Body aches and fatigue

[tjrusert]

Hi Forum friends,
I'm writing to ask if anyone can give me an idea of what to expect when I go back to see my gastro dr.  I started tx in May 2009 and didnt respond.  So I stopped tx in Dec.  I am waiting for the new tx like so many ppl here.  I havent felt very good ever since I started tx.  But in the last few months, I have been having such terrible body aches and some extreme fatigue.  I started taking Welbutrin so Im not so tired.  But the body aches make me feel like someone decided to hammer my arms and legs on so I wouldnt lose them or something.  I called the Drs office and was told by the nurse that I should have seen the Dr. about 6 months after I last saw him in Dec.  So I'm going to see him but I dont know why.  What can he really do at this point?  I plan to get a flu shot but since this has been going on for months now, I know it isnt the flu.  Im already on Tramadol for pain from an unrelated problem and I take Advil, but it still doesnt stop the pain.  Any ideas?
Thanks,
Terry

[tjrusert]

Thanks for the answers guys.  I havent been checked for auto-immune diseases.  It might be a good idea.  The reason that I went 7 months on treatment is partly because of a time delay in getting to see the Dr.  I was supposed to be on the treatment for 48 weeks.  But the Dr decided to discontinue treatment when I last saw him in Dec. The Specialty Clinic is over 50 miles from where I live.  And the Dr comes to our local clinic only a few times each month.  We had a really snowy winter this winter.  (I live in MN) so the Dr couldnt come as often and I couldnt get to the clinic.  So I continued treatment until he said to stop.  In other words, I didnt get in to see him at 24 weeks. I tried but it just couldnt be done.  I got my meds through UPS and those guys deliver on days that you wouldnt believe that anyone could drive through.  I had one biopsy done in May 2009.  I was only at a stage 1.  So I didnt have much damage at all.  I have been taking the Tramadol since about 2008.  I had back surgery in 2006 and thought everything went well.  But in 2008 I started having a lot of pain again.  This included my sciatic nerve.  It turns out that they think I have a lot of scarring from the surgery.  They said that if they did more surgery that I would probably would just end up with more scar tissue.  Its a long way of saying that I have a back problem that cant be fixed and Tramadol is the best option that the Dr could come up with.  It just makes it bearable.  I would rather have the liver problems than to deal with nerve pain.  Anyway, Im closely monitored on my usage.  I have to get approval every month and a half for a new RX.  So I dont over do it.  I would love to question the Dr who did my back surgery about all of this but he had a tragic accident when he fell off of Mt. McKinley some time after I had my surgery.  Thanks again guys.
Terry

[HectorSF]

I'm not sure why your doctor treated you for 7 months. Your treatment should have stopped after 12 weeks. 24 weeks at the most.

You should see your doctor and tell them about the symptoms you are experiencing now. So they can find out if you have a medical problem that is causing your body aches and fatigue.

Waiting for the new STAT-C meds sounds like a good idea as retreating after not responding to current treatment has very little chance of working.

How advanced is your liver disease? As long as your liver is relatively healthy the meds you mentioned are safe when taken in the recommended dosages. If your liver is stage 3 or 4 I would be careful about taking Tramadol as it is an opiate. Ibuprofen (brand names such as Advil, Motrin, Nuprin) is a  Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). It should not be taken by someone with advance liver disease.

Good luck. I hope your doctor has a diagnosis for you.
Hectorsf

[Bill1954]

HI Terry--

Have you been screened for autoimmune issues? HCV can be associated with things like rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia etc. While I don’t think it causes these diseases, it might exacerbate them.

A RF test and anti-smooth muscle antibody test might be indicated; ask your doc about this and see what he says.

I never really suffered from bone or muscle pain, so I can’t speak from experience. I certainly wish you well, and hope they can resolve your pain quickly. Perhaps others with more knowledge will stop by with info for you.

Take care,

Bill