Feeling worse 8 months after treatment and I am SVR.

[St. George]

Hi guys.  I haven't posted in awhile but I need to to know if anyone out there have  found their health going steadily down hill after treatment even though they had acheived SVR.  I am experiencing extreme fatigue, overall weakness,anxiety,depression,aches,etc.  This was my 4th treatment with Infergen,double the standard riba and nitazoxanide.  It has so far been a durable SVR but I honestly feel worse now than when I was infected.  I'm not complaining but I am writing to find out if others have had SVR and have still been full of symptoms 1-2 years later. My theory is that since I basically did consecutive back to back treatments the riba is taking longer than the standard 6 months to leave my body and this is where the symptoms are arising from.  I'm worried that I pushed my body to far and that I am now paying the price.  Any input/experiences would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks guys.
                                         St. George

[epiphiny]

I just noticed a new thread from someone who is experiencing thyroid issues and wondered if you have had yours checked lately.  I know the thyroid can be affected during and after treatment.  Try searching this community for more info about it.

[Mehtalalady]

It has been a little over one year for me since treatment and I am viral free.  However, my health has steadily gone downhill.  The joint pain and stiffness are pretty severe.  I cannot find this as a side effect in any of the literature but I am seeing it in a lot of forum posts by former HepC patients.  I am only 45 years old and I feel older than my 82 year old mother-in-law.

[jankar]

I came back onto the forum today because 8 months after treatment things have been so bad with my working life since stopping treatment, I need to share experiences again.  Like Epiphany, I had the worst trouble with the benzos and the Ad's - all over the place, no proper medical advice, completely blew up at work and now facing disciplinary charges. Now stabilised on 40 mg Citalopram and 4 mg Diazepam daily until all this worry and trouble is behind me.

I went to a hypnotherapist yesterday and am generally feeling not too bad considering the treatment has wrecked such havoc. At least I am on special leave with full pay whilst they sort it all out and have plans for the future if it doesn't work.

Like you I am SVR, but I have hardly had time to celebrate. I ams till suffering anxiety/depression but physically much much better.

Like Epi said, get your medication sorted out, stabilise the depression and anxiety - those INF/RIBA drugs cause problems and until you go through them, you don't know what is going to happen post treatment.

Take care...

[epiphiny]

Are you on any other medications?  The reason I ask this is that I was taking benzoidapines when I was treatment and when I stopped treatment I also stopped the benzos cold turkey and found that I had horrible withdrawals that sound the same as you describe.  I felt much much worse than any point before or on treatment.  Once I got myself on slow taper withdrawal it was much more manageable although fatigue can still be an issue especially when I reduce.  Withdrawals from ADs can also be difficult.