Cold feet

[FLDove]

My son is in his 19th week (out of 24 weeks) of treatment with Pegasus and Copegasus.  He is 25-years-old and has geno type 2.  He just called me and said that his feet are cold (cold to the touch and feel like he's standing in 30 degree weather and it's 80 degrees here in Florida).  He said his feet look fine, not discolored and he feels fine.  Just that his feet are freezing and they are very cold to the touch.  

Has anyone ever heard of this as a side effect?  He just had a follow up appt with his doctor about 2 weeks ago and they ran routine blood work and everything was okay.  In fact, his viral loads are down to being undetectable at this point.  Thank God!  He has to finish his 24 week treatment.  We are bit concerned about this coldness in his feet.  Any suggestions?  Has anyone else had anything like this?  Of course, it's the weekend and he can't talk to his doctor....UGH!   Thanks for any advice.

[DownThisRoad]

ONE more, just ONE more and you must be ecstatic right about now!!  Please let us know so we can celebrate with you.

You've come along way this time !
~dtr.

[doll face]

I would have his doctor check his TSH (Thyroid). I became Hypothyroid on tx and one of the first signs was being extremely cold all the time especially my feet.I just finished Number 71 of 72 so I know how anxious he is to see the light. Good Luck to your son, its almost over now.

[layla]

Wow 1 more week! It's such a long time. I hope you feel back to normal quickly.

fldove I was the same as dollface. I can tell my hyroid meds are off just from the coldness. It's a common symptom for hypothyroidism. LL

[susan400]

Hi there.  I'm in Florida, too.  Actually, the weather here, for my preferences is beautiful today.  I have my windows opened up and the fans going and I'm feeling happy about that and enjoying it a lot.  We don't have too many great window-opening days here, as you know.  I wear my socks all the time and slippers, too.  It's weird because if I try to sleep without them, I can't.  I have sleeping problems enough anyway on treatment.  I drink gobs and gobs of water and I think that keeps me cooler.  I move my feet around when they start feeling funny.  

Susan

[Eyedeas]

Being cold like that is a possible sign he's gone hypothyroid.  This happens a lot on tx, happened to me.  If that's the case, they'll put him on a pill a day of Levoxyl or its equivelent.  Have his thyroid checked.

So goodd to hear he's doing well!  My prayers go out to him and everyone dealing with the dragon!

Kim

[DRAGON SLAYER]

Hi DTR,

I didn't use Procrit or any other meds in addition to PIG/RIBA combo. The medical term of the "tingling" sensation is:

"paresthetic":

"Relating to or marked by paresthesia; denoting numbness and tingling in an extremity which usually occurs on the resumption of the blood flow to a nerve following temporary pressure or mild injury".

I feel the numbness all the time however, the intensity varies. At times it's hard to bare & other times it's quite mild.
A few mths prior to Tx I had a CERVICAL injury in which C5 & C6 were slightly fragmented. I was to undergo cervical surgery but as the GODS would have it ......I was tested HCV positive & in an accute phase as well. The surgery was postponed & I began Tx.
The "numbness" disappeared with time (approx 6 mths) after my spinal trauma.  However, after initiating Tx this "strange feeling" resurfaced & as I have mentioned....it stays with me with various degrees of discomfort. I never did see a Neurologist since I'm being followed-up in a Rehab Clinic & a Spinal Cord Specialist.
Never did or intend to undergo this surgery, if possible.

Personally, I don't think I have permanent peripheral nerve damage since the pain/discomfort tends to alternate.....& I didn't have it prior to Tx. I think that this COMBO Tx appears to rewake the OLD DEMONS, lurking within us.
I hope all this is clear to you & if its not blame it on my Tx...heheeehehe....LOL.

Good luck,
P kid

[stc1993]

I'm on week 8/48 I also wake up with numb arms sometimes.  I got up one morning last week the bottom of my foot was numb, first time for that one. But I would wake up with numb arms even before I started tx I told my dr. about this but he ignored it. I think the more water I drink it helps they dont go numb at night as much.

[FLDove]

Thank you SO much for the kind words.  I will pass along your advice.  We have truly been blessed.  It's so difficult to watch someone you love (especially your child) hurt and know there is nothing you can do about it but be there for support.  He has done so well and he only has 5 more weeks to go and we pray it will all be over.  We refuse to accept relapses.  We pray each and every day for all of those that have been touched by this...we pray for strength and peace for all.  But most of all we pray for eradication of this horrible disease.  God bless you all!

[FLDove]

Hi Snook!!  It's been a long time since I've been here.  Our son has done so well with this tx.  We have survived hurricane Ivan, we have other illness in the family as well, but we're still hanging in there.  We won't let any of this bring us down.  

I'm sorry you have had to restart your treatment.  I pray all goes well with you.  I will try to check in now and again to see how everyone is doing.  Take care of yourself.  Hang in there and don't give up.  Don't let this thing win!  You all are stronger than it is!!

[FLDove]

I hope you do as well as my son has done.  His specialist has just been amazed.  He said he breezed right through it (although he has five more weeks to go) but at least he can see the light at the end of the tunnel, especially with the good news that he has no detection in his viral loads.  The doc is so pleased. I hope you do as well.  His main sx were fatigue, weight loss (he's skinny as a rail anyway...so he sure didn't need to lose anymore, but hopefully that will get better after the tx ends) and now the cold feet...but I really believe it was just a fluke.  We're keeping our fingers crossed it was anyway.  

You know I have to say though, God works in misterious ways.  Our son has been so unbelievably busy.  He was sent to South Florida (first for hurricane Charley and then hurricane Frances), then we were hit with Ivan, then Jeanne hit but we are so devastated here, they didn't send him back down south.  He had to stay here and work, plus clean up his own place and his girlfriend's place.  It has kept him so busy, he hasn't been able to think about how bad he felt.  So, I guess in a way, that was a blessing in disguise.  We felt so bad for others, and at the same time, we felt that maybe this was what he needed to keep him pushing along through this tx.  When he was home (he lives alone and is not married...UGH!) he would have too much time on his hands sometimes and would think about how bad he felt and was almost glad when they asked him to work 16 hours days.  So things happen for a reason I guess.

You hang in there and hopefully you will breeze through like our son has!

[DownThisRoad]

Best of luck to your son as he finishes up his treatment.  He deserves a huge pat on his back from this day forward ! Cold feet I had off and on and really on all during the time I took the meds.  I always had to wear socks or slippers and socks.  I never slept or have slept with my feet covered with socks at night.  I always wore something every night while I did the drugs.  My hands were always cold too.

Hi PKid. Please tell me more about the numbness in your arms and/or in your legs.  Did you have the numbness during your tx drugs and tx time or did this just start after you finished all you medicines?  I am in a continuing state in order to see if the feeling is going to come back to my arms or just what.  The Neuro guy says I have continuing and permanent nerve damage in both my arms and wants me to have surgery.  On the other hand, my GI and primary doc are doing the testing over again (I had the tests 2 months ago) too see if the same numbers test out of different numbers.  My test numbers were way off the chart as far as damage to my nerves go.  Do your arms fall asleep completely or do they just stay or come and go tingling at certain times?  How often?  Did you take Procrit during your tx?

~dtr.

[genedog]

shot 4 done still fine

[Lucky Lou]

Hey Genedog! Whaaaaaaaaaasup? I do two tommorow, let's go baby, kick it up a notch.

LOu

[genedog]

have to watch how far i kick it up dont want to break my boil on my johnson. bro

[Astrolady]

I did my 3rd shot last night, as far SX go last night was probably the worst so far, I woke up around 3am and felt like my throat was on fire I took a tylenol pm (first time I've taken anything for pain from the SX of TX).  I'm 50, female, prior to starting TX I was hot and sweaty all the time so I'm kind of enjoying the chills, I live in So. Cal -- I'm so sick of the heat, this has been a long hot summer, actually we had record heat in April this year in the 90's.  As far as your son's cold feet, if that's his only complaint he sounds like he's doing great.  I'm also a type 2, and from what I understand we are pretty lucky.

[DRAGON SLAYER]

Hello,

I'm glad to read that your son is undectable at this stage. I was (I hope) 2B as well & did a 24 week stretch using PIG/RIBA combo. Still have that COLD, NUMB & TINGLING sensation in extremities....6 mths post-Tx. As far as I know, it's a relatively normal Sx from this Tx. Pls stay focused on CLEARING this dragon....the rest of the Sx are minor in comparison.
I live in Israel where it's 85F in the SHADE & I feel cold....LOL. All this is part of Sx....I wouldn't place too much emphasis on it.

Good Luck to all,
PKid

[layla]

Sorry I did just see your response when I found your post. I hope your sx are mild to none. I see you are experienced and I sure have sympathy for you doing this over. I hope it's easier this time. LL

[layla]

Didn't you have your first shot last night? I thought I read that in the moddle of a past post. How did it go? Are you feeling ok. LL

[snook_man]

I have been wondering about your son, and how he is doing.. How is he doing?? Week 19, huh?? Wow time flies!!
I am 27 years old, and just restarted my tx lastnight.. Glad to hear that he went undetectable, as he is as good as cured!!!
I know that last night, my feet felt mighty cold.. I bundled socks on, then got really hot.. It should come and go, but wait on the Dr.. Feels pretty good outside though, doesn't? We finally got alittle bit of a cool down here in Florida..

[honey1616]

Glad to hear your son is doing well and undetectable!!  The cold feet can be quite normal for tx.  At times we can feel feverish or opposite very cold,,,tell him even though warm outside,,,keep socks on and may need to cover up more to take away chills. Good Luck to you guys for going through as it can be hard at times for the person on tx and also their family!