to the Community page when you need support and help with coping with the TX. You'll get more replies I think and that is where this stuff should be. Don't take this the wrong way because I am not indicting you for "wrong board posting" and I understand if you are confused with the new format. A lot of us are but we're working through it and it will take time before everyone is on the same page, so to speak. Good luck. Mike

[scubadiver30]

HI. I'm on week 12 of 24.
I'm really sorry to be complaining cause I know I have to do half of what most of you guys have to do, but is that i never thought this was gonna get this difficult...
I' cooler now, I guess I was going thru an episode...
this is very "duro"
saludos
scuba

[compulsive]

Yeah - I have the smell thing, AND a really bad metal/gass taste in my mouth.  For the smell I bought one of those "vicks" inhalers - it helps "some" just like lotion for the rash, lemon water rinse for the taste, eye drops, etc.  tx can get REALLy tiresome.

How many weeks do you have left?  I am on week 21/48...